Sunday, April 20, 2008

A lovely spring day

Wow, what a stunner of a day!

After reading the paper this morning, we went outside. (I have several flower pictures for you!) We picked up lots of winter debris in the yard, and Ken started tidying up the far pond while I scooped the leaves out of the small one. He kept at it much longer than I did, because after scooping the pond, my hand and wrist were done for. (Years of pipetting have taken their toll.) My hand trembled when I tried to pick up anything! Now that I'm no longer pipetting, I hope I'll get my wrist strength back. When I got inside, I took care of the cobwebs in preparation for dusting, but realized it was much too nice to be inside dusting, so I went and sat outside and soaked up a little sun. Ken finished up and joined me, and we both spent some time manufacturing a little Vitamin D. It was so beautiful and sunny, about 75° with a slight breeze, and believe me, after a long winter, there is nothing like that first time on the deck in the sun. I just soak it up like a sponge. I hope everyone had a day as gorgeous as ours!

Are you ready for some flower pictures? Things are really starting to pop now, so I wanted to get a few. They're probably kind of boring, but they really cheer me up and make me think of the coming summer days.

 

 

We've got daffodils galore! I took this one with a setting that mutes the background but makes the yellow and green stand out a bit. I don't like it that their heads are down, but I can't do much about that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another daffodil. I had to get down on his level to try to get his face. I like how you can see the still-bare trees in the background, but the daffodil looks nice and sunny in the foreground.

 

 

 

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised by how this white hyacinth turned out. I thought that since it was white, it would be Dullsville, but the white was so pure, and it almost looked creamy. They smell so good, too, especially when you're right up next to them!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a blue hyacinth. He was kind of in the shadows, and I love this blue color--not quite a Maxfield Parrish blue, but definitely a periwinkle blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I forget what these little guys are called, but they're early birds, popping up right after the crocuses. Again, there's that blue color that I love. They're very delicate, so they don't last long.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think this is some type of tiny windflower, another early one. The ones I have are shades of pink and blue.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, here's a blue windflower, and once again, it's that shade that I love so much.

 

 

 

 

I had fun taking all of these. Our neighbor across the street is a sort of rural kind of guy, and when he saw me out there crouching down with my camera, he asked, "You taking pictures of flowers?" I would have to say his tone was a bit incredulous, almost like "Don't you have anything better to do?" Ha ha! I think he already thinks I'm kind of weird, but he's an okay guy and has told us lots about our property--he's the one who told us where to find the bed frame out in the woods where a log cabin once stood.

If you give me a few minutes, I think I'll put these up in a public gallery--that way if you want a better look, you can see the full picture instead of these small ones.  

A few minutes later

Okay, if you click on My Pictures in my favorite sites area, you can see all of these flower pictures. I also forgot to include one of my favorites from today, the forsythia. I like how the sun is behind these.

 

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice hoto's it's so nice when Spring finally rears her head, I have to ask what is
Pipetting? also your neighbour seems a little odd ina funny way how did he know about the bedframe in the woods.

Take care

Yasmin
xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Yasmin, and thanks for your comment about the pics!

Pipetting is what is done in the lab to transfer specific amounts of liquids. If you ever see pictures of a person in a lab, and they're holding a device with a tip on it, they are pipetting liquids. It involves repetitive motion, and is the main reason that so many people in the lab develop carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm hoping that my wrists and my grip will get better, but I'm thinking of finding some exercises I can do to help.

I think our neighbor has lived in his house for years, and stories just get passed down. When we first moved in here, we had a garage sale, and an elderly gentleman who lives down the road stopped in and was telling us about how Nutwood used to be a railroad depot, and there used to be a house in front of where our house sits...those are the kinds of things that aren't written anywhere, and just get passed along by word of mouth.

:)  Beth

Anonymous said...

I love your flowers of course. I love the smell of hyacinths. Hope your hand and wrist get better soon. Helen

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures of your flowers. I love gardening and wish I had more space for it. Living in SF, we don't tend to have large spaces like you do. My father, does manage to grow amazing dahlias for showing as he is now the VP of the Dahlia Society here.
The bed frame made me think of my former supervisor and good friend whom I refer to as Marth Stewart West. She has several Victorian homes and in the spring shows her amazing garden in a garden tour....well one year she actually PLANTED a brass bed frame with different kinds of mosses and plants. It looked like an amazing quilted bedspread. She tucked it away in one of her side gardens. It was such a lovely touch.
Anyway, your photos were so vivid I could almost smell the hyacinths!
Always a pleasure visiting...thanks!

L

Anonymous said...

Lovely pics...thanks for sharing them!

Anonymous said...

Interesting I learned all about Piquetting and some more about Nutwood Junction. Loved the Blue Hycinth! I generally plant Perrenials when I can. They come up year after year and make for easier gardening. I have to admit I'm usually forgetful about where exactly in the garden "what" is planted until I clean out the beds in Spring and see the new growth.

As for your wrist, I've found using a Gel guard in front of your keyboard helps alleviate your wrist and takes pressure off there. Yes, I do have Carpel Tunnel in both wrist rather bad. I think it didn't help I've had both broken multiple times either. Generally if I wear my braces an hour or two a day it's not too bad. If the shaking in your hands keeps up you might want to look into the braces. You can find them at any drug store. It's a temporary fix till your wrist gain strength. (Hugs) Indigo

Anonymous said...

I love seeing your pretty spring flowers! I know my neighbors often think i am crazy taking videos and pics of snowbanks and ice and such but thats ok....maybe they'll leave me be if they think i am the crazy lady on the block. LOL
Glad you two got out and enjoyed a good spring day.
XO

Anonymous said...

i love the forysthia shot as well.  the bush itself looks much like it is building a latticework behind the blooms.  

blessings,

regina

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures!!
Lori