The Road Home

I've lived in Lancaster County, PA since I was 19. It is a beautiful place to live and not for a minute do I forget that. One of the most scenic drives is on route 896, the road I take to get to my Mom's house. You often pass more Amish buggies than cars. On Easter Sunday, as we drove back home to East Petersburg, the skies were dark and gloomy. Of course I had to get out my camera for some quick shots while we were dodging the raindrops and buggies.

And this one just makes me chuckle...

Here's a photo I took last fall from my Mom's garden.

And one I took while standing in her driveway last spring.

The girls are planting tobacco.

Not the most exciting place to grow up, surrounded by farm fields.

I appreciate it more now:)



Easter Weekend

We had a fabulous Easter Weekend and I hope you did too!

I love the look of concentration on my daughter Zoe's face before the local egg hunt.

This was right after the pep talk, you know the one.

Don't fool around with the real eggs, go for the plastic ones.

This year I made a scavanger hunt for her Easter morning. She had to follow clues around the garden and finally found her basket in the play house.

On Easter day we picked up her cousins and headed to Longwood Gardens.

This anemone is perfection to me!

I love the pink and green combo on these tulips.

Purple Martins were back and as busy as could be!

I am captivated by the fiddleheads.

The light shining through the copper beech leaves was magical!

Killdeer eggs in my Mom's garden, between her rows of spinach.

The most beautiful eggs to find on Easter!

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.

~William Shakespeare

In the Garden

Walking around the yard this week, between the raindrops, I spotted my garden fairy's residence.

Beautiful green moss growing up an old dogwood.

(probably not good for the tree I'm guessing)

Pumpkin Pie snacking on grass.

My weeping redbud tree about ready to burst.

A beautiful daffodil, glowing yellow and orange.

A delicate violet, not shrinking from anyone.

A petite yellow tulip, curling her petal.

And a neighborly cat stopping by for a visit.

Let the blooming begin!

The sun finally came out after 2 days of rain and clouds.

So many beautiful things blooming and growing in my yard!

I love the frilly insides of this daffodil and the alternating purple and pink flowers on the lungwort.

Bleeding hearts are just starting.

This early pink tulip opens up as the day goes on but only if it's sunny.

I bought this rockfoil at the greenhouse on Monday.

I planted my peas mid-March and they are starting to come up.

Planted this lettuce last week. So far, so good.

I'm sure something will come along and eat it soon.

Meemee take a break at the butterfly puddler.

This is what is growing in my neighbor's yard. Not that I mind his dandelions.

"If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn."

~Andrew Mason

Finally finished my painting of Pumpkin Pie and it is sold!

Hope to have prints available someday soon.

Click on the picture for a larger image:)

Wildflower Walk

It was a freaky 80+ degrees yesterday so Zoe and I decided to pack a picnic lunch go for a walk at Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve.  Poor flowers, it was a bit too hot for them, and us too!

Dutchman's Breeches, in the bleeding heart family.

Their seeds are planted by ants, no wonder they were everywhere!

Even growing off rocky areas.

Wilty Virginia bluebells don't like the sun and heat.

Bending over to fix my shoe, I nearly put my hand on this guy!

A wolf spider perhaps?

A lovely tree planter created by Mother Nature.

 We found this neat looking hobbit hole.

One of my favorites, a yellow trout lily.

Marsh marigold.

It was so hot, the cool creek felt like heaven!

Everything is starting to turn green. My little Zoe looked like a woodland fairy child. :)