Weekending

We are all enjoying a warm, blustery, springy kind of day. I hope you are, too.

Spring!

We are enjoying a magnificent spring over here in Ohio. More photos can be seen on Cool Columbus blog, but this one here is our very own dogwood taken in front of the house. A special bloom amidst the spectacular season.

A flurry of a lot of things

We've had quite a week.



We left Columbus on a brisk day, just as Spring was about to knock on the door. Daffodils were blooming; the heat was about to be dialed up to record highs.  We drove East, all the way to where Lady Liberty stands proud and tall, facing the Atlantic ocean toward our friends across the pond. There, in the city that never sleeps, we were greeted with unseasonal temperatures and sunny skies. We were also greeted by many familiar faces, all belong to those we call friends.



We played tourists and went to the well known spots. We also played friends and took walks in the parks, shared meals, and reminisced about the old days. We toured the harbor; we took the subway; we even helped a stranger who suffered a seizure right there on the platform. We ate out, and in, and enjoyed one ethnic food after another, never repeating once.



We marveled at the sound and sights and talents of a show on Broadway. We even spent time with Monet, Van Gogh, and Rodin.


And Rocky, too, on his very steps leading to such an incredible place of the arts! Philadelphia...I will do a better job and give you more time, next time.


Then we turned around, drove south, then west again. We returned to Columbus in FULL BLOOM.











And one very happy dog. Happy Spring to all!

February Flora

Spring has been eager to start since the beginning of winter. It's been an anomaly, an unusually warm year, a year without real winter.

Back in November, I had a dream that provided me with such an optimistic outlook about the upcoming season. I dreamed that I woke up one day and said to myself: "Oh, that wasn't too bad!" THAT, in the dream, referred to winter.



And boy, was I right. Or rather, my dream, so far, has been proven truthful. Some dreams do come true, especially with a little help of El Niña (and you know...a little something called global warming)!



Generally, my early pre-dawn walks with the pup don't give me enough light for photography. Most days, we walk in silence, noticing small things as the world wakes up. More recently, the walks are getting lighter during the same time frame which allow us to notice more things: more life, more people, more flowers...in February.



Winter is still here, though, don't let the green stuff fool you. It was 24 degrees on our walk this post-dawn morning, a little later than normal work-week walks. I strapped on the camera. Katie and I were on a mission to find that perfect February flower.



It's not so easy, you see, to be a photographer and a dog-walker at the same time. Even with just 25 lbs on her, she can yank that leash pretty well if something excites her canine nose. We did what we could... We had to forgo some cool blooming anemone due to another dog barking right as we walked by the beautiful blooms. As I said 'Leave it!' to my dog, I had to say 'Leave it!' to myself, too. There will be another one on the walk, I assuaged myself.

Though not quite an anemone with a light peach color hue... We did find another February flower opening in the morning sun despite the freezing air.  The trusty crocus – always a sign of Spring – no matter how near or far.

Easter Flowers

We are celebrating spring here in central Ohio. A rainy spring, with lots of wet flowers all around.



Some are celebrating Easter today, and for the Jewish, it's also been a holy week. For me, I am enjoying these flowers (and the crazy children with crazier teeth!). I am also enjoying wearing skirts again, and a blouse, and no coats (except for the rain ones).



One of these days the sun will re-introduce itself to us. One of these days...!

Happy Spring, Merry Easter, or just a joyous day to all!

All Together

After months of waiting, and wishing, and wondering if it will happen again...poof! all the trees and flowers burst out into the world in unison, as if they had planned it ahead of time.



And if you were lying on your back, in our backyard, this is what you would see: petals upon petals of pink magnolia, like a curtain obstructing your view of the blue sky.



It's a fine way to be obstructed, though, isn't it? A welcome sight this time of year. There will be so many more sights like these to share, I think you know that pretty well.