Sunday, March 29, 2015

Sunday in Spring


Today is warm and everything is blossoming!  I put these flowers out on the front porch.  I haven't tried them before in these planters--so I am hoping they'll thrive.  I just love this type of flowers.  (Here's hoping they love me back!)

Above the planters on the porch, I've been watching a two little house finches (the male looks like someone dipped his front half in raspberry juice) trying to make a nest.  They do this every year, and every year some other bird comes and chucks out their nest material before they get it properly built.  I put up a nest box on one of the pillars to try to assist, but they never move in there. (Though other birds have slept there from time to time.--And once a baby squirrel slept up there before I put up the nest box!)



















Meanwhile, the peas have put up their little heads.  Always a miracle to me that things really do grow from seeds!  A few beans are sprouting as well, in spite of the fact that the dog and the squirrels found the fresh soil irresistible.


 Our backyard is covered in little purple violets.  My mother-in-law used to tut and shake her head and tell me if I didn't get rid of those violets they would just take over and ruin my lawn. Well, I guess they have taken over, but I don't care.  They make me smile.

Because they remind me of this fabulous little book.  One of my all time favorites.



I'm very excited too, because now that spring is here I am going to use my new purse!! Mmm.  It is delicious hand died leather.  I've never owned a bag so nice.


It was a gift to me from my dearest husband who bought it while we were in Florence at Christmas. What a sweetheart!

4 comments:

  1. Roger Tory Peterson famously described the purple finch, as looking as if it had been dipped in raspberry juice!
    That bag from Florence? You lucky girl!

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    1. Haha! I must have memorized that Peterson description without realizing it!

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  2. Gosh, so many gorgeous things in this post. That bag made me gasp - it's a knockout! And everything seems so green and growing in your first photos.

    I love Richard Scarry's illustrations. On a related note - have you ever read "Miss Hickory"? Your story of the nest house and the squirrel made me think of that lovely book.

    Who would ever want to get rid of violets???

    Regarding the red-twig dogwood: around here, the bark fades as the sap rises and leaves appear. The bushes produce clumps of tiny white blooms which remind me just a bit of viburnum blossom, and at the end of the season they bear clusters of little white berries. I don't know if the red colour would last longer in your climate? Here it's tied to the cold weather. :)

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    1. Yes! I remember Miss Hickory. Which also reminds me of Miss Suzy--the squirrel who got chased out of her house by bandit squirrels.

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