Happy Easter

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia
Sing, ye heav'ns, and earth reply, Alleluia

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia
Where, O death, is now thy sting, Alleluia
Dying once, He all doth save, Alleluia
Where thy victory, o grave? Alleluia

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia
Fought the fight, the victory won, Alleluia
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia
Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia

Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia

Charles Wesley, 1739

First Day of Spring

 First day of spring.  We got about 25 cm of snow yesterday so we are still definitely very snowy.  We never had much of a melt this winter so the snow has really been accumulating - 2-3' deep.  Today, the sun is shining and it's about 0C without wind so it's actually pretty lovely out there.

March is always very unpredictable.  Last year at this time, the snowdrops were blooming and bees were feeding on coltsfoot.

But regardless of what March brings, I am always planting onions by the end of April.
I'd rather have the clean, sparkly snow for a little longer than have an extended time of bare ground before it's warm enough to garden.  The snow cover protects the perennials and keeps the fruit trees from budding too soon.  The farmers will be happy with the moisture that all this snow will leave in their fields. If they get decent drying weather in June, the hay crop should be excellent.

Water Posers

 Are those creatures swimming in the water?

 Almost a beach.

Late Winter Trees

 Some people think of Manitoba maples as a weed tree because they grow so fast and break easily, but I love their great spreading branches and curvy lines.

 I believe this is an ash tree as they tend to grow with a long trunk and branch out quite high up.  We used to have several ash trees on our property but they died relatively young (40 years old or so) perhaps because they were stressed when we had a couple of dry summers.  This was before the emerald ash borer was of concern.

 I don't know if this lichen is harming the young maple, but it is very attractive to look at.  I like the random yellow dots that you can see if you look closely.

 Poplars are sometimes viewed as junk trees because they die young and the wood isn't very good for burning, but the dead trunks make good nesting sites for little birds after the woodpeckers have excavated some holes.  This one has three holes , a triplex, I guess.

At this time of year, the cedars take on a yellowish tinge.  Maybe they are slightly dessicated from the dry winter air.  Soon they will be a lush green again.                                                                                                                                                                                           

Unexpecteds

 A broken branch looking like a Chinese dragon.

 A bell on a number post.  Ready to ring in spring?

Startlingly bright dogwood showing through some hawthorns.

Snowy Battlements

 The snowbanks have melted to look like stone battlements.

 A snowy wave.

 A snowy rock face.

Why Bother?

He talks of a garden where goodness grows tall
But we wonder why we should want it at all.
We'd rather be selfish and greedy and mean
And package it nicely when publicly seen.

Baby outfit

One of the many joys of a new grandchild is buying outfits for them. Our granddaughter is due to arrive next month so I've been scouting around for clothes for the baby.  I have, of course, been buying some pink items but a little girl shouldn't be restricted to pink.   This little outfit is so summery and cheerful - I think it will bring a smile to a few faces.

Calzone

A cheerful calzone served at an Italian restaurant in Montreal.  This folded pizza was filled with onions, peppers, mushrooms and ricotta cheese. It wasn't mine to eat but it looked delicious. It looks rather like an elf hat, a bit of fun for a winter's day.