Golden spring

"Nature's first green is gold, 
Her hardest hue to hold."
Credit

Image: Mine!

A post with cute plants and asterisks

As of one week ago today, our garden* was officially in the ground. This is a huge accomplishment for me, because in the past few years, I haven't been able to get a garden in the ground before Memorial Day.

As of yesterday, my mother-in-law's garden** was officially in the ground. This is a huge accomplishment, because this is her First Garden Ever. She's on my bandwagon.

In addition to outside vegetables and fruit, Husband and I are trying our hands at a little indoor herb garden. So far we just have rosemary and thyme planted, but we're looking to expand. The thyme plants are up (I planted them a week ago today also), and they are just the cutest little things you'd ever see.

*minus some surprisingly devious melon plants, which have walked off the shelves of at least three local stores, foiling my attempts to have a completed garden. A pox upon area garden centers!

**except for her cucumber plans, which have yet to be purchased. I like pickles,*** but I do not care for cucumbers. I also do not care for canning, which inevitably takes place on the hottest day of the year, but which one must do with cucumbers in order to get pickles. In summary, you're on your own, lady.

***last summer my grandfather spent a ridiculous amount of time arguing with his grandchildren over whether pickles and cucumbers are, essentially, the same thing. He thought they were two completely different vegetables. I fail to understand how someone lives to the age of 85 (*cough* he was a farmer *cough*) without knowing this fact.****

****86 as of today; happy birthday, Grandpa*****

*****no more asterisks, I promise.

Spring, cont'd

Spring

Someday spring

As the end of January nears, I have felt the anticipation of spring so intensely. I cannot wait to lose the heavy coat and wander campus with Husband during our lunch hour again. But that is certainly a few months away, so I must console myself with a recent photo challenge from the Pioneer Woman's site: flowers! She included a gorgeous shot taken by a woman named Christine of crocus buds peeking from the tundra:I adore this photograph. It reminded me of the croci that graced my parents' old farmhouse. When I saw the colorful protrusions, I knew warmth and sunlight were imminent. The early spring grass would grow tall around the beauties, as my father refused to mow over them. I hope to plant some in my own yard now, because they seem the most hopeful of flowers.

I'm ready to be warm again. How about you?

Spring is in the air...

I can feel it. It has arrived. Spring is everywhere. Renewal floods my spirit. Things don't look quite so cold, quite so dark, quite so bleak anymore. Good things are happening. Below are a few pictures that signify "spring" to me.


The flowers are everywhere! I am reminded of one of my favorite poems: "Nature's first green is gold, it's hardest hue to hold" ("Nothing Gold Can Stay"). The poem is rather melancholic, but I prefer to focus on the beauty of those first few lines.


Our house looks much more inviting with a few flowers to spruce things up. Even better, birds love to land on the support strings of the hanging baskets. I can't wait to put out my hummingbird feeder (courtesy of BlindIrishPirate). I hope to start landscaping if the ground ever dries out!


My mother found this old crock in one of our sheds and cleaned it up for me. I love the fragrance and soft color of these blooms.


We just learned that one of these men will become a father for the second time in November (hint: not Husband, thankthelordwhomayormaynotexist). Congratulations to the little family!


Back in the saddle again. He has resurrected his daily treks down the lane to retrieve the mail. He plans to mow the yard this summer with a little help from a pillow and back brace. He has been having dreams of walking unassisted. This photo fills me with more joy than I thought possible.

I hope your spring brings you happiness and peace.