Sweet Remembrance

Finally, the jonquils are beginning to open, and I just love their sweet faces. They always remind me of our daughter Shannon's birth. She was born on February 26 and while I was in the hospital, David brought me a bouquet of jonquils and quince blooms from my yard. Ever since, these flowers just make me happy. I guess they remind me of the best things in my life, my husband and daughter. Since she is going out of town for her birthday, we had a birthday supper on tuesday. I cooked her favorite things and for dessert, her favorite cake, Red Velvet. I decided to make cupcakes instead, I had forgotten how long it actually takes to frost 24 cupcakes!

Here's our birthday girl!

When I stopped at the grocery to pick up a few things for dinner, Linda, the florist, waved me over and told me she had just marked down the tulips so I brought some home to make the occasion a little more

special. I know tulips are usually cut and arranged in a shorter container, but I really liked the way the longer stems looked in the taller vase.

I am reminded how quickly time passes when it seems like it was only yesterday I held that tiny baby in my arms and now she has grown up to be a sweet and beautiful lady. I wish you the best of days today.  

Happy Birthday Shannon, I love you dearly!

Looking For Spring!

Today was a beautiful, springlike day. I spent the afternoon raking and cleaning out flower beds, keeping an eye out for any sign of spring! Here are a few things that hint spring is indeed on it's way.

Tiny jonquils  I call Sweeties are just beginning to open.

Daylilies peeping thru the leaves.

Sedum Autumn Joy

Oak Leaf Hydrangea bud

Native Azalea (even the bud is pretty!)

Rio Somba Rose

And last, Dandelion! What's not to love about this happy yellow bloom? Some of my favorite flowers are considered weeds. Wildflowers have always had a place close to my heart. I'm sure the cold weather is not over, but nature is telling me that spring is not far away.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

~ Love ~

Love is Patient, Love is Kind

Love conquers Pride and Envy

Love is not Rude or Angry

Love is full of Trust and Hope

True Love never Fails

*SNOW*

I know to the folks who live North, West and especially East of here, snow has been plentiful this year. But to those of us here in N Louisiana, we haven't seen snow on the ground since the year 2000, so, to us, this is a BIG deal.
It began snowing yesterday morning and continued all day and night. When the temperature cooled down to below freezing last night, the snow began to accumulate and we woke to about 5" of snow this morning. I couldn't wait to get outside and take some pictures. I found the few things I have managed to learn about photography didn't apply to snow pictures. But as ususal, this didn't stop me. I snapped away. Sorry my family in Mississippi missed the snow, so these pictures are for you!

O.K., I know this is a bit much, but really, once in 10 years! Everyone in the neighborhood was outside this morning taking pictures, kids & dogs playing, and best of all......SNOW DAY from work and school!

~Just a couple more~

Hope you enjoyed winter wonderland on Cypress Knee Swamp. I want to wish my dear Mother, Happy Birthday today! Hope your day is as bright and beautiful as the snowfall. Love you dearly.

AFTERNOON SURPRISE

I live in the Pelican State but oddly enough, I rarely have the pleasure of seeing a pelican. On my way home from work today, I was surprised to see a flock of pelicans on the lake. I didn't have a camera with me, but since this is the first sunny day we have seen in a week and it is supposed to be cloudy again tomorrow, I hurried home and grabbed the camera and managed to take a few pictures. They were too far out for me to get a good shot, but I didn't let that stop me.

Most shots were like this one... with their back to me! I also took a few other pictures of the lake while I was out there. Even though it is winter and very little green is showing, nature is still beautiful.  I love the color of the grass and trees against the water and the blue of the sky.

I caught a pair of Mallard's gliding along the bank. Again, I love the dried grasses.

 I saw this egret on the way home and took a picture out the car window......can't figure out what happened to his eye! I think he must have closed it at the time I snapped the picture.  Such a graceful bird. We see these all around the house all year long.

I wish there had been more time to enjoy the sunshine! We expecting more winter weather for the rest of the week. Will it ever be spring????