Stripes

My Easter kitty :)

He's just too cute.

Spring Has Sprung

Actually, it is more like summer.  We have had absolutely gorgeous weather for the past week and a half and I have taken full advantage of it.  I have been outside gardening - this may very well be the earliest my forsythia have bloomed.

I have planted my pansies for the year :)
I chose a few different varieties this year.
Sorbet citrus is my new favorite.

It has been so warm, in fact, that Snoop has been swimming in the pond...

And, as for me...

I have been walking my arse off :)
Get out, go for a walk and have a great night!!!

Pileated Woodpecker

I saw this impressive bird out my front window last night.

He was doing quite the job on a dead tree.

He was a little bigger than a crow.
If you wish to learn more about this bird, please click on this link.  It will take you to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website.  It is a great resource.
Nature - it never ceases to amaze me.

Spring Forward

At the little red house in the big woods...

clocks have been turned ahead one hour bringing extra sunlight to the end of each day...

my crocuses are blooming...

the ice is off the upper pond...

I took the dogs for three walks today...
Well I took one of the dogs for three full walks; one sat and watched for part of the walk...
Any guess who?
That's not a cat either!!!

The woods are greening up...

Meanwhile, back at the house...
Oh, look who's back at the house!!!
Imagine that...

I took my curtains down and left up the valance.  I love just having my valance up, but during the winter it is just unrealistic - heat loss.  The view out that window is gorgeous.

Things are greening up on the inside of the house, too.  St. Patrick's Day is this Saturday you know.  And, I am a good Irish girl if nothing else.  There will be a boiled dinner and beer here come Saturday :)

Today, however, I made homemade white and sweet potato fries.  Dave brought home a roasted lime chicken from Wegmans.

The boys were home today.  Dave returned from a visit with his father in Pittsburgh and DJ has been house and pet sitting.  (DJ also played his first round of golf this year with one of his buddies.)  Thus, the red golf shirt.  Woot!  Woot!

Such is life in the little red house in the big woods this Spring Forward Sunday in March.
I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
Have a great night!

The Neighborhood

It is Spring in the Finger Lakes and that means the weather can change on a dime.  

Take for instance, this week:

- Monday temperatures were in the teens,

- Tuesday temperatures were in the 40s, and

- Wednesday temperatures were in the 60s.

I took these photos last night on my walk so I could document just how fast the change occurs. 

My walk takes approximately one hour only to complete...

 Note the rain clouds...

Approximately 30 minutes into my walk.
Note the front to the west.

The sun peeking through the trees.

 Further to the south, cloud cover lingers...

Returning home (north west) one hour later, the sun has appeared...

and provided a wonderful sunset.

 

And I felt as though I was magically transported to the English countryside.  All the while wishing, I was on a house call with author and veterinarian, James Herriott.

The Orchid Show

Dave, my Mom, DJ and I went to the Annual Orchid Show at Sonnenberg Gardens this afternoon.  The flowers were spectacular and well worth the $5.00 admission fee.  The show ran for three days.  It ended today at 5:00 PM.
Let's go for a stroll through the greenhouses shall we.

The orchids come in so many different colors...
Purples...

This one was DJ's favorite...

Reds and oranges...
This was my favorite :)

Beautifully pure whites...

DJ and my Mom reading up on succulents...

 More beautiful orchids...

Such a wide variety...

 I thought this orchid was absolutely stunning.

 This one screams happiness and Spring to me :)

Stunning pink varieties...

Dave enjoying himself...

This statue looks like she is wearing a scarf made of orchids...

I want a scarf like that.
If you are ever in the area and the show is on, go.
You will be so glad you did. 
Have a great night :)

Nesting

My daughter is now living in her own apartment and she is making it into a very welcoming home.  I recently went and visited her in this new home and bought her this wreath.  It is very spring like and adds a charming touch to the entryway.  It is also welcoming and inviting.  

So welcoming and inviting, in fact, that she has a new friend.

This friend comes knocking every morning and visits for approximately ten minutes.  At first, this frightened her.  I mean who comes knocking at the front door at 6:00 AM - not many people.  However, birds are another story.  That's right, there is a bird that may very well be making a home for its family right outside her door - in the wreath.  She has seen it through the peep hole.  Some people would find this annoying, but not my daughter, it makes her happy the bird likes the wreath too.
She wonders if it may be the eggs that has the bird so interested it.
It's not the eggs Alexandra.
It's you and the fact that you have made your home so warm and inviting.
You have that affect on people (and animals :)

Bling Bling

The best friend I ever had once said to me, "Marshy, what you need is a little bling, bling.  Everyone needs a little bling now and then."  

I'm thinking, "OK.  Yeah.  Where's this going?"  

She proceeded to hand me a little stretchy wrist bracelet that she picked up for me while vacationing in Florida with her husband.  It was loud, obnoxious and I loved it.  I wore it till it broke (which wasn't that long because it probably only cost $5.00 tops).   We had so much fun with that bracelet (especially if we went out drinking :)  God I miss that bracelet, but no more than that crazy, kind friend of mine.  

I purchased a white iPhone on Wednesday.  I researched it, talked to several different people about the phone and then made the decision to purchase it.  It arrived yesterday.  I love it.  Love the features, love the apps, love the size and weight of it.  However, the white was just a little to plain for me.  I needed a cover for it.  Immediately, I thought of Janny and began to laugh.
"Marshy,  what you need is a little bling, bling."
While shopping with some friends of mine yesterday, I stopped by a cell phone cover kiosk, saw this little number right here and said, "I'll take that bling right there."

Sure, it's loud and obnoxious, but it is fun!!!
And, most importantly it reminds me of the best friend I ever had, Janny :)
To bling, bling.