The sun is shining today and it makes the trees look like they are sparkling with brilliant diamonds, almost blinding to look at.

These icicles are hanging from the tree outside my living room window. You didn’t think I went out in this frigid air and took pictures, did you? LOL.

This one really caught my eye. I am ready for a spring thaw but our air is quite frigid still so it may be a few more days for us.

And because I TOTALLY forgot, the winner of the Kitchen Microfiber Towel was Melissa!

Thank you everyone for playing along. I think it is safe to say we all have tedious little chores we’d just soon never have to do again

Apple Blossom Azalea

What type of bulbs do you have in your garden?  When do you plant them?

I lived outside of Atlanta for a few years and missed Spring bulbs immensely. I found a book at the library on what types of bulbs could be grown in Georgia climate and found it was as easy as in the Midwest.  The secret, I had to refrigerate the bulbs for six weeks in the winter and then place them into the soil in early February and lo and behold I had tulips and jonquils just like I had always enjoyed in my Midwest garden.

If you live in the southern regions of the States or any other part of the world where the temperature never drop low enough to cool the soil try the refrigerator trick and you can have them Spring or Fall.

I have so many spring flowers I love I am going to share a few this week.

Creeping phlox is one of my favorite in early spring…and in the background the crimson azaleas are in the shade and you can barely see the buds ready to burst on the rhododendron.

Magnolia Blooms

Let’s keep looking at these reminders of what we can expect in just a few weeks!!!

What is your favorite season of the year?  Mine has always been Spring.  I love the smell in the air of Spring rain, the beauty of trees that bud and leaf in a matter of days, bulbs that miraculously surface and burst into welcome bloom.

Of course it is a season that has a “to do” list for most of us, so why not get ready now.  It is not too early to begin planning for Spring.  Here in the Midwest early garden planting of peas, onions, potatoes, and lettuce for example normally are planted on or near  St Patrick’s Day.  If your a vegetable gardener make sure the ground is ready, have the seeds on hand and get the hoe and gloves out  you will need them very soon now.

Take inventory of what needs to be done in your lawn and garden both.  What shrubs require Spring pruning, do you have some tree limbs you have been putting off trimming back, do you need to aerate the lawn, clean up garden pots for replanting?

The list can be endless but if you have a list and check it off with some “honey do” or child bribery for a movie night to help along the way it will all be done in time for you to sit back with a smile and watch the early Spring flowers show off.

Don’t forget our feathered friends need us to give their homes a housecleaning too.

My children as grown adults recount some of their most pleasant family memories were in the time we spent preparing garden and flower beds.

Spring IS just around the corner friends.

I am thankful that God is so good and gives us such beautiful things to love and appreciate.

I am constantly awed by His sense of creativity.

All I have to do is look around to see His incredible works of art.

Happy Sunday my dear friends!

Ok gals, I don’t know about you, but SNOW has become a really bad 4 letter word for me. I know I’m not alone. I saw the weather map this morning and we’ve all been getting dumped on it seems. This is what we woke up to this morning in our part of the midwest.

So! Let’s do something to perk our little selves up. This is always my answer. A pot of blooming bulbs, in this case hyacinths which are incredibly fragrant. They are also hearty bulbs that can be planted in the ground (as soon as it thaws) and will rebloom year after year. A nice little gift that keeps on giving and I really like that!

I’ve also bought tulips and daffodils over the years too and have done the same thing by planting them in my gardens. Of course fresh cut also works to boost the spirits. No one ever made up a rule that we can’t buy ourselves flowers ladies I get these for less than $10 at our local Price Chopper Grocer. Worth every single penny.

Hey hey hey. I’m back from sunny Mexico, all relaxed and tan. Besides the time spent beside the pool, I’d have to say whale watching was my absolute favorite experience. This picture, well first off I DO have a swimsuit on with a coverup dress over it. Second I was taking a little siesta in the sun thanks to the drowsy effect of a rather strong margarita (I’m a lightweight when it comes to alcohol) while Robert took a gazillion photos of ocean waves. I hope the snoring didn’t bother anyone, LOL.

The humpback whales were migrating and having their babies and they were SO cute and BIG! Now back to cold cold cold Kansas weather.

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Ok, a few more photos of our vacation just because I love being able to share how beautiful this place was.

You knew it was going to be a spectacular week in paradise when the cabbie drops you off in front of the hotel entrance and THIS is what you see.

The infinity pool was spectacular making it look like the pool just merged with the ocean.

Enjoying a little sippy sip of Mexican tequila in that margarita…the same one that put me to sleep on the beach later

The love of my life taking me out to celebrate my birthday. He is SO good to me and I feel so so lucky to have him.

My 13 year old grandson, Kaleb,  lives in the city, loves button down shirts, hunting, fishing, all sports but especially basketball.  He has never had a male role model so I think it is in his genes to be so “all guy” and love guy things…For Christmas he told me he wanted cowboy boots and a cowboy hat…

Wearing a button down shirt the day he told me all of this, he crossed his arms and said, “Grandma, when I grow up I am going to be a Texas businessman.”  I had to smile and tell him, “you can do whatever you set your dreams on” and hope his dreams come true…

This picture was taken Christmas day when he opened his cowboy hat…at 13 he is 2″ taller than Grandma and wears a man’s size 9 shoe.  But isn’t he handsome and oh that smile.

I couldn’t find boots that fit I could afford so I went online and ordered boots and then they were back ordered until April!!!!!!!!!!!  I was somewhat put out because when I ordered online it said, “in stock, ships next day.”  So last weekend I finally canceled the order and hit the local stores and found a pair of boots that fit his wish list, (with some extra funds from Mom and his Christmas money he received).

Then I forgot to take pictures of him in the boots but trust me he loved them.  He made me go for a walk on the walking trail so he could get used to walking in them ..he climbed up four flights of stairs several times….he made those heels smack when he walked…he was all smiles, all day….  Way to go cowboy Kaleb, you are my partner for sure.

I finally remembered to charge the battery in my Nikon CoolPix and found I had lots of photos…so will share some of the old holiday pictures with you.

What a fun evening when I joined my daughter, Kim and granddaughter, Erika at the Mall as Erika participated in a Christmas School Choral event.

The music was fantastic but the energy, laughter and pure innocence of these young girls brings back so many, many memories..a wonderful time in their lives.

After their concert we headed for food and shopping…my what energy they have.

Are they cool or what?

As a grandma the best gift, seeing the grandchildren so happy, healthy and nourished by parents.

Today is Deb’s ?? birthday…I won’t tell her age as she doesn’t begin to look ???.

She is off in Cabo San Lucas vacationing.  Robert takes her somewhere warm every year for her birthday present…pretty fortunate lady to have a great guy who is so thoughtful…no wonder I love him so much too.

Even though she is on vacation, I know if she get’s access to the computer she will be checking in….

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOTHER LOVES YOU

PS: I am so jealous (that you are in warm weather)