Several days ago, the first Forsythia bloom appeared just outside my window.  The lone, tiny yellow blossom looked so small and yet I knew in its heart was a hardy survivor.

We have had three snows this past week.  The ground is getting warmer so one day it snowed from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and only after noon did the snow begin to accumulate on the ground.  And this morning we awakened to another night’s snowfall, which left a blanket of white covering the ground, the trees and shrubs, and the mountain road was a sheet of ice from the bitter cold winds.  Then the sun came out and melted most of the snow.

Now the tiny, single yellow bloom is surrounded by a family of flowering beauty! The Greening of the Mountains will not be celebrated here for another two months, and yet the heart beat of Spring can already be heard within the songbirds which are so plentiful this winter. The lovely winged visitors include a host of cardinals, black capped chickadees, sparrows, junkos, towhees, and warblers. Thank goodness I have a lovely copy of “Birds of the Smokies” by Arthur Stupka, with the beautiful illustrations by Dolores Roberson!

There is so much to be thankful for every day here.  Mother Earth blesses us each day and night with the scenery and mountain views of the Plott Balsam range in the distance. On clear nights, the beacon of light from Mt Lynn Lowry shines in the distance, and give us a feeling of comfort and protection.

The community of caring souls that live here in these mountains brings an energy of Divine Love that reaches out and touches you, if you allow it.  And I choose to allow that energy to live and grow in my own heart.

Blessings to all.

 

Featured fine art photograph “First Forsythia” by Teri Leigh Teed