Hail in the Spring

Just when we were all dreaming that winter had blown itself away faraway, and that spring was flowing gently by, images of buds and flowers caressed our smiling faces. We could feel the soft rain bringing life back to the garden.



Were we fooled! The temperature dropped back down to below freezing.



Hail, as big as golf balls, pelted down. I wondered what was going rat a tat tat on my car's roof as I drove home! Made it home and stared in disbelief at the grass covered in large hail.

Now they're saying on the weather forecast that temperatures will continue to be below normal for the next few days!



I thought I saw a white plastic bag on our front lawn and asked hubby to pick it up when he went out to check the mail.

"That wasn't a plastic bag. It's ice!" He grimaced, shuddering in the cold.

Daffodils in the Spring

All photos and written works are copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.



Guess what?! The snow has all melted and the temperatures are around fifty degrees. So far so good!

Now what is awaiting lots of attention is the backyard. Need to clean it up, get rid of the leaves yet again, and fertilize it.




Guess another what?! Several years ago there were daffodils in the back yard, but, since they eventually no longer flowered I yanked them out of the ground and dumped them in the woods out back.





Each spring these poor, neglected, worn-out daffodils bloom! I didn't even plant them. I simply tossed them into the woods. Now, some did disintegrate along with the leaves we dump. But look, here are the ones that bloom every year.

Spring is here!!

Allergies and Spicy Foods.

All photos and written works copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.

Lately I've been having a craving for spicy foods!

Indian chutney? This is just one of the chutneys I was able to find at our local supermarket.



Colman's English Mustard! Really quite piquant. A little goes a long way.

Mix it with this tasty Indian relish, and your sinuses are sure to clear!!



I have allergies just now -stuffed up nose, red eyes and a headache. Maybe that's why I'm craving these spicy- wicey foods!!

Good Things to Come and Cadbury

From warm, sunny weather in Florida and South Carolina, we're now back in the land of snow and more snow!

Yet, this week-end we change the clocks?! Doesn't that mean that Spring is not far behind?

Hmm. I guess the snow is melting a little. And, I heard some birds chirping. All good signs of the beginning of things that are good.

Another good sign? Cadbury's. Yes. I happened to see Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers in a shop not far from here. Never, ever had seen Cadbury's biscuits being sold here in the suburbs. Maybe that's another sign of the beginning of things that are good! Maybe they'll even begin selling Chocolate Eclairs, Crunchie, Cadbury's Flake...

Marsh Tacky Horse Race, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

All Photos and Written Works Copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.

Something nice about a road trip is finding unexpected events. Who would have thought that there would be a horse race on the beach at Hilton Head Island?! And who knew about the Marsh Tacky horse? Apparently they are an endangered species of horses.



The horses and their riders paraded along the beach as the crowds snapped dozens of photos.



The Marsh Tacky is small and works well in the marshlands of South Carolina. Despite their small size, they sure can run fast!



The rider above was one happy camper! I'm afraid, however, the race began with a terrible thud. One of the riders fell off her horse and landed hard on the sand. I don't think there was enough space after the finish line for the horses to come to a stop, so the riders had to turn them sharply. It was announced later that the rider who fell was okay.

Such excitement on the beach! And I thought cycling along the beautiful white sands was exciting!