Spring is here...finally

It was a long time coming, but it came with a vengeance. The terrible tornado systems that devastated the midwest and then the south came through here leaving some damage, but not the horrific tolls it took elsewhere, thank goodness. We had no tornadoes in our immediate vicinity, fortunately, and in our neighborhood we only had some good rain out of it.
But my bluebirds began building a nest in the birdhouse yesterday, the hummingbirds are back at the feeder outside my window, the other summer birds are busy checking out the menu in the feeders further out, and the resident lizards are sunning themselves on the paved areas just outside the sunroom doors. Oh, and the neighborhood rabbits are loving the quickly thickening grass in the backyard, and the side yard, and possibly the front yard, too....I haven't looked out there.
Lovely to have the wildlife again, I miss them in the winter.

We have had more than enough snow already this winter, as have many areas of the country. Add to that the back to back blizzards we had last winter, and you'd think I would find nothing beautiful in a coating of snow. But sometimes you are given a small gift of beauty, and that's how I felt when I saw this lonely leaf lying in the driveway as I went out to get the paper one morning recently. Nothing earth shattering, just a spent leaf from a neighbor's tree. But I was struck with the perfection of its frosting of snow that gave it one last moment of glory.

Merry Christmas!

A dear friend surprised me today with this lovely Christmas arrangement, isn't it gorgeous? I had put off getting a table arrangement so long that it was almost too late to think about doing it, when this was delivered just this morning. What a boost for my Christmas spirit!
We're having a quiet Christmas Eve, but some of the children will be here tomorrow for Christmas Day. Roy and I will just have a glass of egg nog and reminisce about previous Christmases...we've had lots of them together! Hopefully we'll have lots more.
Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!

Bluebird sighting

This blog seems to have become my bird journal, so here's the latest on my backyard birdwatching.
Papa bluebird made a rare winter appearance today. I haven't seen much of him or his mate(nor any of their offspring) since the last fledging mentioned below. Once one of them made a fleeting visit to the birdbath, but nothing since until today. Papa...at least I assume it was him...came to sit on the favorite perch at the end of the deck and watched the yard for awhile before he flew away. I don't know if he tried to look into the house...Roy had covered the opening with duct tape because some house sparrows had attempted to fit it out for a winter home....and you know how I feel about house sparrows! ;o) Up to now the bluebirds have not offered to seek shelter in it during the winter, so I didn't think they would mind if we closed it up til spring.
Anyway, it was nice to see him today, I hope he visits again. I miss the blues during the winter, even though the winter birds are fun to watch, too.

Well, I went to add this to my Bluebird Journal and discovered that Papa, Mama, and a little field sparrow friend had visited the yard in early October (how could I have forgotten that?). However Papa was alone this time...maybe Mama and little friend migrated....