Breakfast on the Deck

You have to look carefully to see it but a hawk dropped by yesterday to nosh on something I'd rather not try to identify.

He gave me sharp-eyes glares while I clicked away from the kitchen window.

When he lost patience, he picked up his nosh and flew off to entertain some other neighbor.

Winter's last Hurrah

Such a difference one day makes.



Twenty-six centimeters of snow in one day.
the previous day I was out back planning changes for the garden and then winter decided to sneak back briefly.
It's almost April--it has to be brief.


A bunny hopped over to check out the solar light.
Perhaps he needed it to check his Farmer's almanac.

Same Time Next Spring

Here are the firsts:


First time the feeder is filled



First shoots

First robin.

For weeks I stood anxiously at the window thinking-- can't wait to get out in the garden. Hurry up and melt, damned snow.

Finally the snow melts and I slog outside.

I'm glued ankle-deep in mud, thrilled just to be out there and, slowly, very slowly realization sinks in.

Oh.my.god. There's a lot of work to do here. Why didn't I do that final weeding in the fall? What was I thinking?

Never mind--there's whole wonderful summer to get things in order.

The Winter Monster is Melting

I like the look of this ancient creature slowly dripping into nothingness.

Perhaps the earliest alligators looked like this.

Or, perhaps I am having a touch of spring fever.

Christmas Card Weather

Yesterday I was thinking of having the snow tires removed.
Perhaps not yet.

The view is from my back door down the deck to the garden. The fish pond is at the left and I am longing to visit the fish.
Trouble is, my bones aren't as tough anymore, so I wait.
Once there is a serious thaw I can safely get out to the shed and set out the bird feeders once again.
I can hear the Cardinals singing their songs every day, but they aren't a cheap date--it's an entree of sunflower seeds or forget it.

The garden clock looks pretty and is probably ready for little excitement. With the birds trickling back into town and the feeder coming out soon the clock will have plenty of company.

Winter Picker-uppers

Today's menu is a mix of snow, freezing rain and eventually just plain rain.
It's tough riding out the last of winter and I hang on to any morale builders in my arsenal



This is my pared- down growing center, tucked away in the laundry room.
I dug up the garlic chives last fall to have on hand for cooking. I like the resilient weed laced in there.
The petunia seeds could do with thinning but I'm waiting a bit until they get taller and I'll carefully remove the crowders with a pencil tip and plant them in another container. This system works well for me.

These two orchids have been blooming their little hearts out since before Christmas. they don't like the growing lights but they love this corner window at the kitchen counter. Happy to see your smiling faces, girls.

My Christmas amaryllis produced a triple bloom,tossed it away and started again. What a trooper.


Look closely at the Maple tree and in the center you'll see one stubborn leaf hanging on with fierce determination.
Every year the same thing. Same place.
That pretty well sums up my view of winter.