Spring

Busy, busy, busy is the name of the game at our house! The spring months have always been a busy time for us and this year is no exception.
Speaking of spring, here are some pictures of what it's like at our place!

"Come on down the driveway"
The River Birches that line the driveway have finally leafed out!! I love walking to the mailbox as I get to admire the trees and observe how the seem to "draw a person down the driveway"!

"The Welcoming Committee"
These two goobers hang out on the front porch an awful lot and are usually there to "welcome you" as you drive up. One of them barks and acts all tough but just ignore him and he'll get friendly after a while! The other one.... well it's debatable as to if he can keep his eyes open long enough to even come and welcome you!

"A doves' nest"
Sayre has been finding bird nests all over!! I don't know how he does it... maybe he just watches where the birds are going!

This Momma dove has her nest right outside our shop and we see her each time we walk past. She's been sitting on the nest for a week now; I wonder when the babies will hatch?!

This nest is in a vine that crawls all over a fence! The eggs are beautiful-green with brown flecks! I wonder what kind of a bird laid these?!

"Hatchlings"
This nest is in another bush outside the shop and the babies are a week old if not more now!
It's amazing to be able to see things like this, and to note that God created this for His honor and glory!

What is spring like at your house?

Spring Time Quote

Sawyer and I took a little tramp around our "gardens" last Sunday afternoon, picking flowers to give to Momma. It was delightful outside with a light breeze blowing, the sun shining, and the flowers blooming!

Woodland Hyacinth

"It makes the heart swell with joy to see the buds and the flowers starting into life after long sleep.....

...and to hear the birds tune up once more at the opening of spring.

When Nature is trying to do her best in the way of growth, it is a real pleasure to take hold and help."

-The Old Farmer's Almanac, 1872

I like to meander around the place on Sundays picking some flowers for the house or my room. When I found this little tidbit from the Old Farmers Almanac (on my calendar!) I felt that it described how I feel during spring very well!!

Spring Time Flowers

Spring time is probably my "most favorite" time of year (pardon the bad English). I love watching the buds form and begin to emerge and I love the flowers that begin blooming in mid-February!

We knew when we moved here over a year and a half ago that we were getting a special house with special land! We just didn't realize how special our place was until last spring when we saw all of the daffodils blooming all over the place!

They were in clumps, by themselves, out in the field, in the garden, and in many other places that we had never even dreamed of looking! It's obvious that the previous owners loved the happy spring time flowers!

Amidst the daffodils you will find one or two other spring time flowers. I think that this is a Hyacinth... I think. I don't exactly remember what it looked like last year other than that it was a beautiful purple color! This is the only clump of Hyacinth that we have here. I'm also sorry to say that we don't have any crocus'. We find that very interesting and have plans to plant some bulbs this fall.

There are many different varieties of Daffodils around here. We have the "normal" ones, ones that have yellow petals and white centers, one that have orange centers, miniature daffodils, ones with thin spindly leaves, ones with thick leaves, double daffodils, and I know I'm forgetting some. We literally have daffodils blooming all the way through April!! It's beautiful!!!

I cannot wait to go gather a fistful of these happy flowers for my room!!

We also have these "flowers". They come up in huge clumps and cover a large space of ground. We don't know what they are and since they didn't bloom last spring we are assuming that they bloom every other year!

Here is a close up. Does anyone know what they might be?
Oh I just love spring!!

Waiting for Spring

Last Years Garden Drew Many a Butterfly!
If you were to have observed me the past few weeks, you would have found me with my head in a nursery catalogue, garden magazine, or a butterfly book. It seems that this time of year is when the nurseries decide (or plot) that their catalogues need to be delivered to our doorstep, thus inducing "spring fever" on many a poor soul. I am among those who have this fever creeping up on them. At least I live in the south and can do something to try and abate this "illness"!

A Primrose!

Now, nursery's' aren't the only places that put out their plants for all to see (although they are in catalogues).... NO, Lowe's also happens to think that we need plants.... NOW!
To make a long story short, Mama and I went to Lowe's two weeks ago for curtain rods and came home with nine primroses for our gardens (in addition to curtain rods!)!

Delightful!
I have a real weakness for cheerful looking plants especially if I'm in a garden center! This is why I buy through nurseries!
I've been planning my garden around drawing butterflies and birds this summer, so I've neglected to plan for the spring flowers. Thankfully I got four primroses that will bring a little color in for quite a few weeks! The one we bought will form large clumps, bloom through the spring and possibly into early summer, and are so cheerful that they make me smile each time I walk past them!

"Poise and Serenity"
Right now the primroses are being kept inside as we've had some very cold weather. I'm hoping to put mine out in my garden during the next week or two. They like full sun while the air is cold and part shade when it gets warm. They are very tolerant of being transplanted which is a good thing because there is always the possibility that I will be moving them around!!! :o)
Did you know that Primroses signal the start of spring? They are botanically called "primula" as they are the first flowers to bloom in the spring!
Oh my....... how much longer till I can be found with my hands in the dirt and the sun on my back..........

Thinking of the Father Daughter Retreat

My Dad and I have attended Vision Forums' Father/ Daughter Retreat for the past two years and we have really enjoyed it! It is held at Calloway Gardens in Georgia at the most beautiful time of year~Spring!!! It's absolutely breathtaking as the azaleas are in full bloom and many other flowers and shrubs are starting to bloom!
The retreat is full of sessions on the Father/Daughter relationship which are extremely helpful, encouraging, and challenging! The highlight of the event is the High Tea that is held in place of lunch on Saturday. The girls get all dressed up in their special dresses and the Dads wear their suits or Armed Forces Uniforms. This is a special time and everyone is encouraged to make it memorable! Here are a few pictures from last year's and this years retreat!

My Dad and I at last year's retreat! This is at the High Tea!! There is PLENTY of food and you don't go hungry!!! There are scones, tea sandwiches, cream, sweet rolls, sweets, and I'm most likely forgetting something. The neat thing is that you are able to keep the tea cups that you use!! I have mine sitting up on my dresser, and I think of this special time each time I look at them.

Me ~ at last years retreat. As you can see everything is beginning to bloom and is incredibly bright and beautiful!

After the tea, you have all afternoon to explore Calloway Gardens and the first stop for most people is the Butterfly Conservatory! This building has a good sized butterfly habitat that you would enjoy spending a lot of time in. It's neat to see the different types of butterflies and to have them land on you!!

Did you know that God created some Butterflies with camouflage? This one looks like an owl's eye at first glance. Our God is an amazing God!!

Me ~ last year outside the "Azalea Bowl". Daddy and I didn't walk very far into it as we didn't have much time left. I love the colors in this picture!!
This year we had the privilege of attending the retreat with Pastor Johnny Franco and his two daughters. We had a fun-filled time driving to the retreat along with some great fellowship during the event!! Pictured with me are Bethany and Haviland! They still talk about our drive to and from the retreat.....let's just say it was a rather "wild" drive!!! I have NEVER seen two girls laugh and giggle so much at one person (that person being ME!! and I wasn't even trying to be funny!)!
My Daddy and I outside the Butterfly Conservatory. If your Dad ever asks you to attend this retreat, do it!!! Jump up and get excited at this God Given opportunity to build a better relationship with your Dad!!! You will not regret it!
I ordered the CDs from this years retreat earlier this week and I'm so anxious to go back and listen to the sessions!! It's so encouraging to see other like-minded young ladies and to know that "I'm not alone in this".