Spring Has Sprung, Finally.

Alive and well!

Just been busy with the new "empty nesting" lifestyle. I've grown to enjoy it, on most days.

Hope all is well in your little kingdom.

xo

Labels: Spring

A Busy Bee

That's just what I have been, let me tell you. But, it's a good busy. 

Buzzz buzz buzz (for Raphi in South Beach, baby)!

The teenager graduates from UTK next week! Wha???? Can you believe it?

And then, two weeks after that, the kid graduates from high school!!!! Wait. Whattt????

And then we all head in different directions come June.

I'm getting a little "scurred." 

Labels:  Flowers, Graduation, Kid, Spring, Teenager

Honeysuckle Rose

Mmmmm, do you still pick the sweet drop of nectar from a honeysuckle?

I do!

Labels: Flowers, Spring, Tennessee

An Abundance

Lily of the valley.

(Scratch -n- Sniff)

Labels:  Flowers, Spring

Happy

Happy March equinox holidays. 

Happy spring.

Happy full moon.

Happy face in Dar's back yard.

.happy.

Labels: Darlene, Easter, Spring 

The Little Harpeth River

I've been riding my bicycle through the parks as weather permits. We had a lot of rain last week so I'm trying to catch up. I have passed this sign a million times and have wanted to stop and get a little history on the area; and finally I did.

The Little Harpeth runs alongside the bike path which makes for a lovely ride. On most days, I fight myself to keep moving; but yesterday I found myself once more chasing shadows. The light is so brilliant this time of year that I just had to bring my ol' point-and-shoot out and snap a few.

 I hadn't even noticed the creek bed's layers until I looked closely at this shot. 

Growing up, we had a creek down the street where us kids always ended up on hot summer days. At the time, Four-Mile Run was just about the same as this little creek, shallow enough to wade through. In the spring, I would bring tadpoles home to watch "grow." We always had buckets all over the dining room around that time. I can't really remember any frogs ever evolving--probably because either 1) my mom dumped them while we were at school, or 2) the cats ate them. Ha! I never gave it any thought, actually. Kids.

Do you remember original Levi jeans in the late 1960s? Geesh, remember how they could almost stand up by themselves when you first bought them? They needed to be washed like a million times before you could even move in them. Seriously. Ha, I distinctly remember getting my first pair; and of course, my momma wasn't about to wash something that had never even been worn! (She was kind of a funny washer--growing up during the Depression, I guess.) Well, of course we ended up in the creek that day. Can you imagine walking in new Levi's that are wet? And, remember, we had to roll them up because our parents would never dream of buying the right size so we could supposedly "grow" into them? (My short legs are still the same length as they were in the 60s! My pants were always rolled up. Still are! Ugh.) How much ya wanna bet those little legs were chaffed raw by the time I made it home! Ouchy. 

Ahhh, cheers to childhood memories and chasing spring shadows.

Labels: Arlington, Childhood, Spring, Tennessee, Virginia

Vert

It all may be chickweed, but it sure is green! That's one of the lilacs that is bursting with blooms. Probably need to go cut some more for the house. Mmmmmm.

 Still fiddling around with my cloches.

And, after the teenager's girlfriend's birthday last weekend, I decided to keep the cake platter out and use it. It is actually too short for a real cake anyway. Pfffft. May as well put it to some use!

Storms rolled in yesterday afternoon, thank goodness. I fed all evergreens and azaleas; so I didn't have to water them! 

(But I did anyway--in the rain. Crazy old woman out in the rain with the hose.)

I finally did get to the shop that was selling these gorgeous hydrangeas! 

I found a beautiful plant with two different colors hidden in the back of all the others. 

I wish I could plant this one in the front yard; but they said this variety is not hardy enough. Pout. 

By the time I get all the indoor plants all settled into their favorites spots, I will have to load them all into the car for the summer at Riverside. This is the first time, ever, that I've been able to keep orchids. I'm thinking they'll be really happy at Riverside on the screened porch--that is, if I can get them there without breaking all their tender little necks! Always a challenge.

The teenager was on spring break this past week. He and the hub headed to Riverside for some needed R&R. The hub was just home from Mumbai and Shanghai; and the teenager has been busting butt with 21 credits his final semester. They both needed some down time; but it was wonderful having them back home yesterday.

I'm a happy gurl.

Labels: Flowers, Hub, Spring, Teenager

Spring, Sprang, Sprung

Spring has sprung, indeed. Here are cut lilacs (scratch and sniff) from the back yard. Mom had brought some cuttings from our childhood home when she moved here. This year, they are chock-a-block with blooms for the first time. The smell is intoxicating. It takes me back to the days of working at USA TODAY in Arlington way back when. JR and I would bring freshly-cut bouquets in every week from our gardens--lilacs and peonies being my favorites.

The tulips we planted last fall are just about past their prime. We sure have enjoyed them. After looking at this photo, I'm thinking we need a gnome in here somewhere. What do you think?

Speaking of peonies, look at what has already broken through the ground. Seems really early. I think a lot of us around the country are hoping that the weather stays warm. Oh my. If we get a freeze, there will be so much lost at this point. Ugh. (Do you say pe-oh-nies or pee-in-ies? The latter is my accent.)

I cleaned last year's dead from our hydrangea bushes this week. I hope to have lots of blooms on here as well. Fingers' crossed. They've been really tiny over the past few years. Hmmmmm.

It was then that I discovered my window-box liners have just about disintegrated. Oy. I have a replacement set ordered, arriving just in time to plant! Trying to put my thoughts together for plantings.

The iris are a little small this first year, but they are brilliant just the same. Hopefully, they are happy where they are planted and will multiply in the coming years.

Enjoying the rain against the window panes.
Music for the soul.

Labels: Flowers, Spring

Spring Has Sprung

I was very excited to see the new tulips from my trip to CT this fall from White Flower Farm beginning to peek through the soil. One is just blooming! Yay! (Don't mind the weeds, please!)

 The grape hyacinths are up and beautiful.

 The crocus are just about past their prime.

One of my faves from Virginia is blooming for the first time this year. I've had a horrible time getting the forsythia to take root here. You really don't see too much of it in TN. Such a shame. I love going home and seeing it growing everywhere in Virginia!

Of course, the daffs are all popping. I keep cutting them and bringing them in. They can liven up any table in a jiffy!

But these are my favorites of all--the lilacs I moved from my mom's yard back in  Arlington when she moved down here. They took right away (only because SHE planted them!). They are now quite a nice-sized bush with buds all over.

See! Mmmm, I cannot wait to smell them. The purple ones do have a luscious fragrance while the white ones (which I chose for my wedding bouquet) do not. Go figure.

And speaking of which, the hub and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary today. He sent me 25 gorgeous white roses with the sweetest note. Do I have to tell you that, yup, he's out of the country?! No worries. We will celebrate upon his return. Twenty-five years. I simply cannot believe that much time has passed. We're pretty lucky, us two. Just like we were married yesterday. Well, almost. Ha!

Happy Anniversary, hub. We still got it baby, don't we!

Labels: Flowers, Hub, Wedding Anniversary, Spring

Spring is in the Air

You'd think, one day, I may just grow my own iris. I haven't planted them in the past two placed we've lived.  That's just not right. I adore them!

My daffs are blooming, so I've made the place look a little springy inside also.

I love these little fellows.

The basement  is coming along just dandy. (Don't look too closely at the smaller "before" pic. HOARDER!) I don't care to admit to how much junk I threw out or gave away. Why in the world do some of us do this? Lawdy me. I got it from my mom. Hope my kids don't catch it from me!

While we had wonderfully warm weather yesterday, there was a nip in the air today. The hub was given a wonderful gift of Chinese tea when he was in Beijing last week. It is perfect for these cooler afternoons.

Today we've had this spring forward time change, which is always a challenge.  I don't much like it.

Spring, Indoors Anyway

Bella and I have been up to no good.  I've been buying plants to put around the house, coaxing, Mother Nature to give us a little more spring.

Of course, Miss Bella has to inspect anything new that comes into the house.

Then she goes down for a nap.  Aw, such the life Bella has.

I found this kooky paper hat during one of my adventures this week.  I had to have it, for some reason.  Here I am in the basement throwing jank out and I'm upstairs buying more schtuff to put out.  What's up with that?  I am so ready to have this winter behind me.  I'm ready for some rebirth!

The kid captured this beautiful sunset the other night.  I used to think that Virginia had the most beautiful sunsets anywhere.  Tennessee has ol' Virginny beat, I'm afraid!

Spring sprung where you are?  Beth and I were supposed to go on a picnic today up on the Natchez Trace, but it turned out chilly and overcast; so we went shopping instead!  The sun finally did peep out for a bit, after Beth headed back home.  Isn't it always the way!

Long Week

I can't say why it was so long, but it just seemed to last longer than normal. Weeks, months and years seem to be whizzing by me so quickly. Sometimes I'm afraid to blink!  This week?  Pretty slow.

Point and case, these daffodils were photographed at least two weeks ago. Where did that time go? Boggles the mind.

Sure am happy Phil saw his shadow. Early spring?!!!!