A Little Bit of Charleston in Spring

This month has absolutely flown by for me.  I cannot believe it's April 22nd; I feel it should still be late March. 

We had a joyous and beautiful Easter and were thrilled to be able to attend two church services *and* go to my in-laws' house for Easter dinner--normal things that we were not able to do last Easter!  We got home from Charleston the day before Easter.  That was an epic trip full of touristy sightseeing.  My Dad said that there was an old movie called "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium" and that's what the week was for him, because I had organized all sorts of different excursions.  I didn't realize I have an inner cruise director, but apparently I do!

We hit the Lowcountry during the azalea bloom. This is taken from my Dad's front porch; the live oak is my favorite tree in the world, which generations of my family have climbed in over the years.  

It was a beautiful week.  Cold, for Charleston in the early spring, but beautiful!

April has been about getting back into some school work, having our porch ceiling replaced (the old drywall (!) ceiling was torn down and replaced with beautiful blue tongue and groove boards!), having our yard expanded and a new fence put up (Finn is outside right now taking staples out of the old fence so it can be demolished), and planting a few evergreens: six sky pencil hollies, five blue star junipers.....

I just looked back at my list for spring.  I probably need to jump on a few of these things--I need to sew Annie's dresses, try to read some more, knit my baby cousin a hat, clean the children's rooms (I keep putting this off!)....BUT I have accomplished most of my school planning for next year. :) 

I am eliminating social media (I have a Facebook account and Instagram) for a couple of months, at least, and I'm looking forward to that, too!

Finally: aren't these beautiful verses from Whittier?  If you're a gardener like I am, you'll appreciate them!

"Give fools their gold and knaves their power, 

Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall, 

Who sows a field or trains a flower

or plants a tree, is more than all."

So true.  Happy spring!