St. Pat's weekend - and goodbye for now...

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time -- a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic.

--Adrienne Cook

It is lovely - and full-out spring - out there. Wish I was doing some of that transformative stuff in the garden - but alas, one deadline down but two significant ones left to go.


In the meantime, on our walks, the dog and I at least get to admire all the blooming things out there with our eyes, if not our trowels and rakes. There is a big, fluffy, pink, ornamental plum tree or cascading weeping cherry or ornamental pear every where one looks, and the ground is quickly becoming carpeted with pink and white petals as well.

The forsythia shines golden, as do clumps and clumps of daffodils. You can catch a hint of the fragrance of hyacinths when the breeze kicks up. As well as the very subtle scent of the maples flowering redly - one of my very favorite, quintessential spring aromas...

On my deck, the rosemary is beginning to flower. I love how sweet and mild the blossoms are. Terrific tossed on the new, spring lettuces. As soon as it gets a bit warmer, they will be swarming with bees.

Meanwhile, I must go focus. Many paintings left to do, and not nearly enough days to do them justice. I don't even have the option of extending a few days, I have plane tickets... There is much more I wish I had time to blog - Chantal sent me the loveliest, and incredibly perfectly suited, package - my husband has downloaded those photos somewhere and he is asleep and not available to tell me where. So many more things are growing and blooming out there. I had wanted to post some of my vintage St. Patrick's postcard collection - ah well... It's the thought...?

In the meantime, you could visit my sister's blog and read about their Italian adventures. I'm working hard so that I can join them soon!

Wish me luck...