Dear Reader:

The middle of February and spring is not just peeking out…it is bursting out! I have to give it to old Phil…the groundhog…he might just be right this year.

As I sat on the front porch steps Tuesday afternoon recouping from my stomach bug and enjoying the feel of the late afternoon’s sun’s rays on my face I looked up and saw something white on the stark branches of the Bradford Pear. I jumped up and sure enough I was able to capture the first bloom of the season! It is something very special about that first bloom because it opens the door to an amazing beautiful tree filled with white blossoms.

Since I felt better Wednesday I walked around the house and searched for other signs of spring…I didn’t have to look as hard or as deep as I thought…the buds were lined up ready to show off their arrival. The azaleas especially were popping out practically in front of my eyes…last year I counted five different shades I have now.

Some of the early flowering trees are already at their full peak of beauty. Vickie’s Japanese tulip and my wild pear blossom tree.

While sitting on my deck watering some table planters…I caught the smell of  tea olives. I had planted two tea olives by the deck and now they are as tall as the top of the deck banister and the smell exceeds anything you have ever smelled before…you just want to bottle it up.

“Little Big Red” came real close to producing his first full bloom by Valentines…probably by this weekend…but he is definitely taking after his father’s ‘build and height.” (Patty I added the plant decor given me today by you and Kirsten to the planter…he likes it!)

*And this is too funny…remember “Sammy’s Valentine Card” from the title photo yesterday…Vickie took one look at it and said that Sammy was wearing Ginger Shell leaves on his head. So I got “Fat Sammy” (the cardinal Vickie gave me at Christmas) and stuck it in my ginger shell plant…she was right! (She always is!)

I was so happy to hear all the grandchildren got their “Boo Boo” Valentines cards on time yesterday. They called to thank me and I told them to send me any pictures of any Valentine or school activity to share with me.

John went to Jake’s school for a Valentines Breakfast Brunch at his pre-school early yesterday morning and then both Mandy and John raced over to Eva Cate’s school to hear each student read their first biography on a famous person. Eva Cate chose Helen Keller. Mandy said she was nervous but did a great job…John videoed her.

Mollie’s first two pictures to me were of Eloise eating her pink cupcake…completely oblivious to it being Valentines…just thankful for the pink cupcake and Lachlan deciding to eat his hearts off his picture frame he made at school…why let good hearts go to waste on an old frame..and what’s a little paste added?

Rutledge’s school went all-pink for the occasion and in kindergarten celebrating any holiday with your best friend is the best.

And Valentines is always a time to celebrate family.

My Valentines was special because my former teaching buddy, Patty Knight from Alston Middle School days (and her husband Robert) were back in the lowcountry from the Greenville area and we got to spend time eating a delicious meal and an even more delicious dessert we shared together (banana caramel with ice cream)….but best of all we got to share time, memories, and old friendships!

*Patty’s sister, Eileen, is having cancer surgery tomorrow and our prayers are with her and all the family!

So until tomorrow….”Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.” (Wordsworth) (* How true…nature has taught me more in the last few years than I ever knew before.)

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

…More “African” daisies