Cliff said......

 Here's a pretty bloom to start your weekend because Lord knows we need something lovely to meditate on, especially after yesterday's encounter.

Now if you know anything about me, then you know I am deathly afraid of snakes. Well, I had an encounter, yesterday.

Do you remember this picture? I was pulling up weeds and grass by hand, laying down newspaper and then topping it off with wood chips. I finished that stage of the garden project and now I'm putting down a flagstone path around the outside perimeter of the garden to make mowing around it easier. I'll show you that, when I'm finished.

Yesterday, I was pushing the newspaper back on the outside edge and....OMG! There lay a snake. I just about freaked out. My hand was close enough that I may have touched it. I have never been so close to a snake before, except the time I stepped on one, when I was a child. Which is probably the reason I'm so afraid of them. Anyway, I backed up so fast that I nearly stumbled. For a split second I thought about running in the house and staying there. But, I braved up, grabbed the shovel and chopped the mess out of him. First time ever! He was all of 8 inches long. Long enough, okay!

Later, I asked Cliff if he told his mama that I had killed a snake and Cliff said, "She couldn't believe it - she almost choked on a vanilla wafer, when I told her."

HaHa! She knows me well.

We won't talk about the King snake I saw in the flower bed by the back door, this evening.  Now that one sent me running and squealing back into the house.

Happy Weekend,

Laurie

Previews of Spring

It's been very warm the past couple of weeks. It's no wonder buds and flowers and green things are popping up and out, everywhere. As we spruced up around the yard last week, I was amazed at the previews of spring and........a new visitor, one that I have never seen before.

Sprucing up the front (lakeside) of the house...new flowers and ferns will soon be placed on the porch.

The screened porch will be next. I think I'll wait until the pollen stops falling, though.

 A new birdhouse just waiting for bird tenants to move in.

The plum tree.

A daffodil starting to bloom.

Hydrangea leaves.

I saw this Gerbera Daisy at Lowe's and couldn't resist putting it in my buggy.

Redbud tree...it reminds me of Japan.

A crab apple blossom about to burst open.

Peach blossoms.

Another crab apple blossom. It looks like a bridal bouquet.

And, last but not least....a new bird visitor. I've never seen or heard of one until last week. It is my pleasure to introduce you to the Brown-headed Cowbird. 

Hope your spring is starting to bloom,

Laurie