The cold winds of winter

 and the bareness of the surrounding trees are now just a memory as April has faded and May has made her sunny, warm, entrance.

There is now a warmth that blows in the wind....that on some days, can be very strong, carrying the dry dust of the neighboring fields............along with  the faint fragrance of the newly blossomed wildflowers that have pushed up across the prairie.

The woods....as I like to call it......which in reality, are acres of tall crooked mesquite trees......have lost the gray bareness.....and now, barely a twig can be seen........each limb is covered in billowy, light green leaves....thick and lush. 

On one of my walks, I came across this whimsical lizard...enjoying the warmth of the cement patio,

yet insisted on running ahead of me as I walked along....escorting me, in it's on way....I think it liked getting it's photo taken. 

The air is filled with the songs of so many wild birds that have come for feed and water.  The yellow headed blackbirds......I have to say , are one of my favorites.  They stay only for a short time and soon take to flight.

Large storm clouds have colored the evening sky bringing welcomed drops of rain.  With these rain showers, I always feel delighted that we have gotten so much......but the next day, I hear those who measure and know....talk about how little there was of it.....and how much more we need.

But for myself, I feel thankful.

This is a time for late evenings spent out on the back patio........to watch the sun grow weary of the day

as it lets the large glowing  moon and the bright stars take over the black canvas of the night. 

The mosquitoes have not yet found us as we sit out.......so for this small  span of time......we enjoy these late, quiet, nights.

Thank you all for the sweet anniversary wishes.  Mark and 

I have had such a long road to walk together.....with 

so many twists and turns.........and a lot of wonderful

paths on the side. 

Here's wishing you are having pretty and pleasant spring days

with much color and loveliness sprouting up in every space. 

 

 

This Day I Will Marry The One I Love

 The above title to this post is from the front of  our wedding invitation

40 years ago....

and we still love each other.

and I think we always will.

If one can get past the high wind and suffocating dirt

 and look close enough,

beauty can be found in these wild days of March.

Our back property has large dunes of wind swept sand

that gives the false sense that a body of salt water lies on the other side

but no........

 all that can be seen is the large acreage of the bare cotton field that stretches for miles as the 

dry dirt blows across it and forms these high dunes. We are in much need of rain.

yet, even in this dry climate.......the tough little

prairie wildflowers are starting to pop up and to show their color.

Some of these early spring days have been warm and pleasant, 

others have been chilly.  The wild birds are starting to fly in ,

some, like the woodpecker,  are native here. Some are migratory who come to rest their wings,

fill up on seed and water, and then , in a few weeks fly on their way.

In the woods, away from the sand dunes,  where the trees are still bare,

the gold color of the budding conifer 

shimmer in the sun.  These small buds will soon turn red.  This 

kind of conifer is a tasty treat to the wild deer who walk along the grounds

in the late afternoon.

The red berries of the Turkey Pear cactus look

so cheery and vibrant. 

This is a "look, but don't touch" plant... as it 

is filled with hundreds of tiny barbs and thorns.

Closer to the yard, the fragrant stock plant is blooming.

Taboo kitty loves sticking his face deep into the blossoms 

each morning on our walks. 

When the wind and dirt is not blowing, I have been outside,

planting flower seed and clearing garden spaces. On the wild windy 

days I am content to stay in and stitch the hours away.

So tell me.........how is the weather in your corner of the world?

Are you planning large flower or vegetable gardens?

I would love to hear!

 

Happy Valentines Day

 

Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart. 

Author unknown

Wishing you a day of love and laughter

February

 

On the wind in February

Snowflakes float still,

Half inclined to turn to rain,

Nipping, dripping, chill.

~Christina Georgina Rossetti, "A Year's Windfalls," 1866

Hello everyone.......how are your February days treating you?  Are you covered in ice and snow? 

Are you enjoying the warmth of a sunny day?  Whichever you have, I hope it is 

pleasant for you. 

We have some days of ice, some days of rain, and many days 

with sunshine.  

The colors of February here are gray, and all hues of brown.

The vibrant yellow color of the Italian Jasmine blooming

catches the eye during this bland time of year.

The fragrant blue blossoms of the hyacinth ......that

jumped into my shopping cart at the store, 

brings some happy color to the back porch. 

Although the landscape may still be in it's winter slumber

the sky does not withhold it's beauty.........in the morning

it is absolutely breathtaking.

although we are still in the middle of freezing temps...........

seeds and seed catalogs are getting me anxious to plant.

Until that time actually comes,........

I can spend my time embroidering the flowers

I want to grow! 

Have you started planning a garden for flowers or vegetables?

How are you spending the cold wet days when inside? 

I would love to hear! 

Here's wishing you pleasant February days! 

 

The last space of this years calendar

will soon be marked off and a new calendar with serene photos.....

each with a hope filled verse, will be hung on the nail in the wall

for the new year.

I glance around at the still, dry, brown, areas of the yard and to where everything

lies in winter slumber.  In just a few weeks the tiny cheery yellow blossoms of 

the Italian Jasmine will be in bloom and just a few weeks after that, the fragrant

purple blossoms of the stock flower will be growing tall. It seems that nothing 

stays asleep for too long.

The usual excitement and activities that occur for the "sending out

the old year and welcoming in the new" happens all around in the

scattered cities......miles away from our home. For us, the new year arrives as 

quiet and calm as the old year leaves. We may play a game of cards, watch

fireworks and celebrations on the television, and maybe end the night with  a toast and a clink

of glasses when the time arrives.

New years day will have us enjoying a home cooked meal with the

"traditional" side of black eyed peas and we move on with the 

unfolding days with hope of good things to come.

The first days of this new year are predicted to be pleasant and sunny. 

Not too cold with just enough warmth from the short day of sunshine.

We had extreme low temps a few days ago before Christmas and now the trees have

let go of their remaining leaves but still have a winter loveliness with 

their gray limbs and moss patches on their rough bark.

On the bare limbs, I can now see empty bird nests and dried wasp nests that

were filled with life just a few months ago when the weather was warmer.

I reflect back on the year that is almost gone. There has been some 

worry, some sad moments, and some trying challenges.  But there has been

much joy and contentment in this quiet life that we are blessed to know, 

away from the maddening chaos that unfolds in front of us on the television. 

What this new year has in store and what it's days may bring to us, only 

time will reveal.

In my heart there is hope for peace filled days ahead and the prayer

for courage and strength to endure the challenges .....

come what may.

This is my wish for you as well and for the new year unfolding.

Wishing you all a very blessed new year.

" Winter does her own pruning. And I think that, as the new year begins, 

I might well do some pruning in my own life, keeping the essentials, the real values, 

and letting go the part that is no longer contributing to the growing time of my 

spirit."

                                 Gladys Taber

 

The colorful lights from our Christmas tree

 

shine through our front window.........giving our home

a pretty Christmas card look..........

although there is no snow........it still looks nostalgic.

We, as probably all of you, are weathering extreme cold

days and nights. 

Wishing you all warmth and comfort as 

these hours fly by into a wonderful

Christmas day.

And, so, Christmas comes to bless us!

Comes to teach us how to find

The joy of giving happiness

And the joy of being kind.

~Gertrude Tooley Buckingham, "There Will Always Be a Christmas," 1940s