I was about to announce that spring was here, maybe a week ago. For me, it officially begins when the snow birds leave. I always have a flock of these Slate Colored Juncos that overwinter with my local crowd. They don't go home until the coast is clear. This year they came early, in late October as Sandy moved up the coast while WV was buried under ( Read more... )

The chickens enjoy a splash of sunshine amid the sparkly beauty left by freezing rain. We've been staying below to hardly-better-than freezing for a while. I sure hope this changes next week. I have people coming on spring break (optimistic term) wanting to look at property.

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Well, it wouldn't be nascent spring without the classic floral photos. These pretty things bring me great joy when they startle me with their color on a cold, leafless day. Always a surprise is this wild pink azalea, huddled among some trees beyond the house.

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Baseball great Roger Hornsby was asked once what he did all winter during the off-season. "I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." That's me. Staring out the window at the drizzle that is slowly freezing on trees and fences. Sometimes the local birds stare in the windows at me. It's their way of telling me to toss some ( Read more... )