Early Spring

Hello, Dear Friends, we are seeing more signs of spring, 

here in the foothills of the Cascade mountains in 

Washington State, but it has been cool and wet, 

which is typical this time of year.  

Every once in a while the sun will peek through the 

low clouds for a few hours, or if we are very lucky, a whole day!   

I throw on my garden boots and denim overcoat,

grab the clippers and the rake and get to work 

cleaning up the gardens.

Sometimes I find 'artifacts' left behind by my children.
It always tugs at my heartstrings.....

Time passes so quickly.

But plastic lasts forever......

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I have mostly native plant and wildflower gardens, 

with a few hardy plantings here and there, 

but the winter cleanup is quite a job this time of year. 

I fill my wheelbarrow and whole tarps
with dead or fallen branches, 

storm debris, plant trimmings and blackberry vines that 

grow year round and can reach 30 ft!

The thorns leave me with scratches, even through my clothes, 

and painful splinters in my fingers, despite my heavy

work gloves, but I love every minute of my time 

outdoors - listening to the whispers of the wind

 and the forest gossip among the birds,  

while the dogs and I soak in the early spring sunhine. 

It never lasts for long - at most a day or so - 

before the wind picks up, bringing angry dark 

clouds and sometimes driving rain or hail,

like a tempestuous child having a tantrum, 

only to melt your heart with the sunniest smile 

just a few moments later. 

Speaking of children.......

The loves of my life are keeping me busy two mornings a week,
 in between days in the gardens. 

Like this little one, 17 mos. 

Big brother to these little charmers;

the twins - almost 3 mos., now. 

Mom hasn't handed them completely over to me

yet, but I am working up to it <3

She goes back to work in two weeks, 

but works at home, along with their Daddy, 

so I won't be completely on my own. 

These little ones are very lucky, 

with two Grandmothers to help out 

and many loving aunts and uncles nearby, too. 

It takes a village........:)

We enjoyed seeing this little guy, too,

 for an Easter egg hunt a couple of weeks ago

at his three little cousin's house. 

He's almost 3 now. 

I was beginning to think that I would never have Grandchildren......

and now look how blessed I am! 

The 'big boys' are both wearing the sweaters I crocheted 

them for Christmas. 

I am almost done crocheting two more for the twins.
The darling, felt Easter baskets were gifts
from their Auntie and Uncle, Jen and Dustin.

Jimmy, the Labra-Doodle and Fender,
the brown Labrador Retriever, 

didn't stay in their pen for long.......

They staged a break-out. 

And poor Lilly, my soon-to-be Grand-Daughter

(Her Dad is marrying my daughter, Jennie

this summer), gets the full-on, Labrador welcome hug.

Fender loves everyone, but especially loves Lilly.....

But you have to watch this guy.....he's a thief! 

He ran off with this Easter egg and refused to give it up.  

He's pretending to be sleeping, but as soon as your hand 

gets close, he grabs the egg in his mouth

and runs off. This entertained him for quite some time :)

The Rufous Hummingbirds are back from their winter vacation 

down south, but are squabbling 

with the resident Anna's Hummingbirds over territorial rights 

to the feeders, so I put out a few more. 

This has kept the peace, more or less. 

Hummingbirds seem so small and fragile, but 

they are fearless and will buzz and dive-bomb any interlopers, 

no matter how big or small. 

I've seen them going after bumblebee's that want a drink, 

or dogs and cats and even humans - hovering and darting
 menacingly, just inches away from your face. 

I once held one in my hands when it got trapped inside 

my solarium window when we were building the house. 

I could feel its wildly beating heart as I gently cupped it 

in my palms to let it go while my small children watched 

in wonder. 

April 11th was the 37th anniversary of the day we 'left 

it all behind' to live in this wild and beautiful place, 

full of hopes and dreams and not much else. 

You can read all about our journey in four parts,
 Here, Here, Here, and Here.

Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith.
I've been taking those leaps all of my life. 

I love reading about others who have also taken leaps of faith.

I just finished these two wonderful memoirs written by
a fellow leaper, Mary J. MacLeod - a nurse who moved with her
family to a remote Scottish Isle in the early 1970's.

(These have a copyright of 2013 - 14.
Dear Mary is in her 80's now,
living in England)

I can guarantee that you will love these
 heart-warming (and sometimes heart-breaking)
 stories of her and her fellow islander's life there.

When have you taken a leap of faith?

Signs of spring are everywhere now......

I'll have to take you on another country drive soon.

Thank you, dear friends for your condolences for the loss of our
little Maggie. She was our sweet and sassy little
companion for so many years and we will miss her,
but are greatly comforted by your kind and caring thoughts.

xoxo


Until next time..........Keep the faith!

xoxo

You can find the pattern to the baby sweater Here.

Today I am linking with:

Thankful Thursday

Won't you join the fun?

xoxo