It’s all photos today, part of my celebration of spring.
And wowser! It really does feel like spring now, which I am still struggling to wrap my head around. Is winter really over? This is Wisconsin after all, where it can dump massive amounts of snow in April, but it’s going to be 75 today and snow feels like an impossibility. Time will tell.
Right now the daffodils, crocus and scilla are in full bloom, and seeing all that color outside is heartening in a deep and primal way. Here’s a little fun with my macro lens and a crocus:
The return of color comes in many ways, including these eggs that Jim and friends D and J colored as part of our Easter tradition. After we color the eggs, we have an Easter egg hunt which is ridiculously fun. Such frivolity should never be restricted to children–it’s good for us, no matter how old we are. It was also the first time that we were able to safely hug and spend time with friends inside their home, all 4 of us fully vaccinated and super cautious for 13 months. I honestly can’t yet find the words to describe what it felt like, beyond “wonderful.” But wonderful is a good start.
Spring, of course, is not all fun and games. We seem to be past “mud season,” (or, as I call it, “the mudmare”), mostly because it is much too dry for this time of year. Nice to have no muddy dogs to deal with, but “April showers” are important for a healthy land here in the Midwest. Looks like we might, or might not, get some rain soon. Cross your paws.
Another challenge of spring is the seasonal assault of Harmonia axyridis, a beetle that looks like the benevolent lady beetle but is an imported invasive that makes our lives miserable in fall and spring. This photo doesn’t begin to show how many thousands and thousands and thousands we have vacuumed out of the house. We’re on week three now, and I’m about to lose it. The entire house is covered, all day, every day, with crawling beetles or dead beetle bodies. We vacuum about 5 times a day, and it barely keeps the numbers down. If they don’t disappear soon (they will), I might come knocking on your door looking for a place that isn’t covered in flying, crawling and sometimes biting insects.
Thank heavens for dogs and flowers! The bud below is on the African Violet now named Rose, after the mother of friend Donna who brought it back from New York when her mother died. Donna suspects that it was originally owned by her grandmother. It bloomed for 13 months non-stop, then rested for less than two months and has amazed me by beginning again.
Here’s Mr. Skipper, looking pretty darned stylish while working our small flock up the hill. Our first competition of the year is at the end of this month and early May, so we have our work cut out for us. Skip is truly talented, and also has some holes in his work. His outrun is too wide, which wastes time and energy. He listens exceptionally well, except when he doesn’t. The good news is that I can predict when he doesn’t listen–it’s while driving the sheep away from me, especially if I stop whistling and let him take over the sheep all by himself. That’s a good thing to do sometimes–it gives dogs confidence while driving sheep away from you, but not so good if it means that they forget herding is supposed to be a team effort. We’re working on it; mostly I just need to stay in contact with him when he’s driving with whistles and an occasional voice cue.
(I should mention that I considered trying to get rid of the big pile of sheep poop right in front of Skip in the photo, but decided that reality is far better than pretending that sheep don’t poop in the grass. Reality wins.)
I’ve been putting my good camera in the car while driving around in hopes of getting some good bird photos. Predictably, there is an almost perfect negative correlation between seeing birds and having my camera. Camera in the car? No birds. Camera not in the car? Birds all over. I’m not letting it frustrate me, however, because I’m enjoying being on the lookout for birds, especially raptors right now. I managed this shot of a Redtail while driving up to work the dogs at a friend’s farm.
Here’s another wonderful part of spring–lambs! We aren’t raising lambs any more, but lots of friends are, and I get to enjoy watching them frolic and play. Here’s a cutie at Big Yellow Boots farm outside of Portage, where I often go to work Skip and Maggie on sheep in pastures much, much larger than our small ones.
I’ll leave you with a cheerful hello from the Daffodils, with a chorus of Scilla in the background.
Here’s to life and color and good news in your life this week too. We’d love to hear about it.
Laura says
It’s currently 81 degrees here in St. Paul MN, and so, like you, I’m waiting for the other, snowier, shoe to drop. I’m hoping it doesn’t, but the last 3 years we’ve had snow in April so… Anyway, we’re supposed to get cooler, rainier weather this week, and so I’m hoping it heads your way after it’s finished with us. It’s dry around here too.
I’m enjoying the weather for now by having all the windows open while I work. I’m still working from home, which I love, but I’m still without a dog, which I hate. I wasn’t expecting to get a dog right away, and I’m still hopeful I can get one this summer, but with Covid rules, we’ll just have to see what happens. My mother received her second covid shot on my birthday last week, so that was the best present ever! My sister, who works as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Skilled Nursing Facilities is also fully vaccinated, and so I’m very relieved for my family. Currently, my sister-in-law is looking for appointments on my behalf, and I love her for it. Hopefully, I and my wonderful husband will get the shot, and I will get a successor dog soon. I still miss my Seamus, but I really need another dog. Traveling with my cane is just exhausting. It’s a weird emotional place to be in, but I’m working through it. I love the pictures, and am so happy you have so many good things popping up in your life Tricia. Here’s to many more warm days ahead. Hug those dogs extra tight for me.
Orietta says
Thank you for the nice photos and for sharing spring spirit with us, it’s definitely needed!
lak says
Oh Thank You for Spring in photos! Yes, glorious spring! We too are unseasonably warm in MI and I am loving it. I don’t remember a spring this nice in years, a treat after Covid and being locked down for month! The photos are just beautiful!
Karen Rhodes says
Lovely to see Skip at work, I also have a Border Collie but mine is a pet.
Spring is beautiful in Suffolk, UK. The Cherry Blossom is out on the trees and our daffodils are in bloom.
It’s a wonderful time of year that hints to the warmer weather approaching.
My good news is that I won an award last Monday. I’m not sure if you know who Theo Paphitis is? He used to be on Dragons Den, Theo runs a weekly competition called SBS where small businesses tweet him and he picks 6 winners each week. He’s been supporting small businesses for 10 years now and there are over 3000 SBS winners who benefit from a boost from Theo.
Kat says
Temps here in the Pacific Northwest are in the low 60’s but we’ve been having many sunny days which is a welcome relief. My early spring flowers crocus, snowdrops, daffs, are all pretty well done but all the trees are starting to bloom which is spectacular. My son and I took D’Artagnan for walk today just to visit the cherry trees. D’Artagnan isn’t a big fan of posing for photos but my son managed some gorgeous ones of D’Artagnan among the trees and of him smelling the heather. Many of them should show up soon on D’Artagnan’s Facebook and Instagram pages ‘Floof About Town.’ It still seems absurd to me that my dog has his own social media but there were so many people lamenting they wouldn’t see his photos anymore once the Parks and Trails Challenge ended and a few that confessed cyber-stalking him was helping them through difficult times so now he has his own social media.
Mary Kaplan says
Beautiful photos,thank you!
Jill Kolar says
Thank you for sharing your joy in the egg hunt.
Cookie says
It’s early spring here in Central NY. Our little hollow had the dafffodils and crocus peeking up but not blooming yet. With temperatures in the 60s this week I am sure we will see their splendor. Our garlic is up to 3 leaves and time for their shot of nitrogen nether form on bloodmeal. I have the itch to start planting but we too get winter’s last few hurrahs so we are keeping hopeful it’s passed. The greenhouse is keeping our propagation on schedule and hopefully we can get things in the ground soon. Dry here with fire advisory in place which is unusual. Looking for more of the spring rain we need to get our water tables back to “normal”. Whilst muddy dogs aren’t my favorite thing to deal with, the smells of the damp earth, the squishy sounds of muck boots and the patter of rain on the roof are all signs of good spring to me. Wishing all health and happy spring!
Carole K says
Thanks for the beautiful photos! Here in Illinois we are enjoying the spring weather while knowing it will probably snow again once more before it stays warm. Daffodils and tulips have sprouted…I am SO eager to plant herbs, tomatoes, and flowers but I know better than to do it too soon. Meanwhile I’m enjoying having morning tea and afternoon wine on the patio while two of my dogs guard the bird feeders from squirrels. (The giant dog doesn’t care. He apparently thinks squirrels are entitled to steal as much seed as they can.) Everyone in my family has had their 1st shot and will receive the 2nd soon. I cannot wait to have all my kids, grandkids, and their dogs here for a barbecue!
Frances says
I think we have your snow! We were tempted out by bright sunshine, then caught in hail, snow and general unpleasantness.
Wonderful photos – and so lovely to see colour after all these wintery months.
Beth says
Yep. Beetle season in WI. I hate those little buggers. I have to cover every dish of food and glass of drink so they don’t get in. Have you ever bitten into one? Nasty! It is definitely hard on the vacuum too. My sweet rat terrier is so happy to be out and about in a yard without snow. Chasing squirrels is so much more fun in grass, even if it’s not all green yet!
Annie B says
Beautiful!
MaryLynne says
Here in north central (eastern) Washington state we had what was most likely our last snow on March 29 – 1.5″ that disappeared quickly because the ground was already too warm. My GS-mix Bonnie was very excited to see it though. The Spring bulbs and cherry trees are blooming and my wisteria and lilac are about to burst out. Also, vaccination sites are doing a booming business! All in all, everyone here is feeling very good about this beautiful Spring.
As always, thank you for your gorgeous photos and fun to read commentary.
Andy says
I hope you don’t mind some sadness, but I will redeem it with some joy as well. If not okay I will understand if it doesn’t post.
I’ve chatted in this space about my dear boy Cecil, and Ive so appreciated sharing him here. He passed away yesterday, helped by a dear frienda when I was out of town. It was not unexpected, as he had outlived his original diagnosis by well over a year (proatate cancer).
I am terribly sad, but not depressed. He is smiling in nearly every photo I have of him. He loved life, and he loved being a little sh*t, and he loved his friends, and he loved me. I have no regrets, and I’m pretty sure he wouldnt either. We had a great run together.
So here’s to love! I wish you all a joyous Spring.
Lisa says
Loving the colorful flower pics! We have a few dafs and loads of scilla blooming, too. One dog loves the warmth and the other seems happier in the cold. For a Golden Retriever, he seems to love snow more than water. Weirdo. We too are being besieged by the beetles. I open as many windows as I can, especially if the sun is hitting that side of the house. They seem to want to be outside more than in and it definitely helps cut down on some of the vacuuming. Enjoy the beautiful weather while we have it! Fingers crossed for no more snow this season!
Trisha says
Lisa–our beetles are finally disappearing! We’ve been opening doors and windows too; they definitely want outside. (And where in heaven’s name were they all winter in the house? Awck!)
Trisha says
Andy–thanks so much for writing. Sadness is most welcome, it being an inevitable part of life and love of other creatures. Here’s to Cecil, your smiling friend, and a celebration of your great run together. I suspect he was a very lucky dog.
Trisha says
Frances: Send your snow! I’ll take moisture in any way now; it’s like walking on potato chips outside!
Trisha says
Cookie–I share your urge to plant! But average last hard freeze here is May 15, so . . . Of course, nothing is “normal” anymore, so who knows what will happen! (It’s 77 here right now, ridiculous.)
Trisha says
Kat: “Floof” is about the most perfect name for your boy I can imagine. I checked out his FB page, and what a handsome gentleman! And, what a gentleman. Looks to me like you and he both won the lottery!
Trisha says
Congrats on your award Karen! And it’s lovely to hear from the UK; my mum would be so happy. (She was from Surrey.)
Trisha says
Laura–we miss Seamus too! I’m so sorry that your mobility is so tiring; it’s exhausting to be exhausted. (I say that with no irony; I meant exactly what I said.) Can’t wait to hear about a new dog when the time comes . . .
LisaW says
Andy, I am so sorry to hear about Cecil. I love how you wrote about his life and loss. No regrets; good boy, Cecil.
It’s funny what things trigger a pang–this was the first spring in decades that I only bought one order of flea and tick topical liquid. Always bought two different sizes for the season. It made me really melancholy for old Phoebe and the dogs that came before her.
Yay for spring and all that awaits us as we slip from one season to another. It’s amazing how nature delights no matter what or how hard we throw things at her.
And, I have to ask: Beth, why did you bite a beetle?
Here’s to rain, more flowers, more sunshine, more happy dogs, and more vaccines!
Jean Coates says
Back in 1980, it was elm leaf beetles that drove us crazy for over three weeks. Living in a 130 year old house in PA with original windows, we had lots of gaps so they completely invaded the house. Especially terrible in the evenings and drawn to lights so we lived without turning a light on for over two weeks. I can remember walking upstairs in the evening and my hand on the bannister was dislodging hundreds. The same as you and Jim, vacuuming constantly and the elm leaf beetles stank like gas and putrification plus they left brilliant yellow stains when you smushed them or just if they felt like it. The worst was when my husband had to travel and I and our fox terrier had to bed down in the only place free of the beetles–on the floor of the laundry room where I arranged cushions from the couch. It sure was nice to smell dog in the small room instead of beetle stench!
Great pictures. Hope your invasion is over soon!
Shivani says
Well, I’m suddenly very grateful for our lack of beetles (PNW). This is our first spring in our new house in Washington (moved here in October). Trees are blossoming all over the place and the smell is divine. My neighbor’s tulips are coming in and I’m feeling chagrined that I didn’t plant any. Having come from many years of apartment dwelling, I’m not sure what to do with the yard, other than delighting in having enough space for Auggie to run around. But I’m hopeful that we’ll begin to make plans and experiment with planting.
The warmer weather makes it much more fun to find new places to walk with Auggie. It’s a pleasure to watch him become more comfortable and confident. When we brought him home 4 months ago he was afraid to go for walks. Now he trots down the driveway with tail and ears lightly bouncing. What a joy.
j says
Thank you for the images! That is a great shot of Skip, reality and all (look! Not the least bit distracted by that snack!) and the redtail.