An Early Spring !

We can't believe our luck here in northern Alberta.  It seems amazing to have been working for the past few days in the yard raking, cleaning the flower beds and pruning the shrubs.  We are weeks ahead of the game and in just a few hours the temperature is predicted to be 17 Celsius! Tiny green leaves are poking out of the perennial beds but the grass is for the most part brown.  We need a good soaking rain to green things up.  In the meantime I am thankful to see the pictures of flowers my sister has sent from Vancouver Island.  She has been to the nursery and her deck is covered in colourful blooms.

Although we took a two hour drive to the city, last week I was disappointed not to find flats of pansies at Costco.  I've really had luck planting them early in the past.  Our local nurseries generally have bedding plants for sale in about mid May so we will have to wait awhile.  But anticipation is in the air and Spring is definitely coming.  The frogs are croaking in the pond, our favourite pair of Canada Geese has been stopping by for the past few days just to honk hello and eat some spilled grain.

At sunrise I looked out to see a moose laying down behind our house and soaking up the sun.  He rested for about an hour before standing up and giving himself a shake as he loped with giant steps into the forest. The farmer reported there were two big moose in our canal as he drove by yesterday.

  

  

Here are some views of the way things will be in our corner of the world before too long.  

I am linking this post to Mosaic Monday at Judith's Lavender Cottage.
If you have time  do stop by to see some interesting blogs.
Happy Spring wherever you are!

Easter Decorations

Do you find that as Easter approaches the world seems brighter? 

I love to do a few things to bring some spring colours into the house.  I was thinking of my mother and grandmother as I decorated the hutch for Easter.  The glass Bonsai tree is the last gift my mother gave me and the picture is of my grandmother with her cocker spaniel, Bonnie.  

She had been given the dog by her three sons before they left for the army.  Whenever I visited Granny, she made a pot of tea and this was my special cup and saucer.  I bought the teapot some years ago thinking it would match Granny's cream and sugar set.  

Even though our children are grown and there are no little ones to decorate for, 

it seems that tradition wins out every time.  So on Saturday, the farmer insisted 

that we drive downtown to get some dyes for the eggs he'd already hard boiled.  

We were surprised by the results...one of the eggs had a white design on it 

and there were eggs with speckles. All we did was mix the dye and dip them in it.

I hunted for and found the Ukrainian style eggs our children had made more than 20 years ago.  

The elaborate traditional egg was a prize in a school contest.  Our closest neighbour had dropped by on Good Friday to bring us some delicious hot cross buns and I baked some raisin scones 

so we had a delicious breakfast on Easter Sunday.

Hope you had a lovely Easter weekend !

I f you'd like to see some lovely Spring flowers consider stopping by to visit 

Judith at her Lavender Cottage  for Mosaic Monday.

Blogging Friendships

How is it that in this big wide world we are able to connect through our blogs with friends who may be half a world away or across the continent or in the next province?  We read through the lines and recognize in each other's musings and shared pictures, the similarities and the common interests of other bloggers and a friendship begins.

I was so surprised to find a post written by a blogging friend a few days ago.  We have read each other's blogs and kept in touch over the past several years but have never met.  We have discovered some similarities in our stories and are looking forward to the day we will have a chance to meet. Her gift was to send me photos of blossoms and in doing that she reminded me of springtime in my hometown.

In our adult years we have both been transferred to new places with our families and as she and her readers have pointed out home is where your family is.  I've always known that but at this time of year my heart's home is Victoria, BC.  Thank goodness for my memories.  I know that without fail, we too will see some green leaves and flowers before too long.

Thank you my friend... 

the photos you shared brought a smile to my face 

and I am looking forward to the time we'll meet this summer in Victoria.  

Sunshine Always, Sheila

St Patrick's Day Greetings

Top of the Evening to you!  I felt I couldn't let this day pass by without wishing the luck of the Irish to you.  I've only been to Ireland once but remember it so well.  it was 11 years ago in  the spring when my daughter and I landed in Shannon.  Here are a few pictures in no particular order....

We found our family crest in the airport gift store before boarding the local bus to Adare which is known as the prettiest little village in Ireland.

Thatched cottages that are still in use as family homes and stores line the main street.  We enjoyed talking to the locals and hearing Gaelic being spoken.  We stayed 3 nights in a lovely home and caught the bus to Killarney where we went on a horse cart ride to Ross Castle and through Killarney National Park.

Another day we wandered through historical Folk Park near Bunratty Castle and later enjoyed a Medieval night of feasting and music in the castle.  It was a perfect place to be introduced to the friendly Irish people and to the lovely countryside.   We went to Limerick one day and then crossed Ireland by bus.  I'll save our Dublin experiences for another time but in the meantime would like to say,

"For each petal on the Shamrock,

This brings a wish your way-

Good health, good luck and happiness

For today and every day!"

Happy St Patrick's Day!