I was walking up to the front door, keys ready in my hand, when my son Alex opened the door for me.

“How was your brunch?” he asked as I stepped past him and dropped my purse on the chair. “It was nice. Mary and Liz said to say hi and that they were sorry you couldn’t make it.” I took off my jacket and hung it in the closet. “How’s your back?”

Alex twisted from side to side. “Getting a little better I think. I’ve been doing some stretches.”

“That’s good.” I turned around and started to laugh. “I got food shamed at the restaurant.”

“What?” Alex looked confused. “Food shamed?”

I nodded my head. “When the waitress was taking our order I said I wanted two eggs over easy, bacon and hash browns.”

“That sounds good.”

“I know!” I had to laugh again. “She asked me if I knew what their hash browns were like.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I was a little confused, thinking they served some kind of strange hash brown.”

“So what kind do they serve?”

“She said they were like McDonald’s hash browns.” Grabbing a glass from the cabinet I went over to the refrigerator to get some water. “I’m thinking that’s perfect, a nice golden hash brown with my over easy egg right on top of it!”

“So what’s wrong with that?” Alex was leaning against the counter top.

“She said she wanted me to be sure I knew what they were because no one over 12 year old ever ordered them.” I looked over at Alex before taking a sip from my glass.

Alex grimaced. “Ouch.”

“Exactly!” I put the glass on the countertop and leaned against the countertop. “How was I supposed to order it after she said that?” I started to laugh again. “I had to order the clearly grown-up home fries instead!”

“Well, homes fries are good too.”

“Not as good as hash browns.” I sighed. “When did hash browns become a toddler treat?”

Alex shook his head. “She didn’t say toddler. She said no one under 12.” Alex leaned over and patted me on the shoulder. “I know what will make you feel better.”

“What?”

“Why don’t you stop and get yourself a McDonald’s Happy Meal for your lunch tomorrow?”

I started to laugh. “Actually, that’s a great idea!” I pulled out my phone. “I wonder what toy they have this week?”

“Whatever it is I’m sure one of your kids in school is going to be very happy.”

“It’s Mario Kart!” I held up my phone to show him. “That’s a good one! Now I just have to figure out which teacher’s prize box it’s going to go it.”

“See, you’re all grown up again!”

My son Alex and I were taking an after dinner walk when we spotted a patch of something that was a brilliant blue sitting on a bare branch.

“What is that?” Alex asked as we watched the patch of blue leave the tree branch and fly to another tree.

“Oh, it’s a bird!” I cried as we watched a few more of them fly from tree to tree. “Are they Blue Jays?”

“Nope. They’re smaller than a blue jay and not the right color blue.”

As we watched them fly off I took my phone out of my pocket and clicked on Google. “I can’t believe I’ve never seen that bird before.” I typed in ‘blue birds in New Jersey’ and up popped our little friend. “It’s literally called a Bluebird!” I showed Alex the picture.

Alex looked at the picture. “Yup, that’s it alright.”

I turned the phone back to me and began reading about it. “It says they’re a common sight in New Jersey.” I looked back at Alex. “Clearly we live under a rock because that’s the first one I’ve ever seen.”

Alex laughed. “I’ve never seen one either.”

“I guess we both live under a rock.” I answered as I continued reading. “Oh, wait!” I began nodding my head. “It says that from the 1930’s to the 70’s their population dwindled because of habitat loss, pesticide use and the introduction of aggressive non-native birds like Starlings.” I looked back at Alex angrily shaking my head. “Another reason I’m not a big fan of Starlings. What a bunch of bullies chasing away those sweet little Bluebirds.”

I put my phone back in my pocket and we began walking again. “I’m glad they’re coming back.”

Alex nodded his head.

I thought I spotted another one in the trees. “Welcome back little guys!” I called up to them.

Alex quickly looked around making sure we were alone on the path.

“Don’t worry. I checked to see if we were by ourselves before I called out.”

“I appreciate that.”

“No worries.” I stopped and pulled my phone out of my pocket again. “Hey, I just thought of the phrase, Bluebird of happiness. I wonder if that’s a real thing?” I began typing again.

“It is!” I began scrolling again. “It was a song but, it also says a Bluebird is a symbol of joy and happiness and when you spot one you can expect that in your future.” I looked over to Alex. “Okay so which one of us spotted it first so we know who can expect the joy and happiness in the near future?”

Alex looked at me for a minute. “What if I say we both saw it at the same time?”

“Really?” I slipped my phone back in my pocket and we began to walk again. “That would be great!”

“Are you feeling like you need a little more joy and happiness in your life right now?”

“Are you kidding?” I looked over at Alex. “I’m feeling like the entire world could use a little more joy and happiness right now.”

Alex nodded his head in agreement as I pointed to another Bluebird further up the path. “You’ve got your work cut out for you little guy!” I called out to him.

Alex looked behind us again.

“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “We’re still alone.”

I had just pulled into the driveway, grabbed all of my work bags from the back seat of my car and was walking up the front sidewalk when I saw the beautiful bog iron rock sitting on my front step.

Stepping over the rock I let myself in the house and dropped my bags on the nearest chair before excitedly going back outside to marvel at the present someone left for me.

“Alex!” I called back into the house. “Did you see who dropped this off?”

Alex came to the front door and saw me sitting next to the rock. “Someone left you a rock?”

“I know!” I couldn’t help but smile. “Isn’t that the sweetest thing?”

“Well, it’s a rock so I’m not sure I would consider it the sweetest thing. At least for me.” Alex was leaned against the doorjamb.

“Well, it is for me! Someone knows I’m still working on lining my path through the woods to the shed.” I began inspecting the rock and could see some moss was growing on one side. “So, did you see who dropped it off?”

Alex shook his head. “Nope. I didn’t see anyone come up to the door.”

“Oh, that’s too bad.” I picked up the rock and began carrying it around the house to add it to the path, with Alex following me. “I was hoping you saw who it was so I could thank them.”

I walked into the woods and dropped my new rock where the rock border had stopped. I listened as it thud into place. “Perfect!” I looked at the shed only a few feet away. “We’re getting closer now!” I called to Alex who had stopped at the beginning of the path.

As I wove my way back to him I stopped and adjusted some of the rocks that had gotten out of place.

Standing next to Alex I looked down the path. “It’s really coming along now.”

Alex looked over at me with a confused look on his face. “I don’t understand why you don’t just buy some bog iron and finish the path?”

I looked over at him with a confused look on my face. “What fun would that be?”

“Fun?”

“Yes, fun.” We began walking back to the house. “It’s the hunt that’s fun. Seeing when someone leaves some at the curb, or finding them in our yard when it freezes then thaws and a few are pushed to the surface.”

Just then my husband Steven came around back. “Did you find the rock I left you on the front steps?”

“It was you!”

“Yeah, I was at a clients house and I saw it in their front yard.” He shrugged his shoulders. “It didn’t look like it was a decoration so I asked if I could have it. They were thrilled to get rid of it.”

I went over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Well, I love it!”

“I thought you would.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I looked over at Alex. “Your Dad is so thoughtful.”

Alex looked at Steven and then back at me. “You know it’s still just a rock.”

I took Steven’s hand as we walked back to the house together. “No, it’s not just a rock. Your Dad was thinking about me when he saw the rock and knew how happy it would make me.”

“Exactly.” Steven said as he opened the back door. “Some people like to be given flowers while your Mom’s happier with a rock.”

I stopped for a second. “Wait a minute. I never said I didn’t like getting flowers.”

Alex started to laugh and he patted Steven on the shoulder and began walking out of the kitchen. “Well, you walked right into that one.” He called over his shoulder.

My husband Steven and I were driving by the house my oldest son Max would soon be moving into.

As we were driving by the front of the house I stopped the car. “What are those?” I said as I pointed to some white flowers that were popping up by the front door.

Steven shook his head. “I’m not sure. Maybe they’re crocuses? Don’t they come out in March?”

I pulled the car to the curb and put it in park. Getting out, I went over to the little white flowers. “They’re not crocuses!” I called back to Steven, who was still in the car but had lowered his window.

I took my phone out and went to my Picture This app. Bending over I got as close to the flower as possible before snapping it’s picture. Within seconds their picture came up with a description.

“They’re snowdrops.” I said as I walked back to the car. I handed him my phone as I climbed back in the car. He handed me back the phone and I began reading more about them.“They’re also called Fair Maids of February and Little Sister of the Snows.” I looked over at Steven and smiled. “Ah…isn’t that the cutest?”

Steven shook his head and laughed.

I was still looking at the picture. “Why haven’t I ever seen these before?” I looked over at Steven. “Have you ever seen these before?”

“Nope.”

“I can’t believe I’ve never seen these before.” I was still scrolling through the plant description. “It says they’re a very hardy perennial that’s great for a beginner gardener.” I looked back at Steven. “Well that certainly sounds like a plant I won’t be able to kill very easily.”

“Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself.” Steven patted me on the shoulder. “It’s really only vegetable plants that you kill.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “That’s true.” I held up my pointer finger. “But to be fair the squirrels and chipmunks were nibbling on my tomato plants.”

“You also forgot to water them.” Steven reminded me.

“Okay, fine.” I sighed. “Let’s get back to the snowdrop plants, shall we.” I began reading again. “It says we can wait until the fall and plant them as bulbs or plant them now already blooming.”

I put the phone in the console. “Well, that’s settled then.” I put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb.

“What’s settled?” Steven asked.

“Let’s swing by a garden center and see if they have them in stock.”

“Now?”

I looked over at Steven. “That’s what I was thinking. Why not?”

“I thought we were going to go by the house and then go get something to eat.”

“Oh yeah.” We were stopped at a red light. “Well, how hungry are you?”

Just then I heard Steven’s stomach growling.

Steven pointed to his stomach. “I’m going to say pretty hungry!”

“Okay, fine.” The light had turned green and we started to go again. “I guess I can always run to the garden center tomorrow and look for them.”

Steven patted his stomach. “My stomach thanks you for that decision.”

My son Alex walked into the living room where I was wincing as I tried to turn my head from side to side.
“Your neck is still bothering you?”
“It’s even worse today!” I tipped my head to one side trying to stretch the tight muscle as I massaged the spot that hurt with my fingertips. “I think I’m going to have to make an appointment with my chiropractor and get a few adjustments.”
“I don’t think you need that.” Alex shook his head.
“I’ve had this before and the adjustments helped.” I was trying to tip my head to the other side. “It’s not only the stiff neck but now my ear aches and I can’t get rid of this headache.” I rubbed the center of my forehead as I moved my head around. I could hear and feel the popping and cracking in my neck. “I just always get nervous going to the chiropractor.” I looked over at Alex. “I’m not a very good patient with him. All he has to do is say relax when he’s holding my head and I can’t help but stiffen up, thinking he’s going to snap my neck!”
“I’m telling you, what you need is heat.” He went over to the linen closet in the hallway and came back with his microwavable heating pad. “Pop this in the microwave for two minutes, wrap it around your neck and it’s going to feel better.”
I followed him into the kitchen and watched as he placed it on a plate and put it in the microwave. “I don’t think it’s going to work.” I said as I rubbed my neck with my hand watching as the navy blue heating pad spun around in circles in the microwave.
Two minutes later I had the heating pad draped around my neck. “Okay, that feels good.” I admitted as I leaned against the counter.
“I’m telling you, you carry all of your tension in your shoulders and neck.”
I nodded. “You’re right about that.” I adjusted the heating pad so it was higher up on my neck.
“You might have to reheat that a few times before it really begins to feel better.”
“I can’t believe I’ve been hurting for days.” I moved my neck from side to side then looked over at Alex and smiled. “It’s starting to feel better already.”
Alex nodded. “Yup. Heat is what’s going to work for you.”
Just then my husband Steven came into the kitchen. “I can’t believe I’ve been at my desk for the last four hours.” He leaned against the opposite counter from me. “I’m exhausted.”
Alex looked over at him. “You look dehydrated. When was the last time you drank some water?”
Steven thought about it for a moment. “You know you’re right. I haven’t had anything to drink since I had a cup of coffee when I woke up.”
Alex went over to the cabinet and got Steven a glass and handed it to him.
Steven went over to the refrigerator and began filling his glass. He looked over at me. “How’s your neck feeling?” he asked.
I adjusted the heating pad again and moved my head from side to side. “Actually, much better.”
I pointed over to Alex. “It’s kind of nice having a doctor in house.”
Steven took a sip of water. “It sure is.”
Alex shook his head and laughed. “I’m getting the feeling you two are going to be a lot of work when you get old.”
I looked over at Steven and laughed. “You know he’s probably not wrong about that.”

“You do realize it’s still winter?” My husband Steven said as I emptied my pocket of shells and sand.

“Oh, of course I do!” I said as I arranged the shells on the kitchen counter top. “But when it’s sixty degrees out, the sun is shining, and there’s no wind. Who wouldn’t want to go visit the beach!” I brushed the remaining sand off my hands and stood back to admire my new treasures.

My son Alex came into the room and saw the pile of shells on the counter top. “That’s a nice collection of shells for your first time out this year.”

“I know! It’s only February and I’ve already started collecting!” I couldn’t help but smile as I looked over at Alex. “Thanks for all your help searching for them.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “It wasn’t much of a search. The beach was covered with them.”

“I know.” I picked up one of the shells to give it a closer look. “They’re so much harder to find in the summer.”

“That’s because everyone is looking for them then.” Steven said as he moved over to the cabinet where we kept the snacks.

While he was searching in the cabinet I scooped the shells off the counter top and into my hand to bring them over to the glass container that already had shells from past years in it.

Steven had gotten out the bag of pita chips and was headed for the refrigerator for the container of hummus as I poured my handful of shells into the container.

“That was such a perfect day down at the beach.” I sighed as I reached over to the bag of pita chips and took one out, then looked over at Alex. “Didn’t it feel like spring today?”

Alex nodded his head.

“Well, don’t get used to it.” Steven said as he opened the container of roasted red pepper hummus. “It’s suppose to snow tomorrow.”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter.” I said as I dipped my chip in the hummus. “I just need a few days like this during the winter months to get me through until summer.”

“Me too.” said Alex as he reached in the bag for a chip.

“Well hopefully I won’t have to use the snow blower tomorrow.” Steven said as he handed the bag of pita chips to Alex before wiping his hands on a paper towel.

I looked over at Alex. “It looks like your Dad could have used a day at the beach with us.”

Steven shook his head. “I have too much work to catch up on.” He started walking toward his office.

“You haven’t finished your work yet?” I called to him.

“Nope. Still have about another hour to go and then I’m done for the day.”

Alex and I watched as he walked down the hall.

I put the lid back on the hummus container and put it back in the refrigerator. Alex put the chip clip on the pita chips and went to put them back in the cabinet.

“Are you feeling as guilty as I am about going down to the beach while Dad had to finish work?”

I shook my head. “Your Dad’s not a fan of the beach no matter what time of year it is.” I popped the hummus on a shelf in the refrigerator and took out the package of chicken breasts.

Holding it up for Alex to see. “I’ll just make him some chicken parmigiana for dinner and he’ll be as happy as I am when I have a pocket full of seashells!”

It was late Saturday morning and my son Alex came into the living room where I was sitting on the couch, still in my pajamas, with my laptop on my lap, scrolling through my phone.

“I thought at breakfast you said you wanted to get some work done today?” he asked.

“I did.” I guiltily put my phone down and brought my attention back to my computer.

“Hey, I’m not telling you what to do.” Alex came over and draped a blanket over my legs.

“I know.” I adjusted the blanket to get my bare feet under it. “Thanks.” I looked back at my computer. “But I really do want to get some work done.” I shook my head as I looked over to him. “It’s just that I’ve been having some pretty busy work weeks lately and by Saturday it’s hard to get myself moving.”

Alex reached over and picked up my phone. “Would it help if I put this somewhere where you can’t get to it?”

“Hey!” I held my hand out and Alex placed my phone in it. “Candy Crush and Solitaire help relax me.” I laughed.

“Candy Crush and Solitaire?” Now he was laughing. “More like Facebook and Twitter.”

“Those too.” I couldn’t argue with him on that.

“So why don’t you just give yourself a break and take the day off?” He pointed to my phone. “Without using that.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Without my phone?”

“Yeah, a day where you can really relax.”

I thought about it for a moment. “I guess I could finish reading that book I started. Or maybe I’ll work on a puzzle.”

“See! Those things are relaxing.” He looked over at my phone. “Every time you’re on your phone you’re looking at some video that makes you mad.”

I sighed. “That’s true. We’re living in some crazy times right now.”

“So get away from it and do something fun.”

“You’re right!” I moved my laptop to the coffee table and got up from the couch. “I’m going to go make myself another cup of tea and get right back under that blanket and finish reading my book!”

As I was walking into the kitchen my husband Steven was coming around the corner. “Hey, it’s getting close to lunchtime. Do you have any ideas on what you’re fixing?”

I looked back at Alex and sighed again. “I guess I’ll start my recharging after I make everyone lunch.”

Steven looked confused. “Recharging?”

Alex looked over at Steven. “Mom was looking for a day to just relax.”

“Oh.” Steven shrugged his shoulders. “We could always order take-out at the diner.” He looked over at Alex. “You want to come with me to pick it up?”

“Sure.” Alex went to get his jacket.

“Thank you so much!” I gave Steven a kiss on the cheek before I went over to get my tea kettle to fill it up at the sink. “This is going to be the best Saturday ever!”

For years I tried to get my husband Steven interested in becoming our family griller but it never came to pass. So a few months back I decided I was going to give it a try and we went out and bought a small gas grill.

I was now sitting at the dining room table looking through some grilling cookbooks, a friend of ours had loaned me, when Steven came into the room. “What are you up to?”

I held up the book to show him the cover. “There are some great recipes for the grill in here.” I placed the book back on the table. “But some of them are really advanced.”

“The recipes are advanced?”

“No, the grilling technique.” I shook my head. “I don’t think Bill realized that I’m a beginner griller when he loaned me these.”

I began leafing through the pages. “I’m pretty sure these cookbooks are for people who have mastered grilling like he has.” I looked up at Steven and shook my head sadly. “I’m still at the Easy-Bake oven level of grilling.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I’m trying not to be but when Bill was asking if I’d tried using brickets and a chimney starter.” I stopped and shook my head. “I had no idea what he was even talking about.” I closed the book and sighed. “The only thing I’ve cooked on our grill so far are hot dogs.”

Steven smiled. “And they were delicious!”

I had to laugh. “Thank you. But that doesn’t help me decipher what’s in here.” I pointed to the cookbook. “I think they’re just assuming I’d know to cook with the lid closed or opened.” I looked at Steven and shook my head again. “But I don’t.”

Our son Alex came into the room. “What are you guys up to?”

Steven looked over at him. “Mom’s getting new recipes to try on the grill.”

“Oh, that’s great!” Alex said.

I looked at Steven with a confused look on my face. “I just finished telling you that these are too advanced for me.” I looked over at Alex. “So far I’ve only cooked hot dogs on the grill.”

“That’s not true.” Alex said. “Last week you made a steak on the grill.”

“That’s right.” Steven chimed in. “I forgot about that! That came out perfect!”

“It did.” Alex agreed.

I looked at both of them and had to confess. “I kind of cheated with the steak.”

“Cheated?” Steven looked at Alex. “What’s that suppose to mean?”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea.”

They both looked back at me.

“Well, I kind of started the London broil in the oven and when it was almost ready I put it on the grill so it would get the grill marks.”

Steven started to laugh. “Well it still tasted good.”

“It did.” Alex agreed. “So what are you going to try on the grill next?”

“Well, considering my skill level, I was thinking about hamburgers.”

“There you go!” Steven said. “You can start them in a frying pan first and then go put them on the grill for the grill marks!” Steven asked.

“Don’t think I’m not considering doing exactly that.” I said as I got up and went into the kitchen to start dinner.

My husband Steven came into the living room and handed me a yellow envelope. “What’s this?” I asked.

“It’s from my client Kathleen, the butterfly lady.”

I looked at the writing on the front of the envelope and began to read it aloud. “Kathy, thank you for the butterfly knives. Penny for each point. Thank you!” I had given her a set of knives with butterflies painted on them. I looked back at Steven. “What does that mean?”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “She said she’s very superstitious.”

I picked up my phone and began my Google search. When I found what I was looking for I couldn’t help but sigh. “Oh, man. I had no idea.”

“What?”

I began to read from the site. “It says that when you give a gift of a knife that some people believe it could mean a severing or cutting of the relationship but if you give a penny with the gift, it breaks that meaning.” I looked up at Steven. “I was the one who was suppose to include the pennies with the knives!”

“I’m sure she realized you didn’t know, so that’s why she sent them to you.” Steven started to go into the kitchen. “By the way she left you a present on the back porch.” He called over his shoulder.

“What did she leave?”

“Go see for yourself.”

Steven was smiling as I passed him headed to the back door. Looking through the window I could see several empty gallon milk jugs and a few with dirt in them. “Oh my gosh! She sent us more milkweed!”

“I ordered some milkweed seeds for us too.” Steven opened the cabinet and took out a glass. “They should be here tomorrow.”

“Oh my gosh! This is so exciting!” I looked past the milk jugs out at the bare trees in our backyard. “This will certainly help me to get through this dreary winter.”

I turned around and leaned against the counter. “Remember all the fat little caterpillars we had on the milkweed plants she’d given us last summer?”

Steven nodded. “After I made my coffee I’d go out and check on them every morning.”

“Me too!” I laughed.

I went over to the refrigerator and pulled out some cold cuts. “You ready for some lunch?”

“Sure. What are you making?”

“It looks like you have a choice between ham or turkey.”

“I’ll have turkey.”

I went to the cabinet to get the bread. “I used to love searching for their chrysalises.”

“They did make them in some strange places.” Steven reached into the cabinet and handed me two plates.

“Remember the one hanging off the back of the Adirondack chair?”

Steven laughed. “Yup.”

I looked over at Steven. “You know, I should really pick up a little something for Kathleen to thank her.”

“I think that’s a great idea.” He went over to the refrigerator and took out the head of lettuce. “Just remember she’s very superstitious.”

“I’m way ahead of you on that.” I took a knife out the the silverware drawer and pointed it in his direction. “This time I’ll definitely do some research first.”

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding!” I cried as I stood on the bathroom scale.

“Everything all right in there?” my husband Steven called through the bathroom door.

I grabbed my robe, putting it on before opening the door a crack. “I gained three pounds from yesterday!” I cried.

Steven looked confused. “Three pounds in a day?”

“It happens every time I eat pizza.” I sighed as I opened the door all the way and went over to the closet to get ready for work. “I only had two slices! How can that put on three pounds?”

When I didn’t get an answer I looked over at Steven. He shrugged his shoulders. “You don’t look like you’ve gained any weight.”

I guess my confused look had him continuing. “You always look beautiful.”

I had to laugh. “I’m not looking for a compliment Steven.”

I could see the relief wash over his face.

“I know it’s just water weight. But it still annoys me.” I began tossing pants and shirts on our bed. “Now I’m going to have to find a you’re-fat-today outfit.”

I began looking at jackets and sweaters that would cover my bloat. I turned around facing Steven. “It’s so unfair! I love pizza!”

Steven shook his head. “But pizza doesn’t love you.”

He went into the bathroom, opened the cabinet and grabbed his toothbrush. Putting a dab of toothpaste on it he began to brush his teeth.

I was still in the closet grumbling about what I was going to wear when Steven came out of the bathroom. The toothbrush was still in his hand, some foamy toothpaste still around the corners of his mouth. He had a quizzical look on his face. “Didn’t you have some cheesecake last night, too?”

I stopped what I was doing and looked over at him. “Are you serious?”

He went back into the bathroom, rinsed his mouth out with water and put his toothbrush away. When he walked back into the bedroom I was still staring in his direction. “I was thinking about it and not only did you have those two pieces of pizza but you also had a slice of cheesecake.”

I hadn’t realized my hands were on my hips as I stared at him. “Your point being?”

Steven looked confused again. “Well now you know the three pounds didn’t just come from pizza.”

I took a deep breath before looking back at the pile of clothes that were on the bed. “And exactly how is that suppose to make me feel better?”

Steven still looked confused. “Oh, we’re back to making you feel better?”

I nodded my head again. “How long have we been married?”

Steven came over to me with a smile on his face. “You don’t look like you’ve gained any weight at all.” He leaned over and gave me a kiss on the forehead. “You’re also beautiful.”

“Much better.” I smiled back at him. “Now leave me alone while I try and find my fat outfit for today.”