Almost Summer

Spring's symphony

Revel with the symphony of spring renewal!

Despite the slow progression of spring this year, the buds are spouting bit by bit and the peepers are out in full song. I'm loving these blue sky days. However... please... we do need rain, the drenching, soaking, steady downpour sort.

Spring progression

The wind rattles last year's tall grasses

and scatters aspen fluff along the ground.

Fuzzy bits are greening up - slowly.

Snow is in the air, only in the air.

Signs of Spring: fuzz & more

Signs of Spring:

Along with robins & pussywillows, I see

flocks of twittery birds swooping about,

toads hopping across the road at night,

green blades of grass in the sea of brown,

fuzzy buds dangling from the aspen trees.

Solo

Tulips are long past for this year; this photo is from the archives of spring. I like how this tulip is self-contained, unaccompanied by adornment, standing on its own.

ahhh... refreshing!

Finding wintergreen was appropriate on this day where we gazed upon the last remnants of snow. Yes... thanks to someone's knowledge of the local terrain and skill at finding a deep gully out of the direct sunlight, I had a most definite sighting of snow on May 15th. Please... leave the snow to melt into faint memories; the find of the day was the plenitude of wintergreen berries, refreshment topped off with the briefest mingling with icy cold water.

Did you know wintergreen can alleviate swelling of joints? Read more about wintergreen here and about wintergreen berries here.

Tulip time!

Yesterday morning was so chilly that I wore a hat and gloves on my morning run, so the opening of all the tulips in the afternoon was a nice surprise! The vibrant, saturated colors of spring flowers feel like bursts of happiness.

communion in quietude

Open to the sun

Unfurl, stretch, reach, bloom.

The season for awakening and growth for all beings has arrived. The daffodils are opening to the sun, and so am I.

Did you notice the fuzzy buzzing creature in the photo? I heard a buzz while sitting in the flower patch but never spotted the source. So, this photo was a surprise when I was sorting through the downloads of the day. Happy Bee.

Bright spot

Saturday morning brought a white, white world, blanketed in the stuff most would care not to see this time of year. But... the landscape was beautiful... and the temperature was warm... and the moisture was appreciated... and the snow melted quickly... Even this daffie was perking up by the afternoon!

Hello, Spring!

Welcome, day of warm sunshine!

Welcome, day of purple blooms!

Welcome, day for unfurling from hibernation!

Center within

A steady, persistent rain is falling from the sky.

How fortunate for the plants, the flowers, the newly planted gardens.

And, for me, to center on joy and peace within.

Lupine fiesta

Sitting with the lupines, I listened to the quiet of the evening... and the hum of the bumblebees as they spiraled around the columns. The bees moved efficiently from one pod to the next, quickly and gently opening it and reaching in for the sweetness.

Shell of safety

This turtle was in an unsafe place. With my approach, she went inward. As I picked her up by the edge of her shell to move her, her head moved out and tail and legs started flailing, which, along with the "hssss", inspired a expeditious set-down. She was inspired to find her own path away from immediate harm.

First Paddle

Today was the day for the first paddle of the year for me.

Warm sunshine, gentle breeze, low water level,

no swarms of bugs.

Life lines II

Life lines

Fishing

Loons are calling, ticks are hitching rides, and all sorts of creatures are fishing... herons, humans...

The town of Ely and the area lakes are starting to liven up with the busy season. The Chocolate Moose is open (cheers all around!!!), and the time to look twice or thrice before crossing the street is upon Ely-ites once again. Ely is a cool place to be... no question of this during the winter months with the well-below zero temperatures, and in the summer we have a plentitude of lakes that serve up a refreshing dip as needed when steamy summer days creep in. Now this cool factor has been verified by a online voting contest, where Ely was voted America's Coolest Small Town for 2010! See BudgetTravel.com.

Listen. Just listen.

This reminds me of a quote that goes something like... "Ah, how good it feels, the hand of an old friend!" (Longfellow) But, I think not so much of the hand, but of the ear, and the willingness to listen, just listen. Ah, how good it feels to have the support of good friends willing to listen. Kiitoksia.

View from the top

I see no evidence of a path in this dense forest. Perhaps there is no path and never was. Just wishful thinking in hopes of an easy, Sunday afternoon stroll...