They're Back...

Lo and behold, I caught a glimpse of something very familiar while going out to get the mail. It took off quickly toward the north side of the house. I rushed inside and went to the bedroom window. Sure enough, there he was...an Eastern bluebird perched in the tree by the little white birdhouse!

Well...I had not cleaned out the birdhouse last fall so I went out to do just that (I hear bluebirds don't like "used" nests) and all the while he stood watch nearby and chirped emphatically at me. What I presume was his mate echoed the chirping from a nearby power line. What a joyful sight and sound!

NOW spring is here!!!

Back to Something Old

The daughter of a friend of mine is expecting a baby boy in April so I thought I'd make a gift. It's been a long time since I crocheted anything but last week I ventured out to Hobby Lobby and found a cute baby afgahn pattern and some nice yarn. I set to working on it almost as soon as I got home.This morning I finished Aiden's afgahn. I think it turned out pretty well.

The past two days have been wonderfully warm. Yesterday we even broke the record (70 degrees in town and a whopping 74 out here in the country)! All the snow is gone...for now. We're moving back to reality of the season though with a mere 48 degrees today. BUT there's no snow in the extended forecast!!! March did come in as a lion and it's looking like it will go out like the proverbial lamb. Can't complain about that!

Pictures of My Dad

Over a year ago I posted a "Smile Box" collection of a few pictures of my dad. Now I've created a slide show with several more pictures (and deleted the earlier post). Gosh, those really old photos are a bit blurry - oh well.

This Cannot Be Spring!

It's been a week since I returned from visiting my friend in Florida. In the course of this past week we have gotten snowstorm "Kyle" with a good 8 inches of wet, heavy snow (which was preceded by freezing rain) causing travel anywhere to be next to impossible, more freezing rain, a downpour, and thick fog. Tonight there's snow in the forecast again followed by a cold snap for the next couple of days. March has sure been a weather roller coaster ride so far and we're getting pretty tired of "severe weather" warnings. This is so far removed from what I experienced in Florida - even though it was cooler there than my previous winter visits.

While away, my friend and I did have opportunity to return to the beach for the weekend. Mother Nature was kind to us on Saturday and gave us 80 degree sunny weather - just right for a barefoot walk along the beach.

I added a few shells to my collection and spent much time gazing at the ocean mesmerized by its vastness. I know someone, a classmate, who lives in Spain and fancied us facing each other while standing on opposite shores across the miles and miles of the Atlantic (though I have no idea if they even live near the ocean). I pondered the ocean waves and how the ebb and flow of the tide transforms and reshapes the beach landscape. Two years ago tons and tons of new sand was loaded onto the beach, I guess in an attempt to rebuild it after or prepare it for hurricanes. All that piled high sand is gone now - the beach leveled to its original state.

It was a most pleasant and restful weekend and a very good trip. And yet it felt good to return home to my own rural rhythms. Urban, or suburban, life is nice to visit with so many different things to see and do and so many different places dine but it's not for me on a long term basis. Give me rural back roads and wide open spaces any day...guess I've really turned into a country girl! Well...except for this darn March weather!!!