Saturday, April 2, 2022

Saturday Shape Up-Walking on Sunshine

      It was a plateau week for my weigh in, but frankly, I'm OK with that. I have had little extra exercise, and nights where I crashed early. The tease of spring then day after day of cold and wet, lingering impact of the daylight savings change, and work  urgencies (I refuse to call them crisis's) added up to pure exhaustion. When I came downstairs in the morning, the sun was flooding the dining room and it was marvelous, even though there were frost crystals on the deck. March sure went out like a lion, but maybe this wonderful start of April will not be a fool's day joke and we really will have spring. I got outside yesterday for a real poke around, and in and out of the paths leading into the park! An acquaintance posted on Facebook that their kiddo saw real buds on their trees, and reading her description made me smile. 

Lilac buds 4/1/2022

     So with that little gem of childhood excitement, I thought it might be fun to take a picture of the very tiny buds on the lilac bush  by the pond. Can you see the little brown specs? Look close, because they are there. I would think in eight weeks time we might have full on flowers. This will be my little project for spring, documenting the growth. As it was so nice and sunny yesterday, I grabbed a few other shots of very early spring-really, end of winter. I can't say I'll take new ones each week, but maybe at least once per month to see how the park and pond move into new growth. I guess this will be part of my Saturday Shape Up-the shaping up of our little neighborhood park. 

Entering the park from a  different path
yields a different perspective.

There is a thin sheet of ice holding on
not ready to melt quite yet. The open
water though was like a glass mirror. 



I look forward to when the pond is blocked
from view because the trees and bushes
 are loaded with green. 

Bye Bye Ice rink until next winter!

I'll watch for the milk weeds return. First
the caterpillars, then the butterfly's. 


18 comments:

  1. March went out like a lion here as well. Wednesday was in the 70's and then a storm came through with a cold front putting us in the 30's on Thursday.
    I'm sitting here watching all of the birds on the bird feeder knowing that true Spring weather is right around the corner.

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    1. I am not a good bird neighbor- no feeders, but they seem to like my trees. April holds promise. I don't mind a few rain days.

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  2. I love seeing buds, a promise of spring.

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    1. I love when the lilacs and apple blossoms come.

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  3. Spring will come, but here yesterday was windy, cold and gray; and now it is snowing. March went out like a lion and April came in like a lion! Celie

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    1. Tomorrow may be like that, but then no excuse to not tackle house stuff!. I'm relieved when March is done and no horrible snow storms.

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  4. We usually start seeing signs of spring at the beginning of March, which is so nice. We definitely have a lot in bloom at the moment, and that (plus the sunshine) drastically improves my mood.

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    1. My son says he's living southern Cal most days right now. It's gloomy today, but not bitter cold so I guess I'll take it.

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  5. It won't be long before the green will show up again, hooray! Still lots of snow here but mostly in areas that don't get a lot of sun.

    Enjoy your walks and the progression of spring!

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    1. We've got the ugly mounds and I'm trying to ignore them. We really need a few hard rain days to do some natural cleaning.

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  6. BUTTERFLIES!!!!Our hummingbirds have returned. Actually, I'm not sure they ever left, so I need to get going and set up the feeders. My other favorite flying creature which shows up around here are the dragonflies. I absolutely love seeing the way a dragonfly can dart over the flowers.
    Speaking of, I have to figure out what to plant in our new place...still hoping June will be the move. I've given up on even pretending I can grow vegetables. I will concentrate on flowers. I'm thinking daylilies along the walk, roses underneath one of the front windows, and putting in a few raised beds with coneflowers. I have a few big rocks which would look good with poppies growing around them, but I'm not sure there's enough sun. The poppy is one of my favorite flowers. Either way, I want to invest nether a lot of money or labor in this project!

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    1. I have mind aspirations of vegetables, but likely flowers will be what I get. I too love dragonflies They are gorgeous.

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  7. I've got an earworm now! Loved your photos and I'd really enjoy it if you went back and took photos each month to show us the seasonal changes, what a geat post idea! xxx

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    1. Sorry about the ear worm! I think the weekly bud photo and glimpses of the rest will be fun. It's hopeful instead of lamenting.

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  8. Our buds are mostly bloomed. So, there is a froth of green on the trees on the drive up to Cullman. It is forested all the way. I guess the skim of ice will be gone soon.

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    1. The SK m should be gone, but we potentially have a full month of winter. The south sounds like it would be beautiful in April.

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  9. The dogwoods and azaleas are in full bloom right now. It is beautiful but pollen laden, so I spend little time outdoors enjoying it.

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    1. That's unfortunate. I bet it's stunning- if you can see between the sneezing and watery eyes.

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