I simply could not resist sharing more photos of the gorgeous spring here! I also have one strange story of what happened yesterday as I got a little snap-happy...it perfectly characterizes the type of neighbors we have.

As I was photographing this lovely Bradford Pear near our house, a burly dad holding a rake hurries down the sidewalk towards me. "Stop!" he says.

I pause.

"You can't take a picture of that tree. You're stealing its soul."

You kidding me? I don't know what to say. Suddenly feeling guilty for some reason, I stammer, "I...uh...I live down the street and just wanted to take pictures of some of these beautiful trees in our neighborhood...uh..."

"You're a freak," he says.

With wide eyes, all I can do is stare at him.

He stares back, dead serious, and then cracks a smile. "Just kidding. My wife [who is watching tentatively from the front yard] told me not to, but I thought it'd be funny to come over here and pester you."

[Polite grin and fake laugh] "Haha. Well, see ya!" Thoroughly weirded out, I go on my merry way.