St. Patrick’s Day was a good day to pick a spring bouquet and a good day to remember that we all came from somewhere. Whenever and however we or our ancestors arrived here, we are grateful for the beauty of the land, for its rich history, for our good neighbors, our comfort and security, and for our capacity to recognize the wonder we find in our ordinary lives in Champion. Monday morning finds fire in the woodstove again as the thermometer finally creeps up above freezing. A good stiff breeze reminds us that spring’s arrival on Tuesday has not much to do with anything other than the calendar. How many hard freezes will we have before May 10th?

Verses in the old hymn “Whispering Hope” refer to the beauty of the world and the peace in our hearts after the storm is over. Photographs of the golden light in the hour after Thursday’s storm filled the internet even as limbs and forest debris littered our lovely country lanes. Ten tenacious musicians made it to the Vanzant Jam with that many in the music appreciation section—undaunted and grateful for the fellowship and for the music. Grateful too were all of us who were spared the destruction, heartbreak, and aggravation that many up and down the road from Arkansas to St. Louis and beyond endured in the wake of that storm. We picked the sticks and limbs up out of the yard, got the lawnmowers ready for the season, and began the annual gripe about having to pick ticks out of our longhandles. Overall, as we look at the strife and suffering of much of the rest of the world, we count our many blessings.

Gardeners are busy. Felix the Farmer writes that in his garden he is growing sunflowers. Again, this year many will be planting sunflowers as an homage to Ukraine and the desperate struggle going on there. The seed packet of some planted on St. Patrick’s Day indicates they will bloom in 75 days. That will be May 31st. Hopes are some peace will bloom out before then—there in Ukraine and in many places in the world. Meanwhile, an old Champion gardener is planning a trip to Sue’s Greenhouse up north of Norwood. Champions who have made that trip already have lovely things to say about the experience. They say to allot plenty of time because there is so much to see and the air smells so good and the people are so pleasant. Closer to home, the Skyline Second Saturday Farmers Market will start up on the morning of April 13th. It is being called a ‘swap meet’ too. There is no set-up fee, so who knows what all will be available out on the parking lot of the Brushy Knob Church. It will be a chance to check out the construction of the new firehouse at the Skyline VFD across the road.

Skyline School students are out on spring break this week. They might be sleeping late or visiting grandparents or going on trips to the aquarium or some other interesting place. Some might be enjoying taking care of their horses and getting ready for the spring trial ride out of Champion on May 15th. Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride is one of the highpoints of the season. Even people who have never set a horse enjoy seeing all the beautiful animals and hearing the tales from the trail. Andrew Hardin heads up the ride in memory of his friend Bud. He said the date for the fall trail ride has been set for October 9th. Caleb and his sisters are likely to be on their horses during their spring break. On their break, Teagan and Luxe were down from Rogersville visiting the old family stomping grounds and their Champion cousin Chase. They are the latest of many generations of their families visiting around the ancient wood stove with other area ancients. On the wide wooly banks of Old Fox Creek, at the bottom of several hills, at end of the pavement, where country roads start their winding, find Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

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