Chasing Springtime

 It feels like I am experiencing my fourth Spring season of 2025.  Lucky me!  The first was in Houston in late February and early March.  The second was in Sicily in late March and early April.  The third was in Madison in late April and now I am in Nova Scotia for the tulips and the budding of the trees!  My sinuses are not too happy about the constant exposure to pollen, but the rest of me is loving it!  I think I have found my latest quest, to see just how long I can make springtime last!  

I left these poor defenseless beauties to fend 
for themselves in Houston.  I have no
expectations they will survive...

When I arrived at the shore the leaves on the trees were just beginning to pop out.  One week later they are almost full of leaves!  When I arrived the flowers on my chestnut tree were green, today they are in full flower.  There were no lilacs a week ago and today they are almost all open.  The tulips were compact and beautiful, today they are quickly waving goodbye to their petals.  I am amazed at how fast things grow up here!  Amazed!  I swear if I had the patience I could stare at a plant and actually see it grow.  If I were a more technically astute person I would set up a time lapse on my clematis plant and in one hour it probably grows 1/2 inch.  

I guess seeing this spectacle of nature makes me understand even more why TJ chooses to come up this early to plant his garden.  You can't lose if you plant now, everything is in warp speed mode!  I planted all of my flower boxes yesterday and can't wait to see them establish themselves and burst into full bloom.  Right now, they look like forlorn orphans.  I must have patience!  Soon enough they will be fighting for space with the other plants in their new home.

TJ has provided baby greenhouses around some of his plants
until it warms up more and the wind dies down.  Give this 
a couple of weeks and it will all be green!

Lilac explosion is coming!

These lupin buds were not visible at the beginning of the week!

Chestnut flowers

I guess spring is an emotional season as well.  Like the plants coming back to life, being up here serves as an awakening of parts of me that go dormant over the months away.  At home it is easy to fall into a routine, which eventually up here I do as well...just a different routine.  Maybe I like routine...hmmm.  Up here I cook more creatively, I entertain regularly, I move so much more just due to the environment.  All of these activities stimulate different parts of my brain in a good way.  Of course, it is early in the season, and it is once again, all new and exciting.  Get back to me in late August when I am weary of cooking and taking more steps to do any one thing and I will inevitably be singing a different tune, but for now I see another season at the shore coming to life.  The bright green grass, that grows an inch a day, the plants that grow faster than I can fathom, and the ever-changing bouquet of flowers that I get to enjoy have me coming to life too.  Cheers to another season of the shore.

Spring Feet

The view on my walk is getting ready to change!

Spring is bolting into summer here in Texas which means I have been able to spend a lot of time outside working on my golf game...and my "spring feet".  "Spring feet" occur when you transition from wearing pants outdoors to shorts but your lily-white feet have not been out in their sandals yet.  And yes, I wear sunscreen! These feet are particularly fashionable when I have to dress up!  They look great in pumps with a dress...😘   I have friends who claim to be very proud of their pale feet and distinct sock lines, I happen to be a fan of "tan in a tube" products when the occasion calls for them.  Soon enough I will be taking walks on the beach and hopefully my "spring feet" will begin to catch up with the rest of my body.

Rocking the "spring feet" tan lines!
I worked hard to get these!

The other day, working on my leg tan on my morning walk...one of my favorite songs popped up on my playlist and inspired me...again.  I have considered sharing this song several times.  It is especially meaningful at this time of year.  There are many of you out there who can relate to these lyrics!  The song reminds me of my special summer place, and it stirs those feelings I tuck away all winter that rise to surface in the spring.  

I share these lyrics with my editorial additions in parenthesis.  Click the title to listen to the song.  As an added bonus, when I searched this song again, I got a notification (because they are listening) that the group, Hollow Coves, will be performing in my area at the end of September!  Anyone want to join me?  They are one of my "go to" genres on long walks or hikes.  Their music was part of the sound track on both of our Covid National Park tours in 2020 and 2021.  Beautiful music and beautiful lyrics for some beautiful places.

Coastline by Hollow Coves

 I'm leaving home for the coastline (soon)

Some place under the sun  

I feel my heart for the first time
'Cause now I'm moving on, yeah I'm moving on

And there's a place that I've dreamed of (all winter)
Where I can free my mind
I hear the sounds of the season
And lose all sense of time

I'm moving far away (for a few months)
To a sunny place (we hope)
Where it's just you and me (and a hundred others)
Feels like we're in a dream
You know what I mean

The summer air by the sea side
The way it fills our lungs
The fire burns in the night sky
This life will keep us young, yeah keep us young

And we will sleep by the ocean (in our house)
Our hearts will move with the tide
And we will wake in the morning
To see the sun paint the sky

I'm moving far away
To a sunny place
Where it's just you and me
Feels like we're in a dream
You know what I mean....

I can feel the breeze and smell the sea air already!

Every time I hear this song I am transported to Nova Scotia!  Let's face it, almost everything reminds me of Nova Scotia around this time of year.  If it is too hot, I am ready to head north.  If it is beautiful and the wind blows, or if I smell fresh cut grass... I'm ready to head to my other home.  I know it is still a few weeks off and honestly; it is still too cool up there for me...and not exactly hot enough to run me off down here.  Plus, I'm still working on my tan lines!

Soon enough I will be "leaving home for the coastline".