Oak leaves, Pollen, Pat's office

We had the builders remove the wall between the two bedrooms on the second floor of the house.  This allowed for one huge office.  Pat's desk is shown here.  Neat.  See the oak leaves through the window?  The pollen is a curse of Western North Carolina for about three weeks, and then the beauty makes us forget all the sneezing!

Redbud Tree

Often wonder why they call it Redbud, when it is really more majenta?  This is a nice time with this tree as the new leaves are breaking free and the redbuds are still very much adorning the limbs.

Notice the young cows in the background.  Love to see the animals here on the farm.  They are well taken care of by Chuck who was raised a farmer and loves being a farmer.  Even his stepsons who are at NC State are aiming to become farmers upon graduation.  They work here a lot.  Nice young men.

Azalea and Spirea

Spring is truly here when the Azaleas pop!  Although we have just finished (I think) Blackberry Winter's cooler blast of air reminding all of us to cherish warmth as winter will come again.

Ashley's Stepping Stones

   

Over the years here, Ashley painted 5 stepping stones - her landscape artwork. 

Four are pictured. 

Her mom is going to place these in her garden. 

So glad these have a new loving home for Ashley to enjoy for years to come. 

Thanks, Alicia!

Sweet Woodruff and a Climber

We used to live in a shady area and when we were building here, we brought a couple of plant rootings to place in our new yard.  This is a sunny yard of 2.95 acres, so I sought out the perfect place for my shade-loving sprouts.  After 8 years, they are still thriving - Sweet Woodruff is the ground cover and I don't know the name of the climber, but it has white and green leaves, is non-invasive, and is a great accent to these mature trees.  I am glad I brought them! 

Sunrise

Sunrise Easter 2010 over the flood plain of the French Broad River.  This is a typical view from our side porch and master suite on the first floor of the house and from the office/bedroom areas on the second floor.  Begins each day with new wonder!

"On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer."   Douglas Horton