Bloodroot closed for the night

Wildflowers remind me of when I was growing up. My friend Janet and I spent many happy hours searching the woods and pastures for violets, bloodroot, Dutchmans-breeches, trillium, and trout lilies to name only a few. They were the ephemeral friends of our youth and I love meeting them again each spring. The little beauties above bloom beside the road where they are are dusted by passing cars, dumped on by the grader and/or the snowplow in season, salted, sanded and still they grow! They look fragile. Pick them and they bleed. Breathe on them and the petals fall off. But year after year they survive and thrive.

Easter Sunday

Woke up this morning to no snow! That's how it is at this time of year. Getting ready for my family to come for brunch. The wood frogs have been croaking all week; now it is warm enough for the peepers to start peeping and the Coltsfoot blossom to open and that finally happened today! Yay!!!!!

Day Before Easter

We woke up on Saturday to light snow on the ground. Then, it kept snowing all morning and now we have a cozy white blanket.

Craters of the Moon--Music Mountain Style

A robin takes a break from hunting and gathering to inspect the damage done by the moles last winter. I overheard him saying "Cheer Up Cheer Up." While the wind broke up all the ice in the big pond, it also took out our power for the whole afternoon. Tentacles of ice still cling to the sides of the fields and underneath the eaves, but they are doomed. The weatherman says it is going to warm up soon.

On Becoming Spring

The buds on the lilac bush are swelling; chickadees and juncos dance among the branches; daffodils push themselves out of the frozen dirt. Spring is ready to burst forth but the ice in the pond resists--wanting to stay the ice queen for a few more days.

Twin Windows with Geraniums

Two second floor windows in Randolph are filled with geraniums. Maybe next year my geraniums will look like this.

A Becky Sandwich

The space between Rebecca's bus up from South Station late Friday afternoon and her midday return bus down to Logan Airport was filled with the best of times; a five mile mother-daughter walk, getting ice cream cones at the cafe in Rochester, going mudding in the truck, seeing a Great Horned Owl at EMS sports, buying tiny pink boots and a boat tote at LLBean, great cuisine and conversation.

Brandy Snaps

Everything is assembled to make brandy snaps--something that I have never made before. After a few tries, they came out lacy and I rolled them on the handle of a wooden spoon. It was fun and they are delicious.

Geranium in the window

Geranium leans toward the sunny southern window and finally produces a flower after a barren winter. Its leaves turn their faces away from the warmth of the house and long to be outdoors. Time for a 180 degree spin and growth in a new direction.

Ancient Apple Tree

The ancient apple tree behind our house is covered with tiny buds. They are silver and fuzzy like a pussy willow on the outside. Inside the bud there are beautiful shades of granny smith green, macintosh red and early transparent yellow.