“Essence of Narcissi essence helps the body to process and release
the energy from the emotional-mental trauma, thus
avoiding the need for the body to store this energy as
body-embedded trauma energy. ”

~Source : New Millenium Flower Essences

It’s no wonder when I run across things like this that spring has always been my favorite time of year. It really brings me a sense of peace and quiet and calm, when stress just kind of drifts away and I go crazy with the planting of more perennials and buying things to draw more nature into my yard. Yesterday afternoon I ordered two vines, a wisteria (wow look at this one, and this one too) and a trumpet vine. Then we had to run to the store for some things and wouldn’t you know – they had some in stock, as well as a some really healthy clematis.

Today I’ll be getting some garden fencing to attach to our new privacy fence and putting these vines in the ground, and then I’ll hover over them every morning with my coffee and camera, waiting and hoping that they flourish.

(P.S. I totally snagged the watermark idea from Mrs. Fun.)

Here are a bunch of photos of a bird that preys in my neighborhood. If you know what he is, do tell – He’s half hawk, half owl in my book – he’s about the size of a young red tailed hawk (which are very common in my area, but I’ve never seen one with big owly eyes and beaks before).

Update: She’s a female american kestrel, according to Birdchick. (Thank you!) (another image of a kestrel)

There’s just nothing better, is there? I had to share. I have over 200 bulbs that I put in the ground last fall peeking through and I couldn’t be happier. I’d sit beside them all day and just watch them grow, if I could. This is a Chionodoxa, I think – I have about 30 of them. I’m trying to figure out what they are based on a photo of the packages in the approximate locations where I planted them.

What’s coming up in your yard?

(I’ve added a cute little Chipping Sparrow to my photoblog, too. He’s a cutie pie.)

Last week, Catybug and I witnessed the first sign of spring. We saw 4-5 robins, all gathered together near a bush, on the way home from school. We squeed with delight, because we’re ready. We chatted about how they’ll find food, and we even saw a few more over the following days near bushes that all bear winter berries. We decided this was how they must sustain themselves until spring actually arrived.

Hubby saw his first batch, he said around 40 of these happy and plump little guys (they filled up at Laura’s house before heading north) gathered in a cornfield.

They’re here. They’re really here!

I wandered around the yard looking for more signs, sure enough – I’ve got dwarf iris blooming. Crocus. Muscari peeking up – signs of daffodils and other bulbs that I planted last fall. This is the best time of year! It feels refreshing, invigorating. Life is slowly returning to everything that faded away to gray months ago.

That little robin in my front yard taught me something the other day. As I watched him hop around the yard, I wondered what he was looking for. I don’t have any fruit bearing plants for him, and I was certain that it was far too early to get worms from the ground. I kept watching, though – obviously he knows something that I don’t.

The early bird, indeed, gets the worm. And also? No matter where you are, or how you might think you’re totally aware of your surroundings, you’re really not that far from a worm.

Happy spring!(see a much better robin photo in my photoblog.)

I got to work on the climby squirrel yesterday, Robin and Lesley knew exactly what I had in mind for this climby squirrel. He’s SO COOL. I finished up this wicked neat graphic design using his photo and I think you have to have one of these t-shirts. Go here to see my broad selection of Climby Squirrel Shirts in my new CafePress store.

Of course I need a caption, or two or three, so this is where you come in. Got any good ones? (I know you do. Spill it.)

In an effort to dispel any untruths out there about my obsession with squirrels, I’ve rummaged through hundreds (cough) of photographs just to prove that they are, indeed, cute as hell and I have a justifyable urge to capture them from every angle.

Now I’m faced with an even bigger dilemma – which one to put on a shirt? If you can stand the cuteness, go on and pick your favorite from the seven squirrels I’ve chosen. I am, seriously, going to design a shirt. I can’t disappoint Mr. Dell dude, now can I?

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An imaginary conversation with a Dell Backup Support Tech today would go something like this:

Dell: Thanks for calling Dell support, how can I help you today?
Me: Well, I’m in a panic. I bought these DVD 4.something gig CD’s so that I could backup my hard drive, and they don’t work. Why doesn’t my drive recognize them?
Dell: Well, doh, you don’t have a DVD write drive.
Me: Nobody told me I needed one of those!
Dell: That’s why you should upgrade your computer every 6 months to the latest and greatest thing, you know.
Me: Well, crud. I’ve only had this one for 4 or 5 years. It’s out of date? That’s what you’re saying?
Dell: Yes ma’am. Can I build you a customized computer today?
Me: Um, no. Thanks. I would like to know how I’m going to fit 3 gig folders onto a 700 meg CDR without burning out the antiqued drive that I do have, though.
Dell: You’ll have to split up your files, ma’am.
Me: But I don’t want to. I have all of my photography split into months, and each month is about 3 gig.
Dell: What on earth do you take pictures of?
Me: Squirrels, mostly.
Dell: You have that many squirrels, ma’am?
Me: I’m fond of my squirrels.
Dell: How fond?
Me: Um, I have about 400 pictures a month that are just squirrels.
Dell: Obsess much?
Me: Sometimes. They’re cute, you know.
Dell: I think you have a problem.
Me: Yes, exactly. How do I get all of these pictures to this itty bitty CDR?
Dell: No, I mean I think you have a different kind of problem.
Me: I have a lot of problems. Can we stick to the CDR thing?

(end completely awkward and totally fictional conversation with Dell support.)

I’ve been shopping for formal gowns, too. We’re attending a Military Ball and I haven’t a THING to wear. I also want to choose something that is appropriate for a wedding/cocktail/reception in July. Any good store recommendations?

If you like eggnog (even if you don’t), and you’ve never had these cookies, make them. You’ll love them – trust me! They’re my personal favorites – and I promise to get a nicer photo of them this year. 🙂

(new pic, as promised!)

1 c. butter softened to room temp.
1 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg/cinnamon or 1/4 tsp each
1 c. eggnog!
1 tsp. baking soda
4 c. flour

Beat butter & sugar until it’s creamy.
Add spices, Eggnog & baking soda to butter & sugar, blend well.
Add flour 2 cups at a time, mix (with mixer) until combined.
Spoon onto nonstick cookie sheet, dip a cup in sugar (holiday colored sugar, sugar/cinnamon, sugar/nutmeg, your call), smoosh the dough a little – don’t flatten them.
Bake at 375 for right around 11 minutes, when you can see the bottom edges are golden brown.

(Previously posted December 14, 2004 and November 15, 2005.)

Friday was a snow day here, school canceled – lots of snow to shovel. We decided to make a mini snowhill in the backyard for our mini-sledders, and yesterday was a good day for sledding. The snow packed and crunched beneath their boots, they squealed and giggled as Catybug dragged the Chickeymonkey around in circles – up the hill, down and around again. Such good sisters, they are so loving toward one another and such great playmates. I know it won’t last forever, so I’ll enjoy it while it’s here.

Lastnight, while I waited for our Cement Sissy™ Tuckerhead to diddle in the snow, the outside light caught the sled just so, and it was so neat that I had to grab my camera. Here’s another snow shot from inside my nice warm studio: