Coming Out From Under the Covers

Thankfully, we are experiencing an early spring, and I am doing OK.

Winter is not my favorite season and it often plays havoc with my mind.  Believe me, my mind is a delicate thing these days and any disruption to my brain cells can be catastrophic.   However, the gods have looked down kindly on us in the Middle Atlantic states, and said, "Yes, you who live close to Washington, DC deserve some refuge from these distasteful times so we will bestow upon you a  short, mild winter" So spring came early!!



Oh, I know it might not last, but what does?  I am smiling again. I hope you can do the same.

Crying Uncle

I am doing OK, but poor Miss Circle has had it. 





















Miss T and Vanna aren't doing much better.

 

And Marilyn is just pissed.

 

 

They say Spring is just around the corner, so girls and boys, and cats and dogs, we all have to buckle up and

we gotta Believe!

 

 

"Just remember in the winter, for beneath the bitter snow

Lies the seed, that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes a rose."

(The Rose, by Amanda McBroom)

 

 

Flying into the Sun

 

 



When spring comes, I will be OK

Some of the blogs I have read today have to do with people seeing the birds coming back to their area. Two of my favorite writers, Cro,of Magnon's Meanderings and Joanne, of Cup on the Bus wrote about their sightings of Cranes and Blue Herons.  Any sign of the promise of the coming spring brings great joy to us who have been beaten up with the storms and solitude of this wretched winter.

Due to the oversupply of bird feeders in my yard, we have become "destination point" for many species of the northeastern American continent.  One lovely thing about the snow (yes, I said lovely) is that it is a wonderful backdrop for the colors that these birds bring.  We have hundreds of Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Red-Winged Black Birds and I am always in awe of the beauty that these creatures add to the landscape.

In December of 2012, I was awakened by my husband in the morning and told to look out the window.  Sitting in the tree closest to my house sat Turkey Vultures that appeared to be looking in my window contemplating dinner.  That was not exactly a happy greeting to start the day.   I wrote about it in a post then and included was this picture.

 

Not an encouraging sight.

This year, though,  they have been replaced by more pleasant looking Pheasants.  Yes, we do see them in many of the fields and farms in my area, but never have I spotted them in my yard.  First we saw the rooster.


 
and if you have noticed my header picture, you will see his hens in the background.



He walked among the brush towards the creek which flows through our wooded area.  The ladies stuck together, I supposed discussing the merits or not of their chosen one. 

I tried to follow them with my camera, but once deeper in the trees and the bushes, their color was morphed into the background. 



Hopefully the scenes from my backyard will change soon and instead of the above, I will look out to this.



Looking forward to a season change and the sight of many Goldfinches.

Right now, though, I wish I was surrounded by Flamingos and sipping a yummy tropical drink.

Dog Days

The Magnolias are in bloom (achoo), and I am doing OK

The arrival of spring with its sunshine and longer days brings with it a renewed energy.  The snowy days are gone and we notice that nature has put the bounce back into our step.  The song birds are chirping, the squirrels are scampering around the trees, and the old groundhog has come out of his hole to check out my gardens for potential food supplies. I also just saw my first bumble bee going from flower to flower on my Azalea bush.  It is time for busy bees to do their thing.

Yes, the pleasant weather is back and all creatures great and small have come out to play.  Well most have, but maybe not my son's four year old lab, Champ.  He is not exactly a bundle of energy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Fe2tAMIAg&feature=player_detailpage#t=18s

 

His companion, Brandy, could be a little more enthusiastic also.

 

 

Get those dogs some doggie Red Bull or at least, some Vitamin Water.