A Glimpse of Spring!

We interrupt our regular programming (namely day 2 of a winter snowstorm which I had planned to post) to bring you signs of spring!

This week we've had the most glorious foretaste of the approaching change of season, with bright sunshine, blue skies and temperatures reaching into the 50's (approx. 12ºC). The chill wind persists, but how refreshing it feels to stroll outside with fewer layers of clothing and breathe the warmer air. I can't wait to be able to open the doors and windows to let the fresh air into the house!

Look what I found in the garden yesterday - the first snowdrops opening their tiny blooms! What a wonderful surprise!

If you look very carefully you'll see them close to the wall behind Tink...hardly noticeable unless you're really looking for them. I wasn't expecting to see them yet. They're about a week earlier than last year. A few more are hidden behind the the circular wire rose covers. We'll be taking those off soon to let the roses see the light of day.

This is what I went out to photograph...daffodil shoots!

Another sure sign of spring is the cats coming out of the barn to warm up in the sunshine. Tink was enjoying a good sunbake in the garden.  

And Jodi (Bloomingwriter), guess what I saw at the feeders yesterday morning and again this morning? Yes, they're here...the red-winged blackbirds! We know spring is near when these beauties arrive, don't we?

A bluejay startles the redwing and gives hubby and I a chuckle.

Lately Mr. Cardinal comes more often for his share of the seed,

and Mrs. C has been around more too.
We never cease to be thrilled by their brilliant colors.

We're seeing the wild turkeys feeding early in the mornings in the fields across the road, cleaning up the left over corn and scratching in the hedgerow.

The males are strutting and displaying, fanning their tail feathers for the ladies' affections. 

There are over 30 turkeys in this group, which is one of several.

A starling sits in the budding Silver Maple in the early morning sunshine.

Hannah is trying to avoid walking on the snow. As you can see, there's still plenty of snow left on the ground, but we've had considerable melting these past few days.  

Sheba goes exploring over the bank...

We've hardly seen Peige out of the barn all winter.

Phoebe hasn't ventured out much either, but today most of the barn cats were down near the house, enjoying some exercise.

It won't be long until the goldfinches change to their bright summer finery.

They've made quite a mess on top of the feeder. Looks like I have some spring cleaning to do!

 

I definitely see the yellow looking a little brighter on this pretty boy.

Busy little nuthatch visits the seed and suet feeders regularly. There are a pair but I rarely see them together.

Chickadees like the suet too.

Sandy of Four Winds Photo Journal, I've been trying to capture the iridescent colors of the starlings again ever since you mentioned it, and do you think I can? No! Here they are in the afternoon sunshine which is the best time to capture the colors...but I couldn't do it! I'll keep trying :)

Doesn't a sunny bouquet of daffodils gladden the heart?


It's not quite here yet, but it sure feels like spring here in upstate NY this week! I hope all you snowbound northerners are feeling sunshine on your shoulders too! 

And the Days Dwindle Down.....

.....to a precious few.

September....

......has come and gone already.

I began writing this post yesterday, on the last day of the month, but unfortunately didn't finish, so I had to edit that last line.

This was such a busy month, with harvest time and all that it entails - picking, freezing and canning - plus all the work needing to be done in the garden, and it all had to be fitted in between working at school.

Blogging has had to take a back seat for a while, so I haven't been posting or visiting much, but I've managed to record the month with my camera. How could I not? :) It's been such a beautiful month, full of sunny, warm days for the most part. We've had some cloudy days and much-needed rain during the past couple of weeks, but only one light frost so far, which did very little damage, for which we're most thankful.

The early weeks of September brought golden mornings.

As I look out our bedroom window I can still see color in this bed, and there are still only a few orange leaves on this maple tree, while the big Maple in the front yard has fully changed color and is rapidly losing its leaves.

The vines on the big elm and other trees in the hedgerow across the road always turn their rusty red shade soon after the days begin to shorten and the air becomes crisp. The countryside is full of autumn colors since I took these photos earlier in the month.

Here's a view of the lily garden and new rock garden from our upstairs bedroom window.

The field of corn across the road, and others on the farm, are not quite ready to harvest. Some have been lightly touched by frost.

Here's the Aster I forgot to photograph for Bloom Day.

It's pretty beside the silver Artemesia.

Bees adore the Sedum Neon Stonecrop.

Just over the bank, wild asters are blooming among the seed pods and flowers of Queen Anne's Lace.

Out in the pasture Joe Pye Weed has gone to seed and lost most of its color now, but it was beautiful while the flowers lasted....

.....but some of the Goldenrod is still pretty.

Most of the Concord grapes have been harvested.

Some were juiced, and the juice frozen to be made into jelly at a less busy time.

And a good many were eaten and enjoyed!

We have a large patch of elderberries growing out in the barnyard, and my dear hubby gathered a good-sized bagful of them. His brother and sister-in-law also brought us 2 large bagfuls from a huge patch they found.

I made juice and froze this also to make elderberry/apple jelly at a later date. The apple juice takes away that slightly bitter flavor that the elderberries have, and the resulting jelly is a delicious treat.

Home canned peaches are one of our favorite foods.

I have one more basketful to finish.

The tomatoes have produced abundantly, both regular sized (Jet Star) and grape, and they're still going. We've had plenty to give away.

The tall structure has pole beans growing on it. They're finished now because pesky rabbits, or perhaps a hungry woodchuck (aka groundhog) nibbled on the vines and killed them. Several weeks ago I looked out the window to see a woodchuck boldly wandering on the lawn near the veggie garden. They're a real nuisance when they dig burrows under the woodpile, which is conveniently close to the garden for them to dine on.

Last year's saved gladiolus bulbs that DH planted were very slow to pop out of the ground in the spring. We ended up with not many plants, and only one that bloomed - a big disappointment after two years of great success planting them in among the vegetables.

American Goldfinches and other birds enjoy feasting on the sunflower seeds.

And this colorful spider has a feast of its own.

Yellow squash produced prolifically, and also yellow zuchinni that DH tried this year, but the regular green zuchinni didn't do well. We had some, but not many to give away. Imagine that! :)The yellow is thicker skinned and we didn't like the flavor as well, but it works just the same for zuchinni bread.

We can't remember a better sweet corn crop! DH grew 4 varieties to extend the season, and we had bushels and bushels to share with friends and neighbors.

Here's the squash patch. DH gets a bit carried away :) He likes to try different kinds. That's mostly winter squash and jackolantern pumpkins, with a few gourds and ornamental pumpkins mixed in.

Strawberries and Rhubarb grow on the near side. We had great crops of both.

Buttercup is our favorite winter squash.

This one's called a "Fairytale" pumpkin. It's not quite big enough yet for Cinderella's coach!

And here's one of the orange jackolanterns. There are a couple of really big ones...our biggest ever.
Our son and DIL are bringing the grandsons for a visit this weekend, and Grandpa will send the two biggest home with them.

I went for a stroll up behind the barn.....

...to photograph the cornfields and wildflowers.

The woods are more colorful now, with more leaves turning their fall shades every day. I'll have to go up again this weekend to get an updated photo.

Goldenrod and wild Asters......

.......put on a lovely show.

DH made several large compost piles up here when we still had our dairy herd. This stuff is black gold!

Back down I go, past the barn, where Jasper (left) and Isabelle (both rather shy kitties) sit on a barn windowsill, soaking up the sun.

And here Isabelle sits on the front porch in the golden glow of afternoon sunshine....

....with Jasmine close by on the step. We've spent the whole summer trying to tame Isabelle, and she's only recently begun to let us pat and cuddle her. Some are tougher than others :) Her sister, Olivia, learned to trust us much sooner and loves to be cuddled.

I saw a juvenile Ruby Throated hummingbird on September 22nd, but haven't sighted one since. The parents leave first, and the young ones make the long migratory trip alone. Amazing that they know the way, isn't it?

We'll enjoy the fall colors, and hopefully some more glorious autumn days before the cold sets in, while our southern hemisphere friends are celebrating the arrival of warmer weather and springtime.

Meanwhile there's still plenty to do in the garden and even some color left to brighten our days.

Happy fall or spring everyone....depending on your location in this big, wide, wonderful world!

I hope to catch up with you soon.