The Hearts of Spring

Our days this week have been dark and dreary but there are a few bright spots to let us know Spring will soon arrive.

Even the rain puddles can put a smile on our face when we see a little heart.

Be sure to drop by and visit Clytie's Guest Heart Thursday.

And while we're on the subject of Thursday how about Thursday Two-Questions?

1) Do you have all four seasons where you live?

2) What are some things you look forward to doing in the spring and summer?

A Gathering

The other day as I passed a window looking out into our backyard flashes of yellow caught my eye. I knew if I opened the door and walked out onto the patio these little ones would quickly fly away. So I grabbed my camera (this is where I apologize for the quality of the photos), maxed out the telephoto and shot a few photos through the (somewhat dirty) window. The last photo has been cropped to give you a better look at these little cuties.

I think these are American Goldfinches but if any of my birder friends can say for sure it would be appreciated.

For more photos visit Freda's Tuesday Takes.

Coast & Canyon Wildlife Rehabilitation

Coast & Canyon Wildlife Rehabilitation So cute!

Celebration of Spring

Daisy: What kind of a garden do you come from?
Alice: Oh, I don't come from any garden.
Daisy: Do you suppose she's a wildflower?
Alice in Wonderland (1951)

It has been windy with rain this week but a few blooms on the daffodils brightened the darkness of the days. A sure sign that spring is coming.

Please visit Freda's Quote it Saturday. For more photos visit Macro Flowers Saturday and Today's Flowers.



Note: I have had Internet connection problems since last weekend, hopefully our cable company has it all fixed now. I will be catching up with everyone over the weekend. Thank you for your patience and loyalty.

Running Late

Memo to Mother Nature: Check your appointment calendar, you are late for your March painting session.

Memo to Mother Nature: Remember to pick up the bright colors on your way over.

Memo to Mother Nature: Your audience is waiting, please take the shortest route.

All of these photos were taken one year ago on March 16, 2010. As of today we have very little showing in the way of blooms other than a few Crocus. None of the gorgeous flowers like we had one year ago. Oh well, Mother Nature should be arriving with her new Spring Collection in the next couple of weeks.

For more flowers visit Macro Flowers Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Green in the Yellows

This week's theme for Photo Time is St. Paddy's Day. As I was looking through my photo archives from this time last year I found my little Irish bear sitting in the daffodils. Sadly this year the daffodils haven't bloomed yet, but any day now!

Celtic Roots

Oh, the music in the air!
An' the joy that's ivrywhere -
Shure, the whole blue vault of heaven is wan grand triumphal arch,
An' the earth below is gay
Wid its tender green th'-day,
Fur the whole world is Irish on the Seventeenth o' March!
~Thomas Augustin Daly

A few of you might already know that I am very much into genealogy and discovering my family's roots. For well over a decade I have searched, researched and followed paths that sometimes were good but often led to dead ends or misinformation.

Searching for our ancestors is like trying to fit together a million piece puzzle and the pieces can be very tiny sometimes. The other thing is that it is never ending, there is always something new to discover. Betsy knows what I mean, you can see some of her ancestors by checking the sidebar on her blog.

As Saint Patrick's Day was approaching I got to thinking about some of my ancestors. There are several branches of the family that lead back to Ireland, Country Antrim to be exact. The most notable being my maternal grandfather's family. The McDowell's came to the New World in the 1700's (I have found one who was a Revolutionary War officer) from Ireland. I have gone a little farther back and can place them in Scotland as the MacDowell's. Going even farther back I have, as of now, tentatively tracked that side of our family back to Ucthred MacDowall, the Tenth Laird of Garthland,1546 - 1593. I'm still researching Ucthred, the history of that era is quite interesting.

And all of this brings me to today's Thursday Two Questions:

1) Have you researched your ancestors?

2) If you have what is the most interesting thing you have found? If not what would you like to find in your family tree?

May you have -
Walls for the wind
And a roof for the rain,
And drinks bedside the fire
Laughter to cheer you
And those you love near you,
And all that your heart may desire
- Celtic Blessing

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!

Mystery on a Spring Day

This past Saturday we had a little lull in the rainy weather, the sun actually came out from behind the clouds for an hour or two. I took the opportunity to stop by the park and visit some friends. The Common Goldeneye was swimming around the pond.

Mr. Turtle was basking in the warm sun while it was still warm.

And ......... what's that? Do you know? Guess you will have to wait for a future post to find out.


For more photos visit Tuesday Takes (okay, I'm late but it's just barely not Tuesday :) , Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday.

Spring is Springing!

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

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!
Mark Twain

The crocus just popped up in my yard this week! Happy dance!

Please visit Freda's Quote it Saturday and for flowers visit Macro Flower Saturday and Today's Flowers.

Hearts of Flowers

I was going through some flower photos in my archives when I came to this one. Not only is it a beautiful flower (it's called Hairy Willow Herb) but I noticed some hearts in the background. Be sure to visit Clytie's Guest Heart Thursdays for more heart filled posts.

Thursday is also the time for Thursday Two-Questions.

1) What is your favorite time of the day to blog? By that I mean writing posts and/or visiting fellow bloggers.

2) Are you able to keep with with blogging or are you always behind ...... like me?

Smile for the Camera

Waterfowl are interesting animals and I love to photograph them whenever possible. For the most part it is fairly simple to catch them in a good pose.

Ducks are fast so it's good to anticipate their moves and shoot slightly ahead as they swim ....... okay, it doesn't always work.

Darn ............ well at least you can see this one's eye.

And then we have the ones that are very, very camera shy.

All of these photos were taken at our local aviary. I believe the two ducks above are Red-crested Pochards. These fellows are native to Europe and Asia.

For more watery scenes visit Watery Wednesday.

Quack, Quack, Meow!

Hello Hoomans, Sissi Cat here. Mommy has been very busy this week so she said we could use the computer and do today's post. Cindi Lou helped us since she is an experienced blogger.

We kittens got together and picked out the picture of the duck, we thought he was cute but we can't figure out why he is in the middle of all that WATER! I guess you know we don't care for water.

Anyhow, Mommy wants you to know she hasn't forgotten about all of her friends here in blogland. She has gotten involved with the Cat Management Coalition and has been doing some volunteer work this week. Wednesday evening she set up some traps at an elderly lady's house and on Thursday morning she picked them up and took the cats to the shelter. Then she delivered and set some more traps. All of those little kitties got "fixed" (we kittens don't know exactly what that means but it's a good thing) and had all their shots yesterday. They were in a safe warm building last night but today Mommy will be helping get them back to their homes. Just over ninety kitties will be healthier and happier now.

Mommy said to tell everyone she will be around to visit later this weekend.

Ever consider what pets must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul - chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! Anne Tyler, The Accidental Tourist

Please take a few moments to visit Freda's Quote It Saturday and Camera Critters.