Sunday Safari

The fog engulfed the gardens all day.

I was transported to another time

and place.

Snow still lays on the ground.

After I fed the birds
I took my books and blankets to the deck.

We have packed up February
and have cleaned the house.

We have decorated for March.

We have our calendar of events.

We hung the shamrock

and our kites.

Kites are good,

so very, very good.

Soon the weather will warm
and the winds will carry our kites skyward,
soon, very soon.

I heard Flicker and saw him fly into the Ash tree.
The fog clouded him.

The Ash Tree, Nion,  is associated with Pisces.
I thought of my friend and her love of the Trees.
She is a Pisces.

Flicker doesn't seem to be afraid of me.
He feed while I watched.
I was lost in thought,
lost in remembering and dreaming.

Robin comes for raisins.
He is very protective of his raisins.

March has always been about
Ireland and kites at my house.

I have hunted for Fairies

and quoted the
Irish.

I have celebrated St. Patrick's Day
and I have been inspired.

I have made all sorts of
St. Patrick's Day crafts.

I have loved the fog.

This year I am adding Wales
to my March.

I am studying their traditions.

I am learning about St. David,

 daffodils, leeks and Red Dragons.

I am gathering seed.
We will plant our Spring kitchen garden
as soon as the snow melts.

I am arm chair traveling
in March.

I am adding Celtic Astrology
to my understanding of the
ancients.
I am adding the
Lunar Zodiac of the Druids
and tree lore to my March.

My friend told me about a BBC
program called, "Merlin."
She is waiting for season 4 to begin.
My daughter helped me find, on line,
 season one and two.
It is wonderful.
I watch one episode every day.

I am very much a Yankee
in King Arthur's Court.

I know very little about Arthur
and Merlin.
They are now part of my March.
I will learn their story.

I did not have children's stories when I was young.
It was when my children were young
 I discovered tall tales and legends.

It is in March,
 when my house is dressed in Hobbit colors,
chiefly green and yellow,
that I hold close magic rings.

It is in March I have conversations
in the fog and mist.
I read Merlin is buried in Wales.

We are having a thunderstorm.
The rains are to turn to sleet and snow.
February has been a wild weather ride.

May your March be blessed
with good health and prosperity.

Happy Sunday Safari.

Sunday Safari

It is the 14th annual Backyard Bird Count weekend.

I was pleased to see the male Red-bellied Woodpecker.

A flock of American Robins

came for water and raisins.

The wind blew strong out of the south.
It was 64 degrees F at 1pm.
I heard the Snow Geese before I saw them.
A huge migrating flock flew over my house.

For a brief moment

I was part of Spring migration.

There are many birds that call our urban backyard home.

The Red Breasted Nuthatch

is one of the smaller birds.

I did not know they ate Dogwood buds!

Most days we have over a hundred birds
visit the feeders.

I counted 24 Northern Cardinals.
It is busy in our backyard.

Happy Sunday Safari.

Sunday Safari

By 10 am the temperatures were in the upper 40's F.
The wind was calm.
I went outside to be with the birds.

A pair of Tufted Titmice came for nuts

as did a pair of Carolina Wrens.

I am far from Spring

but milkweed seeds are dancing

and migration has begun.

The sparrows have begun shopping for
nesting boxes.

In February, the Tall Grass Prairie
 often is blanketed with snow.
My gardens are still snow covered.
I sat with my books and my note pad.
My camera nestled on my lap.

As the temperatures rise the snow slowly waters
my bulbs and perennials.
I do not want to hurry Spring.
I am content to watch as she slowly emerges.

I shall be planting my chives soon.
They are an early Spring herb
that the bees and butterflies love.

A pair of Red-tailed Hawks hunted
my backyard.
I enjoyed the sun on my face.

We celebrate Valentine's Day
tomorrow.

I shall celebrate all week.

Have a
Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Sunday Safari.