Coming soon!

I'm excited about my new mug.  I got it for the office.  I haven't been feeling that great in the office lately, so I thought this mug would be a nice picker-upper with it's bright, happy, spring-like orange color and polka dots.  Plus it comes with it's own little coaster!  All wrapped up in a nice bow, which I'll wait to undo when I get there.  It should help put a smile across my face at work.  I'm actually looking forward to going to work so I can use it!

Picturing the flowers

I've been pretty excited about the weather this week.  Not the weather that was in the forecast, but the actual weather.  The forecast has been nothing but confusing, predicting rain and thunderstorms almost every day this week - starting with what was supposed to be a rainy gloomy Easter Sunday but was beautiful instead.  What we ended up with (for the most part) was a very nice week.  I never knew what to wear or if I should take my umbrella or my sunglasses, but I'll carry both any day for the chance of sun!  

It's also been fun to watch the skyline change outside my window every morning.  Each day the park became a little bit greener than it was the day before.  The tree right outside my window is looking quite nice and the park has turned gorgeous.  Yesterday on my lunch break at work I grabbed a sandwich and sat in the small park across from my office.  I snapped a few shots of flowers and of a bird that had an interest in my sandwich.  I love the spring and taking pictures of flowers.  It's so easy to be a 'good photographer' when everything around me is so beautiful!  

A spring in my step

It seems like spring is ever so slowly, finally starting to show itself in New York. It's been a long time coming, that's for sure.  We had two days that were really nice this week and a couple of days that were more gloomy and rainy.  I guess rain is to be expected in April, so I should keep positive and hope that April showers really do bring May flowers!!!

I have been trying to coax spring into showing up a little more.  Maybe it is nervous about coming out after winter was so strong.  Who knows.  I thought buying some spring shoes might help.  Right?  Besides, I had a coupon from the fabulous DSW that was about to expire so I had to use it!  It's a bit of a gimmic, yes, because I had to spend money in order to save money, but the coupon was only sent to me because I had spent a certain amount of money in the past.  I really couldn't let that go to waste.

As much as I love summer sandals, I don't feel quite like buying them yet.  We are just passing that awkward stage of shoe shopping where I have no interest in more boots or winter shoes but I'm not ready for flip flops. I searched around DSW for a long time and nothing was really striking my fancy.  Eventually, I just started trying on things for fun when I found a perfect pair of spring shoes!  Cute, colorful, light and 'springy'.  Yay!  So I was able to use my coupon and walk out of there with some happy feet.  I love new shoes!

precipitation

Okay - enough is enough. Whoever said "New York" and "springtime" in the same sentence was a liar. Yes, there was a day or so of spring, just enough to tease me, but COME ON! It has been raining off and on for over a week! This is getting a bit ridiculous. Not only is it rainy, but it is cold! I didn't expect this back when I was packing my suitcases. I have been sloshing around in cute spring and summer shoes all week and wearing the same small selection of long sleeved shirts over and over. I try not to complain too much on this blog, but give me a break! Did I get confused and move to Seattle without knowing it?

spring forward

This past winter was the longest winter that I have had in years. After being in school in Indiana, where I "enjoyed" the longest winters of my LIFE, I headed south to sunny Florida. After leaving Florida, I spent half of a winter in the north, then went back south for the next winter in Georgia. This year I got the full thing. I loved the fall and some winter was nice, but around February I was ready for things to warm up already! Well, I had another thing coming, because I went to New York, which takes longer to heat up than West Virginia. I was wearing my winter coat and scarf much longer than I had hoped. Just when hints of heat hit the city, I went even more north to Vermont! I guess I wanted to make up for those years in the south! Luckily, we had several beautiful days in Vermont and when I headed south I saw spring quickly come in to bloom. New York had exploded into color in the one week I had been gone.

As I drove south to West Virginia, the scenery got greener and greener. I rolled down the windows and let the warmth come in. At times I could even smell the trees blooming by the interstate - so refreshing. Luckily for me, I can enjoy those smells and not be tormented by allergies like a lot of people have.

Today I got sip a cup of coffee out in the sun with the green trees all around. I am glad to welcome spring and I have to say "it's about time". Maybe I will enjoy it even more since I had to wait so long! I think early spring is especially nice because of the flowering trees. In New York I was able to see the cherry trees and today I saw Dogwood and Lilac. As I was taking in the Lilac in our yard, a couple of butterflies came by to get some dinner. Luckily they didn't mind me taking a few pictures of them.

Spring!!

Since my computer wasn't working when I went to the Botanic Garden, I will now post a picture from my visit. Most of the garden was not in bloom, but the Japanese Garden and Lake were very beautiful. Here is a picture of some turtles getting a little sun and enjoying the scenery.