Like the Munchkins when Dorothy first arrives in the (movie) land of Oz, yellow flowers are popping up and peeking out at the world, one by one, to see if the coast is clear and the rumor is true..that the wicked old winter is gone.

(Not that our winters here around Austin, Texas are actually wicked, but I had to go with the theme.)



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And last week I spotted a few American Robins up in the trees, another sure sign that Spring is headed our way, despite the lack of buds on the trees.  

(Obviously, the trees have grown cynical.)

 


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Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.  ~Virgil A. Kraft


Here are a few more sweet!s that popped up in front of me this past week…

 

Saturday: watching old episodes of Dark Shadows with your son

Sunday: Mass with your son; celebrating friends' birthdays with margaritas and Mexican food, laughter and hugs; a long walk with your son and puppies; watching the Grammys for the first time in years

Monday: rain falling on the hills; working in a school library

Tuesday: drizzly mornings and mist on your face; homemade chocolate and peanut butter covered strawberries; wood-fire-oven-roasted veggies; crab cakes; a call from your oldest son; new running shoes

 


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Wednesday: watching the sun rise on your morning walk; meeting interesting people; joining with your church family to celebrate traditions of your faith 

 


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Thursday: a Mexican Jay escort on your morning walk; getting paid to watch a video on Fitness and Nutrition; a text from a friend letting you know about a job opening; finishing a project; Valentine's Day dinner with the love of your life

Friday: first graders, even when they stretch your patience; silence in a church filled with people praying; dancing the Cotton-Eyed Joe and the Schottische; waltzing; stars dusting the hilltops

Saturday: fresh pizza when you're famished; the giggle of leaves playing in the wind on a stone terrace; making a dent in your laundry and email after a week when you've barely been home

Sunday: a deep breath and a cup of coffee on the back deck before returning to the fast track; making surly customers happy; news that your son and his love completed the Livestrong Half Marathon with their personal best times; sitting on the back deck after work, sipping a glass of wine and pouring the characters and stories buzzing around in your head onto paper until it's too dark to see

Here's to another Sunday and another week full of sweet! moments waiting to pop up and surprise us! Keep your eyes open!

Share some of your own sweet!s from the past week in the comments. I love to hear them!

(Typepad's new spam-blocking system is still dumping 95% of comments, including my replies (!), into the spam folder. So don't worry if your comment seems to disappear! I'll retrieve it as soon as possible. Thank you!)

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14 responses to “Signs of Spring, and other Sweet!s”

  1. lisleman Avatar

    “the giggle of leaves” I guess those trees are still talking without the leaves even on them.

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  2. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    No, the leaves are on the stone terrace! Long gone from the trees! lol

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  3. Gail Avatar

    Still amazed that you saw a Mexican Jay! Congrats on your wonderful week filled with sweets. Cheers to another sweet-filled week ahead!

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  4. lisa Avatar

    Definitely no robins here yet, but the birds are starting to make their way back. So happy to see that.
    And I thought I was the only one who watched Dark Shadows! My brother and I, never missed an episode as kids, and a couple of years ago when my brother gave me some of the DVDs as a Christmas present, I was hooked all over again. Now hubby is too! 🙂
    I wish you a wonderful week ahead, my friend.

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  5. lisa Avatar

    It sounds like you had a great week, Barbara!
    And here, I thought I was the only one who watched Dark Shadows! My brother and I watched it every day faithfully when we were kids. Then, a couple of years ago, he gave me a couple of the DVDs for Christmas. I was hooked again! Quickly got my husband hooked too! 🙂
    Happy day to you, my friend!

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  6. Jennifer RIchardson Avatar

    very sweet indeed,
    especially the stars dusting the hills:)
    giggling with those leaves,
    Jennifer

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  7. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Gail, we have those jays all over the place here. Never saw one in Houston, though. I think they love the juniper/cedar trees.

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  8. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Those old episodes of Dark Shadows just crack me up now. It’s hard to believe they were considered scary. But did you ever see the movies? I saw the first one and just the opening scene terrified me! Of course, I was 11 or 12. Maybe I’d laugh at it, too, now!

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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I can see you playing with the wind and giggling with the leaves, Jennifer!

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  10. ladyfi Avatar

    Oh, how beautiful. That first shot is pure magic.

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  11. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you! I bet you’re eager for some signs of spring there, aren’t you?

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  12. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    I’m hoping the spring and summer in your part of the world is a good deal cooler and wetter than last year.

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you! Hope your week is filled with tons of sweets!
     

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I hope so, too. But is it wrong that I hope it rains at night and the sun comes out during the day?

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