Dreams of Spring

Each year, there’s a short span of days when winter is over… but spring is still asleep.

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The pristine snow slowly disappears and we’re left with a drab and dreary landscape. It’s bleak. We long for warm breezes and cheerful colors.

While we wait, we take comfort in the subtle signs that spring is emerging – early morning songs from returning birds… the appearance of tiny green shoots peeking through the soil…

More days pass and then – almost overnight – barren tree branches have exploded with leaves, the grass is remarkably greener, and the fragrance of lilacs drifts in through the open door.

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Recently, while dreaming of spring flowers, I made some jewelry inspired by lilacs and violets and purple iris!

Here are a couple of examples.

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Wishing you a Happy Spring!

( What have you been up to? 🙂 )

Hugs,

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I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Click the envelope to leave a comment or to read what the other kids are saying! 😀

Turtle Time

Every spring . . .

there’s a little parade going through our back yard.

Well, I guess it’s more of a slow march.

In the waning days of May, a couple of very large turtles leave the small pond behind our house and then cut through our land, on their way to spend the summer in a pond across the street.

We’ve lived here for 3 decades now, but each time we witness this event, it’s just as thrilling as it was on the very first occasion. It usually happens rather unexpectedly. One of us will suddenly notice a majestic creature inching his way up from the tall grass.

Some years – including this one – he’s wearing a little coat of duckweed that he picked up on his way out of the water.

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Although he doesn’t really seem to mind, I often wish I could give him a light shower – maybe with a watering can – to rid him of his “coat”. I don’t dare do it, though. These turtles prefer that you keep your distance! We stand pretty far away to get photos.

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They’re fascinating to watch… so determined. If something scares them, they will just stop and draw up their arms and legs, waiting calmly until they feel comfortable enough to resume the journey.

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He’s now about a third of the way to his destination.

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I think he’s smiling at us! (Thank heaven for the telephoto lens.)

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Finally, he heads out of our yard. It’s at this point that we always hold our breath – he has to cross the street!

We keep watching and are elated when he reaches the other side and disappears into the woods.

Once autumn arrives, he’ll reverse his tracks and come back home again!

Hugs,

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I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Click the envelope to leave a comment or to find out what the other “kids” are saying! 😀

Spring-a-ling

BunnyYellowFlowersSpring is the theme for this week’s Lucky Seven!

I’ve found 7 great quotations on the subject! 😀

They cover everything about this colorful season – from the unpredictability and the irony to the joy and the humor!

The last one is my favorite.

Which one do you like best?

First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us,
And now before the eye can focus – Crocus.
~Lilja Rogers

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

If you’ve never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Terri Guillemets

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. ~Doug Larson

Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. ~W. Earl Hall

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”
~Robin Williams

Hugs,

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Lucky Seven – Signs of Spring

When Spring begins, it often seems as if Mother Nature is toying with us . . .

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One weekend it’s sunny and gorgeous with temperatures in the 70’s. Then, suddenly, the temperatures drop to the 40’s, with biting winds and flooding rains. No coat is needed one day; a hat and mittens are required the next! It’s enough to make you feel like a yo-yo.

What can we do to cope with such trauma? Well, we could console ourselves by searching for “Signs of Spring”! 🙂

This week’s Lucky Seven includes some of my favorites. Please add yours, too!

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7 Sights, Scents, Sounds, and Signs of Spring:

1. Windows that are open and the scent of spring flowers wafting through the house.

2. The sound of the spring peepers! These tiny little frogs have an uncanny ability to begin their chorus on the first day of spring!

3. Pussy willows and forsythia

4. Packing away the heavy coats for “sweater weather”!

5. Birds chirping merrily at sunrise.

6. Easter lilies and jelly beans at the supermarket

7. Finally, the most comical sign that spring has sprung is that guy who seems to be at every shopping mall on the first mild day. He’s very easy to spot! While most of us have left our coats at home, this guy is sporting short-shorts, a tank top and flip-flops. We always giggle a little, and conclude that he has that outfit waiting by the door, to slip into the moment the temperature hits 60 degrees! We always wonder what he’ll do on a day that’s 95!

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What makes you think, “It’s Spring!” 🙂

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Friday Favorites – Signs of Spring!

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When hot cross buns appear on the shelves of bakeries and grocery stores, it’s a sure sign of spring! I prefer that they be light on the candied citron and heavy on the raisins. Too much of the candied fruit can ruin a good thing! 😉

daffodil It occurred to me that I’ve never actually baked hot cross buns myself. Out of curiosity I searched for a recipe and here’s one that sounds pretty good!

Seeing hot cross buns reminds me of the nursery rhyme of the same name. Originally a street vendor’s cry, it was eventually set to music. When my youngest daughter was learning to play the recorder, it was one of the early tunes she played. We’d often have quite a giggle during her practice sessions when, on the spur of the moment, we’d break into a very animated duet and belt out those lyrics, Ethel Merman-style! 😀

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Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns!
One a penny two a penny,
Hot cross buns.
If you have no daughters,
Give them to your sons!
One a penny two a penny,
Hot cross buns.

See you Monday with new questions and next week’s giveaway! Don’t forget to change your clocks!

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