Sister's Choice Quilts

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It’s Here

Plum blossoms

This is why I live in California.  Spring comes in February.

The harbinger of spring is the sighting of the first plum blossoms, and I spied mine this week.  I don't care what Puxatony Phil had to say about how many more weeks of winter we have looming ahead.  The true sign of better times to come is the glorious blooming of our California plum trees.  And they are here. Now.  This week.

I feel so optimistic, so cheerful, when I see the first blooms.  When I moved to California with my family when I was twelve, all I had experienced was Michigan weather.  In Michigan, there were wonderful plants that signified the change of seasons, and in the spring it was the first forsythia blooms, bravely popping out, often with snow still underfoot.  However, that didn't happen until about April if we were lucky.  Mud season, we called it.  When my family came to California and I experienced my first West Coast winter, I am not sure I truly grasped what a lucky girl I was to have exchanged ice storms and snow for the gentle rains that lasted from December through March.  When February arrived however, even the callow twelve year old that I was, appreciated the pink blossoms of the plum trees that lined our street and heralded Spring.

Don't you just feel it?  Things will improve.  Better times are ahead.

42 responses to “It’s Here”

  1. I’m incredibly jealous… I love our summers, our falls, even our winters….just wish winter wasn’t so long… everyone loves a change…..Enjoy your weekend.

  2. I’m incredibly jealous… I love our summers, our falls, even our winters….just wish winter wasn’t so long… everyone loves a change…..Enjoy your weekend.

  5. Well this Wisconsin girl knows how lucky you are. Can I come visit??:) I’ll bring fabric…. and chocolate…. is it working yet??? LOL!!
    Thanks for sharing!!

  6. Well this Wisconsin girl knows how lucky you are. Can I come visit??:) I’ll bring fabric…. and chocolate…. is it working yet??? LOL!!
    Thanks for sharing!!

  7. Michigan! Where?? I grew up in Battle Creek so I TOTALLY understand your love of early springtime. Our first daffodils are in bloom here – the flowering trees are budding but not ready yet to bloom (soon, please??)

  8. Michigan! Where?? I grew up in Battle Creek so I TOTALLY understand your love of early springtime. Our first daffodils are in bloom here – the flowering trees are budding but not ready yet to bloom (soon, please??)

  15. Oy. Still dealing with snow and wind, although I did see some snowdrops bravely peeping through a week or so ago. But we still have quite a ways to go . . . .

  16. Oy. Still dealing with snow and wind, although I did see some snowdrops bravely peeping through a week or so ago. But we still have quite a ways to go . . . .

  21. Beautiful picture and a lovely reminder that warmer times are around the corner…something we need to remember after a week of snow in the UK (so unusual!)

  22. Beautiful picture and a lovely reminder that warmer times are around the corner…something we need to remember after a week of snow in the UK (so unusual!)

  25. Where did you live in Michigan? It has been an exceptionally cold and unusually snowy winter in Michigan this year compared to what we’ve had in the recent past. But we’re expecting a balmy mid 40s for the next few days followed by…more cold, of course!

  26. Where did you live in Michigan? It has been an exceptionally cold and unusually snowy winter in Michigan this year compared to what we’ve had in the recent past. But we’re expecting a balmy mid 40s for the next few days followed by…more cold, of course!

  27. I am a California Girl transplanted in PA. Baby its cold outside! We are ready to give the darn groundhog the ax. 😉

  28. I am a California Girl transplanted in PA. Baby its cold outside! We are ready to give the darn groundhog the ax. 😉

  29. Just wanted to stop by and say I enjoy your blog site. I have only recently found yours, but you endeared my heart when I saw your precious Airedales!! We have had two Airedales through the years. I would love to have another one some day. They have such personality (and SO much energy).

  30. Just wanted to stop by and say I enjoy your blog site. I have only recently found yours, but you endeared my heart when I saw your precious Airedales!! We have had two Airedales through the years. I would love to have another one some day. They have such personality (and SO much energy).

  31. What I wouldn’t do to see my cherry tree bloom right now. After this winter I can’t wait for spring to get here. Enjoy Nicole.

  32. What I wouldn’t do to see my cherry tree bloom right now. After this winter I can’t wait for spring to get here. Enjoy Nicole.

  35. Your picture needs to be taken off your blog immediately!! LOL Think of us poor people who are only seeing brown right now and white of course in a lot of the country. Just kidding…..I love the picture and love the thought of spring coming.
    I shouldn’t complain though because it is close to 70 today in my part of Virginia.
    Cathy

  36. Your picture needs to be taken off your blog immediately!! LOL Think of us poor people who are only seeing brown right now and white of course in a lot of the country. Just kidding…..I love the picture and love the thought of spring coming.
    I shouldn’t complain though because it is close to 70 today in my part of Virginia.
    Cathy

  39. i know!
    i saw my first tree yesterday in old town orange – and wanted to stop and take a picture!
    they are the best!
    love your blog – been following it a while : )
    you have such talent!
    and i loved your last line…
    i feel it too – better times are just soooo waiting to happen…
    : )
    kisses and cupcakes,
    amy
    *

  40. i know!
    i saw my first tree yesterday in old town orange – and wanted to stop and take a picture!
    they are the best!
    love your blog – been following it a while : )
    you have such talent!
    and i loved your last line…
    i feel it too – better times are just soooo waiting to happen…
    : )
    kisses and cupcakes,
    amy
    *

  41. Oh, I want to see plum blossoms outside my window!! Unfortunately, outside my window the wind is howling and it’s raining. The huge piles of snow are turning to running little rivers down the side of the street. Crazy weather but typical for Minnesota. There was a time 40 years ago that San Diego was to be our home but then the draft board intervened and well, ….. here we are. The first sign of spring here will be when the tulips pop up. And just like in Michigan it’ll be sometime in April. Wow, that seems like a long time from now. Guess I’ll have to visit your blog to get some California sun!!

  42. Oh, I want to see plum blossoms outside my window!! Unfortunately, outside my window the wind is howling and it’s raining. The huge piles of snow are turning to running little rivers down the side of the street. Crazy weather but typical for Minnesota. There was a time 40 years ago that San Diego was to be our home but then the draft board intervened and well, ….. here we are. The first sign of spring here will be when the tulips pop up. And just like in Michigan it’ll be sometime in April. Wow, that seems like a long time from now. Guess I’ll have to visit your blog to get some California sun!!