A Flower Expected Everywhere

We have had lots of rain the past two weeks, the newly budding flowers have shown their gratitude and color is in abundance throughout the garden.
Oh, how I love this time of the year.


I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers:
Of April, May, of June, and July flowers.
I sing of Maypoles, Hock-carts, wassails, wakes,
Of bridegrooms, brides, and of their bridal cakes.

Robert Herrick 1591-1674

And Thereto I Plight Thee My Troth

Perfection.
My homeland did me proud.
The playing of 'Jerusalem' brought me to tears.
The exuding love for each other made my heart flutter.
This green and pleasant land, unmistakably merry.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I've dusted off my best hat, and plan to spend my entire Friday morning as a virtual guest at Wills and Kate's royal wedding.




The Union Jacks are flying, and I'm gearing to raise my glass in a well-wished toast to the happy couple.
Gawd Bless 'Em.

Three cheers..... Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray !

A Spring Rain

The world is wet today
luxurious, damp, drenched
drops hug the leaves,
anoint the still budded lilac blossoms
before their blooming
rich purple and plum
made richer by their watery skin
New leaves under the weight
droplets heavy, hanging
bowing the white pine needles
undersides exposed to drink
drink in the morning
hushed in the rain
temperature near the dewpoint
sprouts of just planted flowers
eager from the parched soil
new puddles bloom too
on the ground, the driveway
collect and gather
without the smell of summer rain yet
tears splash and spread
silent shimmers, heralds, messengers
in the spring rain.

~A Spring Rain : Raymond J. Foss

Y'All Come

The First Sergeant and I enjoyed a toe-tapping weekend at the Grand Ole Opry.
A star-packed venue the two and a half hour show was packed with up and coming entertainers, and legends of the Grand Ole Opry alike.

I must confess, I was moved to tears, when Bobby Osborne sang the state song "Rocky Top", it brought the house down.

We plan to return, and make this a regular engagement.

Nothing can compare.

Blessings To You This Easter

Easter ......

A special time to share a family meal, enjoy the fun of Easter egg hunting, a time to worship together, a time to rejoice.
Wishing you a blessed Easter.......

Spring Storms

A night of restlessness.
Stormy, swirling skies, lightening bolts all around.
The morning mists, quietly gather and gently wrap the rain-soaked earth.

Morning Mist

In the morning, skies so gray,
Before the sun lights up the day,
I chanced upon a morning mist
That left the leaves and grasstips kissed
With the aqua of the dew,
It left a feeling with me, too
Something old and something new;
Something that comes with the mist again,
Never what, but always when.

A Visit With The Easter Bunny

ALL I EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE I LEARNED FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.
Walk softly and carry a big carrot.
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There’s no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep your paws off other people’s jellybeans.
Good things come in small sugar-coated packages.
The grass is always greener in someone else’s basket.
An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare.
To show your true colors – you have to come out of your shell.
The best things in life are still sweet and gooey.

~ Author Unknown

Batten Down The Hatches

It's been a day filled with thunderstorms, winds, and tornadoes dancing all around. The rain was needed, the other elements we can do without. This has been a week of on and off rain , the sticky, yellow pollen now washed clean from everything it befelled.

Tornado season is once again upon us. The Tennessee Valley endured a sleepless night of tornadic mayhem, trees down, roofs blown off, flooding.

Be safe, adhere to the warnings, have an emergency plan in place.

I puddle up the neighborhood
I make the postman mad
I wake the worm and spank the frog
Sleeping on his lily pad
And when the tulips in their beds
Nod happily, it's true
I shake the petals of their hands
And say, How do you dew?

Play Day

The Shed...

"In the potting shed, our hearts, the pleasures of home, and the glories of the garden merge. Its practical character eases our garden labors. Its romantic nature enriches our lives. Here is peace, and beauty, and a sense of purpose."

~Linda Joan Smith : The Potting Shed

No Takers

Even the birds seem too busy with their Spring cleaning, to stop awhile at the feeders.
So much fluffing and tweaking going on.

Renaissance

On top of the earth
where green touches the hills ~
in spring, in summer, with daffodils,
with dandelions scattered through untilled fields,
with waterfalls and ferny fronds
companioning winding creeks; and
grassy knolls surrounding sunlit ponds...

That is where my heart thrives ~
among dahlias, lilacs, and rosy thorns
scenting life with fragrant morns,
and gentle nights of rounded moons,
inhaling reminiscent blooms
of many lost, yet, joyful Junes...

Warming seasons created to
make lips smile, hearts leap,
feet dance to earthy song;
and earth's turning, ever-moving
old winter right along...

'Til spring emerges, and summer follows
into every nook, into every hollow,
with greening leaf and budding flower
bestowed by Mother Nature's power..

An overwhelming gift of rarest beauty,
a rejuvenation, a resurrection of life ~
when earth renews, when earth revives...
Yes, that is when my heart truly thrives.

~ Hazelmarie Elliott

A Little Break

Taking a little bloggy break, chores are piling up :)

Be back soon.

In the meantime, I hope to pop in and visit with you.
Be well !

~Jo

One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure.

My dear daughter is the original American Picker. She shopped the Goodwill and Thrift stores when they were not the popular places to bargain hunt. Her talent for spotting a diamond in the rough is unprecedented.

Each April our fair city holds it's annual Spring Cleanup. Once a week you can discard all of your unwanted items curbside and the city picks them up for free.

It has become a public free-for-all, if it's out on the curb then it's free for the taking. Everyone understands if you help yourself to the freebies then be courteous enough to make sure the remainder is left in an orderly fashion, and not strewn haphazardly across the home owner's lawn. We call it 'ditch-diving'.

My daughter has 'picked' endless useful items throughout the years, it's almost unbelievable what people will discard.Today, she spotted this antique hall tree laying at the curb. A beautiful piece of history, tossed aside.

It now has a new home, and will be well -loved.

Fluffing And Cutting

Everything around the garden is budding recklessly, trees, shrubs, and plants alike. Despite the turn to cooler weather at night, the days warm to a pleasant sixty or seventy degrees, and the growing cycle continues.

Of course, this also means the grass is growing. The First Sergeant has mowed twice already, and is thankful for a riding lawn mower . Such is the life of the privileged {wink}

Mothering Sunday

This coming Sunday is Mother's Day in England.
Mothering Sunday has been celebrated in the United Kingdom on the fourth Sunday in Lent, since at least the 16th century. Since we celebrate the day at different times of the year, England being in March, and the USA in May, I feel it is only appropriate to mention both of them during the year.

This post is dedicated to all our wonderful mums, without whose unselfish, love and devotion our lives would be forever changed.

"Happy Mother's Day" mum, I hope your day is filled with happiness.

A Mother holds her children's hands for a while .......their hearts forever."

Who ran to help me when I fell, And would some pretty story tell, Or Kiss the place to make it well ? My mother."

~ Anne Taylor

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.

~Tenneva Jordan