Spring? Hello, SPRING!!!
Cloudy, chilly, drizzly, gloomy, doomy SPRING.
Note to Winter: This is not to suggest that you are missed. Please keep napping. See you in December.
But Spring? Seriously, you need to stop slackin’. And I could really use some leaves on the trees, ‘kay? SPRING!!! I know you can hear me. I know you’re out there.
Lazy, good-for-nothin’ season.
Spring shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this.
I set off down the driveway, determined to capture Spring and drag her irresponsible behind back here. I took the dogs with me, of course.
No, not that dog.
Sorry, Annabelle.
Look! Flowering quince.
We need some of that. Don’t you think so, Coco?
COCO!
That’s not what we’re here to do.
We’re here to capture Spring and slap her around a little, not play with her.
I don’t think you’re listening to me, Coco.
Giant Puppy: “This is the best puddle in the history of puddles.”
I know that, Coco. I can see that. You love Spring, and Spring loves you, but we have other things to do.
Or I can go on without you.
Aha! Another sign of better weather. Fencing material! We are having a fencing party down here in the meadow soon. We’re making pastures for the sheep!
Ha! Giant Puppy! I knew you wouldn’t be left behind. Now help me wake Spring up!
Or play in Spring’s rain-filled creek. You’re so predictable, Coco. I guess I have to do all the work.
I see daffodils!
And forsythia!
Who planted the flowering quince, the daffodils, the forsythia? Someone way back in Stringtown history, no doubt. These blooms are mine now. My Spring, and I have her captured!
I take her back to the house.
I place Spring in vases filled with water. Spring, I shall defeat you yet!
Spring succumbs to my water torture techniques and promises blue skies and sunshine from now on!
Coco: “What about puddles? I want more puddles.”
COCO! Stop trying to influence Spring!!!!
Oh, shoot, you know Spring loves dogs….
SuzieQ says:
:snoopy: :snoopy: And dogs love Spring!! :snuggle: :snoopy:
On April 14, 2009 at 1:23 am
Kathryn says:
It is a rainy, cool day at our house again. Spring is teasing us. I have pots and pots of things ready for the garden, but it is a mud pit. I have three trees at the nursery waiting to be planted, but the part of our property where they will go is a slough. I have a weeping willow outside the garage in a big old bucket that is growing like crazy, and needs to be in the ground. Yet, it rains and rains and rains. It is supposed to be nice tomorrow and Thursday here. Tomorrow for drying, then watch out Thursday!
On April 14, 2009 at 3:54 am
Sheryl - Tunningtrails says:
Coco is just too cute! She’s adorable! WHy couldn’t Annabelle go with you?
On April 14, 2009 at 4:05 am
wvnurse1 says:
I agree, Annabelle should have went…after all “dogs” love Spring.
On April 14, 2009 at 8:54 am
Diane says:
Waiting for sping here too. I saw leaves comming out on the trees!!! Yea :woof: Still its wet and gloomy and a tad bit too cold yet for me. :dancingmonster:
On April 14, 2009 at 4:50 am
FidLdd says:
Thank You for bringing spring home.I live in a city apartment so I took your spring. I copied your floral arangement to my desk top wallpaper, beautiful!!
On April 14, 2009 at 5:09 am
shirley says:
I too live in an apartment and copy Suzanne’s photos for my desktop.
I took a picture of Annabelle with my cell phone and made it my wallpaper.
I tell everyone I know about Chickens In The Road and how entertaining Suzanne is.
On April 14, 2009 at 5:27 am
Linnet says:
I think I need to learn how to be more laid back about my dog getting dirty. I saw your pictures and gasped. But then again my pup is an indoor dog AND sleeps on my bed. Plus we don’t have a creek for him to wash himself off in. No mud puddles for him.
On April 14, 2009 at 5:44 am
trish from "grow lettuce grow" says:
dirty puppies in the bed happens around here every now and then. this is why i don’t have super cute bedding or grandma’s cozy quilts to sleep under. nope instead i get wet warm kisses and an orange dog that smells like fritos.
oh look at you spinach….. must run outside and plant some seeds now!!!! pretty pretty spinach. ooooohhhh spinach salad with bacon, farm fresh eggs, and the wild ramps…. yummy!!!!
On April 14, 2009 at 6:12 am
Cherblaze says:
:heart: Suzanne, my daughter, Michelle and I love your site. You are a :sun: bright spot in our day. She lives in Crossville Tennessee and is starting to raise chickens. She is fencing and doing gardens. We love to cook and garden. Your pages inspire us. Your photos are a delight!! I live in Groveland, Florida. Lucky me. I am making hanging plastic containers today for my tomatoes that are a foot tall. The flowers are all in bloom. It will be 80 degrees again today. :snoopy: Your forsythia is gorgeous. I miss the beautiful jonquils and the lilacs when they bloom. Hope you have a wonderful day.
On April 14, 2009 at 6:17 am
CindyP says:
The sky may say gray, but those pieces of spring on your table are just beautiful! And look at all of that spinach, it’s definitely spring in WVA!! Michigan is getting there!
On April 14, 2009 at 6:31 am
Cece says:
I think Spring is enjoying teasing us this year. I love the pictures of your dogs romping in the water cracked me up. You capture some of the best photos.
Cece
On April 14, 2009 at 6:36 am
Robin G. says:
Man, I haven’t seen forsythias in *forever*. I forgot how beautiful they are.
On April 14, 2009 at 6:37 am
jane says:
Poor Dookie always left out of the post and the favorite spot but not the picture
On April 14, 2009 at 6:50 am
Kate says:
What a beautiful place you have! It looks like such a peaceful sanctuary.
On April 14, 2009 at 6:54 am
Gail says:
It’s good to see Dookie again! I hadn’t seen him in a while and was wondering if he was OK. Poor fella never gets the spotlight anymore since Coco arrived. Your Spring bouquet is so pretty!
On April 14, 2009 at 7:07 am
MARY says:
:butterfly: :purpleflower: :snuggle: :ladybug: :happybutterfly: Spring is hiding here in Md. too! It’s cold and rainy, but we do have beautiful flowers coming up. Your bouquet looks exactly like mine, minus the daffodils! Coco looks like he is ready for a summer in the crick!! LOL! Have a great day! :shroom: :sun2: fis,
On April 14, 2009 at 7:11 am
The Retired One says:
Those are GREAT shots, especially of the dog. I loved them.
And stop whining, your spinach is UP for God’s sake!!! We only have tips of tulips showing..you are WAY ahead of us! LOL
But, give spring a kick in the rear for us Michiganders, too, would ya?
Thanks!
The Retirement Chronicles
On April 14, 2009 at 7:16 am
Kacey says:
Hm, I think we’re just a tad ahead of you on spring. We sure have had a string of gloomy, gray days though. We have another one today. Sigh. So over that.
On April 14, 2009 at 7:17 am
Linda says:
Great pics Suzanne and your grass is really greening up from all the rain so spring can’t be to far away. It’s about the same here in IN. Some trees have leaves coming out too. We won’t be able to get in our garden to plant for months it is so muddy.
On April 14, 2009 at 7:35 am
Mim says:
I started some plants from seeds this year and they look almost like a jungle, so I think that is why I think spring is never going to get here. The birds were really singing this morning.. :ladybug:
On April 14, 2009 at 8:07 am
Claudia W. says:
Beautiful, beautiful spring! We have the looks of it here, but the wind is going to keep us from doing any constuctive outdoor activities. It is blowing like crazy and about 48 degrees, which feels like 0 with the wind! I’ll stay in with my crocheting and a blanket to keep me warm.
Oh! BTW. I made those Surprize Cookies for Easter! Yum, yum, yummy! I think I’ll make more today, cause the first ones are mostly GONE! Thanks for the treats!
On April 14, 2009 at 8:53 am
Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife says:
Dirty dogs, dirty dogs, dirity, dirty dogs!!! They’re just like kids, they can’t resist a puddle.
Spring is really dragging it’s feet. The trees have buds and they’re getting confused.
– Suzanne, the Farmer’s Wife
On April 14, 2009 at 9:50 am
Olga says:
Hello Suzanne! Looks like you’ve managed to finally catch Spring. Good thing…she’s a slippery season! I left an award for your blog in case you’d like to pass it along at my website right here: https://gloryfades.org/2009/04/14/officially-award-winning-suck-on-that-nytimescom I admire your website!
On April 14, 2009 at 10:06 am
jean says:
What great shots of Coco in the water! How did you ever get her clean again?
On April 14, 2009 at 10:19 am
Leah says:
Forsythia is one of my favories. I notice the buds on trees getting larger all the time. Its raining,gloomy and a bit chilly here too.The sight of those logs and fence wire tells there is a lot of wk to do!
On April 14, 2009 at 10:29 am
Cindra says:
I love how the little dog does nothing but watch Coco jump around in a frenzy. Great photos!
On April 14, 2009 at 10:33 am
trish says:
Hey Dookie! Good to see you buddy! He is sooooo cute. Love the shots of Coco and Dookie in dog joy heaven! We are also having gloomy, overcast and cold windy days here in RI. Today is a little better!!
On April 14, 2009 at 10:56 am
Brenda Kula says:
You must have had some dirty critters to bathe!
Brenda
On April 14, 2009 at 11:27 am
Myrna Mackenzie says:
Suzanne, I read your post yesterday (on ramps) and today on the local Chicago news, there was a chef making a dish with halibut, asparagus and…ramps!(which he also called a Chicago stinking onion and mentioned that people complained about them smelling up their backyards). I wonder how close they are in relationship to your WV ones. I guess those are what I dug up and tossed years ago when I made my patio (who knew? I could have saved them and transplanted them elsewhere).
On April 14, 2009 at 12:03 pm
catslady says:
We are a tad behind you in western pa but I do have forsythia in my back yard and it spreads nicely too. I love your quince but have never seen it. And Coco looks sooooo happy :yes: but not so much poor Annabelle :no:
On April 14, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Estella says:
Coco looooves puddles!
On April 14, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Susan says:
I’m up north of you in Pennsylvania, would you please give Spring the directions for me?! :wave:
On April 14, 2009 at 2:23 pm
DrunkBunny says:
OK I love all of your posts and pictures, but this goes beyond and reaches the ultimate. Made my whole day.
On April 14, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Donna says:
Isn’t Coco the cutest thing and Dukie!!!!! I saw on tv, where they had a Great Pyrenes dog up for adoption, at the animal shelter and it was HUGE – they kept calling it a horse and it was 4. LOL
Love to see the blooms and Spinach…that would be fun, not to mention deliscious!!!!! Fresh food. I can’t even get my husband to build me a Potager garden. LOL He said there is alot of work involved and I would not get out at 100 plus degrees with 95 percent humidity and pull weeds, ect. – he would have to do it. (and he doesn’t even know how tee he he).
On April 14, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Debbie in PA says:
Loved this post! I scrapbook, and I just loved the story your pictures told! Your second picture of Coco is funny–with the ears sticking straight up, I wasn’t even sure it was him at first!
Thanks for the picture of Quince–we had a ratty bush of that when we moved here that we took out, and I couldn’t recall what it was called, as I want to find a replacement bush. This was my grandparents house, and when I was a kid I remember all the flowering bushes that were here. Of course that was a long,long time ago, and much died off over the years.
On April 14, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Ed says:
Suzanne,
I’ve been reading your past posts since I heard you on PBS Sunday. I was checking out your fall experiences and your emthasis on canned goods in the window. I worry that you probably shouldn’t use any of these since they’ve had so much exposure. Glass tends to have a chemical reaction to sunlight when exposed for long periods. Please ask your neighbors with much more canning experience than myself what they think. I wonder if that’s why little mammaw (my great grandmother), always stored her jars in the cellar.
On April 14, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Hi, Ed! That window actually gets NO sunlight. It’s shaded all the time. The only light it gets is from inside. The window is a “garden” window but it juts out onto an always-shady porch against a hillside.
On April 14, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Jodie says:
Spring is here in Texas. Allow me to box up some ALLERGIES and send them to you. That’s what spring always brings me.
On April 14, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Nancy in Atlanta says:
I know Coco’s plan – she’s going to jump up on Spring with her muddy paws! That will put Spring back in her place.
Annabelle definitely looks more than a mite miffed at being left behind. SHE doesn’t know she isn’t a dog!
Hmm, I think I’ll have spinach for supper – but unfortunately it will have to be store-bought canned. :sheep: :purpleflower:
On April 14, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Yvonne says:
OMG SUZANNE! I’ve lived here all my life and have always felt the enthusiasm (I probably misspelled that) you have for West (by God) Virginia. I look forward to reading your blog every single day. Thank you for coming “home”. I know you got here as soon as you could, and sooooo glad you did! Bless you ALL! YOU ARE AWESOME! Yvonne in Tornado, WV
On April 14, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Kim says:
The skies finally cleared here today. Love the capturing of spring but next time Annabelle should get to go too, she is a puppy after all :snoopy:
On April 15, 2009 at 9:43 am