Back at last

Spirit watches the little birds at a feeder, or perhaps it's the feral cat or even his brother Bliss further back down the yard as the sun makes an glorious entrance over the hill and into the sky.

We've been blessed with lots of sunny days lately and what a difference it has made, not only in my mood, but that of so many others. We've all been sick, or complaining about the cold - and there is no doubt it has been cold with lows at night around -30. Water pipe-watching time to make sure they don't burst, though the library in Cobourg the town where I shop, and visit that venerable building had its pipes burst just after the new year and will be out of commission for a while.

Snow forecast again for tonight, but finally it doesn't matter.

Did the snow freeze my brain? or just the screen on my window (below)

I love the lacy pattern on my bedroom window, but the snow is getting pretty deep and the dogs are beginning to go stir crazy from not being able to run off the property. To say nothing of how I've felt with the roads covered in snow and ice or if clear, then it's blowing snow to contend with.

But somehow it seems to not matter today.

A gorgeous red hibiscus - old as the hills since it came from a slip my dad started at least 30 years ago... but still blooming valiantly and seemingly with more vigour than ever. It sits in a pot with a pink one - also from my father...

And they all cheer me each morning. Even the geraniums that have stubbornly refused to bloom for weeks showed buds forming this morning - promise of spring? or just the sun on the windowsill?

Doesn't matter it's a precursor of spring... the days are longer, the mornings earlier and somehow all have contributed to a sense of well-being...of - okay now we can go and enjoy the deep snow, now it doesn't matter if it snows again for a bit, spring is coming and this extremely difficult winter everywhere around the world it seems, is slowly giving up its icy grip. At least that's what the groundhog whispered in MY ear.

Seriously - it is good to be back writing and scanning through my files for photographs of whatever strikes my fancy. I have lots to take - alpacas eating hay in the snow with a group of horses at one farm - need to capture that. And a solitary redwing blackbird hanging out with a trio of starlings, way too early to be flying north. Ice huts on the lake, skiddoos running along the ice highway they've created on the lake. A dad skating with his young children who hoot and holler with joy on the small ice rink he's shoveled from the ice in front of their cottage just below the hill. What treats. What fun. What joy!

Even the birds seem less frenetic and more relaxed as they fly to and from the feeders with abandon.

 So despite the despair that I felt some nights when it was -29 or -31 and I worried that the furnace might give out or the pipes burst, they didn't and the depths of winter are past for this season anyway. And I can enjoy the snowfall and especially the sun when we're out walking. Today I even let the dogs plunge in the deep snow for a while - hard on their arthritic hips I'm sure, but the joyful romping around was worth it I figure.

 And brilliant sunsets over the lake will seem more so, as spring breaks winter's hold.

May you NOT have experienced any problems with winter, but enjoyed the snow and cold weather and been safe, healthy and full of joy throughout. And if you've had the odd bout of doubt as to whether spring will ever arrive - that nutty red wing blackbird showing up, the increasing number of bunny and deer tracks around the property, the twitter of little birds as they once again find their voices (doesn't it seem as if only crows and blue jays make sounds during the winter months?) might reassure you as they do me. Hope this long weekend was fun and filled with laughter for each and every one.

And for those of you who have kept an eye on this spot wondering if I might return - thank you so much. You are terrific. And I'm very grateful - now off to see if I can find some alpacas!

Thoughts on Canada Day

In early June, I wandered around the garden.

Thinking how pretty it was, I took some photos with all the spring flowers out and a few visitors such as this yellow swallowtail butterfly sipping from the Dame's Rocket - a wild phlox that graces my garden in spring. Fortunately it had bloomed early since the butterflies all arrived early this year too - I love the  delicacy of this butterfly and the contrast with the strong fuscia colours of the Dame's Rocket.

Today I wanted to share the photos with you and the thoughts they have prompted.

That morning, looking down over the edge of the railing I notice that the clematis has suddenly popped. I had noticed the tight blooms during one of the hard frosts we had in May and figured it would destroy this plant. Apparently it's hardier than I thought, which also has made me think on this country's celebration day.

Another view of this beautiful vine - one of my favourites, learned about from a visit to great-uncle who lived in Victoria B.C. and had an incredible English-style wall-enclosed garden which he tended daily - though he had two artificial legs (when we were kids we called them wooden legs - and they may well have been). He had been a concientious objector during World War I aka The Great War or the War to end all wars...(I love that irony) and joined the Red Cross serving in Europe. One day, he crawled behind enemy lines to bring some injured troops to safety and was hit by some sort of artillery fire.

When he woke up in hospital days later he had no lower limbs. One was gone from above his knee and the other from below his knee.

This kind and thoughtful man was in love with my grandmother's sister. He believed he would never be able to marry her, because how could a man with no legs find work? But after a time, his indomitable spirit took over.

He taught himself to type and got a job with Canadian Pacific Railways. Or CP Rail as it's called these days. He married my great aunt and they bought the lovely Tudor style house that became their home in Victoria. She pre-deceased him, but he kept her close to him in his heart always - a tiny warm hearted woman with a beautiful smile. It was no wonder he adored her. He ate with her photograph on the dining table beside his place setting when my sons and I visited him many years ago. I was so touched.

For most of his life after he retired, my great uncle drove Meals on Wheels to shut-ins. He had many friends in his community and was an active though quiet participant in his church. Always diffident and with a quiet smile.

He has always served as a hero for me - someone who always thought of others first, despite any difficulty he had to overcome and his were bigger than many people face.

Something I think about - heroes - on this Canada Day when we celebrate our country and all it means. We have many in this country - in our armed forces, our police forces, our hospitals, our emergency and fire services - and so many every day people. We are blessed to live in this wonderful country where we can openly celebrate our heroes.

So it seemed appropriate to post another flower to add to the white clematis - a hibiscus blooming this morning with the scarlet of our flag on my deck - white and red for our Canadian flag. Happy Canada Day to my family, friends and fellow Canadians.

A beautiful bloom that makes me smile

A hibiscus blossom
In a rush this morning - but this started my day off right1

Enjoy your day1

An indoor flower garden

The past few days have been lovely outside and inside as well. My hibiscus and Christmas cactus have decided to put on a show given the longer light and late afternoon sun coming through the deck doors.

I've been so fortunate with all my indoor flowering plants. Not only are there lovely pinks seen here, but the orchid's 46 fuscia blooms are still going strong. The geraniums which vary from lipstick red to hot pink are also beginning to flower as well. I guess it helps that I've given them all a nudge with fertilizer, but still it's terrific to have something blooming. I know further south there are crocuses in gardens and snow drops are out in the villages and towns here... soon daffodils.

The flowers that bloom in the spring tra-la!

Don't remember the rest of that song - but it seems appropriate for today - which is cooler, the pond is full of muddy water and I can't see the fish, it snowed a bit over night and the wind is really high... but it's not a blizzard. There may be sun later on, the little birds are lining the deck railing vying for seeds as well as mobbing the other feeders. The deer have helped with pruning the apple trees - I'm going to have to take my camera out late one night and see if I can catch them in the act - skunks are digging holes in everyone's lawns, moles have attacked my flower beds with abandon and there are tiny holes everywhere... but it's definitely spring. A truly Canadian is it going to snow again kind of spring.

I'm glad of it.

Today I wish you spring flowers, colour and joy in your day.

Winter flowers for a bit of colour

This double red hibiscus bush was given to me by my Dad more than 20 years ago I think... it shares a large pot with another he gave me - a deep pink double bloomer with a burgundy throat.

While they sit outside for three seasons,  they continue to give me colour all year round and I especially love them in winter. They sit at my deck door where they get a lot of northern light - they are not prolific but constant. Always a flower in bud and about to come out for a day or two.

The other bloomer that starts showing signs of blooms in mid-winter is my older orchid - another gift - I mentioned it on or near Valentine's day. Eleven of it's 46 buds have popped with two more looking like they'll come out today... I'm so blessed to have blooming flowers in the house all winter... makes the cold and the snow outside today easier to bear February/March are probably the toughest months while we wait for all the signs of spring to come to fruition.

This photo of the orchid looks so Asian - with its bending branches and soft fuscia colour. It is so lovely.

And a big thank you to all of you who write comments on this blog or send me emails - I read every one, and though I respond, I'm not sure this Blogger program retains my words of thanks or my responses ... so I thought I would say thank you today. Your kind words are always appreciated. And I love that so many people share my love of nature (Bill), animals (Steve) and birds (Eileen), the outdoors (Scott), colour, and the changing seasons - even though winter snows are often NOT favourites (Mindy).

There are many other people with blogs that I haven't identified but if you want to enjoy some glorious photographs, some thoughtful essays and opinions and time well spent please check out the blogs on my blog list. You'll find people who are creative, talented and full of joy in our world.

Thanks too, to Jane my friend who pointed out that the English sparrow I identified the other day was really the House Sparrow - I got caught I guess in the term "Old World Sparrows." Jane is a spectacular gardener. One day perhaps she'll let me share a photo or two of her favourite plants.

Wishing you colour in your day!

Time for some reminders of heat

It has been snowing here for the past few days with no sign of sun. Yesterday I drove through "flurries" - as the weather people call them - that on the way back from the city (three hours away) seemed like freezing rain as it stuck to my windshield in the dark. Did not make me happy.

Even though it looks like the sun is trying to come out this morning, there are still flakes of snow drifting down, so I decided it was time for some colour, some reminders that Canada has more than one season and that spring is not too far away.

This beautiful red hibiscus is one of two huge old plants in the same pot. Given to me by my father nearly 30 years ago, these two plants just keep on going. They are so cheerful - and the red? Today it's the perfect antidote to the winter gray.

Hope you have a "hot" day or maybe a "hot date" this evening.

Outside, inside

Outside - it's snowing this morning and it seems like at least a hundred goldfinches and their colleagues are visiting my feeders - this one on the deck, the two on the east and the one on the west sides of my home. There are also several birds at the nyger feeder in the birch tree on the south near the front door - getting their fill of thistle seeds.

Eleia, the calico cat has decided to abandon her vigil in the huge bird feeder on the deck near the one shown in this picture. The wind is blowing and it's a trifle cold out there. She's perched inside on a window sill behind the computer, watching the action from there. Christopher, the black cat, has gone to curl up in a chair by the fire. Birds are too much trouble for him. I've seen them land at the dogs' water dish on the deck, just beneath where his head is hanging over the edge of the chair he's chosen to sleep in. He watches them from a foot away, but never moves. The birds seem to know he's know threat - Eleia? They see her they bolt.

Inside?

These beautiful hibiscus blooms make me feel warm and cozy! Bright and cheerful on a gray chilly day.