May Crowning

Our Lady of Grace, pray for us.

Spring Tease

February is playing with us.
We have cold winds and add logs to the fire endlessly.

Days later the children are running around outside building forts and having picnics.
The fireplace grows cold.

The next day we're back inside watching the snowflakes fall
as we huddle next to the warmth of the fire.

But......



nature is beginning to drop little hints that Spring is coming.



Michael took a walk around the yard and captured these pictures.


Here's 100 ideas for container gardening from Southern Living.
It made me feel happy and excited just looking and dreaming!

Favorite Things

Lilacs

A fresh bouquet of lilacs at our Mary altar.



I love Lilacs. 

I love their color; I love the fascinating way their blossoms unfold.

The sight and sweet scent of lilacs makes me smile and feel a bit nostalgic.

They say the sense of smell evokes the strongest memories;

lilacs take me back home, to Kansas and my childhood.

Most farms and homes have a lilac hedge on the edge of their property providing privacy and a shield from the blowing prairie winds.

Lilacs remind me of my Grandparents.  I am reminded of the joy of discovering new kittens.  I think of my sisters and how we played beneath the cool foliage on a hot day.  I can picture us running barefoot around the farm.  I see the kitchen table with a vase of purple blooms.

The heavenly scent only lasts for a few weeks but nothing says Spring to me more then when the lilacs bloom.  Maybe it's because of my April birthday, but I think the smell of lilacs surpasses any flower.

In the past I would beg a bouquet or two from neighbors each Spring.

Imagine my delight when I found out that our new home had two varieties of lilacs planted near the house! 

My very own lilacs?  Thank you God!!!

Tulip Time

This past Fall Grandma and Grandpa came over and helped the younger children plant tulips.

The children were skeptical but trusting that these funny looking bulbs would be a pretty flower. 

A promise and hope!

They came up!




A flower bud!



What color will it be?



Pink or Purple?

They bloomed!

A miracle every Spring!  Hope fulfilled. 



And more tulips at the zoo!

 

Looking for Spring

 We went for a hike the other day.  I love how you can see so clearly through the bare branches.  The sun was shining and the promise of Spring was in the air.  We chose an easy trail so little and big feet could meander slowly soaking in the sights and sounds of nature.  It was beautiful. 

 We spotted clusters of eggs attached to a sunken branch.  Salamanders or frogs?  A snail made an appearance and we were able to study him carefully.

 We spied squirrels, song birds, turtles and a little chipmunk.  The geese were honking loudly, maybe competing for mates?  We got excited when we thought of the little goslings soon to come.

Aaaahhh - flowers at last!



We'll be back to see your little ones Mama Goose!