Wordless Wednedsay - The Fourth Swan

5/8/2011

Pollinators

“Farming feeds
the world, and
we must remember
that pollinators
are a critical
link in our food
systems.”

-- Paul Growald,
Co-Founder, Pollinator partnership

Check out this worthwhile project here.  I downloaded and began to read the planting guide for my region today.  I am beginning gardens in a little rental home.  Though I wont be able to take the gardens with me when my lease is up, I can leave a little beauty behind for the next tenants, and for the pollinators as well!

May

May flowers bloom at your feet...

May blue skies cheer you...

May you walk in peace

And if you need to, may you start anew.

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy.

(all images are from Mother's Day: around my home and from a hike with 3 of my children.)

Mother Earth

The poetry of Mary Oliver sings of the beauty of our mother earth so perfectly, so I chose this poem to post on Mother's Day.  

Morning Poem

Every morning

the world

is created.

Under the orange

sticks of the sun

the heaped

ashes of the night

turn into leaves again

and fasten themselves to the high branches ---

and the ponds appear

like black cloth

on which are painted islands

of summer lilies.

If it is your nature

to be happy

you will swim away along the soft trails

for hours, your imagination

alighting everywhere.

And if your spirit

carries within it

the thorn

that is heavier than lead ---

if it's all you can do

to keep on trudging ---

there is still

somewhere deep within you

a beast shouting that the earth

is exactly what it wanted ---

each pond with its blazing lilies

is a prayer heard and answered

lavishly,

every morning,

whether or not

you have ever dared to be happy,

whether or not

you have ever dared to pray.

from Dream Work (1986) by Mary Oliver

© Mary Oliver

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace. 

Falling

As I sat, elbow-deep in end of semester projects and case-studies and professional development portfolios, snow fell outside.  Not gentle April reminders of winter, but a rather fierce gusty blizzard.  Gray shadows fell through my windows, as I sat at the computer.  I watched night fall over the continent of Africa, on the World Sunlight Map, and marveled at how small the world has become during the years of my life.

Though I am up against deadlines, I found time to slowly brew sweet Turkish coffee in my tidy little kitchen, and to mix up some chocolate almond cookies.   I listened to some favorite Indie bands and enjoyed the sanctuary of home, as nature roared her contrary song outside my windows.

Thank you to my friends, old and new, who have checked in on my here during my quiet spell.  I am hoping to post more frequently... just a few days left in this seemingly endless semester!

Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you joy.

Winter Walk

On the last day of winter, two of my children and I

took a long ramble through quiet woods and down to the waterside.

Where ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace.

Quiet...

Sorry to have been so quiet.  We lost a good friend to a long-term illness this weekend.  He was only 51.  So, taking a little time for reflection and mourning.