I Am A Thief ~

I am a thief....yesterday I walked across the street, scissors in hand to snip a branch (small, mind you) off of my neighbors tree to place in a spring bouquet (see below).  The woman that lives there is Asian, doesn't speak English well, and I swear if she saw me, she would have probably called the police.  Unfortunately she is that kind of neighbor.  But honestly the tree is hanging over onto open property so I figured why not.  I didn't take a step on to her property, and it was just a little snip.  As I snipped, I didn't hear the police sirens, so figured I was safe....but somehow I really felt guilty, I almost rang her doorbell to confess, but instead went home with stolen bounty in hand.

After our long and seemingly endless winter, Spring has arrived and plans on sticking around, at least this week anyway, according to the 5-day forecast of sunny and in the 70's.  Absolutely perfect.  Perfect for anything, especially gardening.  I spent the last 2 days outside working in the yard and garden, gathering up the winter debris.  I have a pile of sticks that if lighted could roast an entire Girl Scout troop's marshmallows.  As I worked in the yard, this pretty female cardinal was whistling high above me in the tree, I am not sure if she was calling someone or telling someone to stay away.  Probably not the best angle, especially of a female.

My hyacinths are drooping, but I like the look, they resemble little bells or fairy hats....

I went to Home Depot on Saturday to cautiously buy a few flowers, not ready to plant alot yet, fertilizer and weed spray.  My mistake to go on a Saturday, I have never seen the parking lot so full.  While I was there, I did buy a few spring flowers....couldn't resist, they were only $2.67 a pot. A pot of ranunculus, some English Daisy's, and tulips and pansies for the front porch.

My red tulips are all in bloom.  Nature astounds me every Spring when the earth comes alive again.

And I have a clump of these multi-petaled yellow tulips that are ever so lovely.

This year I am in mourning, my crab apple tree in front has bit the proverbial dust...dead!!  There are only about 3 branches that show any signs of life, so a call to a tree removal company is in order...$$$.

My quince beauties are beginning to wan...I look forward to their beauty each spring.  When I bought these 3 bushes, almost 30 years ago, I thought I bought all the same kind, but each spring they show their true colors, one is an orangie red, the other two are pink.  Variety is the spice of life, right??

Well, gotta go, Spring is calling.

Linking to Mandarin Orange Monday's and Project 52

"Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment " ~ Ellis Peters

Until next time....