Shy little violets

Violets are everywhere I look on the grounds of the property where I live. But there are only a small handful of this particular shade. Lovely.

Lilac mosaic

The progression of a lilac, from bud to bloom. Just our lesson for today.
I made this at Big Huge Labs. It's a lot of fun playing with mosaics. I've found it's easier to have a Flickr account when you work there, however. I'm just saying.

Hello my lovelies

Little grape hyacinths in another of my little tiny glass medicine bottles. They're a happy little shot of Spring, aren't they?
Psst . . . for anyone interested, I'm having a GIVEAWAY on my other blog today. Check it out.

Innocence

I have several tiny glass containers that I would find in different places I've lived. On farms, there always seems to be a 'glass dump' where the former occupants would dump anything from old medicine bottles to cider jugs. Most of it would be broken, but if you were careful, you could find some very interesting things. This little bouquet of violets fits perfectly in this old pill jar. Hope your day is sweet.

At last

The lilacs are finally in bloom! And all is right. My eldest son is home visiting, it's a beautiful day, my husband seems ok, and I think I even lost another pound. Life is good.
SOOC. Taken at my dining room window this morning.

I love sunsets

I took this last weekend from the deck of the cabin we rented in Virginia. We stayed there three nights and this was the only night we actually had a decent sunset. Yum.

Lovely

I took this photo earlier this month at our school's auction. That's my friend, Adrienne on the left, with my long-time friend Mary on the right. You may remember Mary from this post on my other blog. Mary's son, Zach, who graduated with my youngest, was our auctioneer for the evening . I'm not usually one for portraiture but I liked this shot. I used Kevin Kubota's Secret Formula on it, from his B&W action set.

And the beat goes on

I continue my fascination with the progress of the lilac bush in the backyard. One of the first photos I took is here. And I'll continue to give you updates until the blessed day when the blooms completely open and the scent transports me somewhere heavenly.

Milepost 39

Taken last Friday on the Skyline Drive in Virginia. When I think of all the work that went into building this magnificent roadway, I am just humbled.

Redbuds in the springtime

I love redbud trees when they bloom in the spring. This one has a little visitor. We're home from our trip and I can't wait to share some of the photos I've collected. Have a great day, all.

Wild women don't have the blues

So I'm walking quietly in the woods on a trail at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, when I came to a pond with this bench sitting at the edge of it. I sat down on the bench, enjoying the silence as my husband pointed out hawks flying above. When I got up, I noticed the dedication plaque you see here. It just took me by surprise, is all I'm sayin'.

Little bit

It's a little flower but I like it a lot. Taken at Longwood Gardens last month. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a pic of the nameplate. Does anyone know the name of this little gem?

UPDATE: Thank you to Olivia. This is a Spooned Osteospermum.

Gratitude

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.

Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC)

Sunshine

Happy Easter, all.

From my front porch

I'm pretty sure this is an azalea bloom. We have one big bush at the front porch and another couple of smaller bushes. I'm looking forward to them blooming.
SheisPretty stock texture applied.

Is that an asparagus in your pocket?

Or are you just happy to see me?
I know that I'm weird. But I yam what I yam. I mean, as long as we're talking vegetables here.

Trees in bloom

I posted a different look for this on my other blog and think I'm liking this one better. This tree bloom was taken this afternoon. I like how all the little seeds are hanging off the branch on their little fishing lines. Oh, better go. Lost is starting.

Solitary bloom

I was excited when the green shoots of daffodils began to push through the snow last month. But alas, we had no blooms. Not a single one. Until my husband pointed this one to me. And it makes me glad.

Rosebud in texture

I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.
~Emma Goldman

I can't agree more, Emma. I never thought diamonds were a girl's best friend.
Pioneer Woman's seventies action and Joy St. Claire texture applied.

Morning dove

My husband and I sat in the backyard today, facing the dogwood tree with the bird feeders. We had a cup of tea as we talked. This is our first spring at the manor house on the hill and we heard many sounds. A car in the development nearby revved its engine and another answered from a house along our driveway. A pileated woodpecker drummed on one of the trees along the woods. And then we heard a morning dove with its soulful cry. Shortly afterward, it alighted in the tree and I captured a couple of pictures of it. Such a pretty bird.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Fog enshrouds this lonely lamppost at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania last weekend.
And looking at this photo just reminded me of something. I read that entire series of C.S. Lewis books as a bedtime story to my sons when they were small. It was extremely easy to get them bathed and in their pajamas for quite some time, for they were enthralled with these books. A was I.

Orchid mosaic

A mosaic of different orchids I saw while at Longwood Gardens last weekend. Hope you have a wonderful Friday, my friends.

Looking back

Looking back, I ask myself if I would live my life the way I'm living it today. And I've decided that no, I would not. I would have married that millionaire when he'd asked me to at age 19. Or no, wait. I would have ridden off with the knight who was on the white horse. And then perhaps I would have had an affair with Mr. Clean. He has such big arms. And it's ok that he's bald.

Imprint

I didn't notice each leaf until later when I was looking at the picture. There is an imprint on each of the leaves that, when unfurled, shows where it was layered against the plant. Pretty cool, eh?
Taken at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA in the silver room. That's where all the cacti, succulents and plants that are green/silver are located.