Day Seventy Six 2012

.....three days ago

....and today. The best part of spring (and it isn't even officially spring yet!) is when our cherry trees bloom.

"Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough."
- A. E. Houseman, Shropshire Lad

Day Seventy Five 2012

Because of the assassination and the soothsayer's exchange with Julius Caesar about the dangers he faced in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar tragedy, the Ides of March now signifies a fateful day. Here is the relevant passage:

Caesar:  Who is it in the press that calls on me? 
I hear a tongue shriller than all the music 
Cry "Caesar!" Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear.

Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March. 

Caesar: What man is that?

Brutus: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.

Julius Caesar Act 1, scene 2, 15-19

 What a day! Maybe even a fateful day. Don't even get me started.....

Day Seventy Four 2012

Having some fun with my little Canon PowerShot camera this afternoon. In 'color select' mode, I chose the awesome yellow in these buttercups--the rest is black and white and shades of gray.

"Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty."
- William Shakespeare

Day Seventy Three 2012

I spent the afternoon with peeps at my mom's place. What a glorious day! 85 degrees! We spent our time outside today, hanging out on the front porch swing and rocking chairs. Grandson Elijah, grand daughter Shelby, niece Julia and sister Ann (the biggest kid of the bunch) played around the willows around the pond and made willow wreaths for their sweet heads. Also in the after lunch bunch: sister Jane and brother Ken and our mom.

Tagged Canadian geese are almost always hanging out on the property. They love that pond, same as the humans. These two just sat there as I circled them, trying not to spook them, while I took some pictures. They kept a close eye on me the whole time.

I had to get a snapshot of niece Julia, grandson Elijah, and grand daughter Shelby wearing their beautiful willow wreaths, which they decorated with wild flowers. The picture doesn't do them justice. Julia looks like a flower child with her long braid and tie dyed t shirt. Elijah looks like he's been shot in the belly. He just couldn't keep his eyes open because of the glare and wore his wreath proudly. Good times with sweet peeps!

Happy Birthday, Ann!

Wishing my little sister, Ann Mabry Sissom, a very happy birthday today! Born March 12, 1959, she is one of the sweetest blessings in my life. Love you!!

Day Seventy Two 2012

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting -- a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day Seventy One 2012

Neil and I put on our walking boots again today and headed around the neighborhood for a Sunday hike. We always take a different route, just to keep things interesting, so we cut through the woods behind our house when we came to that point. Found an old bottle buried in the ground and a weird rusty pipe sticking up out of a tree trunk. We walked through a neighborhood that has a brook running alongside the hilly properties that I didn't realize was there. Really pretty, especially the soothing sound of the rushing water. What a gorgeous day! I had to take off my sweater, cause I worked up a sweat hiking up the hills. Felt like a hike at times. We always manage to come full circle eventually, this time cutting through the elementary school driveway and into our back yard and onto the front porch swing for a little R&R. I forgot to check our departure time, but Neil says we walked for a half hour. I just smile and nod and drink my water and enjoy the breeze. 

Day Seventy 2012

Grandson Knox is 3 months old and loves to play in his crib. He watches his mobile and listens to the tunes it plays and talks and coos. He's got a ton of energy. His little arms and legs are in constant motion; he's a blur in these pictures. His grandpa and I get the biggest kick out of watching him. I was a distraction to him with my camera in his face. I told him, "Get used to it, kid."  

Day Sixty Nine 2012

Is it live or is it Memorex? They do look real, don't they? In my quest to find a replacement for my little stackable lazy susan that I keep my spices on (mine is caving in after all these years), I ended up at Big Lots today, thinking surely I'd find one there. Unfortunately, no such luck. Instead, I found these very lovely and oh so fake hydrangeas. Even though the spice caddy would probably have been more useful, I figure my house needed a little springtime eye candy. 

Day Sixty Eight 2012

It's Spring Break for my grandpeeps, Shelby and Elijah. They were hanging out with me today--first time I've seen them in a week (how that happened I have no idea). They managed to find ways to amuse themselves. Good kids.

Day Sixty Seven 2012

I was sitting on my front porch swing late this afternoon, enjoying some of this gorgeous day, when I noticed the shadow of my wicker rocker on the side of the house. Is it just me or does this look like some kind of happy monster with big googly eyes and a goofy smile? Made me smile.

Day Sixty Six 2012

Earth 's crammed with heaven...
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I wanted to take off my shoes this afternoon and settle underneath one of the lacy green willows growing around the pond where my mom lives and soak up this little piece of heaven. No one could have asked for more perfect weather today. The cherry trees there are blooming, too, and a couple of geese were on the bank of the pond, probably enjoying the wind and the sun and the sky as much as I was.

Day Sixty Five 2012

"God is in the details."
~anonymous

Day Sixty Four 2012

Well, here we go again. Hubby Neil and I went for a walk around the neighborhood this Sunday afternoon.

What an awesome day! The wind was cold and biting again this time around, but the sunshine sure did feel good.

Found object--a big metal washer laying in the road by the sidewalk. Don't ask me why I feel compelled to pick up such stuff and stick it in my pocket, but I do. Hope nobody needs it cause it's not there any more.

A little shadow play on a neighbor's fence.

We enjoy walking down this little side road that's part dirt and gravel and part pavement. We live less than a mile from the courthouse square, but walking here makes me feel like I'm out in the country.

That's our little brown house way up yonder.

Hubby Neil, moi, and Neil's walking stick for this trip around. He collects them and always carries one when we walk. You never know when you might be attacked by a mad dog or a wild possum or bear or something. Good to have a weapon, I guess.

Flowering trees are already flowering around town. Too early, but what can you do. Not sure what this one is, but it was pretty against the blue sky and puffy white clouds.

Looks like the irises along this old stone wall are next in line to sprout.

Found object number 2--little red chain laying on the sidewalk outside the elementary school. Guess I'll add it to my weird little found object collection.

The need to keep the wind off my ears overrode my hating to wear a hat because I look goofy in one. See, I have the picture to prove it.

I never get tired of taking pictures of the sky. It is ever changing, different every day and sometimes minute to minute.

No escaping the hills in this town and our neighborhood.

From whence we came--gets your heart pumping!

Cutting through the woods...makes the walk shorter. We walked for about 20 minutes. Time to come in out of that cold wind. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:
when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens

Day Sixty Three 2012

Do I love you because you're beautiful,
Or are you beautiful because I love you?
~Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Cinderella

Grandson Knox is 3 months old. Pretty boy! I love you...just because.