WHERE IS SPRING?

I'm not sure spring is ever going to come this year. As it has been in several other places, it's been unseasonably cold here these past few months, and although the temperature finally climbed to over 90 degrees during the middle of the week, a couple of days later, it was again so chilly that we built a fire in our fireplace. So it's hard for me to believe it's already May.

It's time to be out gardening and doing other spring things! Having some months ago completed the restoration of one of our Victorian mantels, my husband, John, decided this month to begin work on an antique side-by-side secretary that also belonged to my maternal grandparents. But with the uncertain weather, he's barely got started.

Since the secretary's in pretty sad shape, it needs several coats of stripper to remove all the old varnish and stain, and because of the chemicals, that's something we only do outside. So, at the moment, the secretary's largely dismantled and waiting for spring. One small door has been stripped, sanded, and test stained to determine how well the wood's actually going to accept the mahogany stain we've chosen to use for the new finish. But that's as far as John's got right now.

I'm impatient to see the secretary done---not only because I think it's going to be a beautiful piece, but also because there's just enough room on the bookcase side for my Dickens collection and perhaps a few extra books, as well. That means I can do away with a bookcase that's taking up space elsewhere and that I will no longer need. :) In addition, the desk side has lots of cubbyholes that will be perfect for tucking away keys, mail, etc.

So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that spring will finally arrive!