Sunday Flowers

Song - One Fine Day - The Chiffons

An abundant field of white daffodil's in dappled sunlight in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris.

Wishing you a calm and happy Sunday.

Beauty and the...........Beast

Song - Beauty and the Beast - Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson (Cover by Poppert Bernadas & Gimbey dela Cruz)

 In the shade garden my Helleborus are so happy but you can't see their little faces as they tend to hang down so I picked one to show you their subtle beauty.

Yesterday I walked around my garden looking for some relief to staying indoors these last few months.  I have had some awful bronchial crud that has hung on forever so I have been trying to take it easy.  Finally I just had to get outside and breath some fresh air!

What actually brought me outside was this little wren that flew into our house and refused to leave.

I threw open the back doors hoping he would find his own way out and he finally did.

Besides the Helleborus several other plants were showing me that spring is just around the corner.  Above are some Forget-me-Not's.

And the Daphne bushes are ready to let me take in their heady fragrance.......

I have several plots of Daffodil's that I pick daily.

And the Grape Hyacinth's are coming up like pretty little weeds as every year they multiply!!!

So you have seen several beauties in my garden....

....are you ready for the BEAST?

Another face that only a mother could love.....

I think there may be something dead near the creek as there were five of them in the tree and have been there more than a week.

Since I feel compelled to leave you with a happy image....

 

We have been having the most amazing sunsets lately!

"Unlike many raptors, vultures are relatively social 

and often feed, fly or roost in large flocks. 

A group of vultures is called a committee, venue or volt. 

In flight, a flock of vultures is a kettle, 

and when the birds are feeding together at a carcass, 

the group is called a wake."

Sanctuary

Song - Wish You Were Here by Sierra Eagleson (Pink Floyd Cover)


 So I went out in the garden this morning to feed the birds......

and to check on what needs tending in the yard.......lots! 

And then I spotted a red headed woodpecker on the suet feeder so I ran inside to grab my camera.  But by the time I got back the woodpecker was gone but this little Black Capped Chickadee was there.  So I sat down and watched the animals come and go.

Two ducks appeared in the creek and the female started a wild bathing routine while the male duck looked on. Finally she settled down and swam over to a little island where the male was waiting.

I picked some lemons.....some Grape Hyacinth......and some Camellia's.......

I picked a big bouquet of Daffodils.....both yellow and white.

 

The Quince bushes are blooming.

 And the white Primrose's are popping up from last year......

The Star Magnolia is sweet and frilly.

Here in California we have not had much rain and even worse - NO SNOW!

I worry that my beloved garden may not have any water this summer and then where will the songbirds play?

"A garden is a grand teacher.  

It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; 

it teaches industry and thrift; 

above all it teaches entire trust."  

--Gertrude Jeckyll

Ancient Highway

Song - These Are the Days by Van Morrison

Another road trip with Mr. B.

 Back to the Gold Country for......

 Wildflowers......

 Time together........

 Beautiful weather.....

Snow in the distance......

And a few short cuts!

 

Remember how I have told you that Mr. B loves back roads?

Well this time it worked out!  We took a small back road that turned into a gravel road, 

to my art show at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys. The above photo is not Ironstone but a small winery along the road.  The above photo is not a driveway but is the actual road.

From early in the morning Saturday until early evening, 

the roads in and out of Murphys were grid-locked. 

But my quick thinking honey remembered a sneaky way into town and the winery!

Voila!  

We made it in plenty of time for the Daffodil-Tulip show, the Art show.........

And into town for Irish Day!!!

Along with a few thousand other people.

People were out in their finest greens....

After the crowds died down, we had a relaxing dinner outside on this veranda with some great food!

 

However, Mr. B forgot to wear green and was thrown into the Pokey!

"I don't like jails, they got the wrong kind of bars in there." --Charles Bukowski

I don't like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there. Charles Bukowski
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/jail.html

Making it to Murphys

Song - Casadh an Tsugain/Frankie's Song from the movie Brooklyn by Iarla O Lionaird

Saturday Mr. B and I drove to Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, CA to drop off some paintings that were accepted into an upcoming show. It was a beautiful day for a road trip!

The California central valley was as green as Ireland.

We drove by hundreds of old barns, many collapsing and returning to the earth.

Wildflowers were abundantly sprinkled on the hillsides in purple, blue, orange, yellow and red.

And snow could be seen on the distant Sierra's.

We arrived after a few of Mr. B's "short cuts" (ie - dirt roads, roadrunners, wrong turns, need gas now warnings, cliffs, etc.)

Ironstone is hosting the 2016 Spring Daffodil Show for Northern California and they had barrels of beautiful bulbs blooming everywhere!

We will be heading back up there next weekend for the reception and opening of the Spring Obsession Art Show! Beautiful country this time of year.........

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." --Mark Twain