Monday, April 23, 2007

Joyful, Joyful!


My very first daffodil bloom, Friday, April 20th!

Spring seems to have finally sprung here in upstate NY, after a couple of false starts.....
and I'm rejoicing!!!


This is what our front yard looked like after Monday's (April 16th) big nor'easter snowstorm a week ago. The birds were busy at the feeders all day. We had about 7" of snow but it melted within a couple of days.

Now that that we have sun and warm temps the birds are singing sweetly and a pair of chickadees are building a nest in the nest box on the grape arbor


These crocus bounced back remarkably well after being completely buried in snow.


I'm amazed at how large these three colorful crocus blooms are.


On Friday morning the daffodils in this garden were getting ready to pop open....
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And by 4PM they were bobbing their cheerful faces in the breeze.

And now, on Monday, we have a host of golden daffodils, and that favorite poem by William Wordsworth fills my mind as I gaze upon their bright yellow beauty....

"I wandered lonely as a cloud, that floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils,

Beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze".

This was always a favorite of my father's too, and made me think of him, so I called him tonight and we had a nice chat. He lives in Australia in an assisted care facility, and at 90 years old he's still doing quite well. He has the beginnings of dementia and doesn't remember things so well these days. I think it took a while for him to realize who I was, but he didn't say so, and he had it figured out after about 10 minutes into the conversation.


The cats were out playing and enjoying the warmer temperatures (Murphy and Pepper).

We had a high of 76ºF/24ºC on Friday and I'm sure you can imagine how good that felt to us. The last time we had temps in the 70's (around 22ºC) was 6 months ago, on October 9th!


Last Thursday and today I had a wonderful time helping out at my favorite nursery!! Can you imagine the exultation? (Yes Val, I'm exulting!) (Val is an exulter :) There were 3 other ladies there besides the owner. Two of them are Master Gardeners and the other is the president of a local garden club.

I was in seventh heaven planting flowers and talking gardens. What could be more fun? Well......there's grandchildren, but this is a close second :)

These lovely geraniums will be ready for Mother's Day, the second Sunday in May.

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Last night we performed our Community Choir concert, "The Love Of Jesus", an Easter musical. We had to cancel it last Sunday because the storm started on Sunday afternoon and the weather was just too nasty for traveling on the roads. The music is beautiful, and we were so thankful to have the chance to sing it because at first our director thought we wouldn't be able to reschedule.

Here are a couple more photos of the barn cats enjoying the sunshine. That's Murphey to the left, Pepper is the black and white, and Cleo is the calico. She's a sister to Jasmine, our house kitty, but from the litter of the previous summer.

Cleo and Murphy again

And here's sweet Pete sunning himself.

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They were all keeping me company as I worked in the gardens, cleaning up and doing some weeding.

Tonight we had thunder, lightning and rain. Our first thunder storm of the season! We have cooler temperatures (50'sF/10ºC) in the forecast for the rest of the week, but we've had a nice taste of spring at least, and I have faith that there'll be more coming soon!

I hope you all have a lovely week. I'll try to catch up on my visits to your blogs during these next few days. It's been busy here!

35 comments:

Susie said...[Reply]

You have been really busy! I love how the daffodils just popped out in the space of a day! You've gone from winter to spring with a bound..
So glad you got to chat with your Dad. I'm sure it was good for both of you..
I love the joy on your face working in the nursery. My dad's wife works in one as well, and she just loves it!
xoxo

Christy Woolum said...[Reply]

Ahhh, what I wouldn't give to leave my classroom for a day and work in a nursery. What a joy. I love how you planted your daffodils in bigger clumps. I am walking around here thinking mine are looking a bit straggly. Nice pictures of everything. Our cats are doing the same thing now... what helpers they are.

Lis vom Lindenhof said...[Reply]

I just love spring and I'm happy to see those daffodils. They are very pretty, I have those too.
Lis

clairesgarden said...[Reply]

he cats seem to love being outdoors with somebody to view their antics, mine are doing 'joy of spring' antics like kittens!

Val said...[Reply]

Tee hee - right from the beginning of your post the word that kept popping into my mind was "exulting", and that was re-enforced when I saw your face in the nursery photo. So I wasn't too surprised when you mentioned exulting and my name!

Exulting is a fun state of mind, and does wonders for how you look. You look great, Kerri!

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...[Reply]

We went from winter to summer in less than a week and now I think we'll have a couple of weeks of spring. Having several nice days was a treat!

How nice that you were able to have a chat with your Dad and that he did finally figure out who he was talking to.

I need to borrow a cat to catch some voles. Do you think any of yours would be interested in the job? If John wasn't allergic to them I'd have a couple of my own.

Sigrun said...[Reply]

Kerri, I'm happy for you and your first daffodil. You can help at an nusery? That is realy great, I wished, I can do that.

Sigrun

Cris said...[Reply]

Kerri, you look so happy in the nursery. I was so glad to see your picture. I love the pictures of your surroundings, such a beautiful place to live! It's been busy here too at work. Have a great week!

Geraldo said...[Reply]

Kerri, I'm happy to see Spring is there, finally! (What happened to that groundhog in Pennsylvania this year, was he on drugs? :-) )
Looking forward to seeing all the beautiful pictures you'll take with your new toy this Spring!

Pear tree cottage! said...[Reply]

O! Kerri it just feels like a few short weeks back that we were treated to the beauty of your summer garden and here it is spring for you now, how wonderful while the snow looks stunning with the little birds looking for seed I am sure you are very over the "white stuff" by now. Your daffodils are stunning and can you believe how fast they open.

I am so pleased to be here tonight for a visit your blog always restores my faith in mother nature.

Lee-ann

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Seems like you have very much the same weather as wee have.

Happy spring.

Tammy said...[Reply]

So nice to see you've been enjoying good weather too...loved the kitty pics...it is amazing to me how much a cat does "sun" himself ;)

Boxwood Cottage said...[Reply]

Ah finally spring has really sprung at your part of the world! Glad to see you and the cats enjoying it! Carol xox

sonia a. mascaro said...[Reply]

What a gorgeous daffodil!
I am amazed with this wonderful nursery!

David (Snappy) said...[Reply]

Daffodils are a sure sign of spring, and always remind me of Wordsworth too.I bet you enjoyed the nursery day, is my idea of heaven too.I have been offered several gardens with Frans help to design and make beautiful.From non gardeners really...
How do you remember the names of all your cats?There seem to be loads of barn cats.

Alice said...[Reply]

I looked through your photos, and at the end, I thought, "God's in His Heaven, and all's well with the world (at least, in Upstate New York)"

You have captured the joy of so many things in these photos. The white purity of the snow, the welcome of the warm sunshine and beautiful (courageous and hardy) flowers, the freedom of being a well-loved kitten, and the sheer bliss of being able to work in such a vibrant nursery, enjoying the company of like-minded ladies and, no doubt, acquiring a wealth of information and tips on how to make your garden even more beautiful.

Is there anything more you could wish for?

Thank you so much for sharing your day with us. You've given me the urge to go and tackle what 'used to be my garden', now that the painting is finished for the time being.

God bless you and have a wonderful week, Kerri.

Val said...[Reply]

Lovely photos, and I am so glad the snows are past. The concert looked very professional, its a joy to do community events with friends and neighbours. I am behind in blogging and lying low as I am so busy too. But not complaining!

OldRoses said...[Reply]

Isn't it fun to work in the greenhouse? I love your playful kitties.

Laurie and Chris said...[Reply]

Looks like you are having a great time helping out!

Sharon said...[Reply]

A very long and cold winter......the one good thing is spring follows. And by the looks of your flowers the wait was worth it. What fun to work in a nursery around all the beauty of the flowers.

Unknown said...[Reply]

Cleo is such a beauty of a cat... I love that dark marking on her face!

Jellyhead said...[Reply]

Working in a nursery, singing in a concert, gardening .... you have been busy!

The daffodils and crocuses look so fresh and bright. Thanks for showing us pictures of what you've been up to, and how your garden's looking :)

Linda said...[Reply]

Lovely, lovely pictures Kerri. I'm so glad spring finally made its way to your corner of the world. Everything looks glorious.
What fun to be able to make Easter last a bit longer. It must have been wonderful to be able to give that concert.
Enjoy the week!!

Anita said...[Reply]

That was a wonderful photo tour, Kerri! I am so happy for you that you finally have the first daffodils blooming outside! May your winter be gone forever!

Oh my, I'd like to help in that nursery, too!

And your kittens, it's always a pleasure to see them around!

Happy spring, dear Kerri!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Daffodils are just an amazing little flower. I think everyone takes a big sigh of relief when these beauties come out...They prove to us that there really is a Spring.

Take care,
Connie

Susan Tidwell said...[Reply]

I am enjoying your spring photos, you must really appreciate the season change after all that snow! I can feel the warmth of the sun and smell the fresh air right through the computer!

HORIZON said...[Reply]

What a busy time your having Kerri but you sound happy. Thought you were going to tell us that was your greenhouse -lol. I would love a local nursery to work in like that one!!
The sun is finally out here today- after a week of rain! This weekend forecast is great so l'll be helping hubby with the gates and gardening too.
hugs and bests
ps-= so nice to see your daffs come out as mine are just fading away ;)

Robin's Nesting Place said...[Reply]

I look forward to seeing your gardens blossom! I love how you plant in clusters.

Chica, Cienna, and Cali said...[Reply]

it was such a Spring-y post....loved going thro' ur pics and words........am sure Spring's here and to stay....have fun!!! :)

Anonymous said...[Reply]

I'm inhaling deeply!!! I can about smell that delicious early spring fragrance of the melting ice, damp soil.. just wonderful -- What beautiful pictures. I'll be you're having fun figuring out your new camera! That first daffodil picture is a treasure..

Yep!!! grounds for pure joy and exultation!!!

Midlife Mom said...[Reply]

Oh what wonderful pictures! Your daffodils are way ahead of mine, mine are just peeking out about two inches so far. It was just a week or so ago that we had all of that snow so I'm not complaining. I love the pics of all of your cats, how many do you have? They are very pretty. Working in a greenhouse, a dream come true!!

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

It's so good to see you smiling and surrounded by green plants, Kerri! Planting flowers and talking gardens are two of my favorite things, too. Happy Spring!

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

Staying busy doing the things you love keeps you young...and you're living proof of that.

Your daffodils are so pretty and I'm surprised at how beautiful your crocus's bounced back after being covered with all that snow after they had begin to bloom.

Your barn cats are really enjoying the warmth of the sun and I can see how much you are enjoying helping out at the nursery. I can also see how that would be so rewarding and enjoyable especially with your love of plants.

I'm glad your choir director was able to reschedule your choir concert. I wish I could have been there to listen to your Easter musical...I'm sure all of you did really well. Who took the lovely picture? I can't ever get a good picture indoors in an auditorium...Mine always turn out too dark, so I have to video everything indoors.

We have also had some nice weather and although it was stormy today, it was still very warm and the sun did manage to pop out a few times.

Judypatooote said...[Reply]

What a nice thought working in a greenhouse....I can almost smell the smell of earth.....I use to work at Franks Nursery and Crafts.. part nursery and part crafts....and I was mgr. of craft dept. but in spring I would be working in the greenhouse....it would be relaxing, no one around, just me and the plants.....only thing is I would be picking off the dead blooms, for they had everything sent in... I love the kitty pictures......I'm glad Spring has arrived.....

Shelley said...[Reply]

Oh what a beautiful life you lead.