Early Spring Wildflowers

Bloodroot Blossom

One of the earliest wildflowers to bloom around our cabin is the delicate bloodroot. The showy white flower heads stand out in contrast to the dusky leaf cover on the ground. It's always a welcome sight to see these pretty spring flowers, but they don't last for long. Within days, they shed their snowy white petals.

Growing up, I was very fortunate to have woods to enjoy and explore right behind our home. I spent countless hours wandering the trails and taking in nature's beauty and surprises. Springtime brought so much new life and color. Tiny pink and white spring beauties and violets in purple, yellow and white sprinkled the forest floor with bright spots of color. One of my favorite and elusive wildflowers to see, and, like the bloodroot, one that didn't last for long, was the trout lily, so named because its spotted, waxy leaves look like a trout's speckled skin. The flowers of the trout lily in our woods were yellow, but they can also be white. Each plant has one bell shaped blossom.

As the days grow longer and the temps get warmer, more and more wildflowers will beautify the woods, but the early bloomers always are a cheery beginning to a most lovely time of year.

Celebrating Springtime

Handpainted Tile Made in Spain

The Magical World of Springtime

By Carice Williams

The magical world of springtime

Is at our door again,

With smiling skies and warming breeze

And gentle April rain.

The gladsome songs at dawning

Of small birds in a tree

Are telling us that springtime joys

Are bursting constantly.

The magic world of springtime

Has laid her bounteous store

Of flowers and trees and singing birds

Outside our very door.

The hills are carpeted in green,

And soft blue are the skies.

A magic world has come to life

Before our very eyes.

Everyday, more and more birds return and serenade us from dawn until dusk. Colorful flowers sprout and bloom. Trees and shrubs burst forth with greenery. Days grow longer and the sun warms and brightens the awakening earth. There is magic to behold in every new day.

Spring is a time of rebirth and a celebration of life.

Weekend Getaway to Gettysburg

The first weekend of spring was absolutely beautiful - picture perfect sunny, warm days with bright blue skies. Kevin and I traveled north to close-by Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to tour around and enjoy a stay at the historic Gettysburg Hotel, which was established in 1797.

Healthy Hemlock Standing Tall in the Soldiers' National Cemetery

Our first stop was the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center, a huge complex that houses a museum collection of Civil War memorabilia, a theater, the Cyclorama exhibit, and several gift shops, eateries, and offices. After viewing a film about the battle of Gettysburg and taking in the impressive Cyclorama exhibit, featuring a narrated, light-up mural in the round of the fateful "Pickett's Charge," we wandered through the halls of the museum. There were countless artifacts from the war and more historical information than could possibly be taken in and absorbed in one visit. It was an impressive and sobering display.

Abraham Lincoln's Famous Dedication to the Fallen at Gettysburg


One of Many Museum Displays


A Monument Now Stands in the National Cemetery
Approximately Where President Lincoln
Delivered His Dedication

After touring the museum and the Soldiers' National Cemetery, we headed to downtown Gettysburg. Our hotel was located across the street from the Wills House, where Abraham Lincoln stayed and honed his address before delivering it at the Soldiers' National Cemetery. After checking into the hotel, we visited local shops and enjoyed some ice cream. In the evening, we had a delicious dinner sitting at a cozy corner table of McClellan's Tavern which was located within our hotel. The tavern was named after a local war hero.

After dinner, we sat outside on a park bench taking in the scenery of the town and soaking in the ambiance of this historical place. The small town and farming community of Gettysburg was forever changed by the battle that took place here. Our country was deeply affected by the outcome of the battle that raged on for three days in July of 1863. The battle of Gettysburg is considered the turning point of the Civil War. The Union victory here slowed and weakened Confederate forces irreparibly and ultimately determined our fate as a nation that would remain united. Those who lost their lives on the battlefield fought for a freedom preserved and over time extended to all Americans.

First Signs of Spring

Early Bloomers

Such a long, cold winter we had in the east, with blustery days and so much snowfall! We've all been longing for the warmer, sunnier days of springtime...and they are finally on their way.

Today, it was up in the fifties outdoors. I decided to do a little garden clean-up. When I went outside, I discovered two crocus flowers in full bloom. What a welcome sight! Most of our crocus bulbs had been consumed by chipmunks or squirrels last year, so I was especially happy to find two healthy plants heralding the coming of spring with their colorful flowers.

After clearing off layers of crusty brown leaves from the rock gardens, I further discovered that many of our perennials are starting to sprout. The daisies, cone flowers, and columbines made it through the winter to bloom again. I look forward to their continued progress. Kevin also found that the May Apples growing along our driveway are coming up. We saw a cotton tail rabbit scoot acroos the drive the other day, too! All good signs that spring has almost sprung!

On a recent visit, my sister brought me the lovely shamrock plant pictured above. I love it's emerald green clover leaves and delicate white flowers.

Spring officially arrives this weekend...and St. Patrick's Day tomorrow.

May the luck of the Irish be with you and HAPPY SPRING!!!

Feeling Stronger Every Day

First Day Home from the Hospital

with a Doting Pacey Cat :)

Each and every day, I make a little progress and feel a little better. When I first left the hospital, I was walking with a cane. For the past 5 days, I have been walking entirely on my own again. My muscle tone is slowly returning and, once again, I can stretch and bend. The incision and drain sites are still sore, but they are healing nicely. My belly region still looks quite puffy. I imagine it will take some time for it to regain any sense of it's original shape. I'm getting used to my daily attire - sweat pants and a loose fitting top!

Kevin and I have been getting out and about more and more. Today, we spent two hours at the H&R Block getting our taxes done. Always a relief to get that annual chore completed! We've also done errands - grocery shopping and banking...and some fun stuff, too. We've been out to eat a couple of times and yesterday we went to a local antique mall, where I found a beautiful ceramic picture frame for under $5.00. It has carved morning glories around the entire boarder - so pretty! I put one of our wedding photos in it and placed it with our other photographs on the window shelf.

Though I'm still dealing with medication side effects, mostly tremor and nervousness, I am sleeping fairly well at night again, which has helped me to overall feel healthier and more at peace. I've gotten accustomed to the twice weekly lab appointments, too. Initially, it felt so burdensome, but, after going a few times, it began to feel commonplace.

So, life is slowly returning to normal - but an even better normal. Already, I can tell my energy levels are higher than pre-transplant during my uremic stage. I'm no longer nauseous, as I was previously, and despite the pain associated with the surgery and the side effects from the medications, both of which will lessen and go away with time, generally, I'm already physically more comfortable. Quality of life is definitely improving!

Throughout this period, I've been able to maintain a positive outlook, which sure has helped. Kevin's support can not be underestimated. He's been a remarkable partner, a very loving husband, and an extremely caring caregiver. This time in our lives has been difficult, but together we are seeing it through, and we are so fortunate that things have gone and continue to go well. Desirae's kidney is doing a remarkable job!!!

Amazing Amaryllis

First sprout appears

Initial growth

Moving up!

Leaves in the middle, flower buds on the sides

Buds are pronounced

Getting tall!

Tall stalks with red buds

In full bloom

For Christmas, my daughter treated me to a most wondrous gift. She took me to my favorite local greenhouse nursery and let me pick out whatever I wanted. She is a brave soul. To be in a garden nursery for me is like being a kid in a candy shop. So many choices, so many favorites, so hard to pick! This time, though, I knew exactly what I wanted to find...and it wasn't long before I had a Red Lion Amaryllis bulb in a terrific, heavy, ceramic pot. Amaryllis flower in a variety of colors from white and pink to red...but the bright, shiny red flowers have always been my favorite.

At first glance, the bare bulb half buried in the dirt doesn't look like much...but oh the wonders to soon behold! Starting with a tiny green shoot, followed by a rapid succession of growth, the amaryllis develops gradually until about two-three weeks pass, then the immense, showy blooms open, almost before your eyes. So beautiful! What a truly amazing plant!!!