...tied up with string

Last night we were enroute to have our taxes done (yes, Finally!), about a block from our house, I let out a gasp. DH looked at a large pile by the curb, then at me and said "You want to stop." (yes - he said it more matter of fact, than as a question). I was resigned to answer "No." (It was raining, I didn't have the proper tools with me, and it would have made us late.).

That didn't stop me getting up at the crack of daylight this morning (on my day off) to beat the garbage trucks, gather my tools, and head out in 45° rain!! Have you guessed yet what would have taken my fancy enough to make all this worth while? That would survive a night of rain? That I would be sure would still be there? That would require a special tool?

A HUGE brush pile full of PUSSY WILLOWS!!

These fuzzy little gems have been a favorite of mine since I was a child - going for walks in the fields/woods with Mom in the Spring to gather them! So often they elude me, they come to life in the Spring before I think that they should be ready, and I don't get a chance to go out and 'hunt-n-gather'. Numerous years I rooted branches, planted and tried to grow these 'no-fail weeds'... only to fail. Apparently our yard is 'well-drained' and Salix likes 'wet feet'. Either that, or 'The Journey' in aquiring my Spring bouquet is such an important part in my love for this plant, that I just shouldn't go messing with things as they are?...

Just out of college I worked with a group of Architects/Engineers. One day, chatting with one of the older Architects (G), somehow we got on the subject of Pussy willows. His wife worked at a Greenhouse, and we often swapped gardening tips ~ plants ~ stories... Each Spring G would go out to the woods and cut his wife a bouquet of Pussy Willows. One morning I came into work and found a large bouquet wrapped in newspaper, tied off with string on my drafting stool (Yes, I'm dating myself to pre-computer/CAD days!!) ... "While I was out, I cut a few extra - thought maybe you could use them.". This became a yearly tradition - on a random Spring morning I'd find a bouquet wrapped in newspaper tied up with string on my stool.I left the company. DH still works there. He came home one day with a bundle of newspaper tied up with string "This was on my chair with your name on it.".

G's wife died... I still rec'd my 'Spring package tied with string'. G has long since retired... but occasionally DH will come home from work on a Spring day with a newspaper tied up with string "G stopped by the office to visit today..."