We had periods of sun yesterday, which was much appreciated as today and tomorrow are going to be rainy. I grabbed the camera as I went outside to check out the garden beds.
I haven’t done any cleanup as of yet. It’s been too cold, rainy, snowy, windy… you name it. I hope to start in next week. So checking out the beds involves seeing what’s poking through the leaf mulch.
Hyacinths. Last year, they didn’t bloom. Let’s see what happens this year.
The Oriental Poppy never came up last year. I was so delighted to see it once again. I wonder if that had to do with a relatively warm winter in 2016. This year we had a very cold winter, lots of snow…and here it is.
Daylilies.
I also saw sedum and lamium and buds on the lilacs and the beginnings of buds on the trees. I can’t wait to get out there and clear the beds. With such a volatile March and temperatures plunging to below freezing, I left the beds alone and let the leaf mulch stay.
Once I’m really sure it’s okay out there, I’ll move my indoor impatiens back to the porch. But I’m very protective of them, so it will be a while yet.
Changing the subject: Have you heard of Book Depository? It’s an online source out of England and Australia – sort of like Amazon. I’ve known of it a long time, but I have only used it very recently. I’m a fan of Jane Casey’s mysteries and I follow her on Twitter. I noticed that she had a new book in her Maeve Kerrigan series coming out in Britain, so I asked her when it was coming out here. Not until July. The wait seemed intolerable to yours truly. But, through Amazon (a fluke?) I found I could get it through Book Depository. So I did.
Just the other day, after having read lots of tweets about the new John Connolly being released this week in England, I checked out Amazon. Only pre-order – It’s not coming out here for several months. And there was no option for Book Depository. So I went directly to the Book Depository site and there it was. I ordered it and…they don’t charge for shipping! Less expensive than Amazon! It will be here in about a week. This may not be for everyone but for someone like me who reads books by several authors on the other side of the pond, this eliminates that pesky wait for the U.S. release of a book.
Egg cups for your viewing pleasure. They’re all favorites, but I especially love the one on the left. Oh wait, I also love the Scottie and the two dogs holding up the egg cup and the rabbit and the pig and the chicks. This is my problem. I love them all, especially the figurals – that’s what this type of egg cup is.
Happy Thursday.
Love the egg cups! Do you ever put eggs in them? Easter eggs! (Just my propensity to gild the lily.)
Yay! Happy Spring! Soon, we’ll leave Summer and head to Spring, weird, huh? Wonder if I’ll ever get used to it. I think the lake house still has ice and snow, but soon will come the rhubarb, lilacs, and the bleeding hearts. Can’t wait.
No, we don’t do Easter Eggs around here. And since I’m vegan, I won’t be eating any! I do put decorated faux eggs in them. Don brought me a couple from Prague.
When do you leave for NY?
About four weeks. Now the rush is on to finish up everything around here!
Good luck!
This is the time of year I really miss my marble egg collection. Gave it away in the downsizing.
I have one, which was a gift from my Mom.
I haven’t been out to see what’s coming up in my gardens yet….hopefully Sunday will be the start of spring cleanup for me. I was in Lowe’s the other day and they had pansies, so naturally I had to pick some up! They will go in pots so I can tuck them into the garage if we get a cold spell again. I also got two pots of mixed forced bulbs, since I got no new bulbs planted last fall. They will get planted in one of the garden beds after they bloom. Meanwhile, today is rain, rain, and more rain! I hope it washes away the last of the snow!
Rain here, too! And tomorrow, I think, as well!
I am going to check out Book Depository. Thanks for telling us.
You’re welcome!
I plan to get into the yard next week, too. We didn’t get a flake of snow yesterday…so all is good. I’m anxious to see what all is coming up, and to finalize my landscaping plans. There’s lots we plan to do…here’s hoping. Sun is out today….so things can begin to dry out! And those egg cups….so stinkin’ cute! ;)
Good to know you didn’t get any snow, Donnamae! That’s a relief!
Sure hope your weather warms up soon. Ours is just up and down but nothing like yours. I consider 50 a down! LOL
Love your egg cups. I think I’ve said that before but love seeing them all.
Have a great day.
Judy
50 is an up for us! Oy. Have a wonderful day, dear friend.
Cheering on the green and the egg cups.
It gray and rainy here. Last week I brought home some hydrangea and azalea plants that have cheered up the place until the outdoor plants make an appearance. Do you have an Aldi store near you? They had some great deals on plants and flowers. Now that the store is on my radar I can’t wait to see what comes next.
We have one near Target, but I’ve never been there. I’ll check it out today, Jay. Thanks!
Hi Claudia, I’ve been using Book depository for quite a while . Love the no shipping deal !!! X j
It’s really great!
I just noticed this morning that the tips of the Maple trees have teeny buds. The lilac has been budding for a couple of weeks, but with the fluctuating temps, it is taking a while. We did not get any of the “s” word yesterday, and we have SUN today!!! Boy, it really gives an entire different feeling to the day! But, wow…. is it ever windy today! Seems rain or wind are our options lately.
Love pics of the emerging growth. Hope you have a great Thursday, Claudia!
I noticed the same thing this week. Hurrah!
We had torrential rains yesterday.
My hyacinths are all up and blooming along with some very tiny blue flowers have had trouble identifying. They came along with other bulbs from a friends’s Mothers yard. I know about Book Depository ( my son thinks the name is alarming, President Kennedy). I very often buy books and audiobooks from there. Last week I got an audio book , I love to listen to Paul Temple books while stitching. They are done as plays different actors for each part. Great vintage detective fun in England. Pouring with rain here, great for the lawn, the only time it looks so green . Stay dry.
I totally understand your son’s reaction! It is a little spooky.
Claudia,Thank you so much for the Book Depository info. It sounds like my cup of tea! I love seeing the spots of green in your garden and remember so well my anticipation ,as I grew up in Milwaukee and lived in Chicago for many years.Having lived in Southern Ca and now Northern Ca I am enjoying Springtime more than ever.We have wisteria in full bloom along with poppies,freesia and the Julia Child roses . Any day now you will be posting flowers!xo
I miss how the roses thrived when I was living in Southern California!
The rose blooms are in proliferation here in SoCalif, Claudia. I know they’re usually going to be that way around Mother’s Day but, this year, with so much rain I guess, they’re abundant in everyone’s yards already. A lot of my rosebushes almost bloomed overnight (small exaggeration) and I’m just in rose heaven right now.
And your drought is no more!
Well, yes, for the major part of California, thank goodness. Unfortunately, the sliver of the state we live in is still considered to be in drought although we are MUCH improved on that issue.
I go by the U.S. Drought Monitor map. “The U.S. Drought Monitor, established in 1999, is a weekly map of drought conditions that is produced jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.” Today, we’re in ‘moderate drought’ according to them. It’s really nice, though, not to see those ominous ‘red’ spots on the map which has defined our state over these past years as, well, in just catastrophic drought.
Soon, I hope, you won’t even be in moderate drought!
Good!
I go to Book Depository for British craft books. The prices are competitive and sometimes the lowest I’ve encountered for a particular book. And, yes, free shipping is nice, but more importantly, he books are packed so the corners and spine ends aren’t dented. Once, my daughter received a book that wasn’t perfect, with a slightly bent cover….Book Depository sent another one and told her to keep both books. Gotta love a company that is so customer-oriented.
The prices are very competitive and when you add no charge for shipping, it is a great deal.
Weirdly, I don’t know what I did, this comment of mine appeared where it’s not supposed to appear…about roses. Am I asleep at the wheel? I see it got printed two places here, one in the right comment spot but here in the wrong one. Again, I don’t know what I did, but sorry for the repeats.
On the subject of shipped books, since I’m here, I am getting so, so sick of getting new books from Amazon which are packed poorly, resulting in stubbed cover corners or bent pages. Hardbacks and soft cover. I am really about done with Amazon. Seriously. I ordered some small dishes recently and the packing was a joke, with the dishes broken into a zillion pieces. And I despise returns.
I do not like dealing with returns either. So sorry!
The sun is out today after our torrential rains yesterday. It is very windy and cool! I will check out book depository! I would have a hard time picking my favorite of your egg cups for sure.
Hugs!
We had those same torrential rains on Thursday. Terrible!
Love that green popping up among the brown. I spotted a white hyacinth among a bunch of brown leaves.
Marilyn
Nothing better than seeing those first signs of spring!
Those egg cups do guarantee a happy smile; and all the little detail makes you want to look again and again. The old song with “April showers bring May flowers” always comes to mind during April. Something nice about that reassurance. Appreciate the information about the Book Depository and will definitely be interested…Wishing you and Don a great long distant visit. Dianne
We are only able to grab a few minutes here and there because of the time difference. We speak a few time a day for quick chats. It will have to do.
thanks for the tip on Book Depository!
You’re welcome!
oh my this is like being a kid in a candy store for me. I am already lost in the bookstore you mentioned. Its fabulous and I will be getting some actual books for the first time in a long time. I have gotten lazy and mostly download but I sure like the feel and smell of a new book. Cant thank you enough. Back I go to search and shop
Have fun, Sue!
Oh my goodness you poor kid!Our Blossoms(Cherry Blossoms)have been out two weeks and will be gone next.Now all the sudden Snow,Arrrggghhhhhhr!!
I will tell you something. This year we broke records for snow fall,rain,number of stormy days,on end with grey to black skies, no sun Iight and coldest days on record.
When I see a tiny tip of Hyathicent( no idea how spelled),or tiny littleTulip green pushsing up through the barely warming soil,Those My friends, are GodsTender Mercies.
Judy A
I agree. They restore my faith, Judy.
Yesterday, my husband and I took a partial day-trip into Malibu for more wildflower viewing but didn’t see much except mustard (although I love all the yellow-green sloping down to the sea) until we drove back into the canyon more inland to the Calabasas area (Santa Monica Mountains and a fairly ritzy area with lots of big houses and small ‘gentleman’ ranches with gorgeous horses and well-tended pastures). In one wild meadow, at 2pm, we saw two small deer and it made me catch my breath, the beauty of that scene…indeed the stuff of nature which is definitely soul-plenishing and faith-restoring (although I thought it was early in the day for them to be out, rather than at dusk; but, despite appearing a bit tentative, they must have felt sheltered and safe with a little bit of overcast sky and shade of so many leafed-out trees and tall, lush grasses).
Lovely. Seeing deer always makes me happy.
Spring happens every year. For me it’s always a miracle, kind of unbelievable. To warmer temperatures at your place. We are just fine. :-) All the best, Regula
It is a miracle, Regula.