The Seasons Change and Life Goes On

Two weeks ago our deck looked like this.
The overnight snowfall had filled the chair seat to the arm levels, and the snow continued to fall.

Now the trees in the city look like this one outside the front door of my work.
The plum trees are blooming all over the city, and every day more flowering trees are exploding with color.
Jeff gave us some insight into seasonal life here: Autumn comes down from the mountains, Spring comes up from the valley.
We are living in the mountains so the floral displays are not exuberant in our neighborhood, so driving to work is like going from winter to spring in less than 20 minutes.

Today we have gloomy rain. Four white tulips had bloomed outside in the lower part of our garden; I took a moment to rescue them from the muddy back splashes of the springtime downpours. The daisies were lingering from a bouquet from a friend that was sent weeks ago.
If you enlarge this picture you can see the quartz counter top that is now in our kitchen. The cabinets are filled with our kitchen supplies, but we are still awaiting our cabinet doors.

I had told our contractor a month ago that by April 14th I wanted everything done, and have the only reason for him to be in my kitchen be to enjoy some birthday cake with me.
And wasn't that the least he could do...to try to have all the remodeling finished up for my 55th birthday?
After all...that was a full month and a half past his original promised completion date.

Well, you don't always get everything you want for your birthday.
I'm off to work, and this evening Bernie, Jeff and Rachel will be celebrating with me, with (I am promised) a white cake with strawberry filling.
I'm expecting it to be a pleasant time.
I won't however be expecting the contractor to drop by for a slice of cake too.
No cake for him until the kitchen and bathroom and baseboards are all done!