First Dance

Sarah and Andy's first dance

Crocus

A Dutch hybrid crocus "Pickwick" blooming at the Owens family farm in Ohio.

Sweetgum Balls

Free to Run

Jack stretching his legs in the open field at his great-grandparent's farm in Ohio.

A Joyous Celebration

Sarah and Andy

become Mr. and Mrs. Harant

Cleveland

Deserted Farmhouse

near Mount Airy, NC

Spring Training Camp

Jack and Annaka

First Day of Spring

and the forsythia is in bloom.

Grandpa, What's a Record?

The iPod generation meets Thomas Edison.

Annaka and Jack learning about music before there were CDs and iPods.

Puzzle Time

Jack and Annaka

Hide & Seek

Ethan and William

Ethan - Birthday Boy

That's My Dog

Ethan looking at his dog, Goldie

Blue Sky and Daffodils

Bluebirds

A pair of bluebirds in the river birch.

Variegated Vinca

Cedar Waxwings

A flock of Cedar Waxwings visited the backyard yesterday afternoon.

Habitat for Humanity

The results of only four work days on this year's Habitat for Humanity house sponsored by First United Methodist Church. The next couple of weeks college students on spring break will be helping with the house.

Soaking Up Some Rays

Snowflakes are Blooming

Snowflake (Leucojum) are members of the same family as daffodils, jonquils and narcissus. The flowers have a distinctive bell shape with a green spot on the tip of each petal.

Railroad Crossing

Railroad crossing on the Conway Riverwalk under the Waccamaw River Memorial Bridge.

Importance of Bees

Seeing this bee on the Carolina Jessamine reminded me of recent articles about a major problem called "Colony Collapse Disorder" which is affecting the honey bee population. Since 1971 one half of the U.S. honey bee colonies have vanished and the rate is accelerating in recent years. Why are honey bees important?

• They pollinate 15 billion dollars worth of US crops each year.
• It is estimated that we owe one in three bites of food to bees.

Are bees an environmental "Canary in the Coal Mine"?

Old Rolling Stock

at the Conway train depot.

A Bee and a Bug

More signs of an early spring. I also spotted a sulphur butterfly on Saturday which may have blown in with a recent storm.

Assassin Bug

Tiny Leaves

appearing on the Japanese Spirea.

Old Hand Pump

This pump located at Freewoods Farm was manufactured by the Red Jacket Mfg. Co of Davenport, Iowa. Robert Lafferty invented the double-action iron hand water pump in 1878 and named the company after Chief Red Jacket, a Seneca Indian chief.

Flowers at Freewoods Farm

Old Farm Buildings

Freewoods Farm