Wednesday 9 April 2014

That Time of the Year

Whenever asked which is my favourite time of the year, so far I used to reply "summer". But maybe I should change that to spring. It is such a wonderful time, flowering trees and shrubs in nearly every garden, birdsong from the early hours of the morning until sunset, butterflies and bees!
Of course, every season has something I love about it, but right now, nothing can beat spring for me.

It looks like we're in for another sunny day today. I will spend most of that at the office, but it will still be daylight until about 8.00 pm, so that there is a good chance of me getting off the train on my way home in the small town next to mine and walk the rest across the fields.

I took these pictures on the last day of March. There is no year I can remember when they were ever in full bloom so early in the year. By now, the blossoms have all gone, and the trees are a tender green.
(It's not two pictures of the same tree. There are two identical blocks of flats in that street, with two magnolia trees in front of them.)

Lucky, my downstairs neighbours' cat, is as happy about the sunshine as I am.

16 comments:

  1. Hello Meike:

    You have mentioned before the joy of getting off the train one stop before your own and then walking home. This seems to us the perfect way to unwind after a day in the office and, on a warm spring evening, nothing could be more pleasant as well as, of course, good exercise. Now that the better weather has come, we try to be out for a long walk each day. That said, this morning it is much, much cooler so much so that we have turned on the heating!!

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    1. Hello Jane and Lance,
      We've had much cooler temperatures since yesterday, too, but it was sunny and dry again today and so I walked home once more.
      In the mornings, I still turn the heating on in the bathroom. There is little more unpleasant than a cold bathroom when one wants to have a shower.

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  2. Ah Spring - when I was travelling (on the long trip) spring was the only time I was homesick - I missed the lambs and daffodils, the sweet green of new beech leaves ...

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    1. No lambs close by for me, I'm afraid, but daffodils and tulips galore! If I were to live in a tropical place, I think I'd really miss the changing of the seasons.

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  3. They are stunning magnolia trees. We are having a much warmer than usual autumn. I hope that when I return to the Northern Hemisphere at the end of the month the weather continues to be as beautiful and warm as you are experiencing at the moment.

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    1. It seems unreal that you are already so close to changing hemispheres again, Graham! I hope that you'll find sunshine and warmth at your Hebridean home and will get to enjoy the garden at its best.

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  4. I'm looking out the window at a sunny day beginning here too. I actually used to like winter best! But long ago, really long ago, I came to my senses and began to appreciate the glories of the spring. Enjoy your walk!

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    1. I did, Kristi, thank you! It wasn't quite as warm as I would have liked it to be, but it still felt much better than being on the stuffy train.

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  5. Rainy and only +4,5 C here at the moment ... I've had an indoors day today!

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    1. It was rainy here yesterday, and only 6 C this morning, but 13 in the afternoon. I don't mind the occasional indoor day when there is nothing to draw me outside, and I don't have to leave the house because of work, but I get itchy when it lasts too long.

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  6. No critter looks so content as a cat sleeping in the sunshine.

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  7. Those trees are beautiful!
    And I must tell you...we have had some cool, windy days, but if you get into the sunshine, it feels so lovely and warm, that I have actually said, " I feel like curling up like a cat and taking a nap in this sunshine"!

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    1. I know exactly what you mean, Kay, it has that effect on me, too!

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  8. I really like the apartment buildings - the color is great. And love the magnolias in front. Such a good idea.

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    1. It's a shame they look so magnificent for such a short time only, but they certainly do add a lot of beauty to an otherwise unremarkable street.

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