spring delights

We moved pretty quickly this year from cold to very warm! Oh, I know it wont last, but for the record, I'm wearing shorts today.

Good weather means there's work to be done. I am up before 6, aiming to be at the grocery store when it opens so that I wont waste the day on such silliness as stocking the fridge for the week.

But first, a walk through the yard. Must take the tomatoes out and feed the little girls. And admire for the millionth time the beauty of a yellow house against the backdrop of spring greens.






I leave a still snoozing Ed and run my shopping errands. Breakfast, therefore, is on the late side. But oh, how grand it is to be eating in all this warm weather! (The heavy rains felled many a daffodil. All the more reason to clip them and stick them in vases.)






The little chicks see us and run over to the porch area. Like the big hens, they appear to like to check up on us when we make an appearance outside. They watch us, we watch them.



Before I give in to the demands of the garden, I do take the time to meet up with my daughter and Snowdrop at the downtown farmers market.

I find them engaged in a serious conversation about life's peculiarities.






It's hard not to be joyous on a day like this one, but Snowdrop has special talents for being extra joyous!






Well of course! We're experiencing an explosion of spring delights!







Can I climb that?
Maybe not... Spring makes us believe that everything is possible! Well, nearly everything.






In the afternoon, Ed and I make a quick trip to the Flower Factory. Ed has put up a bunch of trellis teepees in the yard and so I can finally plant some blooming vines.

Of curse, I do look around to see what else is blooming at this perennial emporium...






And then I lose myself to work the in farmette flower fields.

(Ed prompts me to pause and take a look in the new orchard. The cherries are blooming!)






(Again, the young chicks watch...)






I stop work when Snowdrop comes for a sleepover.

She, too, can't resist the evening air. I bring out a soccer ball (pink!) for us to kick around...






And she gives it a couple of good ones, but then the sandbox just draws her right in.






It's very tough to get her to give it up for the day.

Pizza party with Ed on the porch...






The sun sets at 8:03 right now and so we can still enjoy its warmth now (at 7)...






Ed and I are slow to put down our forks. Just a few minutes more of this serenity... (Snowdrop brings out a few characters and plays quietly to the side...)






And now I think it's time to herd the chickens to the coop. The process is too long and full of mishaps and misdirections. Eventually, between the three of us, we do manage to catch the little ones and put them into the coop...





...though Ed says this will be our last herding game. Tomorrow, we leave them to wander into the coop on their own.


And now, finally, I insist on books and bedtime -- Snowdrop may think she's not tired yet, but I surely have a response to that: I am so ready to put my head on the pillow and lose myself to sleep! The bats are out, the day is done! Goodnight beautiful summer-like May 5th, goodnight little one here, and little one in Chicago. Goodnight all. Good night, good night.