Crocus Shadows #ShadowshotSunday

The crocuses are up, just in time for spring to arrive on the calendar.

Pictures taken March 19, when we had shadows. 

White 

Yellow.

Joining This and That: A Blog for Lisa's #ShadowshotSunday. 

Spring Battles Winter Skies #SkywatchFriday

Spring starts later this morning, at least for some of us.  I know what the calendar says but, where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, spring has to battle it out with winter for weeks before spring finally wins,

The battle between winter and spring makes for some interesting skies.  

The day before I took this picture, it got up to 72F (22.2C).  Springlike?  Not so fast.  The next day when I woke up around 5:50 am, it was 23F (-5 C) and there was ice on the driveway, with snow on top of the ice.   That resulted in most of the pictures in this post. 

Some of my crocuses are blooming and I'm sure they didn't appreciate that winter won the battle.

Some more pictures from the battle earlier this week.

Look hard and you'll see a bird on the branch in the middle of the photo. 

Today, the first day of spring,  it is supposed to rain but at least it will be rain and not snow.

Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.

A Superhero to Bring Spring #WordlessWednesday

Monday:  high of 72 degrees F (22.2C).   Before the weather turned wintry, it rained.

Tuesday:  when I woke up around 5:50 am, it was 23F (-5 C) and there was ice on the driveway, with snow on top of the ice.  Noooooooooooo....

Today:  woke up.  It was 15F (-9.4C).   

We need a superhero to bring spring, and I may have found one. 

I saw this toy on a walk through my neighborhood on February 28.  The snow was melting and I have no idea how long this toy had been there. Maybe this superhero was just there, resting.  Biding her time.

I didn't take the toy. I hope she completes her mission soon.

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday. 

A Weekend of Holidays #MusicMovesMe

It's Monday and it's time for music.

Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers?

We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)   We have occasional theme weeks, but you are welcome to ignore the theme and use music of your choice.  Why not join us?  You don't have to sing, or play an instrument.  All music lovers are welcome.   

This week's theme is:  "Yesterday was the “Idles of March” and tomorrow is St Patrick’s Day. Based on these find song picks to express whichever occasion inspires you."  I'm going to take a slightly different tack today.

There is a rock group called the Ides of March, and my spouse has a combination CD of a studio album and a live album. This band has a long history, first getting together in 1964 in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. They took a hiatus and regrouped in 1990.  They still tour.

 I did a Google search and found out that the four original members are still touring, and they've been together for some 60 years. For a time, they broke up, and one of their members, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter  Jim Peterik, ended up founding the group Survivor.

So, for today, some music from the Ides of March. and one from Survivor, to celebrate the Ides of March.  But before I start, a lighthearted song about Pi Day, which was Saturday, March 14.

Vehicle, their only hit.  I chose a live performance from 2014.

From 1971, a minor hit, L.A. Goodbye, written by Jim Peterik.  I've chosen a live version here, too.

As a bonus, here is Vehicle as covered by Leonid & Friends, one of the best cover bands (in my opinion) that there is.

Moving to Survivor, here is their 1982 hit Eye of the Tiger, from Rocky II, co written by Jim Peterik.

As for St Patrick's Day, this calls for the Dropkick Murphys, who are celebrating their 30th anniversary with a residency in Boston.

Some consider this song the theme song of St. Patrick's Day.  Here is the 2005 song I'm Shipping Up to Boston.  This song has an interesting history.  It was originally a poem/unfinished lyrics written by Woody Guthrie.  Guthrie's daughter asked the Dropkick Murphys to finish writing the song.

I'll end today's set with another Dropkick Murphys song, The Boys are Back.

And that's a wrap!

Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me. 

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day March 2026 and #ShadowshotSunday

Once again, memes collide.

It is Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.  Brought to you the 15th of each month by Carol at May Dream Gardens, garden bloggers from all over the world gather to show what is blooming in their gardens, their greenhouses, their houses, or wherever their flowers reside. 

But, as they say, "Beware the Ides of March".

The weather has swung from winter to spring to winter again.  Last week was false spring where I live in the Southern Tier of New York, zone 6a.   Some early native trees are blooming, and I have bulbs coming up. Yesterday, I woke up to a dusting of snow.  Winter does not loosen its grip easily.

I even have outdoor blooms to show you. 

Yesterday, my first crocus bud appearedin the front yard.  The foliage wasn't even up three or so days ago.  Boom!

Two views of my backyard white Lenten rose, which has been waiting patiently since late December. 

My purple Lenten rose isn't blooming yet, but buds are visible. 

Other bulbs are peeking through the ground, wondering if the time is right. 

I looked at my post from March of 2025 and we were a little bit further along, but that's OK.  Nature has announced that Spring is Really Here.

 

Inside, an African violet blooms. My inch plant is blooming too, but I can't get a good picture with my iPhone 13 mini.

That's it for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

For #ShadowshotSunday, brought to us by Lisa at This and That: A Blog, a picture taken Wednesday in a local park. I was hoping to get a garden shadow picture from today, but, so far, no shadows.

Hoping your Ides of March is happier than Julius Caeser's was for him. 

Trees and Clouds on a False Spring Day #SkywatchFriday

The weather was springlike earlier this week where I live in the Southern Tier of New York. 

March 9 sky, with tree blooming.

 It was a false spring, though, and the sky told the story on March 10. 

Blue skies were rapidly replaced by clouds.

The blue sky managed to escape briefly through a hole in the sky,

Sure enough, a cold front came through early yesterday morning, and soon, the temperatures dropped into the 30's F (3.3C) with brisk March winds.  In fact. at 1pm yesterday it was 41 degrees colder than it was at 1pm Wednesday, as per a local meteorologist.

It snowed some yesterday evening. 

Spring won't be back for a while, no matter what the calendar says. 

Joining up with Yogi and other sky watchers for #SkywatchFriday. 

2026 Blogging from A to Z Reveal#AtoZChallenge

It's that time again!  Are you surprised to see two Wednesday posts from me?  Don't be surprised. 

For several years, I participated in an April long blogging challenge called Blogging from A to Z.  In 2025, though, I didn't have either the time or the ambition to participate in A to Z.  I did it somewhat unofficially, though - I didn't sign up and I didn't blog daily, but when I did blog I followed the format of the challenge, and read a number of blogs participating in the Challenge.

I was thinking, on and off, about trying to participate this year, when I suddenly (thanks to a blog I read) discovered that it was theme reveal time.  It's also past time to reclaim my blogging life.  There are several blogs I discovered in previous A to Zs, which I still read and enjoy (you know who you are).  This challenge has enriched my life in the past.

I decided to listen to my inner voice, and see if I can blog every day in April, AND, visit and comment on the blogs of other A to Zers (an integral part of the Challenge).  If you are interested you can find out more at this website.

So, my theme.

I have an extensive photo library of the last nine or so years.  Why not take advantage of that?

My theme?   Beauty of Our Land.

My photo library has many memories wrapped up in it.  It has photos of travels, everyday life, a cruise I took a couple of years ago, skies, and many, many flowers.  Most pictures were taken in the United States.  Some were taken in Canada.  

Let's go exploring together.

Hope to see you in April!  

Flowers in Winter? Part 2 #WordlessWednesday

Last week, I blogged about a Lenten Rose that had budded out in late December before being subjected to our winter weather.  Snow protected it from cold temperatures but when the snow disappeared, I wasn't sure if the buds had survived. 

It was springlike yesterday and the day before where I live in the Northeast United States, so I investigated the plant yesterday.  Yesterday, in fact, it got up to 74F (23.3C).  Sometimes, that happens where I live but this is not that common.

So, what did I see?

Happy dance!

The only problem is, winter will be returning later today. Early next week, in fact, the temperature is expected to dip into the teens F (approximately -7 C).

So the saga isn't over yet.  I can only hope for the best.  

Joining Sandee at Comedy Plus for her #WordlessWednesday.