Spring Joys

 [ WARNING: This post contains a large amount of pictures, I am not responsible if your computer shuts down.  And, just to let you know, I could have put twice the number and not run out of photos.]

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day He created Spring." 

~Bern Williams

Springtime is the land awakening.
The March winds are the morning yawn.
~Lewis Grizzard

An optimist is the human personification of spring.
~Susan J. Bissonette

"For lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth; ......

The time of singing has come,
And the voice of the {Robin}
Is heard in our land."

~Song of Solomon 2:11,12 

Where man sees but withered leaves,
God sees sweet flowers growing.
~Albert Laighton

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.

~Virgil A. Kraft

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

  ~Anne Bradstreet

  Spring is officially here, whether or not the calendar says so.  If you disagree with me, go outside around seven in the morning. You will be greeted with such a volley of joyous praise to their Creator from the mouth of multitudes of Robins and Red-wing Blackbirds, that you will be an instant believer in the arrival of Spring. 

The maple tree out back has finally decided to end our syrup making, by budding out in beauty.

One evening I was walking out back, and looking up into the Maple Tree, I saw a handsome papa Blackbird, warbling away and showing off for all he was worth.   He kept it up for 5-10 minutes and allowed me to get quite a selection of photos of his "highness".

I am very thankful for this early spring no matter how long it lasts, but I must say, as much as I appreciate winter and all it's peculiar beauty, I am quite finished and ready for a full blown spring for the next two months!

~Chs