A BLESSED EASTER IN SANTA FE--2012

 The entire spring landscape is dressed in white for the happiest celebration of the year........("Wearing white for Eastertide"......)

 When the lady folk put on their Easter finery and Easter bonnets..........

 And revel in the fresh feeling of the season.........

 Because it is the season of rebirth and a time to rejoice!..........

 Even the menfolk are joining the Easter Parade in their finest garb.............

 La Conquistadora is also dressed in her bright white finest............

 Well, ALMOST everyone is thrilled with the joy of the season............

 In the Catholic Church, Easter is the most important feast of the liturgical year.......

 And a cause for great joy..............

 The purity of the lilies is symbolic of the holiday........

 And the parishioners are happy to see the end of Lent...........

What a joyous day for God and Man!...............

 Frannie is happy to be able to share this day with Grandpa "D"...........

And so is Frannie's mama............

 So we leave the solemnity of church........

 And enjoy the comradeship of the church community........

And it's a short walk for a morning cup of coffee...........

 En route, we run into the loveliest ladies in the Easter Parade..........

 Maybe they're soooo beautiful because they have such a BEAUTIFUL mommie..........

 Grandpa enjoys delivering one of his countless bon mots............

 Classic Salvatore................

 And his signature stroll............

 Back home, I am so grateful for my own precious son..........

En route to Easter Brunch, we stop to appreciate the wonders of the New Mexico State Capitol--Dwight's territory............

 In the springtime, this is one of the prettiest sights in Santa Fe..........

 Obviously proud of his work place...........

 Who wouldn't be?--it's gorgeous...............

 One of the nicest treats this time of year is walking UNDER a canopy of blooms...............

 A gorgeous sight!--and the trees aren't bad either..............

 "Well, let's go check up on the LOWER forty now..........."

 A little bit of everything is available at the Holiday Buffet at the Casino............

 Who's your Honey Bunny?...............

So went a lovely day.........We truly hope that you, gentle readers, also had a grand Easter and that you are enjoying the delights of a glorious Spring!!

Blossom Time--Spring Has Arrived...

 Thanks to unusually warm weather, we are enjoying an early abundance of spring blossoms on our fruit trees......

 Apricot trees that for many years opened branch by branch, are all abloom in unison for the first time in many years.....

 Karen takes Checkers for her walk down a driveway framed by cascading blossoms.......

Which is not lost on our own magnificent beast--Mr. Winston

 Even the humble traffic sign is graced with the beauty of the season.......

 And this profusion of bloom is city wide--here, Alice enjoys the charm of Sisi's garden.......

 And her adorable weeping cherry tree that literally stops traffic on her street....

On such a day, one feels happy just to be alive in such beauty........

 And springtime brings all we winter hibernators outside once more--to enjoy the excitement of the season....

 "Come on, Dwight, stop playing with Winston--there's a lot of gardening for us to get to......

 "And daylight is a'burnin'"...................................................

 "Boy, Daddy is so silly with his little son--Winston is SO spoiled!".......

 "Him not 'poiled......."

 "Him is SOOOOOOO 'poiled"..............

 "I wish I were spoiled........."

 Even little sprouts from apricot pits are getting big enough now to put on a display.  We counted eight apricots trees in bloom today at our house.....

 Of course, some are quite large--and almost as old as Dwight and me........

 Feels like a hug all over............

Karen is on her way back from her walk......

 And our "OBAMANOS" gate beckons...........

Dwight is busy now, checking out the landscaping.....

And Diana is communing with nature.....

Our Springtime guardian......

PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY KODACHROME AWAY.....

Spring is definitely here to stay...........

Not so smug there, Diana--as was hinted at in the last blog entry, APRIL CAN BE THE CRUELEST MONTH.  And just a few days later, we awoke to find everything dusted with fresh snow that froze some tender blossoms and broke some bud laden branches with heavy snow.  "Oh April, thou art a CRUEL master!" .....                                                                                                                            

"I could have told you that!"

Anyway, HAPPY SPRINGTIME!--whenever it comes to stay!!

HERE'S HOPING APRIL'S NOT "THE CRUELEST MONTH".....

 Click on image to enlarge calendar photo for April 2012.

 Click on image to enlarge calendar dates for April 2012.

A pinch and a punch for the start of the month from Alice who has a birthday today!