Loving the spring

Jack loves the spring. As long as it isn't raining.

Leaves!

Spring has taken its time this year.

I really wish this rain would stop already... still, it's really pretty.

It's turning pinker!

This was white earlier his week!

Tulips

I put new tulip bulbs in last fall and totally forgot what everything was supposed to look like or where I'd put them, so each day, watching these open, is like getting a new present. These purple ones finally opened today. Gorgeous.

These ruffly white ones opened yesterday. There's still more to come. And see that pretty white daffodil in the background? Those came up shorter and later than my other ones.

These have been open a while. I'm surprised they're still kicking around.

Look at the red tip on the petals. I hadn't noticed that before! So pretty and subtle.

Window boxes

Joe helped me get the window boxes back up. We got the wrong brackets for our new porch railing boxes, but they look a lot like this. So exciting to have plants in the ground (or box, in this case!).

We sat under a canopy of trees shared crab cakes and sipped beers with orange slices.

Scootin

Parker and I spent some time playing before dinner tonight. I love spending time with the girls on their own.

Torrential rain

The rain has been really constant around here. It has knocked down all the flowers (even Mrs. Hope's) and covered them with mud speckles.

Narcissus

I've been waiting to see if all the narcissus bulbs I planted were eaten by squirrels or not. Finally, they opened, and I have at least a dozen. Yay! I love them and the story that goes along with them.

April showers

The way the rain is sticking to my newly blossomed flowers is so unreal.

Lilac buds

Yesterday, there wasn't even a hint of buds on my lilac bushes. Today, they're all tipped with these green babies. (Yes, our houses are that big and that close together. Crazy, huh?)

Finally, SUN!

We had so much fun today, playing outside and soaking up some sun. This warmth has been much-needed and much-anticipated!

I was feeling lonely tonight and a little bored. But I forced myself to make a good dinner of grilled chicken and Brussels sprouts in curried coconut milk. I played the recent mix I made you and threw open the windows in the sunroom, smelling the crisp spring air.

Snowdrops

 My favorite early spring flower is the snowdrop. Our yard had some when we moved in and a neighbor gave me some more. I love how hopeful they are, even with that mournful hang of the blossom.

I have been trying to figure out how to get the camera to focus on exactly what I want. I don't understand the manual focus on it. I did get exactly what I was hoping for here, but the background is just so noisy (chainlink, neighbors car).

Signs of spring

Joe and I stopped home at lunch today and spotted these little guys in the backyard. There's still lots of snow in piles around our house, but it's on its way out! (Joe's allergies are on their way in, I'm sure...)

Planning

I tried planning my outfit this morning using Kate Spade's book about style. I thought I'd pair together some of her suggested colors. It would have worked if my pants weren't big and the t-shirt wasn't looking weird. Had to do over the whole thing.