Sunday Safari

We celebrate the New Bee Moon today.
We will be in the dark of the moon now until the Full Pink Moon.
Now is a good time to plant root vegetables.

It is very warm today.
Thundershowers are in the forecast for tonight.

We are under a wind advisory.
A strong wind from the southwest has flatten many of the flowers.

I sat with the daffodils just in case the wind and severe
weather damages them.
Having daffodil time is always a delight in the Spring.

I am following "Journey North" as I watch for the
 Baltimore Orioles and the Hummingbirds to arrive.
The Juncos will leave soon for their northern breeding areas.

The Mockingbirds continue to delight me.

They do like raisins.
Soon I will put out oranges and grapes for the Orioles.

The birds are beginning to nest.

The wild violets are opening.
I saw Mason bees in the Spicebushes.

My husband cleaned up a bee box.
It is early for the Mason bees to nest but just in case
we like to be ready.

I have my sun hats out.
The temperatures will moderate but today is hot!

We have had a few nice surprises.
The Christmas cactus has re-bloomed

and a Black Swallowtail emerged.
My husband brought in a chrysalis he found the first of March when he clean up the hops vine. I placed it in a bowl of dried flowers.
What an honor to see this miracle of nature.

I stamped the calendar and made notes in my garden journal.

I celebrate the bee in April.
Each day I do something to honor this noble creature.
I collect bee lore.

In April I am falling in love every day.
Today I once again fall in love with the Moon.

I collect Moon lore.

The New Moon is known as the Grandmother Moon.

I can feel the stirrings of love.
After reading The Illustrated Cottage I have been inspired.

Nina Williams created in her home and gardens a frame work for a fairy tale. An amazing book and a cleaver idea.

I love the Art Nouveau style. Yet my home and gardens are much different.

My home and gardens tell the story of two lovers.
I look around and see my photographs on the wall.  I see the art work my children did when they were young.  I see family photographs and lovely reminders of our parents and Grandparents. I see the woodworking my husband has done. I see the gifts from family and friends. I see birds, bees, butterflies and buds.
I see beautiful. I see a wabi-sabi home.

As I look about once again I am in love with my home and gardens. I am in love with my collections and my passions.
I am in love with our music and baseball on radio.
I am in love with April.

I shall look for the Bee in the sky.
It is near the Pleiades, my favorite constellation.

I am falling in love; head over heels.
I am falling in love with this life I am living.
May you fall in love with your life this April.

Happy Sunday Safari.

Sunday safari

I bundled up this morning when I went outside to feed the birds.
It was cold. This afternoon's high is in the 30's.
The snow yesterday was only flurries but left a dampness and a cold
that gets into my bones.

Robin was all puffed up staying warm
 while he protected his raisins. He keeps the Starlings and the Sparrows away from the deck and the seed trays.

We are putting out two bowls of raisins

so the Mockingbirds do not have to wait for Robin to be distracted.
Keeping the raisins apart seems to be working.
We do not need any fights over raisins.
I try to keep a peaceful backyard.

The parade of flowers has slowed down.
The cooler temperatures are nice for the daffodils but
will keep the tulips from blooming.

We went to the Alpaca show.

So many different types of Alpacas to admire.

We had a fun time visiting with fiber folk we know

and taking pictures of the darling Alpacas.

I had a wonderful visit with Gloria Smith.
She and her husband raise Paco-Vincunas.

I have visited their farm and have met some of these animals.
I have Athena's yarn in my knitting basket.
She is a very beautiful animal.

I love this fiber.
It is very soft and lightweight but warm.

I enjoy knitting with Paco-Vincuna.
I enjoy just holding the yarn.

While writing this morning I realized how
much I depend on the adventure of discovery
for my energy.

Often an idea will stir other ideas and I will once again be fired up.

While I wait for warmer Spring days I am thinking
about how wonderful an edible front yard would be.

I am listening to Jazz and

finding my French connection.

I am listening to animals.

I am studying the Olive.
 I have a few every afternoon.

I shall be looking for a tree and a pot
and a place for my Olive Tree to grow indoors next winter.

While I wait for my next discovery and the joy of falling, once again, head over heels in love, I am taking comfort in what is  around me.  March is slowly coming to an end. April showers are in the forecast. I hope they are rain showers for May flowers.

Happy Sunday Safari.

Sunday Safari

Hello Spring!

Yesterday's rain washed Winter away.

We went to the Medicine Wheel this afternoon.

I made my offering. Spring has come.

The cycle continues.

Daffodiles are blooming

as are the miniature iris.

The turtles were basking

as was the skink.

We saw very few bugs but I know they are waking up.

I always look for the Red Fox.
 This is one of the many sculptures at the gardens we visited
this afternoon.

They had lots of Tete-a-tete Daffodils in bloom.
So charming.  Mine are a few weeks away from bloom.

Seeing kites flying was very fun.
I am looking forward to flying kites.
Maybe this week.

We heard lots of frogs but never saw them!

It was a gorgeous first day of Spring.
Temperatures soared to 80 degrees.

On the way home we saw a King Fisher.

There is a new development near a small river
not far from our house.

I was surprised to see the Kingfisher so near the road.

When he flew into a wooded area I was pleased.

Loss of habitat is everywhere.
I hope he has good fishing this Spring.

I want to visit the Tall Grass Prairie soon.
I want to see Spring wildflowers.

Our pair of Mocking birds

are fun to watch.

The Forsythia is in full bud.

The crocus continue to bloom.

Sweet Spring has come.
We saw another bee this afternoon
 and a two butterflies.
Soon all manner of bees and butterflies will wing their way
into my gardens.
I am happy.
The bugs are returning.
I have missed them.

Happy Sunday Safari.
Happy Spring.