Apple Blossoms

© 2014 Ken W. Hall

"This is such a special time of the year. The wonder of Nature dances a waltz with a full and subtle swath of color. Our apple tree is in full bloom. Sit quietly and smell the fragrance."

                                                                                                                       -- Ken W. Hall

There is a small apple tree in the backyard of our new residence.  It opened up yesterday and today it is in full bloom.  Ken captured this image.  Our neighbor said they are so fragile a strong wind or rain and they will all be gone.  

We just experienced a wind so strong willow branches fell to the ground.  I hope enough of the blossoms survive to enjoy apples this fall.

Spring is in the air.  Birds prepare their nests.  Yards are being groomed.  Gardeners prepare their soil for planting.  The lilac bushes are blooming and filling the air with a sweet fragrance.

The days are longer and we go to bed and wake up to the sound of birds singing.  Temperatures range from forty in the mornings to as high as seventy during the day.  The past couple of days we experienced brief evening showers.

I love this time of year.  

A Colder Springtime in Ennis, Montana

© 2014 Ken W. Hall

 

© 2014 Ken W. Hall

The rain and snow yesterday did not prevent Ken from grilling our dinner outdoors.  It was twenty-nine when we woke and barely made it above forty.  The same is true today.  At least today we
experienced brief moments of sunshine.

Mystic, the cat, remained cuddled inside the blankets in an effort to keep warm.  We are hopeful that later in the week we could see a day or two reach sixty degrees.

El Western's "Tippet"

© 2014 Ken W. Hall    "Tippet"

Spring weather is unpredictable here in the Madison Valley.  Temperatures range from the 20s to high 60's, sunshine to cloudy, calm to windy.  

As nature wakes from her long winter's nap those of us who live here year round are busy preparing for the return or our summer residents and tourists.  

Recently Ken taught a photography class at the El Western here in Ennis, Montana.  This is Ken's description of the above photo.

"Here is an image from the last day of the workshop I taught at the El Western. This is "Tippet" the resident caretaker of the stream. The lawn was covered with limbs that she removes from the creek and deposits on the lawn. This behavior goes on constantly throughout the season. Seems she has given herself the job of Stream Maintenance Supervisor. Just in the hour we were by the stream shooting she must have brought twenty large branches and small limbs out of the creek."

                                                                                          -Ken W. Hall

FUNNY STORY (side note: a tippet is the smallest part of the leader on a fly rod. The fly is tied onto the tippet.)