Spring is officially here! I saw my first Robin today. He was kind of skinny, and a little leggy as he was trotting across the backyard. No doubt he was checking out the earthworm situation. If you look at the ground, you'll also see lots of green things poking up. The snowdrops are all over the woods, and today I saw some purple and orange crocuses. East Coasters are so STARVED for FLOWERS after the long winter....and this afternoon I actually bought my first pot of pansies . Yes!!!

This is the Miller House, by Richard Neutra in Palm Springs. I guess David and I are California Dreamin' lately....and also just dying to live in a modern house with lots of glass and open space. Palm Springs in the winter is just beautiful, it's clear and sunny and warm. We miss living in LA....it's such an inspiring and energizing place. And we have so many pals there! The colors are so bright and clean, and everything is so stylized. Cars don't rust, and people don't (seem to) age......

I love this old Simplicity pattern! The main figure is holding up her round, white sunglasses. She's so elegant in her Barbie style striped sundress! She could be sightseeing in Rome, or just ready for cocktails at the country club. It's probably from the late 50's, slightly worn around the edges.....found in a box at a garage sale.

How can you resist St. Patick's Day? In Morristown you can't really avoid it. We have one of the biggest parades in the state of NJ; the entire town is blocked off, and the streets are painted with shamrocks! There are parade watchers and partiers everywhere, and lines outside all the bars and restaurants.....starting way too early in day. Babies in strollers have big green hats, and everyone's wearing those white Irish cable knit wool sweaters. I love it when the kids all try to look as silly as possible...what is it about this holiday that inspires such goofiness? Is it all the beer?

Hula? Wouldn't it be lovely to be on a beach right now, listening to that ukelele? David & the boys could go surfing, and I would be sitting on my little chair with a book, partially in the shade of a palm tree. Or walking on the sand, looking for shells....any beach will do....we don't have to go to Hawaii. I'll take Sunrise Lake in New Jersey, at least it has sand. As long as it's warm, and the sky is blue. Right now it's March 6, and it's gray and raw out. At least last week's snow is starting to melt, that's a good sign.

I love this old peacock print. He almost looks like a Dr. Seuss bird! Remember the flighty mama bird, Mazie, in Horton Hatches an Egg? She was too busy and distracted to sit on her nest, she wanted to see the world. Faithful Horton (an elephant) sits on the egg, even when he's taken to the circus, tree and all.

I should call this the Ruby Ritz Bird Blog! Let's just say it's "bird friendly". In anticipation of Spring, I put up this picture....I'm kind of done with Winter. Even though Spring is weeks away, we can still fantasize about it. After all, we're going into the last week of February (isn't it called "the cruelest month"?). Who said that, anyway? I'm going to be looking for those early signs of Spring--the crocuses poking up from the ground, and eventually, the daffodils. But let's not get too carried away--it's not March quite yet. Soon.....