Outside My Backdoor

I was puttering about the other day,

just outside my backdoor.

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Spring is almost over, here in Texas,

and summer will be here in the blink of an eye.

I'm not quite ready for that.

 

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All photos taken with my iPhone 4S and

processed with Florabella actions.

 



Sweet May Days...

...I'm going to miss you.


Now the bright morning-star, Day’s harbinger,
Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.
Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire!
Woods and groves are of thy dressing;
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long.

-John Milton, Song on a May Morning, 1660

A Soaring Soul

I had decided at the beginning of the week to post everyday because I had so much to share. However, this morning I decided not to post because I just have so much going on right now and me being me, I can't seem to stop adding to it.

I am a list maker. I make a list for EVERYTHING! This morning I made a list of the tasks I wanted to complete today. The first thing on that list was to take a walk. (The three Motrin I had to take last night for my screaming hip joints told me that I really need to get back to exercising daily.) So I went for a walk.

WOW!!! It was exactly what my soul needed. The sun was shining brightly during the whole walk and despite the chilly wind whipping about me, I think it was one of the best walks I have ever taken.

If you know me, then you know I have this fascination with birds. I love them. I love how graceful and delicate they are. I love how soft their feathers are and their sweet little voices. I love to watch them soar and glide on the wind. Can you imagine how wonderful that must be... the freedom to fly. Anyway, I'm walking along, one of my favorite songs begins to play on my ipod, and then I start seeing the birds. Oh my! There were so many. (but not in an Alfred Hitchcock scary sort of way) There were European Starlings, Mockingbirds, Morning Doves, Mallards, Cardinals, Blue Jays, House Sparrows, and Barn Swallows. So many of those flying fast and low... just grazing the tips of the grass and the pond. wow! Then I saw it! My favorite, a Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher. Then another! I hardly ever see these. I think if I was a bird, this is the bird I would be... with a pearl gray head and chest blending into a salmon pink. And that long, beautiful tail! That was all it took to wipe away the last of Winter's cold, gray fog from my soul. I could feel Spring blooming fully in my heart. It was so overwhelming that I actually began to tear up right there! It reminded me of the wonders of the world and to never stop being grateful for all that I have and am given on a daily basis. It reminded me that life really is a beautiful place to be!

So if you are ever in my neck of the woods and you see a lady in a pink baseball cap standing in the middle of the sidewalk crying and laughing like a crazy loon, you know you have found me. Don't be scared. Come on over and I'll give you a big ol' hug and share a little of my beautiful life with you!

It's kinda rainy, but...

would you like to go for a morning walk with me anyway?


Say cheese!


If you squint you can see the sweet spring robin. (the zoom lens is being shipped as we speak... or walk... or read... or whatever)


"Excuse me, but could you tell me where the nearest pond is?"


Everything is turning green!


Pretty pansies.


Found the pond.


We have a budding photographer.


Shh, listen... do you hear the birdies?


Ooooo, I found wild roses!


Looks like someone has been making wishes.


Flowering trees are always a lovely sight.

Well, I hope you enjoyed it. I did.
Have a beautiful weekend!

A Quick Post

I have so much on my plate today, so I'll try to make this speedy.

I received this pretty necklace from Tideupmemories etsy shoppe.

Enjoyed wearing it yesterday on our adventure to the Dallas World Aquarium. Wouldn't you know it, something funny happened while we were there and we had walked out of the house without our camera. Luckily, a nice couple took a some snaps and offered to email them to us. I'll post them here when I get a chance. And as a side note to that happening, my farmboy is the true "Beastmaster". heehee! Anyway, I could go on and on about the aquarium, but since I don't have any pictures I won't. They have totally redone the entire setup and have added so much since I last went. If you life in the Dallas area and haven't been, go. It's worth it if you love animals. It's kinda smelly though.

Look at these!

They make me SO happy! I planted them and then seriously like the next day it snowed. Then it snowed again. But they survived. However, I don't think my little baby hydrangeas did. We'll have to wait and see. I think Spring is really here this time.

Tomorrow you need to stop by the Etsy Promo Forum and look for this.

I personally can't wait to see what all of those talented ladies have come up with. My little tulip project is almost finished now. It's one of the items on my ginormous list today.

I think last but not least, is this. I was promoting my shoppe last night on Etsy and a really wonderful thing happened. My shoppe was chosen to be featured on the new Atomic Delight blog on April 14th. Can't really say that lil' old me has ever been featured anywhere for anything.

Gotta go tackle my day. See ya later.

I almost forgot, I listed these yesterday...

It's just CRAZY, I tell ya!

So all of that talk of "spring has sprung", blah, blah, blah.

This is what happened last night.

We got dumped on! However, it's not going to last long. The sun is shining brightly today.

E was down right ticked off this morning because despite the snow, he still had to go to school. But Daisy, she was one happy pig puppy!

Spring...

my absolute favorite time of the year. Lots of Springness happening around here.

First off, we had a gorgeous weekend. One of my favorite things is the moment when I realize I'm gazing at the "green haze". What is that, you ask. Well, when the trees start budding out at the beginning of spring and you're driving down the road or just standing there looking at a line or cluster of these budding trees, it looks like there is a green haze surrounding the trees. LOVE that green haze! It totally fills me with joy.

Which brings up the topic of spring cleaning. Due to the beautiful weekend, we spent a big chunk of it outside tidying up. The deck needed it bad.



My farmboy made an attempt to till up some areas in the beds. However, the tiller petered out on us. But we did get some tulips and hydrangeas into the ground.


And as usual, there is always a slacker or two.













I just love the satisfaction of planting something.


I took these on Sunday afternoon before a mega storm blew in. And when I checked the weather this morning, wouldn't ya know it...possible snow tonight! Go figure.

Today the house is going to get a spring cleaning as well as this place. Time for February and Valentine's Day to move on.

Next topic...spring inspiration!
Put this little lovely together the other night.

1. bird's nest with glittered eggs, 2. MILKA, A TINY FLUFFY BUNNY-SNOWFLAKE, 3. Green flower in April, 4. Green Flowers (Helebores), 5. millinery flowers, 6. Froo Froo Matching Set, 7. Lovely green soap and dish, 8. Sweet and Shabby Wallpaper Pack, 9. Verde no Aquarius, 10. rabbit-parade, 11. Peeps, 12. Close up green Easter, 13. Name That Duck!, 14. Easter Breakfast, 15. Have a happy and sweet Easter !, 16. Macro-Bunny, 17. Untitled, 18. Spring grooming and relaxing, 19. Spring Leaves Needlebook, 20. Bells Ringing in Spring, 21. Spring! with handmade marzipan lemons, 22. in love with spring, 23. Early Spring in the air, 24. Pear Trees Mean Spring, 25. Spring is here

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

And there is some pretty Cottage Style Etsy Street Team inspiration here at the Etsy Treasury. and here and also here.

Also picked up these...

Much goodness in here.

Guess I ought to get to it. Lots of spring cleaning, spring decorating and I started some spring whimsies last night for the shop.

Have a beautiful day.

Early morning loves

I've been sitting here this morning with a sweet little Daisy next to me and a hot cup of coffee in hand browsing the net and procrastinating the morning run. But it has been totally worth it. Found some new loves.

While reading favorite blogs, I found this over at Flea Market Studio. Okay seriously, I think it's pretty cool every time I watch Marie Antoinette and now I can have it myself, not just see it in a movie!

Then while checking out what was new over here I found her! For a girl who LOVES birdies this is a wonderful find!

Rebecca Sower is having a "day to disconnect". Love this idea. I'm going to attempt it sometime this week.

I made these a couple of years ago. Not too difficult. How pretty is this? I think I actually have this issue. Going to have to pull that out!

Something that I really, really, really love this morning is this...

It's coming. Slowly but surely!

Okay, time to make the list:
*order some flowering tea
*watch Marie Antoinette (gonna throw this in just because)
*buy a beautiful corsage (the hard part is going to be choosing one!)
*schedule a time this week to do nothing but create for a day
*decide on Easter decorations
*enjoy the day
*oh, and go for that run :(

Here's to finding some new loves today!