Easter wishes, a giveaway announcement ... strolling under a canopy of pink and a poem.

Wishing you a wonderful Easter celebration or if observed Passover, to be happily enjoyed with family and friends. For our springtime decoration this year I used a whole lot of eggs in our home. My grandparents (Dad's side) had a commercial chicken farm in Kingswood, NJ outside of Frenchtown, many, many decades ago. But that will be another story at another time, just saying I am recalling strong family memories this year.

I have lots to share with you in this post, but first I want to announce a giveaway that will start on Saturday April 26th and run for two weeks.

The giveaway is a hot off the press (published April 1, 2014) House beautiful's 500 Bathroom Ideas - Elegant and Dreamy Spaces. Hardcover, 304 pages, size - 7x9.8 by 1.2 inches thick. The book is gorgeous, full of inspiration to add beauty to your bathroom. Love the book so much brat me purchased a copy for myself. The giveaway will run for two weeks, more about it on Saturday April 26th when I post a photo essay of our upstairs bathroom.

On April 12th and 13th John and I enjoyed being incognito in the DC area under a canopy of pink. We spent a fun weekend with our friends, dining out and strolling the cherry blossom trees. Peak, gorgeous and an unexpected 80+ degrees as the blossoms rained down on us. Friends, Les, Kathy (Les's niece) Judy and Brian once again were a delight to casually wander around with soaking in the ephemeral lovely 2014 pink blossoms.

The trees were introduced as a gift from Japan to America in 1912, so being 102 years old you tend to linger in appreciation of the majestic beauty. When something happens and a tree needs replacement a young cherry blossom tree is planted. The cycle of life. Life expectancy could be a possible 250 years but in the Northeast we suffered through a horrid winter of relentless snow and below zero temperatures, weeks running into months, totaling 4 months this year. Spring was/is greatly received and rejoiced.

Some trees sprout blossoms in their trunks, while the bark shows moss from too much wetness this past winter. A harsh winter left some trees damaged. I would be remiss to not mention this.

Sadly this tree split and needed to have a limb cut off, but surviving is in it's legacy and lasting beauty.

Judy who I regard as a gardening wizard was our tour guide Sunday through the Kenwood section of Bethesda. I wish I had stopped and taken a better picture of a Crape Myrtle pruned. C'est la Vie... Look to the right of the lovely blossom tree. Judy made us laugh over and over again with her announcement of "CRAPE MURDER" whenever we strolled by a tree that had been severely pruned with the top chopped becoming horticulturist's chant "CRAPE MURDER". Judy is a nurse but trust me she has an amazing infinity to mother natures bestowed beauty. The crape myrtles are chopped to limit the growing height, but some are done less severely and those will blossom and bear flowers in that growing season. 

Crape Myrtle are beautiful flowering trees. They bloom all Summer long, beloved for their peeling bark, different colors and stunning natural form. My favorite is the "Zuni" which produces Lavender colored flowers, although I also adore the very bright pink.

I never would of considered myself addicted to my iPhone 5 ... Well I've never admitted to it till now. I have many cell phone covers ranging from white to red from translucent to opaque but all rabbit's with bunny ears. Pretty much my thing - in the pink meant my iPhone was clad in light translucent pink. Yeah I get teased but I also see lots of smiles from people and honestly I do it for me, my entertainment and my delight.

I spotted this tree, now look hard, doesn't it resemble a chocolate Easter bunny? Look closer... see the ears, the cut off limb as the tail??? OK, so Judy takes my iPhone and puts it in the hole, seriously wedged it into the hole. Thinking about what if it fell down into the truck, no arm would reach, would I need to commit the unthinkable, chopping down one of my beloved blossom trees? Trees I flock to annually and dream of in the cold winter months? My obsession of my lifetime. Heart palpitations and damn near a panic attack. All it was is a prop, staged by mon amie Judy to take a photo with her camera of my rabbit clad phone in the tree. Cute idea really. Admittedly I held my breath until it was safely back in my sweaty trembling hand my mind raced...

All I could think about was my 4,197 photos (I know I shouldn't have that many stored) pics for this post, my contacts, my apps, my last text message from my son just days before he passed. Yup, I am addicted to technology and I was about to have a panic attack! All those times I laughed at people with their smart phones in hand, checking, clicking, texting, sending ... OMG I am one of them!!! Realization in mind, senses alert suddenly in that moment of time I was awakened to my silly dependence on my iPhone!  While there were birds chirping, a squirrel running up a tree nearby and a brown bunny across the street. Yes, I am indeed an observer. Curiously wondering what might be their social media in a lighthearted moment this poem flooded my head. Hope you enjoy my poetry and feel free to laugh at me over my near panic attack.

Bunny kisses and I'll be back to post in a week, bathroom photo essay, giveaway and I'll leave you with my poetry and no if will not be potty related, promise.

Vera

Follow my "tweets"

Often known as a wise adviser, he is the self proclaimed King, a radiant young 5 year old shinny Black crow.

His far seeing eyes and oracular cries foretell impending fate to fellow creatures stopping by to say hello.

He considers himself the local town watch, perched high on a branch of a Dutch Elm tree.

Beneath is a young brown bunny thinking just how wonderful it would be, to fly far and free.

Dispelling all myths the crow points out merits of all creatures, while he's in charge of their social media.

Through his "tweets" he provides constant wisdom, much like knowledge he learned from an encyclopedia.

While the young cute brown bunny is happy just to hop around with pretty fresh flowers at his feet,

or nibble in a vegetable garden, planted by a farmer who grows baby carrots that are tasty and sweet.

King Crow looking down wants the bunny to hide from a predator Red Fox looking to eat.

"Mr. Fox is right down the lane, seen from above" as the Crow sends out his warning "tweet".

A Ginger Tom cat is out wandering and scouting for female companion, as he is always on the prowl,

just then King Crow spots a neighbors dog about to chase the Tom with a mean aggressive growl.

Well, the Tom's natural instinct is to fight - but with this dog it would probably end in a bloody mess,

So King Crow cries out his prophetic "tweet" and his birds eye's view warning is once again a success.

After a long afternoon spent sending "tweets" of wisdom, our Crow is now hungry for his favorite treat,

as he swoops down into a wild strawberry patch, a deserved reward for "tweets" cleverly announced, as he is always discreet!

Social media thankfully isn't just for us humans, nope not at all, as many might assume,

It is everywhere, amongst small creatures too, so they don't encounter doom and gloom!

© Vera

As the pink blossoms rained down on us, sigh.