Noon.
Blue sky and no wind.
Cows in the meadow, finches and tits on the wing, lamb in a paddock.
Parsley and chives showing in a pot.
Almond blossom‘s second day out–not quite full bloom.
Crocus, daffodil and the large rosemary bush in flower.
Bees at work
Lovely combo of warmth from the sun and a scarf round the neck, for the shadows on my walk.
New Tilley hat comfortably on my head–and not a bus in sight.
Our young neighbour who runs the Mediateque de Lautrec passes in her little red car taking her baby home for lunch. We are in la France Profonde –and there are four rush hours a day! She entrusts him to the village creche in working hours.
The Postman who delivered my new hat yesterday, passes and waves as he nears the end of his rounds.
Perfect, you might say.
Except, as Meredith says, it is all a month too early.
Ten days before the end of February!
Spring is sprung officially on March 20th
Still, gather ye rose buds, carpe diem and quand même–eh?!
Robin Ellis 
Your almond blossom photo is very Van Gogh-ish. Love it!
I’ll take it! Here in Idaho, USA, it’s currently -2 degrees fahrenheit, and the ground is covered with snow. Pretty, but bone-chilling.
I just shovelled my driveway. ☹️ If I have one regret, it’s that I wish I had made more of an effort to live somewhere idyllic like the south of France, or Tuscany.
Too early, that’s true. My first daffodils are shivering in the wind, rain is pooring down. The sun seems to have disappeared. At least, he’s with you in France, so there’s hope.
You write so beautifully about the things you see, so I’m seeing them too. Enjoy the beautiful weather!
It does my heart good to see your signs of Spring! Lovely…..
And maybe, Robin, you should put a string on that hat to wear it on your back (like some cowboys do) when it’s not on your head! You can be a French/British gaucho.
It’s 11 degrees F in Minnesota. You enjoy that weather for us!
Good idea!
I have to agree with Meredith, it is a month too early. Even though it is beautiful to see the daffodils in full flower in the garden border and in our little orchard. We even have a beautiful red rose in bloom in a corner of our garden. Pleased to know your Tilley hat arrived.
I can’t believe the honey bees are out and about! I am waiting on our first sign of spring which will be the sound of the spring peepers. They usually come out on St. Patrick’s day. So far we have dodged the snow and we have had a mild winter here in Maryland.
Hi Mary. Roll on the spring peepers!
From the frozen north of the Adirondacks of Upstate NY, USA, those pictures look lovely!!!
Beautiful
Sent from my iPhone
>
Nice, Robin. On the island of Gran Canaria they celebrate every year at this time the Fiestas del Almendro en Flor. This year the flowering here was also advanced. It is at the top of the island, in Tejeda, the only Canarian town that belongs to the Association The most beautiful Villages in Spain The uniqueness of these festivities served to win the 2014 Regional Tourist Interest Award. It is a tribute to the product that has sustained the local economy historically. 75% of the almond trees registered in the Canary Islands are in Tejeda, which is about 150,000. From this tree you get products such as marzipan, bienmesabe or bitter almond oil, recognized nationally.
You and Meredith are invited when they want to come. Just bring your hat. It’s almost always sunny here. Canary Islands are the Islands of eternal spring.
Un saludo cordial
Muchas gracias a todas!
Ours is a bitter almond–sadly.
I love almonds.
I am jealous!! We are having below freezing weather here in Oxford, Mississippi! Our state has had terrible flooding all week as well. Your words and pictures made me so happy as I felt Spring has come to your area of France and…..it won’t be too long before it arrives here as well. Happy Marci Gras times next week!!😊
We added 10 more inches of snow last night. Jealous doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings looking at these lovely pics. Here it feels like Spring will never come. The sun shining on me when I went to get the mail this afternoon felt like Heaven!
Lovely that spring is well advanced there. In Wales we are still pretty inundated, but I’m lucky, being up a hill. The storms have created vast damage, floods in some parts of the Valleys up to the second floors of houses; almost Biblical! I’m awaiting my food delivery via Tesco, will be interesting to see what actually arrives! 😉
Awaiting furniture too, some disruption is inevitable, but still, Nature is in charge!
Sounds horrendous. Hope help arrives safely and effectively.
Bristol (the home of Poldark production). Its cold, overcast but dry. Actually it feels like its freezing out there (just got the recycling bins in). Or maybe its because I have my summer trousers on. Rain due this weekend here. Snow across Scotland. Why is that such a surprise? It is winter.
Thank you for your wonderful blog, Robin. A special place, where you are. I feel it!
Thanks, Claudia.
Beautiful almond blossom. Life is short so carpe diem is a good phrase. Just heard on BBC that the Brits evacuated from the cruise ship in Japan are learning to appreciate the simple things in Life such as hearing the birds sing and getting fresh air outside in their gardens.
Lovely pictures! Merci for sharing.
Sent from my iPhone
>