Sweet Sounds As Spring Slowly Springs

  Maybe not as early as last year but slowly spring is creeping up on us....very VERY slowly.  Down in the south the Bradford Pear trees are blooming, the oaks are sprouting new growth and the grass is greening up.  It might still be too early to plant a garden (last year my tomatoes were already calf high by this time) but slowly I can see spring coming my way.  As I passed over Ohio the other day however I felt sorry for the Mid-westerners   For miles upon miles all I saw is fields covered with the white stuff.
  Just from personal observations I can tell you that the spring song birds of the south are starting their migration back north and with their slow flight to their summer homes they bring with them their songs.  The yellow song bird above (poorly photographed with a cell-phone) is my response to the sweet chirping sounds of spring.  May all you up north soon hear it as well.

    On another topic, some of you might remember my painting of a pumkinseed blugill a few weeks back.  Well after I posted this particular painting on net I had a flood of emails with requests to purchase it.  I'll save you the details except to say that this painting is obviously no longer available.  Why I bring it up is to show you what it looks like in the custom cut mat.  I have had this done on a few other original paintings and love the finished look with a cutout to place a favorite fly.  The pictures don't do it justice but let me tell you that once I had it in the mat and brought it home I was tempted to send out a refund and keep the painting for myself.  Sometimes I feel this way and it may sound corny but often I get attached to works I have created.  I am told that this painting will end up as a gift from a son to his father- a dedicated angler- and I cant think of a better home for it.