suddenly!

spring is subtle and then suddenly luscious!

blossoming!

i rode down by the river after school yesterday. what a gorgeous day! i just rode alongside the river and the blossoms were blossoming - well most of them - as some of the little budlets are still, well budlets, and you can tell that they are so very impatient and just need sunshine and maybe rain and for sure some more time.

i especially love the picture where an evergreen is sharing space with an arm of blossoms . . .

taken at speed

riding through the middle of cavan swamp . . . 

walking old land

a late spring afternoon spent walking the land that wendy's grandparents once farmed . . .

in the woods

the woods - filled with the very ancient and grand . . .

and the very young and fragile . . .

water line

there is a fountain in the middle of little lake here in pterborough. little lake is in fact a widening of the otonabee river as it passes through the city. no matter. it's a big pile of water! here's a shot i took the other day as i rounded the southern shore of little lake. the fountain, reflected in the water . . .

rainy day . . .

spring in a one metre square . . . 

rounding the dock of the bay

magnolia

at the east end of my street, a magnolia tree has just lit up and filled the air with its attention consuming and elegant blooms . . . when closed they are so like unlit candles and then as they open and become entirely immoderate, they are like something out of a costume drama . . . i don't care. i think they are incredibly beautiful . . . .

the sun contained . . .

in one flower in my mum's kitchen . . .

duck!

on my way to an early morning breakfast with friends i spent time with this beautiful animal!

in my mother's garden . . .

mother's day!

"a mother's love liberates".

maya angelou

on this - mother's day in north america -

i honour my mother

...

no more than i usually do mind you

because i have a deep respect for my mother

who was difficult

when i needed a "difficult" mother

but didn't know it

easy going and supportive

when i needed

an easy going

and supportive mother

but had no clue why

was and is loving -

without condition

whether i knew it

or not

(and of course i now know!)

and somehow she knew i'd figure so much of this out

and be alright.

it's very cool

to arrive at a place

of genuine mutual appreciation

and mutual admiration.

happy mother's day mum!

with love from steven

the main street of my town on a spring morning . . .

the still pools

the first

tulip . . .

dandelion . . .

islands

the river is gradually receding, leaving behind little soggy reed islands . . .

flowering . . .

evening time . . .

evening . . .

the return of miss scruffypants . . .

now a more regular feature of the front porch cat crew . . . miss scruffypants struts her stuff regardless of the inclement weather that has characterized much of what is being painted with the broad brush moniker "spring" . . . .

signs of life . . .

well at least something's growing close to the ground . . .

an evening walk alongside the river

spring unfolds

the rain. the fog. the chilly mornings. the winds. the little buds so reluctant to unfurl . . .

indecisive

a day that was characterized by skies and energy that was - indecisive . . .