Spring has SPRUNG!

... and I woke up this morning and realized that all of the lovely things made of wood lattice in our garden, including our toolshed/gazebo thingie, have sprung as well.  As in, they're falling over.  Rotting.  Had their day in the sun.  Are pining for the fjords.

Another thing I must acknowledge is that neither Bear nor I are physically able to fix them.  I'm not willing to give up my rose arbor, nor my gardening shed, and so I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and get a pro in here to fix things before one of them keels over and kills someone.  Happily, Bear knows some good local folks from back when he used to work for a roofing company.

There's a fine line between "shabby chic" and "life threatening", and my garden crossed that line.  Probably back in 2010.  But here we are, with our previously charming gazebo and trellis now causing the neighborhood children to cross to the other side of the street when passing our house, making protective religious signs across their chests.  Since all the children in our neighborhood are godless little heathens, that should tell you something.

In other wonderful news, I have a big lump on the palm of my right hand!  I know!  Isn't that exciting?  The actually good news is that I'm pretty sure what it is, and it isn't life threatening.

There's this thing called "Dupuytren's" (say DOO-PWEE-TRENZ) (on second thought, don't say that - it sounds really silly - that's just how you should say it if you were forced to), where a fibrous casing appears on the tendons of the palm and cause the fingers to contract - you've probably seen numerous old folks with hands that won't open all the way?  Yep, Dupuytren's.  And it's genetic.  My grandfather had it, my mom and aunt have it.  So I'm betting that's what this is.

Good news is, it doesn't hurt.  Bad news is, it can't be eradicated, only treated if it worsens.  Good news (at least for me) is, it's much less aggressive in women than in men.  Bad news is, if my hand starts to close up, it threatens my ability to type, thus my job (AND MY BLOGGING, HEAVEN FORFEND!).  Good news is, there are treatments.  Bad news is, could mean surgery down the road.  Good news is, studies show taking Vitamin E can reverse the symptoms.  Bad news is, symptoms can always return.

Of course, I am not simply going to self-diagnose and trip merrily down the garden path assuming I'm right.  I have a doc's appointment on Monday afternoon.  I'd say keep your fingers crossed, but that sounds too much like a Dupuytren's joke.

P.S.  Our crocuses are blooming, and so are the snowdrops!  YAY!!!