Bouquets of feathered friends

We had 6 inches of heavy wet snow just last week ~

The snow lasted just one day and gave the greening of the meadow a tremendous boost.

Although April showers don't really bring May flowers in our neck of the woods ~ they do bring bouquets of birds to our feeders and the branches of our trees. We are enjoying 'full on' birds these days . . . Purple Finches White Crowned Sparrows Yellow Headed and Red Winged Blackbirds Hummingbirds Barn Swallows, Cliff Swallows, hawks and owls and a Golden Eagle too. The first of our Grosbeaks arrived today .... and so it goes . . .

the time of the singing of birds is come ...

More snapshots of spring from walkabouts around our place over the last week or so ...

". . . flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land . . ." May it ever be thus.

The changeable days of March on Mackin Pond

Spring ... it's such a lift to the spirits, even when spirits are already high. Like laundry on the line on a blustery March day; it shakes the wrinkles out of winter. The greenhouse is standing ready and beckoning to me. I've started some tender young shoots of rainbow chard and a whole bunch of flowers on the kitchen counter. I just can't resist trying to grow more flowers and herbs. Our growing season is short up here on the plateau and most years we see a hard frost every month of the year. But maybe ... if I get them going early enough in the greenhouse ... maybe I'll have a few posies to plant out and delight our multitudes of hummingbirds and to brighten up our kitchen table in summertime. It's always worth trying. Laundry on the line today. Blowing sideways in the wind. Cotton smells like heaven when it's whipped dry in a good breeze. Have a lovely Sunday evening and thanks for dropping in. Till next time.

Spring is in the air ...

David and I took some time away from the homestead this month to go and visit family in the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys. Wonderful visits, one and all. When we left here it was still winter; although waning. Upon our return however; it's a different story. Spring! The pussy willows are coming out, the Red Winged Blackbirds are back en mass and the snow is fast disappearing. Our first dandelion opened her bright yellow petals on the spring equinox. Robins and Cedar Waxwings grace the meadow once again and all's right with the world. Vinny reminds me to mention the return of the bluebirds as well! Here are some photos from my walkabout the day after our return. Thought you might enjoy a bit of a wander with me...