Look up. Waaaay up!

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

What a glorious, sunny beginning!

If you look closely, you can see that someone has moved in here already.

I almost passed this tree without noticing the pinecones stashed inside. It made me happy just knowing that someone took the time to tuck them away in there.

Treasure!

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
It was garbage day today. Unfortunately, some critters had investigated the curbside garbage bags during the night, leaving some icky things for dogs to sniff and chew in the morning. Just after I pulled a piece of steak bone out of Lily's mouth she sniffed at something else in the grass then moved away. I thought I'd better have a look at what she found this time.

Look at this jewel in the grass!

Chartreuse and burgundy are colours that I would never have imagined putting together, yet they are beautiful side by side in this tree.

This is really happening

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Yes, that's SNOW you are seeing, not popcorn! The weather was not what I was expecting this morning. After all, it's almost MAY, for goodness sake! Lily still seemed happy and flopped down on her back at least 4 times for her belly rubs. The picture doesn't do justice to the absolutely sopping outdoors and doggie. The slush was falling in giant clumps and melting within seconds touching ground, tree, or parka.

In order to remain positive, I stepped under a tree to take this last picture before closing up the camera. Sigh...It's supposed to be spring.

Sleepy doggie

Monday, April 26th, 2010
I had to do a little convincing to get Lily out of bed this morning. I think you can see she looks a little sleepy here.

I love my doggie from head...

to toe!

Happy dancers

We went on an early evening walk on Sunday, April 25th and caught these violet tulips dancing in the settting sun.

Signs of life

Sunday, April 25th, 2010.
I love finding abandoned sand creations. Who made these, I wonder?

No dumping please. Frogs live here.

The air was cool but the sun was shining, coaxing these leaves to push out into the sky. You can do it! Just a little further now!

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

We were lazy again this morning and didn't head out until 9:00. The sun was very bright and there was no frost (yay!).

Glorious green

Lily was up to no good here.

Magnolias are spectacular for a very short time each year, so I keep visiting this one to see how it has changed.

Surprises

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

The first surprise of the morning was...

Frost!

I couldn't help thinking that we should be finished with frost on the 23rd of April, but the sugar-dusted grass was very beautiful.

The second surprise of the morning was...

Ducks!

Thursday, April 22nd

Who is Max?

This seems like the perfect place...

to rest...

and get a belly rub!

When I was 5 years old my family lived in a huge old house with a gorgeous garden and wrap around veranda. The centrepiece of the garden was an enormous magnolia tree. I would spend hours collecting fallen petals, climbing the tree's lowest branches and singing my own made-up songs. Magnolia perfume still makes me feel happy.

This is new.

Early this evening Lily and I went to a different part of town to explore.

Lily was very happy to be see and smell some brand new places.

You never know what lies ahead unless you go look.

It's early!

Wednesday, April 21st.
Lily was actually a little sleepy this morning, but all the fresh new smells outside seemed to wake her up pretty quickly.

Morning music

Tuesday, April 20th.
It was only 0 degrees but you would never know it from these photos.


Look, I'm almost as tall as this tree!

I'm sure I heard these flowers singing.

Life is really busting out all over.

Check out these tree fairies.

Possibilities

It's Monday morning at 7:04 am. If I stop thinking about all the tasks ahead of me this day, I can proceed with calm anticipation of what is to come.

What colours are ripening inside this crowd of tulips?

This is my kind of skyscraper.

The sun is back!

On Sunday, April 18th we were able to walk in the sunlight again. The rain helped bring this glorious colour out...

I might not have seen that if it weren't for you, Lily. Merci.

We were lazy this morning and didn't get outside until 8:50. In fact, Lily stayed in her bed even as I put on my raincoat and I had to go back and convince her to get up. Once we got outside she was her enthusiastic self and we had a good, wet walk. After 13 minutes, she flopped down on the soppy sidewalk for a belly rub. She was reminding me that life is good, even on a drizzly, chilly day. Thanks, Lily!

Colour!!!

Friday, April 16th.

The sky was dark gray at 6:55 am but it wasn't raining so we headed out. Just as I closed the gate behind us a light rain started coming down, dappling the sidewalk. Unlike myself, Lily isn't discouraged by the rain so we kept walking. Within five minutes it was pouring so I was only able to take this one picture.

Thursday, April 15th.

Someone worked very hard to put that there.

Fresh grass!

Wednesday, April 14th.

Just to be clear, I don't usually let Lily walk ahead of me. This was just for the photo!

Tuesday, April 13th.

Things are waking up all around us!

Pinecones rock. (For real)

Monday, April 12th.

Good morning! Let's go already!

Magnolias are magic.

The owner told me this bumper sticker is from Newfoundland.

Who doesn't love a good pine cone?