Pussy Willows, probably the earliest 'flowers' of Spring!

I know, Spring is still wayyyys away, but I can't help looking for some early signs, mainly because there's not much else to do or look for so it gives a little goal to 'do' om my (still very short) 'walks'.
These pussy willows really are about the earliest flowering plants indeed and I have a small grouping in the ditch behind the RV.
Which is the side I see from my 'laptop-window' so it was a fun find.



Also, all around the property, hazelnut trees are developing their catkins or male flower-buds as well.
It will take forever before they will really flower though because although the pollination season starts in January their pollen will stay rather dormant until about May/June, after which they will fertilize the female buds and than the hazelnut won't be fully grown until August!

 

Another sign of very early Spring can be heard whenever the sun makes an appearance these days, when some birds are starting to set out there territory and impress the girls by singing their little hearts out already!

Like this pretty red House Finch, and this flashy Starling ..

It all may be a little too optimistic though, since last Wednesday, on Groundhog Day, good ol' Pennsylvania Phyl saw his shadow!

Which, of course, means ... 6 more weeks of winter!

Oh well. His forecasting accuracy is about 39% so it's of course basically a crap-shoot .. I mean, having spring predicted by a rodent .. we'll see!

James had something to celebrate this week. He aced his Realtor exam! Yoohoo!

Yes, definitely reason for a big smile indeed!

Congratulations Hon'! One done, one to go! On to the rest/second installment of the realtor classes! You know, 'there's no rest for the wicked'!
(Also, better to study in the winter than having to do it this summer, when you can go .. golfing, of course!)

OK, let's see .. Wednesday dinner was at Shari's this time. We'd been their before, last summer, (can you believe it, where do these days go?) and liked it so .. time for a repeat visit.

I don't think i showed pictures of the restaurant last time but this is how it looks like:

                   

Shari's Cafe & Pies, originally known as Shari's Restaurants, is a chain of family-style dining, the largest brand in the Pacific Northwest. Restaurants are open 365 days a year, many are also open 24 hours.

                    

 
Founded in 1978, there famous for fresh Northwest comfort food, welcoming service, and grand selection of award-winning pies!

Guess what? It so happened to be a Wednesday!

There's even a Shari's Rewards app, where rewards are built right in, so you'll collect points and start earning rewards with every purchase!
We split a T-bone steak and of course a piece of FREE Chocolate-silk pie. All delicious!

I wish I could say something like 'I worked off that piece of pie while walking' but no, no such dice .. that heel is still much to painful.
I've come up with yet another cause for the pain, I might have what they call 'fat pad syndrome' which means that the fatty layer under the heel is either bruised, damaged or has gotten thinner. Nothing to do about the latter but in case of the first two I've started to tape my heel in a certain way, which helps the tissue to be less painful and give it time to heal.
My butt/leg are feeling a little better due to the exercises but I guess it's still to early to feel a lot of difference.
Oh well, and so it is and so it goes ...

I've picked up spinning again, just for variation, and my 'never-to-be-finished-socks' I'm (still) knitting:

  

My weaving sampler is coming along.
So far I've woven a plain weave, a linked weft, a laid-in, a twisted weft, a Leno and a Brooks bouquet and am now working on straight twills ..

The top is the twill, below that the Leno and below that the  Brook's bouquets (they look a little bit like lace in knitting).
Doesn't it look like I totally know what I'm doing? Ha!

On top of all that, I'm also on a new puzzle. I know, I'm on a roll!