Catnip Dreams

Mum has planted catnip in the garden , she's says it will make me feel all "warm and fuzzy".
Heck I'm warm and fuzzy already !

A Token Of Love

My sweet grandson is in the National FFA whilst in his junior year of high school.
The National FFA Organization (also known as Future Farmers of America) is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Each year, the students manage the greenhouse, growing and marketing plants, and vegetables. The funds they raise help send the members to Statewide and Nationwide conventions.

My daughter stopped by the greenhouse this morning, when I looked out onto the porch, she had left me a little treat.
It's good to share.

The Stuff Of Life

If you've spent any time at all outdoors this past week, it's hard not to notice the layer of sticky, yellow film covering everything in sight.
Pollen.........

It's the very essential of new life, a wonderful thing, unless of course you are an allergy sufferer.
Rains came Saturday, and washed a whole lot of it away, cleared the air, and yet you can still write your name on the car hoods.

The flowers and bees of course are loving it...

Rather a small trade-off for such beauty.

I hope your weekend was a sneeze-free one.

In Anticipation

The Hummingbird feeders have been thoroughly cleaned, filled and hung beneath the tree, in anticipation of the "spotters" traveling through.
We probably won't see many until the weather warms permanently in the middle of Spring, but with temperatures already in the 80 degree range, they may be arriving sooner rather than later.

The Bluebird boxes have already shown activity of feathering and nesting, as have the little Carolina Wren houses and the Robins nests.
It's all so exciting.

Oh, there's music in the forests
And there's music in the glen,
As the birds are warbling greetings
To the spring that's come again.
All their piping is so merry
That the woodlands seem to ring,
With the praises of the birdsongs
For the coming of the spring.
Join the joyous woodland chorus
And raise high your voice in cheer,
Join the birdsongs in thanksgiving
For the springtime of the year!

Mothering Sunday

Tomorrow is Mother's Day in England.
Mothering Sunday has been celebrated in the United Kingdom on the fourth Sunday in Lent, since at least the 16th century. Since we celebrate the day at different times of the year, England being in March, and the USA in May, I feel it is only appropriate to mention both of them during the year.

This post is dedicated to all our wonderful mums, without whose unselfish, love and devotion our lives would be forever changed.

"Happy Mother's Day" mum, I hope your day is filled with much happiness.

A Mother holds her children's hands for a while .......their hearts forever."

Who ran to help me when I fell, And would some pretty story tell, Or Kiss the place to make it well ? My mother."

~ Anne Taylor

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.

~Tenneva Jordan

A Bit O' Blarney

May The Luck Of The Irish Be With You On St. Patrick's Day.....

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

~ Irish blessing.

Before playing the video please turn off the PLAYLIST at the bottom of the page: just click the LARGE Round button.

The Beauty of the Emerald Isle, a treat for your wee Irish roots.

Music : "The Blood Of Cu Chulainn" by Mychael Danna & Jeff Danna

Video : Shastashene

Share And Share Alike

Despite having shared the flower boxes with Oliver cat these last few weeks…. our Vinca is finally blooming and looking healthy again.

We were happy that Oliver had decided to quit lounging around in the flower boxes…. and then this morning I went out to make sure they had water – and there he was standing in the center looking at me.
I could have swore he had a smile upon his face.
>^..^<

Awakening

Now is the time of the illuminated woods.......
when every leaf glows like a tiny lamp.

~ John Burroughs

No Takers

Even the birds stayed inside today.
Rain washing away Winter's grime.

Springing To Life

With balmy temperatures reaching seventy degrees today, and the warmer weather this past week , the Bradford Pear trees are showing off their Spring blooms.
It may read Winter on the calender, but Spring is not holding back.

Spring the Sweet Spring.

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king,
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
The palm and may make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!

~Thomas Nashe (1600)

Froggie Went A-Courtin'

We have a new visitor taking up residence at the pond, a young frog.
He's been making his amorous calls day and night, summoning any eligible female within earshot to venture his way.
Last week, I witnessed a new croaking sound, followed by another, apparently his persistence has paid off.

Cold, wet leaves
Floating on moss-colored water
And the croaking of frogs -
Cracked bell-notes in the twilight.

~ The Pond, Amy Lowell

Signs Of Spring

Despite the horrific weather we've all experienced at the end of the week, the sun has returned.
Spring shall not be deterred, the flowers and buds are once again giving color to the Winter landscape.

I took a little tumble down the stairs this past Friday, a clumsy slip on the carpeted edge, and off I went.
A surreal feeling, I could have swore to passing the March Hare on the way down.

Those of you that visit here often, know that I have been recovering all year long from knee surgery. Nothing major, actually quite a common procedure, yet the getting back to normal, has been a huge endeavour.
Of course, the fall has now set that back , and I'm once again gaited like a wooden-legged pirate.
No Spring in this step.

At least the Hyacinths have made me smile.

Renaissance

On top of the earth
where green touches the hills ~
in spring, in summer, with daffodils,
with dandelions scattered through untilled fields,
with waterfalls and ferny fronds
companioning winding creeks; and
grassy knolls surrounding sunlit ponds...

That is where my heart thrives ~
among dahlias, lilacs, and rosy thorns
scenting life with fragrant morns,
and gentle nights of rounded moons,
inhaling reminiscent blooms
of many lost, yet, joyful Junes...

Warming seasons created to
make lips smile, hearts leap,
feet dance to earthy song;
and earth's turning, ever-moving
old winter right along...

'Til spring emerges, and summer follows
into every nook, into every hollow,
with greening leaf and budding flower
bestowed by Mother Nature's power..

An overwhelming gift of rarest beauty,
a rejuvenation, a resurrection of life ~
when earth renews, when earth revives...
Yes, that is when my heart truly thrives.

~ Hazelmarie Elliott