Tag: springtime

SPRING?

On By jillhaymakerIn baby boomer romance, contemporary romance, cowboys, family, motherhood, love, flowers, gardening, happy endings, later in life romance, new release, romance, second chance romance, silver fox romance, small town romance, Uncategorized, western romanceLeave a comment

Is it Spring yet? No matter where you reside, when we reach the end of February, you’re bond to hear this sentiment. If you live in the southern United States like I currently do, the answer is almost. In a couple more weeks it will be safe to plant without fear of frost. On my morning walk today, I saw yards filled with blooming daffodils, pansies, forsythia, and flowering trees. The azaleas are starting get their first blooms.

If, however, you live farther north, like my former home in Colorado, consistent warmer temperatures are still several months away. Although you may experience beautiful, warm March days, the next day you may get several feet of snow. The danger of frost stays until after Mother’s Day, regardless of the fact that the first day of spring is on the calendar in March.

Why do we look so forward to spring? Probably for many reasons. The days get longer, and the gloom of winter fades. Spring signals a new beginning, a time that reflects hope. A sign that no matter how dark our lives get, there will be a brighter tomorrow. There’s something so reassuring about watching tiny plants emerge from the recently frozen ground. Seeds that never gave up, but merely waited for their season. I love that!

It’s similar to the reason I write romances. I love the happy endings. Readers can pick up a romance novel and be assured that no matter how bad a situation may appear, that it will get better, the characters will fall in love, and they will have a happy ending. After all, isn’t that we all want for our lives?

So find hope in the anticipation of spring, whether it’s next week or next month or a ways down the road.

My latest novel, Climb up to Love,  was released last week. If you love stories of hope and new beginnings, get your copy now, and see how Sierra and Storm find a new beginning and overcome the darkness of their pasts. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084BP9GW6

CUTL front final

Springtime

On By jillhaymakerIn flowers, gardening, springtime, UncategorizedLeave a comment

front garden

I love spring! It’s so amazing when the cold of winter vanishes and the first flowers of spring make their appearance. Here in East Texas, spring comes a couple month earlier than it did when I lived in Colorado. When the danger of frost is past in mid-March, I’m ready to plant. I smile as tiny growth appears from last year, and I rarely come home from shopping without at least one new flower for my yard. I’ve had to learn new plants and new time frames these past couple of years, but I still mange to fill my yard with color. This year I bought a peacock at a flea market 🙂 It’s my new favorite. And the azaleas! There’s nothing prettier than when they are in bloom.

With temperatures topping out in the 70’s and 80’s, these days and evenings are perfect for long walks with my dog, Merlin. Not too hot, not too cold-but just right. I know these days are fleeting, soon summer will be here full force with its 90 and 100 degree temperatures and bugs, lots of bugs, that will force me to spend more time back inside.

But for now, I’m spending as much time as I possibly can outdoors in the beauty of nature. It is truly a spectacular planet we live on!

azaleas

Springtime in Colorado

On By jillhaymakerIn Spring in ColoradoLeave a comment

029I love Spring!  Flowers, warm temperatures, and the hope of new beginning and summer to follow. In Colorado, however, it is always such an up and down ride.  80 degrees and sunshine one day, snow and 20 degrees the next.  And so it goes back and forth through March, April, and sometimes even May.  Just when you get out your shorts and flip-flops for good, you have to reach back in the closet for snow boots and mittens.

In January this year my daughter and I scheduled a horseback riding weekend trip to the mountains for the third weekend in March. I know, very risky.  March came in like a lamb, with temperatures in the mid-70’s the first two weekends. I waited for the other shoe to drop. And sure enough, the night before we were to leave, the snow started falling intensely. We made it to the ranch, where we spent the day Saturday on horseback, in the cold, below freezing weather saved only by layers and layers of warm clothes and those wonderful little hand warmer packets stuffed in our mittens and boots. No bright Colorado sunshine to be seen. But as happens, Sunday morning dawned with dark blue sky and the temp quickly warmed to the 50’s. Boy did we appreciated the warmth. A great time was had, despite the changes in the weather. And I got some magnificent pictures.

What a difference a day makes! I love Colorado.166