Progress...

Every day is a work in progress...

Like a turtle, slowly sticking it's neck out...these fragile little crocus show more of their faces with each passing day.  Hope....in purple, waiting outside the backdoor to brighten my day...and show me that spring is, indeed, just around the corner.  Anna..you're welcome anytime to enjoy  this work in progress!

Home....

Home is a shelter from storms - all sorts of storms.

William J. Bennett

On a rainy  afternoon in March we sat on a muddy road, in the rain...

and were amazed at the sight of thousands of Sandhill cranes, headed home. 

There is such beauty in their music...and the mystery of how they know when..and where to go  ...is  incredible!   We've made this  a yearly migration of our own...this trip to see the cranes.....but this day, this unplanned detour on a Monday in  early March....was a reward in itself.  We sat undistrubed, unhurried...in the rain and the mud, watching, wondering...and planning another journey back....soon!

Pure joy...

Joy is not in things: It is in us.

Wagner

Take a lazy Sunday morning...add sunshine,

two dogs, three adults, one happy two year old.

Buckle them up in a well traveled Pathfinder...

and head up into the mountains.

Watch mountain goats munching on early spring plants....

and ice fishers camped on frozen mountain lakes....

explore a little mountain soap shop

share a dish of home made black walnut ice cream...

watch a happy dog roll in the snow...

and you've found pure joy, indeed!

Laugh...

A good laugh is sunshine in a house!

William Makepeace Thackeray

Turn on the faucet.  Jump in the tub.

Pick up the washcloth.

Scubbity-dub.

Then...take the washcloth and throw it at Grandma, splash most of the water out on the floor, giggle, swim, kick, squirt Grandpa with the starfish...wrap it all up by looking like an angel on the counter wrapped in a duck towel!  There was SO much sunshine inside the house this weekend! 

We got sunshine....on a cloudy day!

Happy Two-rrific Birthday!

 Find delight in the simplest things.

 Today and everyday.

 And have the happiest of birthdays.

 Happy Birthday, Koko!

Who needs toys when there's ice cubes to play with?

What a joy..to be there to celebrate YOU!

Growing color..

The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy

 places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.

Gertrude Wister

On a chilly March morning, spring peeked it's purple head up....and I was there to capture it in my photo of the day!

spring grows...

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow, grow.'

The Talmud

The angels seem to have paid us a visit....

spring  grows along the south side of the house!

spring...

Sitting quietly.  Doing nothing.  Spring comes.

Right outside my back door.

Looking for work...

Be like a duck. Remain calm on the surface and paddle like hell underneath.

Michael Caine

Lined up, looking for a grandchild in need of a bath!

(new ducks courtesy of Grandpa Joe!)