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For any long time readers of this blog, you might have realized that I love taking pictures of raindrops. They are just so fascinating and beautiful! The weather cleared this afternoon and the drops were glistening.
They were especially eye catching on the hellebores. Next in the Spring line-up: purple Globe alliums!
After a rough morning, the woods were calling. We hadn't been out for several days and according to the forecast, April is going to make sure it gets in all of its showers in the last week of the month. So we donned our raincoats and were off.
Tiny leaves were opening all over - oak, maple, beech. Moss was looking fluorescent. Baby fern fronds were unfurling. As we passed a dead tree along the trail, I heard a dull tapping noise. I looked up and didn't see anything, then looked down and saw large fresh wood chips on the forest floor. Looking more closely at the tree, I saw a hole. Realizing that a woodpecker was inside working on a nest (we had this experience two Springs ago), we stood silently and watched. Minutes later, I heard a woodpecker's call coming closer through the woods. It got closer and suddenly flew to the top of the dead tree. It then spied us, flew to a nearby branch, perched and gave a warning call. The tapping inside the tree stopped abruptly and a pointed dagger like beak appeared. I could only see a red head and a black beady eye, but it was pretty clear that it was a Pileated Woodpecker. The other bird flew off and I am pretty sure it was a Flicker. We waited a couple of minutes, but the bird did not show anymore of his head. Can you find him below?
Some great nature sightings are about knowing where to look, but some of them are just about being in the right place at the right time. Luck. Today we had good luck.
Hi Everybody, I think I've been avoiding this space because I feel like I can't capture all of the new green beauty of Spring that is appearing everywhere and so I don't even want to try. I can take decent pictures of autumn leaves, pinecones in snow, the little babe's feet in water, but I just can't capture the green of Spring. It looks too fluorescent and glossed out in all of my photos. So here is an attempt at the warm light that was softly illuminating our backyard this morning. The dewdrops were sparkling and I just couldn't help myself.
And because everyone loves a picture of a happy dog, here is Wallace. He is avoiding eye contact because he hates having his picture taken. A modest handsome Romanian.
Our cherry tree has been in full bloom since Saturday. Lovely white clusters against a clear blue sky, but again, I just wasn't feeling up to snuff with my camera skills. Some things are just better experienced in person. So here is a half-assed attempt on a gray morning with poor light.
I hope that everyone had a nice holiday, if Easter is something that you celebrate, and if not, hopefully you had a lovely Spring weekend anyway. I had time with family, time with my horse, time knitting, time in nature, and so it was a good one. I don't like showing pictures of myself on here, but the little babe took a nice one of Frank and I on Saturday. When the vet was out for Spring shots last week, she said that he looks great for being 28 years old. That means I am doing my job and that makes me very happy.
(The overalls I'm wearing are my Rosie's and I love them!)
My knitted item stack is getting pretty high in my closet and I would like to find a new home for some items. I made this shawl with Quince & Co.'s 100% wool Chickadee yarn in a pretty butter yellow. It is a small shawl, it works well worn bandana style around the neck. The measurements are about 46" across and about 20" from the top to bottom point. There are four "stripes" across the bottom. While it is wool, it is a soft DK weight yarn, and it is slightly stretchy and a good medium weight for Spring and Fall. It has been lightly worn. There are no stains or tears. We are a smoke free home.
Asking $15 plus shipping. Please email me at [email protected] if interested.
My Little Thing today is thousands of pink petals. Magnolias have never really caught my eye - they seem too short lived to really appreciate and I always seem to see them on their way out, looking dingy brown. But this grove of trees was spectacular! Soft pink petals against a bright blue sky - a beautiful Spring display. The bad weather has now moved in, but I know that more flowers are on the way and the rain will help my new seeds to grow. The grass seems to green and grow at an amazing speed now. I heard the first lawn mower on Friday and I'm not too happy about that season. I will be letting mine grow a bit, letting the violets and dandelions have a chance to bloom. They are necessary for the little babe's bouquets.
What little thing made you happy today?
Not much was blooming at the arboretum on Monday, but there were still interesting things to see.
False Spirea - I just love the electric color on the new leaves!
Chinese Lilac - The contrast between the large white lenticels and bright cinnamon colored bark caught my eye.
Rose variety - Isn't it such a study of opposites to consider how this evil looking vine will create silky soft petals?
Cinnamon Maple - Peeling bark is always fun - the little babe just can't help herself to a piece.
It was an unseasonably warm day - near 70 F. It will not stay consistently warm like this for a while, but the sun did feel good on my face and it was nice to not have to even wear a coat. Strange, but nice. Spring is here.
When I went to retrieve our old dog from his walk about in the back forty today, I discovered a dead Cedar Waxwing lying on the pine needles. I could not see any physical injury and it must have happened recently. The little babe and I had to run to dance class, so we covered it with a red plastic sled lying nearby (always good to have in the yard, regardless of the season). When we came home later, we admired it, took some photos, and then presented it to the neighbor kids on a piece of tree bark. There aren't many people who would appreciate such a gift, but I knew they would enjoy looking at it and not many people get to see a Cedar Waxwing up close. Waxwings normally travel in loud noisy flocks, eating berries. They are exotic looking birds, with a yellow belly, dramatic black eye mask, and bright yellow tips on the tail feathers. The adults may also have drops of red wax on their secondary flight feathers, but this bird did not, which I read is normal also.
I will add Cedar Waxwing to my 2019 bird list, but hopefully I will see a live one this year too.