Mom's Magnolia Tree

For the past couple of weeks, each time I visit my mother in law, which is quite often as she is only down the road, we comment on how close the fuzzy buds on her Magnolia tree are to opening.

Finally, after some warmer weather, and a little sun, the buds have unfurled and the tree is slowly erupting in pale pink blooms.

It's such a beautiful sight, which is made even more special by the fact that their time of blooming seems so fleeting. So we enjoy them as much as we can before the last petals fall.

After retreating back inside to visit, I couldn't help but notice a Robin in their back yard, through their french doors off the living room.

I couldn't catch a photo of her, but you can just see the blur of her red breast as she flies away from the nest she's been carefully weaving. The nest is hidden just to the right of her, in the middle of the photo. It was beautiful watching her fly about the yard, gathering twigs and bits of wine and carrying them up between the boughs.

Budding Lilacs and Open Windows

You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you, but yesterday the temperature climbed up into the mid-twenties. It was wonderful. We've been making the most of the warm temperatures by having all of the windows open and spending our afternoons in the sun.

We weren't the only ones enjoying the warm weather either.

 Our Lilac bushes have burst with green buds! They're a most promising sight.

Snowdrops

"The beautiful Spring came; 

and when Nature resumes her loveliness; 

the human soul is apt to revive also."

Harriet Ann Jacobs

The delicate Snowdrops have pushed their way through the earth, and have brought life back to the the paths in the back woods. Little clusters of them have popped up all over the yard. Some are tucked among the hedges, others surround the base of the neighbor's fruit trees.

I picked a tiny handful to bring inside, and placed them in a small glass that makes an appropriately sized vase.

They really do bring with them a sense of hope, that soon the grass with be green, and the gardens in bloom, and Winter will be long gone.

We've also spotted some Crocuses too.

A Lovely Easter Weekend

Happy Easter!

We are enjoying one last relaxing day at home before things settle back to normal. Our weekend was spent with family, celebrating our beautiful Saviour and the work He did for us on the cross.

The boys and I made a trip out to our local garden centre to pick up some potted flowers to get the house ready for Easter.

We found some of my most favourite Narcissus bulbs - Cheerfulness - and a beautiful white potted Hydrangea.

I just love their ruffled, cream petals.

Potted Hydrangeas remind me so much of Easter.

We also spent some time making Hot Cross Buns, however the boys decided that chocolate would be more desirable than fruit peel.

The chocolate complimented the spiced roll nicely.

We like ours with butter and sugar.

We had a delicious turkey dinner on Good Friday at Ryan's parents, and the boys were spoiled with an Easter Egg hunt. My mother in law had little chocolate eggs hidden all over the house!

Can you spot them tucked away? We were still finding them long after the kids were done hunting.

We also had snow, which meant the hunts took place indoors. But a little snow didn't stop them from going onto the deck and blowing bubbles!

Easter with my family was lunch at our house after church. Again, it was kind of a dreary day.

We finished with a huge piece of cake with fresh berries and whipped cream that my sister Erica made (with Willen's help decorating with berries, he reminds me). It was delicious.

Tomorrow the boys are off to the sugar bush for a field trip and we're hoping that the sun will make an appearance for that.