A Bit ‘O Spring – 3/16/15, 3/17/15

“sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love

(all the merry little birds are
flying in the floating in the
very spirits singing in
are winging in the blossoming)

lovers go and lovers come
awandering awondering
but any two are perfectly
alone there’s nobody else alive

(such a sky and such a sun
i never knew and neither did you
and everybody never breathed
quite so many kinds of yes)

not a tree can count his leaves
each herself by opening
but shining who by thousands mean
only one amazing thing

(secretly adoring shyly
tiny winging darting floating
merry in the blossoming
always joyful selves are singing)

sweet spring is your
time is my time is our
time for springtime is lovetime
and viva sweet love”
~ e. e. cummings

Forsythia on 3/16/14.

Click here for the post to photos for March 16, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.

Sunday, March 16, 2015 – A warm day with partly cloudy skies.  The neighbor’s ornamental plum is blooming and growing leaves so fast that they blossoms are already falling.  Yesterday they were mostly buds with a few blossoms open.  The early tulips are directly beneath the tree and the box elder bug is on my Oregon grape.

“The sun just touched the morning;
The morning, happy thing,
Supposed that he had come to dwell,
And life would be all spring.”
~ Emily Dickinson
“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
“blossom unfolding
coaxed by warm weather and sun
gilded with pollen”
~ Raven Ariana Simons

Thai chili pepper blossom on 3/16/14.

Click here for the post to photos for March 17, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.

Monday, March 17, 2015 – Today was another unseasonably warm day that started off clear and sunny and developed into clouds.  I saw my first butterflies, a checkered white (no photo of that one) and an orange one that I think is a silver bordered frittilary.  If you click on the photos you can see that one has a ladybug at the bottom of the dandelion where the orange butterfly is sipping nectar.  I also have my neighbors’ Buddha dressed up for St. Paddy’s Day and if you look closely at the horizontal photo you can see a jumping spider photo bombing his hat.  A dove and a robin grace the day, along with tulips, plum blossoms, and a honeybee bum (at the top of the page).


“Describe plum-blossoms?
Better than my verses…white
Wordless Butterflies”
~ Reikan
“butterflies dancing
dear dandelions blooming
sip nectar my love”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste, Namu Amida Butsu, and Bright Spring Blessings ~ Raven

Three Sunny Days in March – 3/7/15, 3/8/15, 3/9/15

“Now when the primrose makes a splendid show,
And lilies face the March-winds in full blow,
And humbler growths as moved with one desire
Put on, to welcome spring, their best attire…”
~ William Wordsworth

Cedar waxwing on 3/7/14.

Click here for post with photos from March 7, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.

Saturday, March 7, 2015 – Today was a day full of birds staking out territory and I even saw a tussle between a couple of male starlings, though I was only able to get the “sing off” before they went after each other.  I also have a cute blue jay who seemed to look on in an incredulous way.
“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ”
~ Geoffrey B. Charlesworth
 “as the jay looks on
male starlings fall from the tree
engaged in battle”
~ Raven Ariana Simons

Crocus on 3/8/14.

Click here for post with photos from March 8, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.

Sunday, March 8, 2015 – I saw my first flower flies (hoverflies) today and the first mason bee (osmia) and a cute little honeybee gathering pollen.
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
“a fine sunny day
as pollinators emerge
from their winter’s sleep”
~ Raven Ariana Simons

Seagulls on March 9, 2014.

Click here for post with photos from March 9, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.

Monday, March 9, 2015 – The crocus are still in bloom, the aspen catkin buds lengthen, and the Oregon grape is also coming into bloom.  We also had a lovely sunset which is stars at the beginning of this post.
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
~ Rachel Carson
“cheerful spring flowers
food for the insect people
brings hope to my heart”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Bright Bee Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven

 

Rain (3/2/15) and Snow (3/3/15)

“A day of spring —
wherever any water is,
in darkness lingering.”
~ Kobayashi Issa

Honeybees collecting crocus pollen on 3/2/14.

Click here for photos for March 2, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.

Mourning dove on 3/3/14.

Click here for photos for March 3, 2012, 2013, and more 2014.

Monday, March 2, 2015 – We had a little bit of lovely rain today and it is supposed to snow tomorrow, so I think I’ll put these two days together with a song covered by several famous bands and based on an old Celtic traditional song that migrated to the mountain places of the US where immigrants settled from the British Isles.  I really like the way The Lonesome Sisters interpret it and you can find a link to a youtube recording at the end of the post with lyrics.  Pentangle also did a lovely version. The Celts are a passionate people.  In some traditions water is connected to emotion. If allowed emotions can flow like water and if dammed can build up and overflow.  Many of the old songs from these areas are washed with what we think of (in the western culture) as the “darker” emotions.

“Early spring –
stream flows
toward my door“
~ Kobayashi Issa “precious raindrops fall
bringing life to thirsty land
much needed water”
~ Raven Ariana SimonsTuesday, March 3, 2015 – Today it snowed and we are on track with our song theme.  I have also added some haiku from a Japanese master, Kobayashi Issa. I learned a little about him today at a book club meeting that I am new to.  Here’s a link where I found some of his poetry 🙂 “Seeming as though
this would be the last of it…
so much spring snow”
~ Kobayashi Issa

“cold snow is falling
water in another form
some love, some avoid”
~ Raven Ariana Simons

Here you can listen to the beautiful rendition of “Rain and Snow” by The Lonesome Sisters

Rain & Snow
Traditional, arrangement & last verse by Debra Clifford

Well I married me a wife, gave me trouble all my life
Run me out in the cold rain and snow,
rain and snow, run me out in the cold rain and snow

She came on down the stairs throwin’ back her yellow hair
and her cheeks were as red as a rose,
as a rose, her cheeks were as red as a rose

she came into the room where she met her fatal doom
and I aint gonna be treated this old way,
this old way, and I ain’t gonna be treated this old way

I shot through the head and I laid her on the bed
and I ain’t gonna be treated this old way
this old way, and I ain’t gonna be treated this old way

Her baby cried all night I know that what I done ain’t right
the wind howls her name oh so low,
oh so low, the wind howls her name oh so low

Debra Clifford © 2004

The Lonesome Sisters Lyrics
Sarah Hawker & Debra Clifford
lonesomesisters.com

Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste  and Nama Amida Butsu ~ Raven

Snow 2/26/15

Streetlamp in the snow on 2/26/15.

“In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.”
~ Mark Twain
Click here for February 26 past photos (2012, 2013, and more of 2014).

Honeybee on duckweed in urban oasis on 2/26/14.

Thursday, February 26, 2015 – Today it snowed, which must have been a bit shocking to the birds, bees, and blossoms that have been enjoying a rather mild February.  It wasn’t too cold, though, and the snow melted off of sidewalks and streets quickly.  Living in a desert, I’m happy we are getting some precipitation 🙂
“First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us,
And now before the eye can focus —
Crocus. ”
~ Lilja Rogers
“little chickadee
yesterday it seemed  like spring
then today it snowed”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste ~ Raven

Birds, Blooms, and Bees 2/24/15 & 2/25/15

First viola of the season on 2/25/15.

“Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. ”
~ Geoffrey B. Charlesworth
Click here for the post with February 24, 2012, 2013, and 2014 past pics.

Hazel catkins on 2/24/14.

Click here for the post with February 25, 2012, 2013, and 2014 past pics.

Calendula seeds on 2/25/14.

Tuesday, February 24, 2014 – Today was a lovely day for birds and we had many visitors at the urban oasis and for sunflower seed offerings.  The forsythia is just coming into bloom and makes a lovely place for birds to perch.  Today we have goldfinch, sparrow, and house finch.
“lively visitors
they love when the sun comes out
in February”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s party!”
~ Robin Williams
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 – Some of my Christmas cactus have a few blooms here and there.  My first volunteer viola is blooming, too.  Today was nice enough for the ladies to come out and drink.  I hope they also found some fine pollen!
“blossoms, birds, and bees
celebrate feelings of spring
as daylight lengthens”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
“Every spring is the only spring — a perpetual astonishment. ”
~ Ellis Peters
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Bright Bee Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven

Three Days – 2/20/15, 2/21/15, and 2/22/15

“pollinating fire
as we pray for all of life
each one connecting”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
“If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.”
~ Pema Chodron
I didn’t to get my daily posts up from the 20th until today so I have added the hyperlinks in the dates in case you’d like to go back and see the photos and adventures on those past days (each post will have a photo for 2012, 2013, and at least one, maybe more, for 2014):
February 20, 2012 – 2014
February 21, 2012 – 2014
February 22, 2012 – 2014
Sunday, February 22, 2015 – Friday was cooling down, Saturday we had a little bit of snow, and today it is windy with snow expected in some parts of the state over the next couple of days.  One of my long time friends told me today that it looks like winter may be back.  I guess we’ll see from moment to moment, day by day.
Friday, February 20, 2015 – Definitely getting chillier and more wind, though the birds were out, but not a lot of the ladies.
“waiting for your seeds
sitting on forsythia
while other birds eat”
~ Raven Ariana Simons Saturday, February 21, 2015 – I woke up to snow, though it did melt pretty fast and there was only a small amount.
“the drops are perfect
holding upside down tree dreams
in the melting snow”
~ Raven Ariana Simons  Sunday, February 22, 2015 – Today was cold and so windy that the wind chill factor made me want to stay in the house.  I took a few studies of some of the leaves of my plants that live by my window with some colorful glass.  The honeybee votive candle holder at the very top of the page is part of the arrangement.
“such life in my home
and I don’t have to go far
to share, love, and care”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
~ Paul Coelho
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste and Bright Bee Blessings ~ Raven

At the Park 2/19/15

“The more successfully a city mingles everyday diversity of uses and users in its everyday streets, the more successfully, casually (and economically) its people thereby enliven and support well-located parks that can thus give back grace and delight to their neighborhoods instead of vacuity. ”
~ Jane Jacobs
Flashback – Sunday, February 19, 2012 – This is a bird’s nest in a tree on my block. You can see the snow in it from the storm we had in the wee hours.
Flashback – Tuesday, February 19, 2013 – This is my neighbor’s weeping Atlas cedar.
Flashback – Wednesday, February 19, 2014 – The snow really came down for a while and we even had an airport advisory because of high winds. I went out to the pond at lunch and found some companions to take pictures of.  Here are some cute little coots braving the weather.
Thursday, February 19, 2015 – Today I had the pleasure of spending some lovely sunny hours with a dear friend.  For a little while we went to a local park and sat on a bench in the sun.  There were lots of birds and I was able to get a few photos, even though they were on the move!
“The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt
“only the crow knows
as he calls to the others
the mysteries he holds”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste ~ Raven

Pollen for Grace 2/18/15

“Until it seems that the whole city (Venice/Venus)
will be covered with golden pollen shaken
from the bell towers, lilies plundered
with the weight of massive bees …”
~ H. D.

Flashback – Saturday, February 18, 2012 – Here are two female sparrows on an aspen.
Flashback – Monday, February 18, 2013 – I love this photo looking out in the Great Salt Lake. I think that this is Antelope Island, the farther shore.
Flashback – Tuesday, February 18, 2014 – The ducks have started their courtship and mating behavior at the pond 🙂
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 – A long time neighbor just sold his house. He is a professional photographer, horseman, beekeeper and all around nice person.  I had a very surprising experience a couple of days before he had to be gone when I asked when he was moving his bees.  He explained to me that a friend of his had taken most of his empty boxes but that his thriving hive was not welcome by the new owners of the property and that he was afraid that the bees would die if moved to his new house.  He wondered if I’d give them a home.  I asked when they needed to be moved and he said a couple of days.

Wowza!  I must give a big thank you to my hubby and son for scrambling to get them moved in time.  Last summer, my intuition was to leave all honey for YoMama Hive and my neighbor did the same for this one.  His hive has four deep boxes, so you can imagine how heavy they were.  I guess there were some tense moments when, despite heavy straps, the boxes started separating as they were trundled down the street and into my backyard and across bumpy places!  They’re here now and it looks like the ladies have settled in. I have named them Grace Hive 🙂  These ladies are Carniolans and have already been bringing in pollen!  The Italians of YoMama Hive have been pollen laden, too.
“Words were her plague and words were her redemption.”
~ H. D.
“would you like my bees
you’ll need to move them quickly
so Grace came to me”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Bright Bee Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven

Signs of Early Spring 2/16/15

“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…
“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine…”
~ Frances Hodges Burnett
Flashback – Thursday, February 16, 2012 – Dakota the Pixie-Bob likes to hang out on the speaker.
Flashback – Saturday, February 16, 2013 – This is Mount Olympus of the Wasatch Range through some trees from my friends’ neighborhood.
Flashback – Sunday, February 16, 2014 – These cute cedar waxwings came to visit today.
Monday, February 16, 2015 – Buds are forming on roses and forsythia, while the aspen catkins are budding and opening.  The birds love eating the buds on the different shrubs and trees.  So far it is looking like an early spring.
“It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”
~ Mark Twain
“I see you peeper
one eye on me as I watch
soon you will take flight”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Namaste ~ Raven

Sunny Day With Tiny Spider and Honeybees 2/8/15

“Every child should have mud pies, grasshoppers, water bugs, tadpoles, frogs, mud turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb. Brooks to wade, water lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of education.”
~ Luther Burbank
Flashback – Wednesday, February 8, 2012 – This is the last flower left on this orchid I got as a gift for the holidays.
Flashback – Friday, February 8, 2013 – Here are the Oquirrh Mountains on Friday when the weekend storm was rolling in.
Flashback – Saturday, February 8, 2014 – Here is a lovely azalea that is just finishing up with a blooming cycle.
Sunday, February 8, 2015 – Today was gorgeous and unseasonably warm.  I saw a teeny tiny jumping spider and the ladies were out getting drinks at our urban oasis 🙂
“wee jumping spider
has an awesome place to watch
where everyone drinks”
~ Raven Ariana Simons

“Listen patiently, quietly and reverently to the lessons, one by one, which Mother Nature has to teach, shedding light on that which was before a mystery, so that all who will, may see and know.”
~ Luther Burbank
“side by side they drink
sisters at the oasis
then back to the hive”
~ Raven Ariana Simons
Our hearts give thanks for the Grace in the Universe!
Bright Bee Blessings and Namaste ~ Raven