I thought some of you who are in far away places might like to see how our spring is progressing here at Joe's Pond.  This is the usual view from our house, looking at the pond behind the islands.  Our crab apple on the right is looking a little "off" right now - there don't seem to be any buds at all - so perhaps it has escaped damage from the frosty nights we've been having.  

I looked at some of the ornamental apple trees we have, and they don't seem to be budded, either; however, I could clearly see tiny buds on our regular old apple (I haven't a clue what variety it is, but it's been producing every-other year for ages, and this is they year it should be covered with blossoms.  I didn't go further down on the lawn to look at the transparent tree, but I assume that is ok, too.  

My holly bush has lots of buds, but the  rhododendron seems to have taken a big hit this year.  I'm thinking that if it survives, I should move it to a more protected spot.  It has never done very well in front of the deck, but it also has never turned completely brown and lost its leaves before this year.  I wrapped it up the same as always, to protect it from the wind and cold, and usually it is completely covered with snow, but not this year, so I'm guessing it got badly frost bitten.  I'll try to think of a better place for it and then try to keep it banked with snow during low-snow winters.

I've been on a wall building binge lately.  It started when we got rid of the gas cylinder.  That left a space that had previously been a small flower bed open for use again.  I'm needing more soil to fill behind the stone wall, but that's easy now Fred dug out the marsh area out back.  I just have to wait for the soil he turned up to dry out a bit before moving it. 

I enjoy laying stone walkways and walls.  I remembered my Grandfather Bolton used to chuckle about people who seemed to have excess energy, saying they would go out and "turn rocks over," just for something to do.  I expect he'd be less than enthusiastic about my "projects."  If a wall didn't hold up a building or hold cattle in, he probably had little use for it.  Stone walls were where the stones were deposited after they were picked from the fields each year, and those walls were broad and sturdy even though not every rock was fitted in place.  It didn't take a lot of time to build one, and sometimes the stones were just dumped along the side of the field in a pile just to get rid of them.  Rocks in our area seem to multiply, with a new "crop" each year.  On the farm fields, they were a nuisance, and picking them was just one more task that had to be done before planting.

I like to "turn rocks over."  It's sort of like rearranging the furniture in the house from time to time.  Projects I completed a few years ago need to be extended, freshened up, or discarded.  Sometimes I'm not in the least anxious to start a big project, but when the inspiration hits, I love every minute.  I'm convinced it is good therapy - keeps me grounded.  I come in bone tired and aching, but I look forward to getting back out there the next day, and once a project is finished, I miss it. 

I had a note today from Tucky Sancibrian, my research buddy who has sent me so many great items about people I'm trying to find out about from years past.  She had seen my post about C. C. Robinson, and has found something on him.  I'm waiting to hear more from the man who was trying to find information, but so far there has been nothing new.  If I knew the location of the farm that has just been purchased, I could help more, I expect.  Between what information I had and what Tucky came up with, I think I've got a good idea what farm it is, but can't be certain.  Hopefully I'll hear more soon.  

The sunshine that popped out a few minutes ago has disappeared.  It's about 51 degrees, so not awfully cold, and going to get warmer, I think, for a few days.  I saw Don and Audrey Walker today at their camp, and Don was saying it's about time to think about mowing the lawn.  Fred was saying the same thing yesterday - summer must be nearly here.