A Dogwalk, Later

This season feels like sort of an interlude. Spring comes slowly, in a way — it's green but cold; it's sunny but muddy; it's lighter out later, but we're still not outside. All around town big clumps of daffodils cheer me, and I plan, once again, to plant some in September. Why don't I ever do that? Eight years in this house, and the only bulbs I've planted were a few pink tulips, in the wrong place, later to be replaced with candytuft and sweet woodruff. But this year we have a fence, and I have visions of little, nodding drifts of pale yellow greeting me on the house-side of  the pickets, so I must make a note to myself to remember how pretty these daffodils look right now, and do it right this fall.

I did get a daffodil-yellow spring coat this year (from the Gap; the umbrella is very old, from sadly now-gone Daisy Kingdom) that is making me happy. I'm ready for my dogwalk. Our girl Clover Meadow has gotten so big; I'm hoping we'll get out today and I'll take her picture. Last night her boyfriend Bennie came over for a playdate. They romped, a small tornado, through the house for fifteen minutes until Bennie found a bone that he liked better than he liked Clover. Clover was flabbergasted. She did everything she could to get his attention, including clambering on top of him, then lying four feet away and barking in his face (this dog has the loudest bark I have ever heard), then just looking with total bewilderment at us — what was this guy's problem? Couldn't we see? Bones are boring! Sigh.

Today we'll take a walk and see what's blooming; the magnolias are starting to unfurl as the daffodils turn crepe-y and gold. I hope we can get into the woods this weekend. There's so much to do all the time that we forget to go, or it's pouring rain on Sunday, or who knows what. Before I can rub my eyes and blink in wonder a whole season has lapsed and I've only been around the block a few dozen times. But I'd like to go out and see some little snowdrops, wild violets, maybe find a four-leaf clover. I'd like to get out of the neighborhood a little bit.

Comments

[jennifer]

I'm loving that yellow raincoat and the umbrella too. So cheery and bright.

[tweet herself]

i love the 'daffodil depot'. sorta like home depot or office depot but with cheerier selections :)
i have been trying, as you so aptly describe 'to smell the roses' and take note of all that changes so quickly. i suppose spring is like that in many places. the most illusive in it's unfurlings and finishings. i myself have a huge clump of ground anemones that i can hardly wait to photograph. so often they come during the wettest and chilliest of weeks and when i finally think it is warm enough to wander the garden they are about finished. this year i vow to see the full show. and i would be in heaven if i would stroll about the block near my office in SE to see the magnificent garden nooks hidden between and behind all the big old homes. thank you for that reminder!
your friend, bird tweet robin from down the road

[tweet herself]

p.s. i want that umbrella. to be a fashionista in the rain is not an easy feat so the coat, umbrella..... and say some clover (leaf as opposed to clover pup) green rubber boots would be fabulous!
again; your friend, bird tweet robin from down the road

[ambika]

I agree exactly about the weather! I feel antsy when I look outside at the daffodils and magnolias starting to bloom - not to mention the cherry trees. But it's still so cold that I'm wearing scarves--and so rainy this past Sunday that we had to cancel a hike.

[Laura]

I love your raincoat. It is so cute! Enjoy your walk. I wish I could get out and walk with my beast, but he is eager when we do that I always end up fighting to keep him calm. Oh well, have a great day.

[HeidiAnn]

I love your yellow raincoat and floral umbrella, too. I wish I could go for a walk with you and Clover to admire the springtime blooms, and I want to sing "I Love To Walk In The Rain" a la Shirley Temple. Let's go!

[cindy k]

i love your raincoat and have china in the same pattern as your umbrella, so i love that too.

bennie + clover sound like us at dinner time ;). scott happily eating his dinner while i'm droning on about work or whatever.

happy spring, enjoy your walk.

[melissa s.]

i fall in love with portland all over again each spring. lovin that yellow raincoat too!

[sarah]

oooh, I can't WAIT to have one of these crisp-but-muddy, knee-high-damp-grass-and-sodden-squelchy-ground, pale-blossoms-against-a-paler-grey-sky kind of spring again. I remember these. I love these. They make me long for blossoms and warm slants of sun. There's something about the longing that makes it all so romantic and moving, every time.

Ah, I can't wait - we move back to Seattle in August.

Poor Clover. Boys! What can you do? It's not you, baby girl, it's him. ;)

[pam]

Happy Day Alicia!

[Geraldine]

I love your sunny yellow raincoat too. Great looking blog you've got here. I arrived via Hannah's glad I stopped in. Hope you will visit Veggies...too. BFN, G :)

[nina]

welllllll....you DO have a four-pawed clover, and that brings much more luck than a four leafed one!
i remember a photograph you took from under that wonderful umbrella at the beautiful waterfall - such a lovely vision.
i'll be heading out to your neck of the country next monday, to port townsend, washington - such a beautiful, beautiful place, and it will be heaven to see spring in full bloom there (still not doing much here in the north carolina mountains, alas).
xx

[Laura A.]

And here I am bracing for the snow they've forecasted. I know I live in Canada but really. I want tulips! I want daffodils! I want the opportunity to wipe mud off my dog's paws--yes, I'm that desperate. At least knowing spring is coming somewhere helps. (As do the pictures and the bright colours.)

[Elizabeth Mackey]

I feel that here in California,spring is fleeting. It sure is a stop start for a couple of weeks. Kinda what you said,as far as sunny one day then here comes a little rain to make you get out the long sleeves out again. Then about oh, mid April here, it is very, very warm and we are head long into summer mode. My least favorite time of year. So I'm trying to enjoy all the beautiful flowers out there even though it is for a very brief time!!

[Knitsational]

I know, I'm so ready for the really warm days. And I think my little ones are begining to get a little confused. Yesterday we went out. Today mommy says it's too cold!

[Bobbie Lynn Duran]

Thanks for the Ms. Clover update. I was just thinking of how she was doing too. I know it is cold in your area, but enjoy your slow spring. In So.Cal it is way too short here. Happy Spring!

[Briana]

You do have a knack for finding the beauty in things. Where I see daffodils wilting, you see them turning "crepe-y and gold". beautiful. Thanks for helping me see the world through rose colored glasses too.

[marné]

I was just thinking today, while driving to work that I much remember to go check the far corner of the yard where the grape hyacinth are planted to see if they are coming up yet. I would hate to miss them!

And please do remember to plant some daffodils this fall, we have hundreds that have spread and grown since we first planted them 5 years ago. They are such a treat!

[sizzle]

I am totally drawn to yellow right now. What a cute coat!

[patty]

that is the cheeriest prettiest spring-iest coat and umbrella! maybe clover needs a flowered collar to join in?

[charlotte]

reading that was more fun than a walk here...altho we do have some snowdrops. I brought a handful in for the table and now they look like droopy bunny ears...but still kind of sweet. happy spring, Alicia! xoC

[Anna]

I totally love this photo. It's really really beautiful.

[Carolyn]

Wow! You got it bad! Spring fever, that is. I feel the same way, but at least I have the Inner Harbor to escape to and do some people watching. Not many flowers to be had in the City, but I do find them every now and then. Snuggle some Miss Clover Muddypaw for us after your walk. xxoo

[Kristin R]

Oh those daffodils, I always forgot about them too, until I remembered and boy was I glad I did! What a lovely spring greeting! Write that note!

[Angela]

I do the same thing every spring! I look around and wonder why I never planted the bulbs I meant to plant. Let's remind each other this fall! BTW, what are we suppose to be planting now that we want to enjoy later down the road?