After a summer unknown in living memory, of more than 70 days of temperatures over 100 degrees, of the worst drought ever recorded, of the worst loss of trees and wildlife that one season has ever claimed, we had what passes for winter around here. Some people are bemoaning the fact that we never got a hard freeze, saying that the pesky pests will be outumbering us. I say they got wiped out with the summer, and we can manage without winter just fine.
Still, it is an early warmth, and with the generosity of some gentle soaking rains, the earth is wakening from its little nap. Everwhere I look are buds and blooms, green grass and butterflies. I can't keep up with it all, and my drive to town is a distraction. Not traffic of course, but all the inviting sights outside the window of my car.
The little creek on our lane shows the muddy path taken by cattle
who cross it for the greener grass.
This is Spring Creek, and looks healthy and well again.
That's a blue heron flying off to the right.
Something about a red barn makes me think of Norman Rockwell.
We need some freckled kids or soldier boys to complete the scene.
One of my sisters must have planted this in the yard.
Maybe it is an azalea?
The paper whites are always first to signal that winter is over.
I trust them more than the groundhog.
Daffy Down Dilly has Come to Town
In her Green Skirt and her Yellow Gown.
The rosemary bush is happy to be here,
and has fragrant blooms to show for it.
In town, the pear trees bloom for a few too short days.
Early to tell, but this little feller will grow to be a Texas Longhorn.
I hope your spring will come in beauty. I hope that this summer will be kinder than the last. I am glad for spring rain.
* click on images to see in larger format *
images © diana ani stokely 2012 - all rights reserved
TIP:
Enter the amount, and click "Tip" to submit!
nilesite
M. C. S.
Deborah Méndez Wilson
MedianPerspective
Joslyn Hamilton
Maureen Andrade
Salon.com
Comments
Your pictures look like the English countryside yet you write with an American accent.
Love it,
"Press the big button please FRed(tm)."
The photos are nice.
That "maybe azalea" looks to be one of the cultivars of Chaenomeles speciosa, Common Flowering Quince.
(PS I don't think it is an azalea, but I could not love that li'l Longhorn more!)
Rated for Dianaani's perfectly natural eye.
R♥
.........(¯`v´¯) (¯`v´¯)
☼•*¨`*•.¸.(ˆ◡ˆ).¸.•*
............... *•.¸.•* ♥⋆★•❥ Thanx, Smiles (ツ) & ♥ L☼√Ξ ☼ ♥
⋆───★•❥ ☼ .¸¸.•*`*•.♥
Beautiful pictures.
Enjoyed this GrannyDi, how is the little one?
Your photo essay is awesome.
LammChops, I expect the snow will give way to green shoots real soon. Hopefully your patience holds out.
zanelle, I figured you'd have spring before us! I saw three calves this morning, learning to play together. What fun.
phyllis45's Bright Eyes, it is a good feeling to see the bulbs break ground, eh? Two doors down from my office is a bat-filled building. The smell of guano can be pretty pungent, but they are kinda fun to watch when they pour forth at dusk to hunt.
Marty'sHusband, I heard these spring rains will bring a bumper crop of bluebonnets, which is a sight better than what we got last year. I love all the blossoms and buds. Give Marty a hello hug from me.
Ah, CreekEnd UK and FRed(tm), yes, I think I pass the creek in the lane, then the one at the Bratcher's place, then Spring Creek, then a few along the highway, then Pecan Creek, plus the Leon River before I get to work. It makes me happy to think this countryside and yours look so similar.
Thoth, thank you kindly. I hadn't thought of that old saying before, "right as rain." It makes so much sense to me now, living in a drought prone area.
candace, I always appreciate your visits, and am pleased you like the photos. I hope your spring is lovely, and expect you'll be photographing it too.
alsoknownas, thank you so much! Common flowering quince, eh? I looked it up, and agree with you entirely. My dad's been dead 8 years now, and I wonder if he put it there, and I never saw it before. But, my sisters have the gift of gardening, and likely planted it.
Scarlett Sumac, the sun is tilting your way now, and the buds will burst soon. Please share your photos when they do.
Jennifer Prestholdt, you're welcome! I heard the upper midwest had some winter this past week, but hope your patience holds out for a few more weeks. I bet you'll have bulbs blooming soon.
Seer, you say the nicest things! I love that you love the photo essays.
FusunA, is it true that you won't see flowers until May? By then, we will be having temperatures hitting the 90s! It's nice, though, that we can share our different worlds through this medium. Thanks for visiting.
Bernadine! You're welcome. I wish pear blossoms lasted just a few more days. They are truly ephemeral.
A Simple Shutterbug, I know you'll be out in muddy fields and paths soon, capturing the Atlantic seaboard version of an early spring. I look forward -- as always -- to seeing your photos.
AtHomePilgrim, thanks. I surely hope we have a better year.
Spike the Chicken, you are welcome to visit any time. I don't seem to find time to write so much lately, but cannot help grabbing the camera and holding on to these images.
Algis Kemesys, I appreciate your visit, and know you will be sharing your own spring with us all real soon. I wish we could post the smell of spring on the internet.
Thanks, Joan H., for coming by. If my photos brought you some calm, I am glad. Wish you could visit me here.
Desnee Flakes, I see you are from South Carolina. Beautiful country! I imagine you'll be seeing dogwoods in bloom soon. I feel jealous just thinking of it.
SheilaTGTG55, as hopeful as spring! I love that.
zanelle, you're too good to me, and I apologize for being slow.
nanatehay, where's the photos of your own spring? I look forward to your photo essay. I kinda figured you'd be setting me straight about the maybe-azalea really-quince.
hyblaean-Julie, aren't paperwhites beautiful when the sun shines through them? I wish we had smell-o-vision too.
Christine Geery, thanks. I cannot imagine wishing Spring would come later. You will have to explain that one to me.
greenheron! I had no idea paperwhites could be grown indoors! We definitely need to get together and compare notes. I thought of you yesterday when I saw some cast metal drawer pulls, in the shape of bird skulls.
Erica K, yeah, the little cow is a dear, that fat fluffy tail just pulls my heartstrings.
Con, I am happy you caught the "in town" reference. That shot is taken in the town of Cranfills Gap (pop. 325), where we go to get our mail. From the house, it takes me about 10 minutes to drive there. I drive another 20 minutes to get to Hamilton where my shop is. The population here is 8,500. Whooo-hooo!
rita shibr, yes, spring is awaited with joy. Thanks for asking, my grandson is now 7 weeks old, looks all around, working on his focusing skills. There is a little smile that goes with the twinkle in his eyes, too.
designanator, you are welcome, as always. I hope we have a better summer of it than last year. Texas was hit so hard, but the torture went on for so many months, that it might seem trivial to some. That water in the lane and in Spring Creek is the first we've had in over a year. Thank you for your visit.
Pam Malone, thanks, I will go check your "Driving Across Texas" blog today. The temperatures are so pleasant now, it is a joy to be outside.
Belinda T. - yeah, pulling weeds is easy when the ground is soft. What? soft ground? I do love the water that falls from the sky. Thanks for your visit.
Cheers-