Spring

Redbud Season!

/ Katie / 27 Comments

It’s officially spring here in my little corner of Virginia. Today, it’s lovely – warm and partly cloudy, a bit breezy, just wonderful. And, most importantly (to me, anyway): it’s redbud season!

That’s a picture from last year, when I posted about the beautiful little redbud tree in our yard. Right now, the blossoms are just getting started.

I love redbuds so much. I just think they’re gorgeous, and nothing makes me think of home quite like they do. And, super cool, the blossoms grow right on the bark.

I only noticed that a couple of years ago. Isn’t that funny? That you can look at something your whole life and still learn something new about it.

Anyway, I plan to enjoy the redbuds in bloom for as long as I can. Winter might be my favorite, but there’s plenty to love about spring, too.  

Third Winter

/ Katie / 9 Comments

Or maybe fourth? Frankly, I’ve lost count. But it’s cold and flurrying in Virginia today. It was cold and flurrying yesterday, too.

And it’s sunny, and flurrying at the same time, which is very strange. It’s actually sort of beautiful, in a disconcerting way, seeing snow fall against the bright green buds on the willow in our back field. I’d take a picture, but I don’t think I can really capture it.

Suffice it to say: Spring in Virginia is weird, y’all.

*Also, this is a short post, because I’m focusing today on March’s short story, which will be posted on Wednesday. It’s a good one!*

Friday Writing

/ Katie / 11 Comments

Hello, Friday! Hello, Spring!

It’s so hard, when it starts to get warm again, to focus on work, and it’s been a busy week. But I’ve managed to stay on top of everything, and I’m spending today just writing. And drinking coffee. Which definitely helps with the writing.

And you know, I think this is honestly my favorite way to spend a Friday.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: On Virginia Weather

/ Katie / 14 Comments

Today, it’s mild, bright and sunny. The crocuses are already blooming, and the daffodils are well on their way. The sky is bluest blue and absolutely cloudless. It’s a beautiful morning.

Hard to believe that just this weekend, things looked very different:

Oh, Virginia, you chaotic darling. I adore you.

Fool’s Spring (Or, Some Thoughts and a Poem)

/ Katie / 9 Comments

I don’t know if this is a thing that happens in other places, but here in Virginia, before we get on with actual spring, we usually have a first spring, or what some people call a “fool’s spring.” And, well, I think we’re there.

It’s beautiful and sunny and in the 60s (Fahrenheit) today, and will be tomorrow as well. But I don’t think winter’s quite ready to let us go, and it’s supposed to be cold and possible snowy on Sunday before warming up again next week. So, I guess we’ll see.

Virginia, y’all. She always keeps her people guessing.

Anyway, I wrote a poem about it, because it just felt like the right thing to do.

**********

Winter’s chill softens.
The sun and air and wind
turn gentle and warm
and the ground begins to thaw.
All around the sounds of new life –
a world rife with breeze and birdsong –
but first impressions
can be wrong
and beauty’s a fickle thing.
Here in Virginia,
it remains to be seen
whether this is truly spring.

Found Friday #31: “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers…”

/ Katie / 19 Comments

Graham has entered his busy season at work, and the last two weeks have been really exhausting for him. I don’t generally encourage overwork, but I’m proud of him for hanging in there. He’s smart and talented at his job. But I know he’s tired. And so this week, I wanted to do something special for him, and feature some of the photos he’s taken lately of the birds we’ve been seeing this spring.

He’s a good photographer, and he’s always trying to get better, and I’m proud of him for that, too.

We see cardinals around the property all the time. They are the state bird of Virginia, so it’s not surprising, but they’re really lovely, and fun to watch.

This little guy hangs out on our power line almost every day. I wonder what he’s thinking about.

Just, you know, sitting down to lunch together.

I hope Graham has more time in the not too distant future to get outside and snap some pictures, and just to relax and do the things he likes to do, generally. But in the meantime, I’ll be here, cheering him on. And bragging on him a little. 😉

Found Friday #28: Redbud in Bloom

/ Katie / 9 Comments

Are you tired of my posts about spring and blooms and blossoms yet? Because I’m not! I just can’t seem to get enough of the spring.

Today, I thought I’d share some pictures of our redbud tree.

They grow all around the village, but I’m really happy to have one right in my front yard. And it’s putting on quite a show this year.

I grew up seeing the redbuds bloom every spring in southwest Virginia, so it almost feels like having a little piece of home here in the NOVA.

And, fun fact! A couple of years ago, I learned that there are white redbuds trees, too!

Beautiful in every color.

The Garden Path (A Poem)

/ Katie / 8 Comments

There’s something magic,

isn’t there,

about a garden path in spring?

Always worth the following,

I think,

if only to see where it leads.

Or even just the slant of the light

along the way,

just right to make

the everyday

extraordinary,

and the ordinary

enchanting.

Found Friday #27: The First Apple Blossom

/ Katie / 18 Comments

I’ve mentioned a few times that we’ve been planting some fruit trees over the course of the last couple of years. Just apples and cherries for now, but we’re hoping to eventually add plums, and maybe peaches, as well.

In the meantime, watching our mini-orchard grow and change has become something of a pastime for us. This week, Graham snagged a picture of our very first apple blossom.

Isn’t it lovely?

Our trees are just babies right now, but eventually they’ll grow. And then, I’ll bake all the things.