Birds - Blooms - Books . . . . . .

Mourning Dove 

 Pine Siskin and Red-bellied Woodpecker 

White-Throated Sparrow

Many of these and other birds are visiting the garden now - the warm days have

 brought the songbirds out despite true spring still being far off. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . and my daffodils are blooming far too early.

One of my favorite reading corners - upstairs bedroom in good afternoon light.

Are you reading these late winter days?

My pile awaits as I plod somewhat through the amazing writing of Richard Powers

'The Overstory' - Winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. 

A very special novel. If you love trees and are concerned about the future

 of our forests, and the planet, you should read it.  

Never say there is nothing beautiful in the world anymore. 

There is always something to make you wonder in the shape

 of a tree, the trembling of a leaf. 

~ Albert Schweitzer ~

Lonesome dove . . . . . . . .

Before the freezing rain early this morning there was yesterday. . . . a chilly day

 but with a spurt of morning sunshine before changing to overcast skies.

Sadly, the thick cloud cover blotted out that beautiful Super Snow Moon here.  

Hopefully you were able to see it.

I saw the lone dove when I opened the blinds, such a quiet and gentle bird. 

There are several pairs in the garden so it was unusual to see one all alone.

. . . . . . . . . beaten down by the rain today, but still a spot of bright color in the

 February garden.

Patience. . . . . . . and what about Blogger?

All we need is a little patience and tiny miracles appear right before our eyes.

Yesterday, to start the week the first few brilliant daffodils opened their golden trumpets.

Just one of many clumps scattered through the garden, the others still just green leaves, 

they positively glowed from the piles of brown leaves and twisted tangles of ivy.

For those of you still in the grip of bitter cold, perhaps buried under snowy

 landscapes - here's my little gift to remind you that springtime is on the way.

Of course it's still winter here in the southeast, however we are throwing off coats

and jackets this week with temperatures reaching into the seventies, as high as

77F tomorrow - but that won't last and often this month, and even March, can bring

harsh days, even snow, and bitter nights.

So what's all this happening with Blogger?  If it's your blogging platform

 did you get/understand the message received this morning regarding 

changes? Some of you apparently feel Google is going to scrap Blogger

all together in the near future - I do not think that will happen.  

The changes seem centered around Google+ and the way we leave

Comments. I have had many problems with this and find it so frustrating

when after writing a lengthy comment it just won't publish. Please know

 I try but often have to give up. BTW, I myself, never signed up for Google+

on my blog.

This morning I've been reading more about alternative blogging 

platforms such as Wordpress which seems popular and easy to use.

Any of you on Wordpress.org or Wordpress.com who would like

to comment here are welcome to share both positive or negative

thoughts. I'm especially interested in whether or not old Blogger 

posts can be migrated into a newly opened Wordpress blog. 

Enjoy your day - and perhaps change is good, sometimes!

Wet Sunday in the garden. . . . . . . . . .

There are no trumpets welcoming the imminent arrival of a new

season, just a quiet pushing through the ground of bright green tips, the

 silent opening of buds, then pops of unexpected color as one looks out

 at the early morning.

Doesn't seem possible that well over a week of February has already

 disappeared into history! 

The days fleet fast for me at this time of life, how about you? 

Some people complain of days such as this one when the weather

is not to their liking. . . . . . whereas I gather each day around me thankful

it came and that I'm here to enjoy it.

February can be dreary, but this morning in my garden, I spy little things

 Nature is sharing to brighten my spirit, to be thankful for, to smile at, and

to know there is another Spring on the way.

 ~ Raindrops on daffodil leaves ~

~ Tufts of bluebell leaves pushing through garden mulch ~

~ First daffodil bloom of the year ~

~ Buds are opening ~

Today was already 60F at dawn, rain fell in the night, pansies are happy. . . . . . 

. . . . . . and the robins are back searching for worms - here's just a few of perhaps

 thirty who gathered on the front lawn!

Later today it will reach the mid-70's with perhaps some thunder.

The rain is light and intermittent - typical of February here in the 

southeast.

My thoughts this morning:

A Sunday in the cottage makes sense - there is much to do with our 
leaving home drawing closer.

I should bake something - or perhaps make a trifle! 

I need to clean the front porch as the beastly cute squirrels pulled the 
birdseed bell down, gobbled it up and left a mess!

Speaking of plants - we so enjoyed Raleigh Little Theatre's rendition of 
Little Shop of Horrors last evening!

Great cast as always, and special guests seated at the end of our row were 

North Carolina's Governor and First Lady, laughing along with the 

rest of us. I was happy to see them supporting this always fabulous local 

amateur theatre group.

The perks of Southern living . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . often begin with the weather.

We are so fortunate right now having what everyone is calling 'an early Spring'.

This February weather is fantastic - not saying it will last as there can be really

harsh weather here even in March, but we are certainly enjoying these mild days

 and embracing the sunshine and brilliant blue skies.

Yesterday we did some garden chores and it was actually hot outside.

I was able to gather these pretty blooms to bring into the cottage. . . . . . 

I love cutting my own flowers, even just a few can bring color and smiles

for several days.

Happy Sunday. . . . . . . . . I'm sending these blooms north to all my friends

 who won't see their daffodils until later. Do take care moving all that snow!

St. Valentine's Day . . . . . . . . .

They bloomed in my garden just in time for Valentine's Day - and I'm sharing
 them with you.

Have a lovely day.