Spring?

 While the calendar tells us we are now in the season of spring, the outside temperature isn’t cooperating…

We have had more nights of below freezing temperatures, and I’m not sure the blueberries will recover.  They had just begun to bloom.

I may have included a post with pictures of the amaryllis that was in bloom into January.  We are still on that “amaryllis watch.”  Look at this!

New green leaves have sprouted!  This is after another leaf kept growing and gave us another stem of blossoms.  What do you think will happen here?  I will keep you posted!

Are there springtime flowers blooming where you are?

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

 Hello, friends!  This is the day for the “wearin’ o’ the green.”  Do you have something green to wear?

Blessings and wishes for good fortune to you!

Have you had a good week?  One morning I was actually awake early enough to see this sunrise…

One day we took a trip to a nearby town.  Actually, it’s the town where I graduated from high school.

Not to tell my age; however, I was a student there during these traumatic times.

Although we have had temperatures below freezing several nights this week…and more are predicted in the near future…we are enjoying the signs that spring is on the way!

The Husband has mowed the lawn, taking special care not to mow the violets!

For those of you who are college basketball fans, March Madness is underway.  There have already been some huge surprises in the outcome of several games.  Do you have a favorite?

Have a good weekend!

It’s Pi Day!

 As I mentioned in the last post, today, 3.14, is Pi Day!  This is how we honored this day!

Blueberry pie, from our own blueberries from the past season!  Partially thawed, they make a great pie!

Our temperature just escaped freezing overnight; however, more low temperatures are predicted for tonight and tomorrow night.  

Did you enjoy any pie today?

March Madness….

 We are fans of college basketball here.  Of course, the Vols and Lady Vols are our favorites, though we watch other games at times, especially at this time of year.

Sunday was the announcement of the teams that have been selected to play in the NCAA tournament this season.  The Vols have been named a #4 seed.  Are you a basketball fan?  Is your favorite team in this list? 

It isn’t unusual to find these in the grocery store during March…

When they are no longer blooming, and the green begins to turn yellow/brown, I will cut this back and plant the contents outside.  Sometimes I have luck with this, and other times I’m not as lucky.

March is marching right along!  I wish you good wishes for the days ahead!  Remember…3.14!  Pi Day!  Do you have a pie in your future tomorrow? 

Before and after…

 This is looking down our street before the wind and rain began…

While we did have some rather strong winds, along with some heavy rain, the “after” picture would look the same.

The trees in bloom on property behind ours.

There are signs all around that spring is coming.  It seems a little early to me.  We have had a late frost/freeze that damaged blossoms in the past.  

While many are dealing with snow and ice, we have sunshine and temperatures in the sixties.  

Did March come in like a lion or a lamb where you are?

A long time…

 Well, friends.  It has been a long time since I’ve posted anything on this blog.  We’ve come through Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and numerous other occasions worthy of celebrating. 

We were on amaryllis watch here in December.  

Are you able to see that there are three stem possibilities for blossoms?  One was very, very short!  This is what we have from that one short stem now!

It has grown and is going to give us blossoms in February!  This was the first time I’ve had one with a waxed bulb, and I wondered how it would produce.  

The Valentine’s Day roses are still looking lovely!

It’s time to add tulips for spring!

Mardi Gras is February 21.  That calls for a King Cake!

First time to use this recipe, and we were happy with the results!

Sending good wishes to you!

A new series…

 A number of years ago, when the family was younger, we enjoyed watching “All Creatures Great and Small” on PBS.  We became quite interested in following the story of a Yorkshire (UK) veterinarian, James Herriot.  A side note…we’re enjoying the current version that is shown on our local PBS station during the early part of the year for several weeks…not nearly long enough!

We enjoyed reading the books from which the series was based.  Some years later, I was very excited to discover this children’s book…

The story of Mrs. Pickering was made quite interesting by the presence of her three Basset hounds and Debbie, a stray cat who came to visit a few times a week.

Ruth Brown is the illustrator, and she has drawn some lovely pictures of the English countryside.

Even the snow-covered town is especially appealing.

It seems that Mr. Herriot needed to make a call at Mrs. Pickering’s home on Christmas Day.  Debbie was there with a tiny kitten beside her.  It was apparent that Debbie wasn’t well, and she didn’t linger long.

Mrs. Pickering named the kitten Buster, and the book tells of the energy he brought to the household with his efforts to involve those Bassets in his games.  Buster was quite the gift for Christmas!

Speaking of which…as I compose this post, there are sixteen more days left before Christmas Day!  Be merry!