first come the robins

When I can't find words to say I often pull out the writings of simpler men like Thoreau and Emerson. There is comfort in their words along with a bit of wisdom and being in tune with nature. This is the time of year when life awakes again after its nap - you know the legend of Persephone and the Underworld. There are many times I wish she had eaten a couple less seeds. But it does feel a bit like an awakening from a nap.

First you see the robins. The bright bits of color in the gray and dull landscape. Then the leaf buds, the bits of clover flower and tulips peeking up. Finally, the full tilt boogies rushes into the south. The dogwood and azalea are budding, blooming and shaking out their riotous locks around the city. The grassy carpet is coming alive with a softness that cradles my bare feet that are tender from the winter's harsh sharps and angles.

The wanderlust settles in my heart and my feet and I think of places to drive. The trace with the soft southern spring, the beach that beckons with its siren song, the budding trees of the mountains. A soft girly version of Kerouac I guess. Somehow I'm not pithy and hip enough to smoke three packs of cigs while I sit in the diner sucking down greasy hash browns. Not that I mind diners, or hash browns really - but I don't know if I could pull off the look.

This morning I met my sister-in-law and my two gorgeous nieces for a bit of duck feeding and sunbathing at the Festival (the Shakespeare Festival has a beautiful park and several duck ponds). We fed ducks, explained about staying away from those mean boy ducks (ahem - it's spring and they were making baby ducks), GA found a new best friend in another little girl at the park. My sister joined us for a picnic lunch and I don't think life could get any better. Yes, before you ask, of course I took my camera. The oldest niece loves taking pictures as much as I do - so she was happy to shoot off a few frames too. She has a great eye for composition really.

Here are some of my baby loves....