Only the Beginning

I stepped out on the porch this morning, just after sunrise, and it was not freezing which is a good way to start the day. So while that was good, even better was the sight of Sandy's magnolia tree in bloom, a nearly full moon in the pale blue sky and the tinge of pink on the horizon. Glorious.

It is nearly Spring, or so the calendar says. Only the beginning of several months of exceptional beauty! I can hardly wait for it to unfold, but wait we shall do, just as we did last year. A few days ago I realized that it was on this very day that we bought the house on Campbell Street, after I spotted it from the church parking lot. Should you have not read about that fateful day, here is what I wrote.  

Fast forward a year from then and not only is there the beginning of a shop in the basement, there is a shop in the basement, the best one of Bruce's life! And it is most certainly the only time in our lives that we have had a hyacinth pop out of the ground amongst last autumn's fallen leaves. 

It was super fun watching and wondering how it would unfold and what color it would be. It reminds me of my old Candy Striper uniform when I was in Melbourne and volunteered at the hospital. It was the first time that I'd ever heard anything about taking x-rays and at the time never imagined I would spend 35 years of my life doing so. Good times.

Although we have two bushes of forsythia, ours are not exactly prime specimens because they are mostly shaded. Nonetheless, the appearance of bright yellow in the landscape is certainly a cheery sight. 

All over town large bright yellow bushes are to be found. What is so fascinating to me is once things begin, changes seem to happen lightening fast. One day these were bare branches and before you know it they are clothed in white.

I have always loved flowering trees and in Orlando that means the bright pink and shockingly yellow tabebuia trees that are a harbinger of spring. And while we do have a few other flowering trees there, it is nothing like here where all the trees have not been replaced by houses, or roads, or shopping centers. You get my drift. So when I am just walking in our neighborhood it brings me great joy to see all of the changes associated with the season. Yup, seasons Florida friends. They do exist! Says Gail who has endured quite a few cold days this winter!

Speaking of neighborhoods and seasons, here's something I thought you might find fun. Only a month ago I posted this photo and suggested you might want to count the birds you see.

By my count, something like sixteen. Now a month or so later and this is what it looks like today.

Hard to find even the one I saw moving around! It most definitely makes for more interesting days is my thought. Yesterday afternoon it was warm, at least by NC standards and I began cleaning out my old pots from last year. My little neighbor Farah, four years old, popped over and wanted to hang out and so we did. Her energy and enthusiasm were a welcome distraction. She did her ABC's and counting, summersaults upstairs on the wood floors and spun around like a little top. I'd planned on writing yesterday afternoon but when opportunity for joy happens you go with it. Coming over to find her wayward daughter, Chastity thanked me for keeping her occupied while she made dinner. Farah then took her mom and brother Jude into the house, giving them a tour. It was all very fun and so nice to be outdoors and not cold!

The grape hyacinth are spreading in their little bed and popping up in the yard which has been neat. The back yard is filled with little violets along with tiny blue flowers, no bigger than a small fingernail. Perfectly formed though, which is so miraculous to me.

The thrift/creeping phlox is happening!

Woo hoo! What color will these tulips in the back yard be? Such an adventure.

The rescue plant from Lowes is looking so sweet. I saw that another name for this flower is buttercup which is super sweet, but it reminds me of a ruffled skirt. What do you think?

My window sill, complete with a little bear that a vendor at the flea market gave me when I picked it up. There is not much mention of London in the mountains, so it was a very nice surprise. The new curtains.

It is such a little thing but having a windowsill has brought me happiness and I will take all that I can. We went to D'Anna and David's for lunch on Saturday and her windowsills, yes sills, are filled with little treasures. We drive through Andrews to get to their house and from the looks of this, you might imagine the town was going to be a gem.

While it excels in natural beauty, the town is very sad with so many closed businesses, including the most recent closure of Walgreens. The town leaders are not giving up, but it is most definitely a hard climb back to the vibrancy of yesteryear. 

David wanted advice from Bruce about the new garage he is having built.

You might note that Bruce is wearing short sleeves, however, it was a good thing he had his jacket with him as it was much needed. For the whole week there were warnings about a big storm to come on Saturday night, and while Bruce and I had no damage, those who live in the mountains had some downed trees and power outages overnight. It did wake us, but not for too long.

Anyway, as is her custom she is very hospitable.

I told her not to go to any trouble, but my plea fell on deaf ears. Perhaps I mentioned earlier how they took over Mark and Mary Beth's chickens, building a fancy coop for them. She's fallen in love with the chickens, naming them all.  While opening the egg box in the photo below,  I asked her to stop what she was doing. 

We were the beneficiaries of their egg production. She showed me a few in the box.

I've learned a lot about eggs since we have been here, knowing multiple people with chickens, and one of the things I've learned is that there is no difference between brown and white eggs except that the white ones are bleached for the commercial market.  Now I know!

Just outside Andrews on the drive to their home, there were lots of blooming trees and a property loaded with blooming daffodils.

Apparently there are more to come. Speaking of daffodils, Robin brought little vases, actually soy sauce bottles, filled with daffodils from her garden for the church potluck. Oh yes please, I will take some home!

Mentioning Bruce's shop and of course you have already heard of the wonderful things he's had the time and pleasure of making, the latest is the chair refinishing which is coming along nicely, albeit slowly as he has lots of other stuff happening. As you may recall it looked like this when he began. 

A few weeks later and here is where he stands with the finishing and staining up next.

The rockers he made work great and the fabric for the chair we found at a local upholstery shop. More to come when it is on the front porch!

I am nearing the finish line on the quilt I have been working on for more than a month.

Having fun with friends on St. Patrick's day.

Laura's hair, turned a bright red in the sunshine flooding into the shop!  The fellow in the hat to Laura's right,  Harry Hearne, is a local potter and pickleball guy, who was telling us about his space at the Grove Park Inn where his pottery is sold; should you ever visit, check out his wonderful work.

Matt and Tom are visiting Malta. Anyone ever been there? The pictures are really something. We used to do some traveling in our past, but for the most part, we are leaving it up to our kids to tell us about the places they go. Once again, Jonathan will be spending a month in Japan for work with Alissa joining him for the last two weeks. The twins are not much for traveling, but with any luck, David and Michelle will be coming for a visit in May. Bill and Fallon had their first date night since Christian was born with her Mom and Dad taking care of their precious son. All is well with our family.

Lastly, a walk in the park. Seemingly no bluebirds for us this year because despite the presence of not one, not two, but three bluebird boxes in our yard, we never see them which is weird because I see them every time I am visiting the park, only three or so blocks away.

Plum bush!! Holy cow they are a great color.

The nandina bushes are so colorful it is such a wonder to me.

And seeing this crow bathing in the river, I was reminded of the huge ones in Vancouver, about the size of this one.

In Vancouver they can be very aggressive, and because of their large size, the time that one popped me on the head twice was memorable!

Before I close, here is a photo that showed up when I was switching computers. Taken years ago, the two girls in the booth were some of my classmates from community college.

So many new readers only know me as a blogger, but long ago, and not so far away, this is what I did.

My how times have changed! Except for my love of photography. Still going strong.

The beginning of spring, celebrating new life, what is not to like??

your friend,

Gail