Blossom time (also known as "nearly spring")

As usual, I've taken many, many photos of this beautiful tree in the past couple of weeks. Such a lovely display, brightening up the end of winter. 

Cut flowers don't generally do very well in our centrally heated home, but we enjoy them while we can. So much nicer than artificial air fresheners.

My grandmother gave me this little cherub vase and a posy of violets for my 15th (I think) birthday, so many years ago.
It was one of those thoughtful, simple gifts that you never forget, and I like to fill it with violets around this time of year. The fragrance of violets always takes me back to another time in my life...

Winter (spring, summer, autumn)

Bare winter trees

 

Spring blossom (and bee)

 

Bright blue summery sky.

 

Autumn leaves, still.

 

All photos taken during my walk today.

This is why I love Melbourne.

Beautiful library

School holidays in the old days were always filled with outings and activities a-plenty. Nowadays, I don't need to entertain small children, but a day out is always enjoyable.
E couldn't remember ever visiting the State Library, although I'm fairly certain we took her there at least once. Poor Z had never seen it. I think the girls were fairly impressed with the Library's impressive architecture and beauty.
E took the first photo (above) on her phone. The quality of iPhone photos never ceases to amaze me.

 

 

 We went to Melbourne Central for lunch, and then had a bit of a wander. The weather was glorious.

I do so love Melbourne in winter. 

Tranquil

Favourite colour today

21

 My poor tree doesn't stand a chance with the howling gale which has been blowing non-stop for most of the day. The yard is carpeted with pink blossom. On the plus side, the temperature apparently reached 21 degrees celsius! Amazing!

***

Movie update.  A mixed bag from 1947-48.

"The Ghost and Mrs Muir (1947)
Widowed Lucy Muir (Gene Tierney) and her daughter move to a house by the sea which is inhabited by the ghost of the previous owner, Captain Gregg (Rex Harrison). Sweet enough movie, and I remember loving the 1970's TV series of the same name, but I think I've grown out of this one.
I did love the way Mrs Muir always curled up for  a nap beneath a lovely crocheted blanket.

 "The Egg and I" (1947)
Newlyweds buy a run-down farmhouse and all manner of mishaps ensue.
Couldn't stand Fred MacMurray in this. Didn't mind Claudette Colbert who I usually dislike. Best
part  - every scene with Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride as Ma and Pa Kettle (in their
first screen appearance)

 "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947)
My favourite movie as a child. We watched it on TV every Christmas for years. I'm happy to say this one has definitely not lost its magic and still managed to bring tears to my eyes in a couple of scenes. Edmund Gwenn is Kris Kringle who is hired by non-believer (in everything) Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) to play Santa in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. Natalie Wood, who plays Doris' precocious, non-believing daughter Susan, is just wonderful. Love it.

 "Sitting Pretty" (1948)
Busy suburban couple (Maureen O'Hara and Robert Young) with three mischievous boys, hire a live in baby sitter who is secretly writing a book about the seedy side of life in their neighbourhood. Clifton Webb is Mr Belvedere, the genius, multi-talented babysitter who dislikes children intensely (his words) but has a way with them. Very funny.

  "Mr Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948)
City couple Cary Grant and Myrna Loy buy a dilapidated house in the countryside which
ends up being demolished, and then go through various trials and tribulations during the
construction of their dream house. Love this mainly because of Cary Grant who has never
disappointed me in any role.

 "State of the Union"(1948)
Spencer Tracy is selected as a possible presidential candidate by a group of unscrupulous politicians and is conflicted about following their ideas or his own beliefs regarding what makes a good leader. Tracy is excellent here as is Katharine Hepburn as his wife. Plenty of very witty one-liners.

Lists

After emerging from the twilight zone I was in while engrossed in "The Passage", I looked around my house and realised it was in a complete and utter mess. As usual, noone else seemed to have noticed the overflowing washing basket, dirty floors and unemptied bins. Oh well. Back to real life.
When there is a lot to do, I usually make a list and work my way through. It's very satisfying to cross out each task as it's completed. Today's list took me from 9.30am until 7.30pm to complete. Definitely time for a rest now.
Only one job was at all enjoyable. There were a couple of piles of books which needed homes so I did a bit of bookshelf reshuffling.

I did actually have a break from domestic chores this morning when I went for a long overdue walk. It was a pleasant enough day weatherwise ( ie. not raining) and it's lovely to see so many trees and other plants blossoming.

Back home, I loved catching a glimpse of our beautiful tree through the kitchen window.

Less than two weeks until winter officially ends and after today  I have a head start on the spring cleaning!

Blossoming

We are at that time of year when I obsessively take a million photos of one particular tree in our garden.

My family shake their heads when I periodically abandon whatever I'm doing to run outside and take more photos.

It's almost in full bloom. A few more days should do it.

This craziness includes capturing the tree's reflection in the oven door.

Meanwhile, it was indeed a glorious day weather-wise. A bit of a chill in the air, but I was warm enough while raking and weeding.

The kitties both enjoyed the sunshine.