Green

I just passed my fifty-fourth birthday and am seeing the greenest spring of my life.  

The color is just stunning and it stops me in my tracks whenever I step outdoors.  Last year's drought was so severe that it makes me wonder if this is our planet's way of fighting back to life. Never bet against Mother Nature in the long run.

Here's a simple shot out in the pasture:

Another from out at the property:

Typical north leading Oklahoma tree:

Madam Jay, in the front yard:

 My pal, Mr. Red Bellied Woodpecker:

Two days later - note the difference in the size of the leaves:

All six of my "baby" Caddo Maples are putting out seeds.  How wonderful is that??  Mr. Wonderful plans to collect a few to try to raise.  He's done it before and figures he can get them up to about 15 -20 feet, at least, before we croak.  Something to remember us by.  

It is incredible that it is already time to set out the hummingbird feeders:

The honeysuckle is thick and waiting for them:

Chirpie, my little Black Chinned Hummingbird buddy, should be back soon and I can't wait to see him.  If he had safe travels and survived the migration to and from Mexico, he should be arriving back to easy street, this week.  I put up the feeders about a week early because it has been such a mild spring and I know he'll be hungry when he gets here.   

Yesterday, I saw three Cattle Egrets heading north.  I'm not a big fan and am never sorry to see them head out when they migrate in the winter.   But welcome back, anyway, I suppose. 

Happily, I also saw a Brown Thrasher, yesterday evening.  Brown Thrashers allegedly don't migrate from here but I haven't seen these guys in months although they were active yard singers all last summer.  This year, I have a new birdbath and the Brown Thrashers, of all our yard birds, love to bathe. 

I bought the birdbath, used, off Craig's List.  The old man who sold it brought it out to the car on a dolly and helped me to load it in the back.  He was a small, thin, shriveled up looking little guy who must have been 85 years old if he was a day.  He wore faded jeans and a big lumberjack flannel shirt over a tee shirt even though the day was quite warm.  As I looked him over, trying to not be obvious about it, I noticed that the hands that fell out of his sleeves were big and brawny as catcher's mitts.  It wasn't that they were arthritic - they weren't.  It was just that the bones, themselves were big.  I suspect the old man used to be a strapping young stud muffin and the hands are all that are left to tell that secret besides old photographs and ancient memories.  And at his age, I imagine most of the memories of his youth held by the ladies have gone silent.  

Despite his age and apparent frailty, he hoisted the heavy concrete base of the bath into the back without complaint or apparent distress/effort.  I've learned that if they are moving, these old geezers/geezettes will fool you.  They'll keel over if someone sneezes on them but likely work you into the dirt if they've lived that long and are still on their feet. 

The sparrows and bluebirds are already working on their first batch of babies.  The four naked baby bluebirds just hatched and the sparrows are working on their broods.  Yesterday, I looked in one of the houses that a sparrow took over, and the mama exploded out and hit me in the face.  Served me right.  I love how deep they build their nests:

All this green inspired me to work on a shamrock lap quilt for Mr. Wonderful's godson/nephew.  Nephew is a highschool football coach for the Irish so it seemed appropriate:

Pearly is now completely off the oral prednisone so we are somewhat anxiously waiting to see if she has another relapse.  With the first specialist, she twice relapsed within two weeks of being off the oral prednisone and we hope the new specialist has better success.  We don't want her to have to go through all that, again.  So far, she seems to be doing beautifully and has all her eyesight back.  We should have a better idea by the first of May if she is going to do better, this time. 

I've not been out to the property in the few days to check the trail cam but here are a few from the yard at the house:

We'd just had the yard sprayed for weeds so the grass isn't as green as it would have been, otherwise.

 Three Foot is still in the vicinity.

 As is Blackie, the Fox.  We've also seen Whitey around (she has white on her feet).

Mr. Wonderful is taking me to the Museum of Osteology as a birthday present.  Yes, this is where they make fake skeletons and strip real ones of their flesh, and yes, this is what I asked for!  I have a skull I want them to identify for me. 

I hope to finish the Shamrock quilt top, today.  I think I might piece the back but haven't made a final decision. 

Happy Quilting, Penny, Evelyn and Pearl