Flowers for Free

A three legged dog head-butted me in the face while I was darting through the alley by my house, pruning sheers in hand.  Dharma would say the universe might have been telling me I'm a jerk.  Why?  I had my pruning sheers in hand because I've been collecting massive bouquets of lilacs, growing beside the road, and filling the townhouse with the sweet smell of spring.

I love fresh cut flowers (who doesn't?) but I hate, hate, hate spending the money.  I've read so many articles listing "a vase of fresh flowers" as the cheapest way to spruce up a room but, at $10.00 a pop (and that's Costco prices), with a bouquet lasting a week, maybe two, I can't bring myself to indulge.  I just can't.  I keep doing the math and calculating what kind of fabulousness I can buy if I saved $10.00 a week.  That's why I'm darting around the neighbourhood under the cloak of darkness.  Oh yeah, did I mention I do this at night?

Even with my sore nose (stupid dog), I'm happy.  Because look at all the lilacs . . .

In our bedroom:

 In my office:

 In the kitchen:

In the living room:

I haven't wanted to take them from the tree in our backyard, because I want it to stay all purdy for our view.  That's probably why the universe saw fit to punish me: we have our own lilac tree but I'm thieving them instead (not from anyone's property, though, so I'm not all bad).

And here's the bee I brought in with the lilacs.  Another sign, no doubt. Too bad, universe.  I win.