Shall We Saunter Around the Springtime Garden?

Could I interest you in a little time in the garden today?

There's a light breeze on this mild spring day.

The air is fresh (except for that darn pollen) and the birds are singing their springtime serenades.

While most of the daffodils have already come and gone, I was happy to see the late bloomers just starting to pop out in the back corner of the garden.

Let's go back and take a closer look, shall we?

I may need to clip a few to bring inside before the entire daffodil season is over until next year. 

The garden bench in this corner comes in handy for gazing up into the flowering cherry tree.  Currently in it's glory, it won't be long until it too will be gone for another year.

Not far from the cherry tree, the dogwoods are just getting started.

Closer to the ground the colors are coming out in shades of blue...

Pink and...

lavender.

I got to know them all a bit better while pulling weeds and collecting winter debris that had collected around them.

I think it's good to get down at their level once in a while to appreciate their beauty up closer.

While down there, I also noticed the state of my hydrangeas.

With all of our mild days this winter, they had started leafing out early.  Our late, short-lived snowfall has caused much damage to the tender new shoots.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will be able to re-bound from this shock to their system.

A peek into the nesting boxes shows that housekeeping has been set up in the form of a well-constructed mossy nest.

Soon a new family of baby birds will be welcomed into our world.

The circle of life.

Our weekend is destined to be a quiet and, somewhat, reflective one.

Peanut has little interest in the things that once brought her so much joy.  It's been particularly hard to see her losing interest in eating.

However, she still enjoys the warmth of the sun on her back and the scents that fill the outdoor air.

She has been content out here with her best buddy in the chair next to her.

They are convalescing together.

Brett no longer has his gall bladder.

As often happens with a medical emergency, we have learned an awful lot in a short time.

In his case there was no prior indication of a problem until

the tummy ache after dinner quickly escalated to a 10 on the pain scale.

A few days and several tests later it was determined that it needed to come out like NOW.

The surgeon was kind enough to share a picture (complete with gangrenous areas) with me post surgery:/.

Amazing and a bit disturbing that all that could be going on inside one's body with not much notice.

Yikes!

He is now home and resting and feeling better each day.

We wish to thank you for your kind words and prayers on his and Peanut's behalf.  It means so much to us.

Peanut will re-visit the vet on Monday.

We are coming to terms with her condition... but still... it's hard.

I know the pet lovers among us understand that.

For now, we take each moment as it comes.  Thankful for them all.