Tardy

I had looked and looked for our last remaining crocus to appear.  It was beginning to look like our friend had gone the way of the others.  What a sad feeling that is.

Sylvia went for a walk around the yard the other day.  When she came in, she reported that our crocus had put in a late appearance.  With camera in hand, I went out to see.

At last!

At last!

Worth waiting for, don’t you think?

A short distance away, I encountered these little beauties growing on the lawn.

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I don’t know their name, but they are a welcome splash of color amid the grass.  Perhaps Sharkbytes will know what they are.  Can you help me?

Yes!

Now that’s what I’ve been waiting for.

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The bee was enjoying the day as much as I was.

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And what a beautiful day it was . . . and is.

The frost has gone out of our [dirt] road.  The result is holes big enough to bury medium-sized critters.  Nobody speeds along our road these days.

I went out this morning in the rain.  I had to drive on the paved road just a mile from here.  The travels lanes, have sunk over time so that today rain will fill the depressions, creating miles-long puddles–four of them all parallel.  That’s not problem out here in the country where we just drive with two tires on the center line in such conditions.

Almost Daffy Time

Daffodils will soon open

Daffodils will soon open

Rain and warmer weather dominates the forecast.  I do believe that is Spring in the air.

It won't be long now

It won’t be long now

I keep my eyes open for the signs.  Lately, I’ve been rewarded.

Sylvia Update

It was a week ago today that Sylvia had a mishap on roller skates.  Since I brought her home from the ER, she has had her arm in a plaster splint–they tell us it is not a cast.  I haven’t bothered to research that one.  A sling helps her support the arm, and when she sits a pillow provides a handy support.

She is not in pain.  What she suffers from most is frustration at the limitations that are imposed upon her.

We’ve made arrangements for some help with some of the household chores.  (I was having trouble keeping up with them.)  That is working out very well.

Sylvia visits our primary care physician tomorrow.  Perhaps we’ll learn more then.

Spring Has Sprung

Hey Lin, my snowdrops are finally up.  I must confess that I suffer from envy every spring when you post pictures of your snowdrops weeks before mine blossom.

Bug's eye view.

Bug’s eye view.

They waited long enough to appear this year.  Unfortunately, looks like the last crocus that we had didn’t make it through the winter.

Next on the schedule are the daffodils.  Buds are forming and much promise is given.

First Day of Spring

Yesterday, was the first day of [astronomical] spring 2015 AD.  Sunny and nice, it did not live down to the haiku that I posted last week.  That was yesterday.  Today the skies are dull lead gray.  The sun is not visible and the earth is cold and damp.

Yesterday was also the day that my new camera arrived via UPS.  Sylvia had flown off to Florida very early that morning and she had her (it had been our) digital point-and-shoot camera.

While I was for the most part pleased with results from her camera, there were times when the images fell short of my hopes and expectations.

After surfing to Amazon.com and waiting a few days, once again I’m the owner of a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera.  This one has a 60 to 1 zoom ratio.  I’ll show you what that means next week.

Upon opening the package, I removed the battery and charger.  While the battery charged, I read through the basic owner’s manual, installed the lens cap and shoulder strap.

Then with the fully charged battery in the camera, I went outside to look for something that said, “first day of spring.”  I found one single blossom.  It was on the myrtle (aka vinca or periwinkle).

The first (only) blossom found here on 3/20

The first (only) blossom found here on 3/20

Not only is the sun at a far less than favorable angle, but this shot was hand held.  I was amazed at how well the image stabilizer worked.

From beside the road, I looked across at the neighbor’s pasture land.  A couple of curious geese were beside a drainage ditch.  They stretched up their necks to better see the intruder.  I pointed the camera in their general direction and “click.”  Later I cropped the image.

Getting a good look

Getting a good look

I’m really enjoying this camera.  What’s next?

Damp World Blues

Damp world blues?  That’s a song that I could sing today.  The day is overcast the ground is wet from overnight rain and the air is 20 degrees cooler than it was at the start of the week.  Nevertheless, I choose to find the beauty and rejoice in that.  I don’t have to look far to find that beauty.

The yellow tulip blossoms have opened

The yellow tulip blossoms have opened

The shadows tell the story.  I didn’t take these shots today.  It was earlier in the week.

Red and yellow.  Hooray!

Red and yellow. Hooray!

I feel better already.

Miniature Daffodils

It was April 20, and the sun shone bright on new fallen snow.  From the office window I could see the miniature daffodils peeking through the snow.  Sylvia took the camera and captured an image.

When I noticed that the camera settings were off a bit, it was too late to try again.  I used PhotoShop Elements to give the scene a water color look.

The size of these beauties does not come through well.  You can see that blossoms and stems are not in the same proportions as full-size daffodils, but that’s only part of the story.  Two days later, I captured another photo after placing my cap on the ground beside the flowers.

I’m not participating in Wordless Wednesday this week.  I thought these images needed a few words of explanation.  Here’s hoping you enjoy them.

Echoes of Spring

I had taken these two photos earlier this spring. I had planned to use them for a Wordless Wednesday post. But the best laid plans . . . as they say.  Indeed, events overtook my plans and I never did post this.  If flowers make you happy, then this is for you.

A crocus, and another crocus

There is an explanation for that silly caption.  The truth is I don’t know if the plural of crocus is crocuses or crocii.  The spell checker indicates a preference for the former wouldn’t the scientific approach lean toward Latin and the latter?  Can you help?  One thing for sure, the crocus on the left is not going to work today.

What's that on the lovely flower?

As you can clearly see the crocus on the left has a bug.  Cough.  Cough.  I’ll try to make it in to work tomorrow boss. 😉  Pity these pix weren’t posted on a Wednesday.  If that had happened, you would have been spared such horrible humor.

Crocus

Lovely Miss Crocus,
Announces arrival of spring,
With merry colors.