April is the Cruellest Month

I'm not sure I really believe the sentiment on today's page of my Mary Engelbreit calendar. It seems like winter has dug in its heels and is here to stay.

April is the Cruellest Month.

I will not be eating pancakes at the VEISHA festival in Ames. It looks like no one is.

VEISHA.

Foxy

I am still waiting for the real spring. We've had a couple of false starts and have snow in our forecast. Really. I'm as tired of it as you are of reading about it.

I am still waiting for the interesting birds, too. Black birds are thick (grackles, red wings, brown heads and the #*!$% starlings). The most interesting fellow that has been hanging around is the fox sparrow. He's cute and fun to watch. He does a little scritch/scratch/hop while looking for food.

I stole this picture from this guy. His pictures are far better than I can take with my crappy little digital camera out my dirty kitchen window. Oh, and he gave me permission to take his pic. Mike rocks.

Fox Sparrow.

Forced Spring

I have spring on the brain. It's been there for months but now my brain is closer to reality.

Captain Crab had a post with a picture of my tomato Christmas tree. I've kept this plant alive for years, which amazed me. I didn't know it was possible. All this winter we've had a lovely ripe tomato to eat now and then. (Confession time) I've gotten more tomatoes than Crab has. I can't help it if the fruit reaches optimal ripeness when he is on the road.

When the days started to get longer the plant really started to put out, blossom wise. I haven't eaten a tomato in a while but this thing is a blooming and fruit setting fool.

Tomato Blossom.

Green Tomato.

Tomato Blossom.

If you click on the last picture and see it in a larger format you will see a cat hair among the hairs of the tomato plant. And then you will know why I scoff at Hannita who suggested her perfectly lovely present might be somewhat tainted.

Sorry, Gwen, if all this talk about eating tomatoes is making you queasy. I just don't get the non-tomato-eating vegetarian thing. It's just not right.

Wicked Witch of the West

I'm melting! Melting!

We have had several days above freezing! With sun! There are only a few spots left of the lane glacier. I didn't think that would melt until July.

Today I saw my first robin and the red-wing blackbirds have returned. The trees are alive with their twittering chatter. It feels like it might be spring!