The Boston Flower Show used to be a prestigious event that filled a cavernous convention hall. Things changed, the organizers had financial difficulties, and it disappeared for awhile. Last week the The Flower Show returned to Boston, and although it was in a smaller space, with far fewer exhibitors, it was still worth the drive into the city.

It’s a place to take note of plants that I’m not familiar with – which is a good many of them! I’m not much of a plantsman, (don’t ask me to name what I’ve planted a year after they’re in the ground) but I do have a good eye for texture and color. I think that this shiny fern would fit nicely into my shade garden.

The garden show is always a source of inspiration for my patio. Just look at these garden poufs. I think I need to learn how to knit with very big needles!

I enjoyed browsing through the vendors’ stalls. I bought some seeds and gardening gloves. I did not buy these pricey soaps, but I did stop to admire the packaging.

The Boston Flower Show used to be a highlight of the social season, and the “ladies who lunch” would dress up and spend a day strolling the aisles. There was still fashion to be seen, but this time the hats needed watering.

There were a few grand garden displays, but this twee exhibit was my favorite. There’s even a chick tractor. Charming, isn’t it?

It’s a miniature!

The Flower Show is always held in March. I’ve driven home from the show in sleet, and in snow, and bundled up in a winter coat. This year I drove home with the windows down, went right out to the garden and planted the braising mix seed pack that I bought at the show. Gardening season is officially here. Early.

Only two weeks after my cochlear implant surgery, the swelling had subsided enough that I could be “activated.” Last Thursday I spent a couple of hours with my audiologist getting the device turned on. There’s a tiny string of electrodes coiled inside my cochlea. It’s powered by a small, battery-powered device that I wear propped behind my ear, and that is connected to my head with a magnet. It looks like a hearing aid. An external microphone picks up sounds and sends signals through the magnet, to the electrodes which zap my auditory nerve. The nerve sends a message to the brain. Sound! But, it’s nothing like the sound that comes naturally through the eardrum. The brain has to learn what these signals mean. It’s different for everyone.

I’ve worked with my audiologist, Nancy, for the last year. She’s an attractive woman, my age, with a clear and steady voice. I could immediately understand what she was saying! However, with the CI turned on, she sounded like Minnie Mouse. This was to be expected, but still disconcerting! With time, voices become more natural. By the next day, Steve was sounding like Miss Piggy, which was, if you can believe it, an improvement. It can take months for voices to become normal. I went through this with my left ear, and am now hearing full, rich sound through that CI. Each ear is different, and success on one side doesn’t guarantee success on the other. However, I’m confident that in a short time, weeks, maybe, I’ll no longer be hearing cartoon characters. My work is to listen, listen, listen. I’m watching captioned movies, I’m listening to the radio – it’s astounding that I can hear the radio at all, let alone understand the voices. And I must say, that I find it rather amusing that the sonorous and serious talking heads on NPR sound like Kermit the Frog talking to Alvin and the Chipmunks.

The CI is bringing in a lot of input that my brain has yet to make sense of. There’s a constant background noise of what sounds like a whiny bathroom fan. But, yesterday, walking across the yard, I heard a cluck. A definite, low-pitched cluck. I’m not sure who was talking.

When I turned around and looked, their beaks were closed.

On the other hand, the goats have decided to be very helpful with my auditory rehab.

Thanks, Caper.

I’m heading out to the Boston Flower and Garden Show this morning. I’m looking forward to seeing the display of flower arrangement “hats” that were inspired by the royal wedding. I’m looking forward to the pristine garden displays with every plant fully and perfectly in bloom. But, I have to confess that I really go for the vendor area. The last time there I found socks embroidered with chickens. And I’m hoping to buy interesting seeds for the vegetable garden. But not too many. Really.

Meanwhile, I have a few miscellaneous things to share with you.

The winner of The Chicken Encyclopedia is Stephenie (she blogs about homeschooling in Cajun country and has been giving lots of TLC to a blind hen.) Thanks to everyone for entering. It was very interesting to hear your questions.

I know that some of you are filling Easter baskets. Please consider adding Tillie Lays An Egg to the Easter bunny’s gifts. It lasts longer than chocolate!

There are still a few opening for the March 31 Chicken Keeping Workshop here at Little Pond Farm. I’d love to meet you!

Remember my post about the best way to hard-cook eggs and how steaming is THE way if you are using very fresh eggs? I use a pot and a steamer basket, but check out how cute this is! Looks just like Tillie, doesn’t she?