March brought us more than a few days of disappointing weather, but April seems like it wants to be part of spring. It was 71°f (22°c) yesterday, and we will see similar temperatures in the days to come, despite a forecast including rain and showers through Thursday.

In addition to the warmth, things are beginning to bud and bloom, and I am beginning to pull myself away from my desk and reacquaint myself with our yard and my workshop. It won’t be long now.

On Monday, I installed a new weather station. The previous one had been experiencing intermittent problems and finally failed over the weekend.

“I’m wearing work boots, a knee brace, work gloves and I’m setting a ladder against the garage—it must be spring.”

This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner, and would like to join in on the fun, you can follow this link to participate and to see the one-liners from the other participants.

Don’t forget, tomorrow is Thursday and that means Thursday Doors. The URL for my post is listed in the sidebar under our beautiful badge. You can link up at any time. My post goes live at one minute after midnight in the eastern timezone. I hope to see your doors.

All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.

Bridge to Nowhere

71 responses to “Signs of Spring – 1LinerWeds”

  1. Hi Dan yes Spring has made an appearance here too at long last and our weather though no where near as warm as yours is definitely pleasant.
    Well I am glad you are wearing protection when going up ladders it makes sense!
    Fabulous photos of the wildlife and flora. Have a good day 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad spring is well on its way for you, too, Willow.It’s about time. I do try to stay safe while working around here. We’ll be in the 50s and 60s for the foreseeable future, but that’s better than 30s. I hope you have a nice day and a great rest of the week.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Well the last two days have been warm but today it really quiet chilly and I can’t get warm! Trust me for talking too soon ! It’s rather dull and though 12c feels like 10c but not raining yet!
        Stay safe 💜💜

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Happy spring!! With spring comes chores. Love the flowers. The one you aren’t sure about could be a type of Amaryllis.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you for the ID. I should print that on the menu for the bunnies. I checked this morning and it looked like somebunny was snacking on it overnight.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. I’m sure they will like it. “Would you like some hollandaise sauce with your amaryllis Mr Bunny?”

        Liked by 1 person

        1. “And for dessert, we have a nice selection of tulips in the front.”

          Liked by 1 person

  3. Hi Dan – presumably the reader for the weather station is in your house or on the phone? I think the blue-purpley one is probably a hyacinth … but the bulbs are obviously happy fodder for some! I’m so glad Spring is just about here … a little more warmth would be lovely – cheers Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The weather station readout is in the kitchen, Hilary. We like this unit. There are many available these days, but some have too many moving displays – very distracting. We like knowing what it’s like outside, but we don’t need to be entertained. I mean, we can open the door. About half the bulbs were eaten, probably by chipmunks, and most of the flowers get eaten by the bunnies. So, when I see a blossom, I snap a picture – it might be the last chance I get. I hope it warms up soon.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Dan, it was indeed a wonderful spring day yesterday in the Northeast U.S. Your interesting, pleasing-to-the-eye photos evoke that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Dave. I’m glad you enjoyed them.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Spring is definitely in the air. We don’t have blooms yet, but they are surfacing for which I’m grateful. I used a ladder last week. :-) Looking forward to trips to the shop.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think the cars will be out of the garage in a week or two. I still don’t have doors to completely close off the shop (that’s one of my projects) so I have to move the cars before making a lot of dust. I noticed the first forsythia blossoms last night. Buds and blossoms – it won’t be long now.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Murphy’s Law Avatar
    Murphy’s Law

    Spring is definitely springing here too! Birds are chirping away again and weeds are already showing off how tough they are.

    How nice of Chippy to share his condo with other squatters! Wonderful close up of the Mourning Dove. I just love them.

    The banners are sad, but at the same time it’s nice to see these men and women honored.

    Old Glory glistening in the sun is a beautiful sight.
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m not sure the squirrels are as happy to see Chippy, Ginger. He’s probably stealing the peanuts they’ve stored. Then again, they all seem to get along better than humans, so maybe it’s one big happy. All I know is they’re all cute.

      I was very happy when they added to banner post to the park. It helps to remind people of the veterans for whom the park is named.

      Up and over to the second half of the week. I hope it’s a good one for you.

      Like

  7. Lovely spring post with my favorite characters, Smokey and Chippy.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Sherry. I’m glad you like those guys. They have been out in force this week.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I’m glad the Veteran’s Park caretakers have put up their new banners. They might help explain to the children why cities have a Veteran’s Park.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My thoughts exactly, GP. I was very happy when they added that display post last year. They will change the banners for each military holiday, and I think that’s a good thing, too. These aren’t just 3-day weekends.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Exactly!! 🇺🇸

        Liked by 1 person

  9. That is a great capture of the mourning dove! I like your sense of neighborhood: home repair, new flowers, veterans’ memorials, leafing trees and critters. Oh, and Porta-potty! Yes, a neighborhood, up-close and personal.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was very windy that day, and the dove was hunkering down in the grass. The other important sign (children playing in the park) will soon follow, Maureen. The porta-potties always arrive before we start drawing spectators to the park.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Wonderful to see signs of Spring, Dan! In the high desert of Prescott, AZ, we’re still on hold with temps in the 20s-40s. The close-up of the Mourning Dove tops your collection, though little Chippy warms the heart. Have a great day and say ‘hi’ to Spring for me. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am always surprised to learn about your weather, Gwen. I just assumed Arizona was always warm. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll give spring your regards :-)

      Like

  11. Spring is being heralded in here with snow flurries. It’s looking beautiful there with all the critters coming out for their treats at Dan’s house, new flowers, and new buds on the trees popping up! Oh yes, and you on the ladder. It must be Spring!! 😄

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ve tried to minimize the need for me to be on a ladder, Deborah, but this unit had to be replaced. It served us well for many years. I was lucky. My wife saw that the company had them on sale last year for a ridiculously low price. She bought one, just in case. It was great being able to use the same battery connection and to secure the new unit without drilling new holes in the post. I was only up there for a few minutes.

      Of course, once the squirrels see me on the ladder, they start lining up in the yard. I hope you get a real dose of spring soon.

      Like

  12. Is anything as inspiring as the first days of spring?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t think so, Maggie. It always gets me excited.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. In a few months it will be so hot you will long for winter. I like the shuttered window or door under the eaves of the garage.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re right about the summer heat, Frank. It’s one reason I hope to take care of some jobs around the house early this year. I don’t like working out there when it’s 90+ The door you like is one I made to gain access to the storage area in the attic space of the garage. All three portions swing open when necessary.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Both flowers appear to be hyacinths…just not very filled out…maybe from smaller immature bulbs that were in the bag of bulbs. As the years go by, the bulbs should grow and produce fuller bloom stems.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you! I guess the bulbs weren’t big enough for the chipmunk to eat them :-)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I hear ya! I have 1 left.

        Liked by 1 person

  15. The three days of hard frost we had here killed a lot of the shrubs in my backyard. Everything needed a good cutting-back, though, and I am almost finished. I have to laugh as I drive around the neighborhood. All of us who have (the misfortune to have) wisteria have all the dead limbs on the street ready for pickup. But wisteria grows so wildly, they all look like giant tumbleweeds on the road.
    The photo of chippy on the squirrel house is so cute–he looks tiny! The mourning dove photo is a beauty. I love those birds.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think that’s the best photo of a mourning dove I’ve ever taken. It was so windy that day, the dove was hunkered down in the yard. I was worried that our lilacs were going to bud out in February and then freeze to death, but they didn’t they are starting to grow now, but I think we’re beyond damaging frosts.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. It is great to see spring approaching your neck of the woods, Dan. Terrific photos.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Easter Sunday we are finally expecting Springlike weather! As someone who just went through four months of rehab – try to stay off the ladder!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I look at it differently every year. I know the time will come when I say no, but this wasn’t bad. Careful steps though, very careful.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. It looks like your menagerie is healthy. Mother nature is such a tease. Yesterday was cold, today is raining and tomorrow is supposed to be warm. A years worth of weather in a week. It snowed a little less than a week ago.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That is quite a mix. She’ll get this out of her system, Pam. We’ll be complaining about the heat before you know it.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. My husband is also in spring mode, which began with picking up the downed tree limbs from various storms.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yep, I have to do that, too. A nice easy start 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  20. A knee brace and a ladder? Dan! (Shakes head) I’m glad this post didn’t end with another ambulance showing up. My balance isn’t what it used to be. I don’t even like to be on the third step of my stepladder. Stay safe and well. Hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’ve had to wear a knee brace for years, Teagan. It adds a little stability to my right knee which seems to prevent some pain. It might be mental for all I know, but it works. Thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. We had a bit of a cool snap today with the rains that came here too. Hope it doesn’t stunt our garden. That dove picture is all I need to remind me of spring. Be careful on the ladder, you need a spotter ;)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Smokey was down below waiting for me to bring him a peanut. Maybe I can teach him to dial 911 😂

      Liked by 2 people

  22. I’m glad you are well-protected. We seem to have had a squirrel population explosion here in NC. If it spreads, you might need more peanuts.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We had a large group yesterday. Several black squirrels and a bunch of gray ones. And a bunny.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. It was warmer there yesterday than here, Dan. I like the juxtaposition of the empty trees of winter against the new , flowery signs of spring.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s kind of crazy, Janet. I guess that’s the way of weather now.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. I needed that bunny. Thank you.
    ❣️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you found it here. I know this has been a tough week. If you had missed it, I would have run it again on Saturday.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re a good egg.
        Thank you.
        ❣️

        Liked by 1 person

  25. I know you’re working on something year-round, Dan, but I guess it’s time for projects to begin in earnest now. Hope they all go well!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Paul. I do want to get an early start this year. It got so hot last year, I regretted having waited for “warmer” weather.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Doesn’t it all seem so very high that first time up for the season? Love the pics.

    Liked by 1 person

  27. We’ve had quite a weather week here in SE Michigan, which started out very cold, we had conditions ripe for not one but two tornadoes on Wednesday and now we are creeping to 83 through the course of the coming week. Spring zoomed into Summer it seems. I like all your Spring-y pics and of course those sweet squirrels. I have finally seen daffs, crocuses and hyacinths the last few days after seeing only snowdrops since February.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah, we seem to be headed into the low 80s this week. It’s crazy. There’s nothing wrong with 50-65.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I promised myself I wouldn’t whine if it got too hot, after navigating around ice a few times at the Park (they don’t plow). Sigh. Happy Easter Dan.

        Liked by 1 person

  28. […] everyone was doing when the pandemic dropped on us in March 2020. Last month, I interviewed another Dan, author Dan Antion, and right before the pandemic he started his retirement! Anyhow, what did you end up doing if you could not go back to […]

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  29. Happy spring, Dan. It’s good to see your workshop again. Thanks for displaying the Hometown Heroes banner. Today we start our yard clean-up, as temps will soar next week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We are getting ready to do the same, Jennie. I finally pulled the stakes out that I need for snow blowing.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hooray!. We charged the tractor yesterday. Thank goodness for dryer sheets that keep the mice from chewing the wires. Yard clean up in the spring is a joy, unlike yard clean-up in the fall.

        Liked by 1 person

  30. Lots of signs of spring around you, Dan. The ladder is the clincher. Lol. Ours will be out soon too. I’m looking forward to temps in the 70s!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was 29 this morning but the forecast for Friday is 88 – not fair.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. LOL. That’s dramatic. Sometimes spring is really short!

        Liked by 1 person

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