Look what the Easter bunny brought!

A little bit early, but Lily the caramel and white foal with the spots on her forehead and tail, arrived on Good Friday, not Easter Sunday - too heavy for that bunny perhaps?

This photo is of the new baby at seven hours old. Mum happily munching straw, and baby obviously already steady on her tiny feet.

One of my god-daughters breeds mini-horses, among the many other wonderful things she does. And this peaceful photo was her Easter greeting to me.

What a beautiful little creature. As with all horses, I'm in love all over again.

The promise of spring, the breath of new life, the joy and hope that this new life carries, all renew my optimism that perhaps despite the unusual start to spring this year - it will be a better year in a lot of the environment than I had first thought.

May this weekend bring you peace, hope and joy  wherever you are and whatever you do.

On guard

Bliss is on guard.

He and Spirit woke me at 6:15 this morning, Spirit not singing the way he usually does, but quite insistently whining. Okay up I get, the dogs go out and suddenly they're barking.

You know when raccoons show up at the end of winter Spring isn't far behind, in the country they don't come out of hibernation in droves - this pair will huddle up the tree in the rain until nightfall - and predate bird feeders, garbage pails, and anything else they can find to fill empty tummies, unless it's going to get milder pretty soon.

Maybe the predictions of three cooler than usual months ahead are true, but the other ones? Early spring? The birds, the insects (I ran into a huge bunch of flying something or others this morning getting this shot) and the critters all say yup maybe so!

Many people, me included are ready for some spring weather.

Again - transition time - but today it's looking a bit more positive.

Here's to a quickly approaching spring!

Oh what a beautiful morning

This beautiful coral and white amaryllis was a Christmas gift that has given me so much pleasure...you can see why with that smiling flower face that looks like an angel at its centre.

In the beginning just after I planted it, two stalks began to rise. They grew to almost a foot and a half long and then buds began forming...eight of them. Goodness, I've never had an amaryllis with eight buds and eight beautiful flowers. Every day was a surprise to see what would happen next.

The sun is out today and it seemed a great time to post this cheery photograph - a promise of spring yes, but the gift of colour during long grey winter days seemed to be the best present of all.

May spring come soon, many of my neighbours, even if they ski, have said "It's been a long winter!" with snow nearly every day and leaden skies.

So all signs of spring, colour and heat are welcome. Today's sun included even if the temperatures are chilly. May sun fill your day today and bring a smile to your face!