The Happiest Day in Winter

Every year at this time, I walk hopefully through the yard looking for the first hint of spring.

 

In recent weeks, we have been snow covered in the Tidewater, which while beautiful brought a host of annoyances. Once the melt took place my daily survey continued and today I was rewarded! Those hopeful, brave green shoots poking through the faded leaves of last year make my heart grow three sizes....just like the Grinch haha.

 

 

"Life is the greatest gift that could ever be conceived ... A daffodil pushing up through the dark earth to the spring, knowing somehow deep in its roots that spring and light and sunshine will come, has more courage and more knowledge of the value of life than any human being I've met." - Madeleine L'Engle

Not Gardeny, But Important to Me!

I am not from the South, though I have been here for 12 years, I still consider myself a Philly girl. Going to the NFC Championship game was an amazing experience that I shared with my family.

 

Despite what you hear in the news media, most of the people who attend Eagles games are legacy families who have been season ticket holders for generations. Such a family are we. My father, now passed, had tickets several stadiums back. Some of my fondest childhood memories are sitting in stadiums with him, be it Eagles, Phillies, or the Big Five basketball, he and I were always at some game. I had no brothers, and was the oldest daughter, so love of sports came to me in all those hours of bonding.

 

I was present opening day of Veterans Stadium in 1970 and I was present the day they imploded it when "the Linc" was opened. Sitting in our seats always brings a rush of memories of all those years. 

 

One thing I miss living in the Tidewater is that sense of oneness and community that comes from a major sports team, something we lack here. There are instant connections in supermarkets, at gas pumps, at schools, wherever, a part of something sometimes joyful and sometimes miserable. It was truly hard to leave the city the next day, knowing I would miss the city fervor in build up to the Super Bowl.

 

We are the "underdogs" and in spirited fashion my son donned the dog mask made "famous" by Chris Long and Lane Johnson.

There were a fair amount of Vikings fans in out tailgate lot. But for some jeering going both ways, and one bonehead who chucked his beer into that crowd, things we a lot calmer than the media has portrayed. Philly fans are used to being portrayed as savages.....mostly we are hard working folks who are joyful to be cheering on our team and spending time with family and friends.

The sun set over the Linc....it was almost game time. It was exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time!

A beautiful national anthem ceremony....always brings a tear.

 

WE WON!!!!

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.  ~Doug Larson

It was the first day I really got out in the garden yesterday...I always feel hopeful about a new season and bleak about all the work to come all at the same time! I wandered over to the garden section of the  big box store who had teased me with cool weather veggies when I drove in.  I picked up two varieties of  kale, Chinese cabbage, radicchio, and mustard to get started, oh and a flat of violas too. The whole garden sort of got away from me last year with too much school work and not enough garden time. There is a bunch of overgrowth that needs pulling. But I started with just a few of the boxes.

 

The plum is blooming its pretty white flowers which really stand out where there is no green.

 

Violas make instant cheer!!

 

The sky was glorious blue in contrast to the red buds appearing on the trees.

 Four boxes planted with a feeling of satisfaction. A forecast of cold and rainy weather for the next few days will give them a good soaking.

 

Lazy dogs pretended they weren't keeping an eye on me....

A pleasant and satisfying day spent outside. :)

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.  ~Margaret Atwood

A Groundhog is a Rodent, Not a Weatherman

 

 

Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous rodent, popped out of his burrow Sunday morning and predicted six more weeks of winter, much to the disappointment of the crowd gathered at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pa.  His prediction was: "A Super Bowl winner I will not predict, but my weather forecast you cannot contradict. Why that's not a football but my shadow I see, It's six more weeks of winter it must be!"

 

I say, forget the groundhog...I have evidence that spring is coming! Gorgeous spring green moss was revealed when the snow melted under the warmish 56 degree sunshine.

 

Not too far from the moss.....while slightly out of focus, the daffs are 4 inches up. Take that stupid groundhog!

 

The sunset was once again spectacular with the entire sky streaked in large swaths of pinky orange.

 

Magical....

Oh Snow!

“Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity.”  -Novala Takemoto

 

 

“The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches.”  ― E.E. Cummings

"The snow was whiter than what seemed possible." ―J. McSparin - 8th Grade

 

“Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow, Filling the sky and earth below, Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet. Dancing, Flirting, and Skimming along.” -J.W. Watson

Snow Day

When all was said and done we measured just over 4 inches in our Virginia yard. The view out the kitchen window, while beautiful,  makes me long to be out in the garden covered in dirt and sweat. It is cold and will remain cold for some days to come. Perhaps when the snow is gone there will be some green poking through...one can hope.

 

Pre SNOWMAGEDDON!!!

You've got to love Facebook for providing the weather humor commensurate with the hype that has been all over the news that last 24 hours. Admittedly the south does not have the necessary equipment and salt stockpile to deal with the roadways adequately. I did wander to the beach house to bulk up the bird feeders while the temperature was 57 and the sun was shining.

 

 

My winter kale is quite happy in it's southern exposure. The camera didn't quite capture the true screaming violet color. They make me happy when I look at them.

 

 

The reliable Camellia's are blooming a pretty soft Valentine's pink.

 

The plumes of the pampas grass rustled softly in the breeze.

 I wandered to the beach...it was gorgeous! Sunny, warm.....

 A couple of our beaches regular's came down to surf for a bit.

 Dolphins were lazily surfacing in a large school of fish that had the pelicans diving.

 Loyal dog goes for swim.

 And takes a good post-swim roll on the sand.

 

Sigh....spring and summer I long for you. Meanwhile......