Thankful for the Gift of Spring!

Outside the Front Door

We only had a little bit of winter, if you can even call it winter.  Mostly milder days, a good bit of rain (enough to create a small lake in the backyard for a few days).  Seems like just a few weeks were below freezing. 

The grey rainy days chilled my bones but felt good, like the right kind of rest.  A state of suspended animation, close - so close - but not there yet.  We stretched our way from holidays through illness and then, quite beautifully, into the start of spring.

My yard and garden surprised me like they do every year, sharing blooms in the most unexpected places, giving color every which where. 

I hope to have a chance to wander outside with the camera this week and capture some of the ephemeral moments of beauty, although I have missed getting pictures of some of it already - the yellow and purple crocuses, the full blooms of the wisteria and the bridal veil.   I have been amazingly fortunate to enjoy the colors from inside the windows, and completely appreciate this gift of spring in 2012!

Today: I woke up late, luxuriating in the weekend sleeping in.  I went to yoga and had an amazing hot yoga class that left me trembling in the very best way.  Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! cracked me up as I rested with 32 ounces of water and some almonds.  A second shower and I am ready to go!

Now: Off to the grocery and then home to make a Baked Alaska.  Family Dinner will be Grilled Chicken / Pimento Cheese sandwiches, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, and Baked Alaska.  We are wrapping up Asa and Jaya's birthday celebrations tonight.  Baked Alaska seems like just the ticket to celebrate.

Delicate Summer

At our house, summer is well and truly here.

When walking outside during the day, I sometimes get overwhelmed with a feeling of sheer heaviness. The air is heavy with relentlessly increasing heat, leaves are wilting, my hair sticks to my neck and my shirt weighs down my shoulders. I feel the weight of the heat on my back. I feel the weight of the heat on my spirit.

I walk to the shady side of the yard and immediately feel a relief as I pass under the trees. The flowers in the garden remain under the hot hot sun, but they seem to glow with an amazing and delicate beauty. They look like the very epitome of freshness as they face the sky and happily soak up the sun. Nothing heavy about it.

Stepping out from the protection of the trees, I feel the sun instantly hit me, heavy on my skin, glaring in my eyes. I make myself move through the dense air to where the shade garden welcomes me. Through the gate and under the pergola, the sky looks lighter, bluer. I hear the birds singing and the fountain splashing, and as I take in the beauty of the flower beds in the indirect glow of the day, I am struck by the delicate designs, peacefully coming into bloom.

Summer Sun
Robert Louis Stevenson (1885)

Great is the sun, and wide he goes
Through empty heaven with repose;
And in the blue and glowing days
More thick than rain he showers his rays.

Though closer still the blinds we pull
To keep the shady parlour cool,
Yet he will find a chink or two
To slip his golden fingers through.

The dusty attic spider-clad
He, through the keyhole, maketh glad;
And through the broken edge of tiles
Into the laddered hay-loft smiles.

Meantime his golden face around
He bares to all the garden ground,
And sheds a warm and glittering look
Among the ivy’s inmost nook.

Above the hills, along the blue,
Round the bright air with footing true,
To please the child, to paint the rose,
The gardener of the World, he goes.

Spring has surely sprung!

The beautiful white rose that was hidden by shrubs last year,
blooming this year. :)

The garden is really in bloom. More flowers come out and up every day, and even these pictures won't truly do it justice. ADR has been doing lots of garden work and this spring it is really paying off. Just for grins, take a look.

Lady Banks, lovely as ever.

Azaleas by the front porch.

And beside Stephanie's House.

Welcome Spring!

Halloween and Purple Rain

We woke up this morning to a grey spooky very Halloween like day. Not to hot, not too cool, a little rain misting, clouds everywhere. I walked around the house to capture some of the purple rain and see what might be seen as we came to the end of the summer. Would there be color anywhere? Or only the grey of a spooky day?

I have a picture full post to update you all on what I found, just here, just around. First, the house has lots of color in it - look, for example, at the "haint blue" porch ceiling! How about those freshly stained shingles? We are looking pretty snazzy, right?

Truly, I love the grey-green along with a fabulous Philadelphia Cream and that wonderful Purple Rain accent. In fact, the grey day seems like purple rain is falling - and it is all around the house, too! And look here - a fab ORANGE pumpkin, thanks to that loving Mr. Bryant.

Then, the old old philodendron, in the Purple Rain pot that was a happy accident - thank you ADR!

Around the side by the "natural area," some lovely color coming into the trees - and the bushes. Look at that spooky fog!

And then, much to my surprise as I came around the corner, I saw a yellow rose, hiding in the garden.

That got me started looking for more treasures as I moved down the garden path.

Wonderful greens and browns made the garden look rich, even with the foggy grey day.


Tiny white flowers with beautiful fern-y leaves.


Wisps of burgundy foliage and pink flowers.


Delicate light green leaves with bright tiny reds.


Then another hidden rose, this one a beautiful perfect pink. What a wonderful reason to smile, as the flowers gather for us in the fall!


And then, around the side, down the narrow path to see if anything spooky might be found here...


But instead, more lovely blossoms waiting to be admired!

Lovely everywhere, spooky day, fabulous Halloween wishes to you all!

Wordless Wednesday 3-11-2009

Lookie Lookie

Purchased for my mother-in-law, from BIROSE on ETSY! Fantastic!