Tuesday, March 10, 2009

How to get me out of the yard and onto the computer...

I was wandering around the house, picking up the kids (kitties) toys, preparing to vacuum and dust when I happened to look out the window and saw robins on the ground. I repeat, ROBINS! Dusting, vacuuming and picking up of toys forgotten, I found myself in the yard staring at the plum tree which was dazzling with sweet white blossoms. I looked down and realized that I still had the swiffer duster in my hand, so I hurried into the office , laid it down and grabbed my camera. I had to get a picture of that beautiful Victoria plum tree to share with you all before the blossoms are gone, and hopefully the fruit is set! Isn't it just beautiful? The other one is set to open, but so far only a few have. I can't for the life of me figure out why it is always two weeks behind the other. We have been busy in the gardens, getting things planted, and we finished up spraying all the trees with the winter wash just in time for this microburst of spring. I only pray we don't get an "Easter Snap" and a freeze undoes all we have done!

Okay, now I intended to do a giveaway for my 400th post, and this is (by estimation) my 421st, but a giveaway is on! All you have to do is leave a comment on any of my posts from now till March 31st and you're entered. I'll be back in here soon, but right now the yard and the 70 degree weather calls. Rain is expected on Thursday, I'll be here all day everyday till it's gone!

62 comments:

Everything Stops for Tea said...

ooh oooh ooh! hello - this is me, commenting!!!! before 31st March....:-)!! lovely piccies!

S x

BioniKat said...

Enjoy your gardening and the sunny weather.

Maggie May said...

The times I have run in to get my camera and the birds have flown by the time I get back.
The blossom is magnificent though, well worth taking. Hope you won't get that cold snap.
It is cold and blustery here. Typical March weather.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Sandi,
I'm glad to see spring is already SOMEWHERE - not here in Iowa. We are having a sleet storm at the moment. Enjoy.

Carol Murdock said...

Sandi, I know what you mean, I posted on all the amazing Spring finds here too! Yippeeeeee! I am so glad to see the cold GONE!
Beautiful pics!

Terri Steffes said...

I am glad to see the beautiful flowers!

I had to go private on my blog, if you want to be a part of my readership, email me at steffes3@embarqmail.com and I'll send you an invitation!

Mary said...

Oh Sandi
Lovely pics wish the weather was as good here but is improving. We have had a bad winter but I'm coming out of hibernation now !!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Everything is still brown and blah, I am so jealous of those flowers on your plum tree! I am impatiently waiting for the first signs of spring here......enjoy playing in the dirt!

Anonymous said...

We haven't seen the glory of blooms yet, but we sure have lots of buds!
J had to see the cancer surgeon yesterday(routine check up). There is a walk path at the hospital. The Weeping Willows, planted near the path, were green and the grass was beginning to turn green. Definite spirit lifters!!

Finding Pam said...

Great shots of spring in bloom. Keep taking pictures.

Pam said...

All the Bradford Pears are blooming here right now. They are so pretty but (achoo!)...my allergies don't like them AT.ALL!

Mima said...

Your blossom is wonderful, the first signs of Spring are always so welcome, but you are so much earlier than we are - I have my daffs and crocuses just out at the moment so we are weeks away from blossom. I have a cherry which is about 3 years in the ground & came at a fair size, and it blossoms, but refuses to bear fruit!! Maybe this year!

We keep having to wrap the camelia in fleece to protect the flowers which are just starting to appear. I'm also hoping not to have a hard frost!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Oh your plum tree is beautiful!! I love flowering spring trees.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

OOPS!! I forgot to tell you happy 421 post!! I am so glad I found you. I really enjoy my visits here.

Akelamalu said...

70 degrees? It's not even 7 here! :(

Woman in a Window said...

Oh my, you are two full months ahead of us. I can almost smell those blossoms. Sweet.

Thom - - Dr. John said...

70 degrees? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

We're a few weeks away from hitting that mark.

imbeingheldhostage said...

gorgeous... that tree gives me hope :=)
Happy 421st!

Janice said...

I've neglected my house chores lately for the 70 and 80 degree weather we have been having and spending all my time in yard as well. We are suppose to have a cold snap come in Thursday and last for the rest of the week, so I guess I'll clean then, lol! Enjoy all the spring birds and blooms.

david mcmahon said...

Beautiful blooms, Sandi. And very apt, because Victoria is my home state!

RiverPoet said...

Hurray for spring! I listened to birdsong all weekend from my window...D

Vee said...

Guess I know whose Victoria plum tree I'll be sitting under for a while. At this point, I'm impressed that anything is blooming anywhere. Glad that you know how to throw down the swiffer for the better part!

Sally said...

I'm glad you've been able to work outside~I'd rather be out than in any day. Beautiful blossoms!

It was 82 today with 85 forcast for tomorrow, and I hope we get some of that rain! We need it badly.

Unknown said...

Oh you're ahead of us Sandi, gorgeous.

BTW I have a giveaway myself today!

Nessa said...

Play away.

Hilary said...

Beautiful blossoms. You're way ahead of us in that regard. We won't be seeing our trees bloom until May, but we've been seeing robins since early in February for some odd reason. Really odd because it's been very cold for most of that time. Thanks for sharing your warmth. :)

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Even here in the midwest we're awaking to the sound of birds singing! Spring.....hurry!!!

Nancy said...

We had the most wonderful opportunity to watch a robin's nest from construction, to babies leaving the nest to fly, right outside our study last year in Minnesota. It was in a lilac tree, so the nest was right at eye level, and we watched from a chair placed in front of the window. What a treat. We felt like we needed to protect the little family, so we asked visitors to use another entrance, so as not to disturb them. What fun.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

The tree is so Beautiful. Have a great week....m

Merisi said...

Such beautiful blossoms,
thanks for returning to the computer to share them with us! :-)

I am leaving for Rome tonight, the temperatures there are in the high sixties. Goodie!

Enjoy your yard and beautiful weather!

Do you have any dogwoods around your property? I miss them very much. We had parkland right behind our house, and in spring the dogwood blossom looked like giant snowflakes in the woods.

Jeni said...

Love those pictures of the tree beginning to blossom. Yep, spring is definitely on its way -at least in your neck of the woods. Up here, Mandy discovered the other day the couple of pleasant, warmish days we had recently have brought the iris and crocus plants along the front of the house to peeking out of the ground now. She was even concerned when the forecast said the temps were going to drop again and wondered should she try to cover and protect those tender little sprouts sticking up out of the ground. I figured it sure wouldn't hurt anything if she did try to give them a bit of shelter from the raw cold that came with the latest weather change. Hope it soon reverts back to the kind of balmy days we had over the weekend and then, stays that way.

Suldog said...

Ahhhhhhhh, Spring! I am so sick of snow around here. Thanks for the nice pics, and for making me jealous.

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Beautiful blossom!

ancient one said...

So I'm not too late? Your plum trees are beautiful.. and I'm sneezing..LOL

Jamie Dawn said...

Enjoy the nice weather to the fullest. I've been enjoying it here in Arkansas too, but today our temps have dropped down a lot. Boo Hoo! I went for a walk on Monday and it was 79 degrees. Oh, I am loving all the signs of spring.
Your tree looks so pretty all blooming with white flowers.
Congrats on 400+ posts!!!!!!!
Blogging is a joy!

Jeanne said...

What a treat! After a very gloomy start I got out of work to sunshine and 50 degrees. I got me home and off on a nice walk. Felt wonderful!

Lib said...

Your tree is Beautiful!
Ya'll have been busy! Our temos has been spring like, now back to winter for a few days!
THink Spring!:o)
Blessins',Lib

Justabeachkat said...

Gorgeous Sandi!

We're in California and I'm sure enjoying all the blooms here. Awwww....the beauty of nature really can take your breath away.

Hugs!
Kat

��Radio Mihalis Thalassis - Athens Greece said...

Good morning beautiful, Hi Michalis

cheshire wife said...

Lovely photo. Your garden looks to be weeks ahead of ours. I too would be out in the garden if we had the weather. Enjoy it will you can.

Cheffie-Mom said...

Oh, how beautiful! Enjoy the wonderful weather!

Jules~ said...

How perfect! Isn't it intoxicating to see the new blossoms of spring? I love the blossoms of fruit trees. They seem to sing out to me in my mind of beauty and the celebration of nourishment to come.

Blessings to you today my friend.

loong said...

i'm so sorry ,i cann't come to you blog in these post days.

Lee said...

Guess I need to get out and look at spring happening. Gorgeous blossoms, Sandi! Thanks for sharing! I have an hour for lunch today. Maybe I can get some looking done then.....Or maybe not, just checked and the weather isn't good till Sunday when it will rain but be up in the 70s. That's okay, spring rains can be beautiful! :-)

Hugs!
Lee

Anonymous said...

That tree is beautiful! I'm just holding my breath waiting for the days to finally be well, warmish. I just don't want to have to wear my winter coat any more!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Sandi over 400 posts and it's been a pleasure reading them too. Count me in for the give-away. :)

Mickle in NZ said...

Such beautiful blossoms, I sincerely hope they result in a great fruit set, and a strong and healthy fruit crop.

While is Autumn here there is so much promise around to see from nature. And my flat leaved parsley's self seeding has great results with numerous wee plants popping up. Wonderful for Winter Cooking.

Love to you and Mac, and all the pusscats, Michelle and my darling wussy Zebbycat, xxxx

Anonymous said...

Okay,Sandi,I am commenting..I just hope the "giveaway" isnt a brand new kitten! I should some of those type "giveaways" any day now...becky

Debra from Bungalow said...

Beautiful tree! I just love the spring blossoms!
Enter me in the giveaway, Please.

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

The blossom on your Victoria plum tree is so pretty - Springtime is such a joy. A x

i beati said...

s there anything lovelier than a budding flowering tree in spring?or wildflowers or bulbs??Whart strength it gives me ..Sandy

Sandy McTier Designs said...

Hi Sandi,
I have one of those in my front yard and like yours is in full bloom and gorgeous! Our temps fell big time over the weekend and it's cold here again - looking forward to some warmer weather this week though.
Have a wonderful week.
Blessings,
Sandy

Aunt Julie said...

Well, first off, congrats on 400! And the blossoms are stunning! We're still stuck in winter over here...fingers crossed that spring is right around the corner!

Unknown said...

Hi Sandi,

I came by last week and tried to leave a comment but my computer decided to give me problems. LOL Hope you are well and sorry it's taken me so long to come and visit you. Your tree is so pretty. We are having nicer weather here in Ohio but it's not quite time to plant and nothing in full blooom yet. I can't wait for that day. Anyway I hope you are feeling well and I promise I'll be by to visit soon again. Take care

Susie Q said...

Our trees have yet to blossom but they are budding with promise of beauty soon! : )
Oh how I love to read you rposts. I know I am catching up but it is always such a joy to comne and read what I had missed...no one writes like our Sandi!

Love,
Sue

myonlyphoto said...

Wow these are lovely pictures, beautiful signs of spring which we don't have yet, hopefully soon - but I can hear the birds, so this is a good sign Sandi. Thanks for sharing your story, Anna :)

Marites said...

ohmy! very beautiful blooms you got there and it's no wonder you got a robin-visitor:) I hope you'll get more blooms as summer rolls in.

SandyCarlson said...

Hope the weather is holding for you! The photos are wonderful. You inspire me to get out and get to work.

granny grimble said...

Sandi what a beautiful photo of spring. Here in Yorkshire England, there aren't any such signs. I have a few shrubs in bud and my daffs have broken ground and are about six inches high. Roll on summer, I can't wait.

i beati said...

heavenly how I miss those blooms sandy

tlchang said...

I hope it is still looking like this outside and not all snowy-woods, like your Frost post. :-)

(Spring! Wanting it to be spring already!)

boracay condo said...

You do have a very lovely sweet garden.. i love your broccoli its my favorite