LADIES OF SPRING

My Magnolia tree was awash with beautiful, large, pink blossoms.
Then the temperature dropped to 22' overnight.
The next morning poor Magnolia's pink dressing gown had turned to a freeze-dried, crispy, brown rag, ready for the compost heap.
Unfortunately, it couldn't be restored by adding water like coffee or MRE'S.

 Daffodil and her companions hung their heads in dismay for a few hours but then rose up to meet the new day.

Forsythia was hearty enough to weather the deep freeze and continued showing off her sunny beauty.

It is March in the northeast after all. She is a fickle lady and has such fun keeping everyone guessing.
In just two more days she will be on her way for another year. Her sister April will come on the scene.

April can usually surprise us, but she is more lady-like than rambunctious March.

So why don't you visit the local garden centers and take a walk through the myriad of Pansies.
Careful though, Pansy and her friends are quite flirtatious, winking at all the customers. They want you to take them home.
It will be safe to put them outside. They don't shrink like Violet.

Buy a few and brightened up your surroundings as you await the Easter holiday, when Lily trumpets her arrival.

FRUSTRATION

It's so frustrating. What is you ask?

I get used to, or like a product, such as one for hair care or makeup, then when I go to replace it the product is no longer available.

Has that ever happened to you?
How do you deal with it? Do you grumble and complain, like me or take it in stride and try something new and when you get it home you hate it.

My biggest peeve is shampoo. I can't believe how often they change formulas and labeling. It must cost them a fortune.

Oh, I get it. That's why the price keeps going up.

Now they've discontinued my favorite lipstick color.
In fact it's even hard to find normal lipstick tubes. Now it comes in liquid that you paint on.

I'm all for progress, but this much progress irks me.

On to a much nicer topic . . . SPRING.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring, but we've been enjoying spring weather for awhile now.

The trees and shrubs are bursting forth with their new spring foliage.
My daffodils seem to go from tight buds to open blooms over night.

The migrating birds have come to town and the hummingbirds are on the way.
The squirrels and rabbits are chasing each other around the yard. You know what that means? Yep, love is in the air.

Soon I'll be complaining about cutting the grass. Won't that be great?

 Enjoy, enjoy , it's a beautiful spring in Pennsylvania.

MARCH

It's March. A few things happen this month.
Most notably for me is March 1st. Meteorological Spring occurred on that date.
The date we usually associate with Spring is March 20.
For those that are fascinated with weather March 1st is more important.

March is known as a windy month. She is proving that today here in N.E. PA.
The gusts have been constant.

Early next Sunday morning, at 2 AM, Eastern Daylight Time arrives.
I gladly forego and hour of sleep for an extra hour of daylight.

March can also be a fickle month. Warm one day and a blizzard the next. When that happens, the snow doesn't last very long and that is a good thing.
Because this winter has been so mild, the daffodils are already popped through the surface in the city. Here, in the rural areas, it will take a bit longer.

There have been reports of huge flocks of geese flying north, and robins have been spotted as well.

Next weekend, St. Patrick's Day Parades will take place in Scranton and Wilkes Barre. These are always a big hit and well attended, no matter the weather.

This area of PA has a rich Irish heritage. Many Irish immigrants settled here. They came to work in the coal mines, along with the Welsh and English, and many other nationalities.

Hard working, loyal, patriotic, religious, family centered people, they believed in America and were grateful to have a new life here.

My great-grandparents came here from England and Switzerland. They brought their families and settled in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
I often wish I'd been able to talk with them about their homeland, but they passed on before I was born.

Unfortunately, March has proven to be deadly for residents in the Midwest and South, where tornadoes have pummeled those areas for several days.

My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones and property the last few days and pray the weather will calm down.

So as the month progresses, enjoy each day for what it brings. Hopefully it will be mostly sunshine in one form or another.

St. Patrick's Day is also known for corned beef and cabbage. Now that is something to look forward to, my mouth is watering already.