Outside my window the branches are tossing in the bright-lit wind. During my drive home from work I passed through a swirl of yellow petals from some unrecognized tree. The front yard contains two pink flowering bushes that are competing for best-in-show, I think. A small rhododendron has buried all its leaves with pale blossoms. The weigela is a mass of slightly warmer pink flowers. Lavender buds are forming.
I am marveling at roses in April. Really. These past two winters have been so mild that everything blooms much earlier than usual. I have dared fate and the late frosts to plant my garden. Not the tomatoes and squashes, but hardier things like carrots, peas, radishes and spinach. Usually, I wait until the last full moon in May.
Better late than never, they say. Earlier this week I arrived home to a parcel on the doorstep. The return address said Australia. Bella sent me the beautiful items above as part of the teacup exchange hosted by Stephanie of The Enchanting Rose. I missed the linkup to all the posts - mail delivery overseas can be soooo sloooow. I'm looking forward to sipping some of that Australian Afternoon tea from the blue striped teacup that has a distinctly French vibe to me. Thank you, Bella.
I went out after work today and noticed that the chives have burst into flower. So I picked a bouquet for the kitchen windowsill, after snapping a few photos outdoors.
We took the winter covering off the lemon tree and picked a few lemons that had ripened over the winter. How does it do that? Lemon trees are amazing for having blossoms, small fruit, and ripe fruit all at the same time. Lemon bars seemed like a good use for some of those yummy yellow fruits.
I am looking forward to some family time this weekend. For Tim's birthday last month we gifted him a halibut fishing trip, so he and our son and two sons-in-law will be heading out very early on Saturday morning and returning later that day. I hope they bring home some lovely halibut! I don't know that I'll plan on it for dinner, though. We girls have not yet decided what to do, but we'll do something together.
Joining Amy's Five on Friday link up tomorrow.
I can feel myself standing among your flowers and smelling their delicious scent. I'm also surprised at how early things are blooming here too - but sure am enjoying it. That is a darling tea cup - you'll have to make some pretty flower cookies now. I'll have a lemon bar with my tea, thank you. Good luck to the halibut fishermen - you'll have a delightful dinner for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe rose buds are a vibrant red and will be beautiful when open. Your teacup, cookie cutter and tea from Australia are nice and I hope your guys do bring home some fish to have another night. Have fun with the girls while the boys are fishing.
ReplyDeleteWe had Icelandic halibut for supper tonight. It was delicious. I do hope your boys have good fishing and a nice reward for your own supper table.
ReplyDeleteRoses in April -- that does seem odd, but a lovely treat nonetheless.
Your post was a delight, as always, and I'm glad I stopped in for a wee visit.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend ahead.
Brenda
xox
Luscious looking lemon bars! They are a favourite of mine...
ReplyDeletelovely photos!
ReplyDeleteThe lemon bars looks so good.
I hope the men enjoy the fishing trip and you gals enjoy your day!
Sounds like a lovely day planned, hope the men get lucky for your supper and you girls have a great time together. Beautiful rose, such a vibrant colour.
ReplyDeleteRosebuds are so exciting as they begin their journey into the world. You never quite know what colour the petals are going to be. I love this season of beginnings.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a chive look so beautiful, and the lemon bars look amazing. You would chuckle if you could see my roses - barely one green stem on each plant so far. You are way ahead of us and it is encouraging to see your amazing photos. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe season is off to a beautiful start in your garden, Lorrie. Everything looks so pretty and healthy.
ReplyDeleteThe lemon bars look particularly delicious. The Meyer Lemon tree that I have been growing for a few years is now dead and buried. I learned too late that the fertilizer stakes for citrus trees are probably best used when the trees are planted in the ground. Sigh! A painful lesson as I was hoping to see my first lemon this season.
Halibut fishing sounds like a fun time for your guys. I hope they are met with great success and your freezer is soon stocked. Halibut is hard to come by in these parts, but I have wonderful memories of the many times I ordered it at the restaurants in your area. It is my favorite fish.
Wow, things are really bursting into bloom at your house. And, what a sweet surprise from Australia. I've never had tea from there. Was it good?
ReplyDeleteWho would think that a chive petal could be so pretty? We have been in the grips of really cold weather. Rain today and snow in some areas. We have been cooped up inside all week. So unlike Spring. We should never fuss about too much moisture unless it is flooding. And tree ripened lemons; I can only dream. Have a fun weekend.
ReplyDeleteYea for your package arriving, Lorrie! I know you'll enjoy sipping that Australian tea from your new teacup. All your pics are wonderful, but it's the chive blossoms that really got my attention...what loveliness for your kitchen!
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope the fellows get that Halibut for you-what a treat!
ReplyDeleteI agree that your Australian teacup has A French flair to it, very unique and lovely too.
One of the things I love about BC is it's early Spring. Your flowers are so beautiful already, Lorrie.
That chive is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers, a treat in the mail and yummy cake, sounds like a perfect week!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Hope you have great family time this weekend! The cake looks delicious and it is always a treat to see lovely flowers! Glad that your tea cup parcel arrived, it is a very pretty cup isn't it. Thank you for joining Five On Friday, I hope you have a fun weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to bake something with lemons grown at home!
ReplyDeleteI think that this year has been a particularly good one for blossoms. The lilacs and rhodos seem larger and brighter and the lilacs are so very fragrant. I can't get enough of them.
Hope you have a great time with your family. It's always fun to spend time with family.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love the picture of the purple chive flowers. You've captured it just beautifully and the lemon bars look delicious.
Have a great week
Sounds like a fun Saturday in store for both the guys and the gals. Your tea cup does look French and elegantly so. Lots of other sweet gifts tucked in as well. Our April has been just the opposite of yours...chilly and well below normal temps. I am looking forward to May. It has to be warmer!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that your teacup package arrived safely from down under. Love the pretty blue striped design!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely gift of a fishing trip. I would like that. But even more I would love, love lemon bars from the lemons of my own tree. The chive blossoms are beautiful. What a wonderful teacup for the exchange. Very special! We put in our tomatoes this past week, yes early; but since we are gone for May we wanted them in before we left. Happy Spring days!
ReplyDeleteWhat a happy sounding post. Your garden is so much further on than hours. Picking lemons and baking with them sounds good. Hope the fishing trip is productive. I love halibut :) B x
ReplyDeleteI'm envying you your lemons, how lovely to be able to keep a tree outside. Still waiting for things to warm up here (sw England) before planting out, it's been so chilly.
ReplyDeleteSuch great photos, I really enjoyed seeing them. :-)
ReplyDeleteSpring has arrived in your garden Lorrie!
ReplyDeleteI love the fresh green growth of lavender and the fragrance as you run the palm of your hand through the bush!
How exciting to have fat buds on your rose, just waiting to burst open.
It's always exciting to receive a parcel - such pretty goodies from Bella.
Gorgeous garden pictures, Lorrie...and the lemon bars look so delicious! Your parcel of goodies looks lovely too, what a nice surprise.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend.
Helen xox
Five fabulous photos, Lorrie - your lemon bars look like something to die for.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend!
lovely looking lemon bars. your photos are all fantastic. I'm your newest follower.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGorgeous rosebud and chives. Such deep colors. I hope you are having a good day with the girls!
I've had to do a bit of reading to catch up with you here Lorrie! I hope your dad is doing well now, and that he hopefully is back in his own home again. All the flowers you have blooming out your way are making me quite jealous of your early spring. I can almost smell the lilacs and roses that you show on your posts. I imagine your men are still out on the water fishing while I write this. I hope you and the gals thought up something fun to do while they were out.
ReplyDeleteWendy
I wonder about citrus trees in general -- I`ve been to Italy now in July, in October, and in late January, and every time, there`s fruit on the trees. . . how does that work!
ReplyDeleteHow nice to receive such a lovely teacup from Australia. I too participated in this exchange and it was so much fun. Your lemon bars look so yummy. My lemon tree refuses to bear any fruit; maybe next year. Wishing all the joys of the coming week, Pat xx
ReplyDeleteHope some halibut came home with the guys. I'm sure the girls had fun while they were away! I love the chive shot!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about your lemon tree when we were staying at a place down south recently. It had a lemon tree just outside the door and we had lots of lemonade and lemon pie. It made me wish for a tree in our yard, but my H figured Victoria had a different climate yet than we do.
ReplyDeleteFive lovely things. The lemon bars look so tasty and the spring flowers so pretty. Your tea cup is a wonderful colour, I hope that you enjoy using it to drink the tea you received with it:)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous photos as usual. I'm particularly intrigued by the swap. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHello, sweet Lorrie! Ah, what a delight to visit you this morning. I thoroughly enjoyed your pretty pictures and oh my, what a lovely tea cup! I am very glad and thankful your package arrived safely from Australia - enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful weekend. Hugs!