Dog pile on dad.

A much needed getaway weekend to NYC with cool chicas. Jaime was a pro driving through Manhattan.

There's always a Scrabble game going here.

Bringing in Forsythia; a yearly tradition. #thankheavenforneighbors

Reworking the frames and photo walls. These Target ones are my favorite and they're 20% off this week.

Under 3.00 and free

This kind of stuff makes me happy.

A $2.12 jug with a little somethin' extra (details)

and a flowering tree - free courtesy of Mother nature...and the people who planted it before we moved here

makes it easy for me to bring in a little Spring cheer.

Linking to Funky junk Interiors

Opportunity knocks or blooms in this case

Two posts in one week about Cherry blossoms??

I just wanted an excuse to use my own picture since I used stock photos in the last. This was taken on the hotel property where my husband works. Don't be afraid to snap a picture when you see something you like. The opportunity may pass if you don't. I hate it when that happens.

Enjoy your day!

A beautiful arrival

You know they are on their way!

At this time of year I am always on bloom watch to try to get as close as possible to seeing when the Cherry blossom trees are at their peak. It's an awesome sight.

It was a lot easier when we lived in DC and I didn't have to plan a weekend. Now I really have to pay attention. It can be a total bummer to go all the way down there and the blooms aren't ready for their big debut.

Cherry blossoms are some of the simple pleasures in life. I think of it as God's way of personally renewing my faith every year; my own signal to remind me that there is much life to live and still so much good to notice. I hope they do that for you too.

courtesy of womenaroundtown.com

Image courtesy of Okinawa Soba

Wednesday quotes - Spring

“In the spring, at the end of the day,

you should smell like dirt.”

Margaret Atwood (Canadian Writer, b.1939)

Come on Spring, I'm ready to plant some flowers. I love digging up the earth and then seeing beauty emerge. Filling the house with flowers is one of the best things about the season.

I don't mind getting my hands a little dirty, do you?

Nestlings

Each morning I step out onto the deck and quietly position myself to my knees. I pull back the outdoor rug and press my forehead to the deck floor.

Peering through the floor boards, I focus my eyes and take a quick scan of the area below; each time a flash of panic races through me. I wonder for a moment if the night's rain has done any damage or if mama bird could find food that day.

Quelling my fears, I see that my little friends are a bit stronger and a little hairier.
Their beaks point upward to me and I gently replace the rug.

My front row seat to the theater of nature is reserved again tomorrow.

No flash was used so I wouldn't disturb them too much.

Linking to Friendly Friday Follow

and Never Growing Old

The Girl Creative

Sure sign

To me, a sure sign of Spring is when the kids start bringing me flowers from the yard.

I put a few little jars on the windowsill as soon as I saw Daffodils reaching out for the sun. It's kind of like, "If you build it, they will come." I was ready with the vase and sure enough, they came with flowers.

Sometimes they pick them too short for vases and sometimes I only have the bloom to work with. When that happens, I have pretty cups at the ready and float the flowers in them. But this day, the stems were just the right length to stand happily on the windowsill.

And I happily stand back to look at them, being reminded once again of the simple nature of children.

I love it.