A Hope of Spring

    As I'm sure is the case with just about everybody else right now, I'm ready to be done with winter.  When you have other stresses and worries in your life, the cold and gray has a way of magnifying them even more.  Realistically, I understand I have fewer worries and less cold than a lot of people, but hey, it's my blog, so there you go.  ;)

    I've had a case at work that I've been struggling with for several weeks now.  It's a potentially treatable disease, but the owner's lack of compliance leaves me frustrated, sad, and worried for the life of their pet.  I'm not really sure where to go next if the necessary treatment isn't an option for them.  And I can't help but think about what I could've done differently.  I have a terrible time of not being forceful enough with owners and also feel that I struggle to explain things in enough depth.  I'm surprised I haven't developed stomach ulcers over this case.  

    Of much less consequence, but also on my mind, is the apparent failure of my winter gardening efforts.  Idea: beautiful tulips blooming after being forced indoors.

Reality: bulbs that have been the same height for 6 weeks.  

    Plus, I've been afraid that the bulbs I planted in containers last fall would all be dead because the soil froze.  But after this long winter, and after seeing my ongoing frustrating case today, I came home to something that assured me that spring will come.  I have crocus sprouts!  Look close.  They're there!

 

   Of course, I can't guarantee they'll actually bloom, but seeing those little green rays of hope was just what I needed to make a bad day a little bit better.  Stay tuned for more pictures as my flowers continue to grow.   I also started knitting, but more on that later.  :)

   I hope everyone else out there is staying warm and finding small ways to manage their struggles.