From bare branches to blooms

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.
~Rainer Maria Rilke

The willows have it (mostly)

Willow trees against a "cloud dance" sky 

Some trees haven't acknowledged Spring yet. But the willows have. 

Golden glow in the late afternoon sun. 

 

 A pear tree, also into Spring 

Willow peeking between dark trees 

And now for something completely different: I finished the shrug! 

Moving into Spring

It's finally becoming Spring. The songbirds have returned; tree branches are fat with buds 

Sun-drenched jonquils finally blooming

And soon I'll put away the winter wools

And winter hats

And seek something lighter

for Spring

Seeing visions

Looking upward...

and reflecting 

A varying skyline 

Rectangle of blue

The State Capitol -- in night vision

My latest fascination

When I was 10 or 11, I took a couple of knitting classes through 4-H Club. A kindly elderly lady, Edna, was my teacher. When I walked to her house after school, she always had hot chocolate and cookies waiting.

 

We knit through hot pads, slippers, headbands, head scarves, coin purses, and other projects in the 4-H knitting book. I learned the garter, stockinette, rib, and seed stitches using my red plastic needles.

During the last class, I attempted a sweater (the pattern of which was way beyond my ability and level). It was of turquoise yarn and had a lacy stitch across the shoulders. It took a long time, but I finished it, with a lot of help from Edna. Unfortunately, it had several noticeable "problems".  I gave it to my mother, who thanked me, smiled, and put it in a dresser drawer. Neither of us spoke of it again. And I went on to other things.

But here I am, years later, trying it again. So far I've done a scarf, wristers (fingerless gloves), and am currently working on a shawl.

No sweaters. But maybe, in time. We'll see....

January: Night, Day, and the Liminal

Foggy night

Downtown lights

Geese in the afternoon

Sunset

And sunrise

Seeing beyond the gray

It's been a time of endless gray days. Fog, mist, inversion, gloom. But when I stepped out on the patio this morning... 

...I heard birdsong, an "orchestra" of birdsong. And as I looked closer, I saw them -- in the very tops of the bare trees. 

As I watched, they streaked across the sky, flitting from treetop to treetop. 

Looking toward the new year

Macie's been watching... 

...as the old year passes.

May 2015 bring us all many blessings

Holiday scenes

Some people really love outdoor decorations 

The Holy Midwife was busy...  

Candles of daylight 

 

The Christmas cactus continues to bloom  

Of course from a feline point of view, any time of the year is good for rolling around and napping....

Scenes from the weekend

Zygo cactus blossom catching the sun

Resident ducks out for a swim and a little lunch

Resident geese out for a stroll and a few snacks

In absentia: turkeys (except for those on numerous dining room platters, and those driving by the mall)

Snowy weekend

After a 2-day winter storm which brought over 7.5 inches of snow and arctic temperatures.

7.5 inches isn't much in some places, but it's an unusual amount of snow here; in fact, it broke records set in November 1937.
 

It also rained during the storm, which then became ice. Icy snow clumps still cling to trees and bushes, weighing them down, breaking some.
And then there's driving on icy roads, which has been very  "entertaining".

But some creatures are not worried about ice, snow, cold, or terrible road conditions. They just don't want to be disturbed during nap time....

Light show!

Taken the evening after record rainfall. Glorious!