Was that April?

Does is seem like Beltaine to you today? Chances are if you live in my neck of the woods you are thinking 'hell no'.

The idea that spring is half over is ridiculous. It just started last Friday after all.

April was snowy and dreary and cold and odd and I don't know a single local person who didn't find themselves taking the weather very personally at times. I noticed myself doing this but I wasn't able to turn it off. I feel like I spent most of the month accepting the shitty weather and accepting myself for letting it bother me so much. Time for a change.

April contained more than the icky weather. There were volunteer trainings and dining out for life and seeds being planted and a few walks. There was weight-lifting and continued wearing of boots. There were sweet tiny ideas being born. There was healing in the family. Vacations have been figured out.

Unlike so many Springs this one will be remembered.
I am ready for May, although it is snowing out there as I type this. 

Happy Beltaine irregardless. xox

Spring 2013 Report or saying so long to March

Spring came on the 20th but it is different from last year.

There is no eating outside or marveling at the warmth or being shocked by the 'much too early' appearance of the mosquito this month. Instead it has been snowy and cold.

So on equinox I did the only thing I could think of on my day off. I went and hid in the conservatory for three hours. In there I could sit in a t-shirt, underneath pepper plants and fig trees, and pretend that winter had no hold over me.  Glorious.

Since equinox we have been having some sweeter and more spring like days. Yesterday I wore my leather jacket instead of my winter coat. I am wearing my black unlined boots. There has been sun and a thunderstorm moved in early yesterday morning. The snow is being washed away and the birds are all lining up on the telephone wires ready to jump into Spring.

Any day now I'll be getting the report that the first red-winged blackbird has been spotted and we will know spring is really here. My body is ready, I don't seem to need my light therapy anymore and my plate seems empty without lots of veggies.  New shoots both indoors and out are popping up everywhere. And we found a place that makes the most wonderful zucchini fries.

So onward to April! Here's to a new round of project 333, the pathways [chemistry] of joy workshop, more of those fries, the friend's plant sale and dining out for life. 

It's time to wake up. Good morning all.

Sprouts of Spring

Vernal Equinox is still days away but over the past few years I have learned some new things about myself and Spring.  A season I didn't pay too much attention to as a child. Perhaps because it was my spring then? For instance I notice that I don't enjoy cold or raw food in the winter. Until suddenly at the end of February I find myself wanting to have sprouts, any kind of sprouts, on and with everything.

I use them as a bed for my fried eggs. I put them on top of stews or plates of cauliflower rice. I don't add them to my yogurt yet...but now that I think about it raita with sprouts added sound great.

I love to think of those sprouts as the physical manifestation of all the "coming out of winter dormancy into spring" sprouts inside and with me. Thinking about the garden, IMAD behind me and Gilbert and Sullivan ahead. Having the drive to write fiction again [almost 10k words this week] The whistle of birds to answer outside. Energy rising in all ways. It's delightful to speak with people and find out what the first whiff of spring is to them. 

Here we all are, in this location anyway, knocking on Spring's door.

Happy Beltane 2012!! and labyrinths

The first day of May and I spent part of it cutting grass. The season must be a month ahead -- at least. Surreal and wondrous.

I didn't blog last week but I did make many updates to my workshop information page and spent my time on this labyrinth, a demo for the workshop. 

For this one I moved outside my favorite color pathway, it has a gingham effect which is not typical 'me' but has charm I think.

I am looking forward to teaching this class. It will be fun and has space for becoming what the attendees need most. I love the accessibility of labyrinths as a meditative tool and I also love the making of them. I find making can pull you into a labyrinth in a whole new way. 

I am planning on teaching this workshop two other times in 2012, hopefully once outside this summer, and will update the page with those plans as they settle. If you have questions about the workshop check out my other page or shoot me a message. 

Meanwhile I hope May 1st gives you a flowery kiss of sweetness.

happy, happy April [so far]

I have noticed that March was light on the blogging. Not sure what to attribute that to --travel perhaps. I do know that I miss it when I am not here. [Here at home and here on the blog!]

It is April and I am in a fabulous mood. Everywhere I turn my attention I notice happy stuff. I want to list some of it here. Actually I want to list it, then print it then eat the list, I love so much right now. Which sounds even crazier now I see it in print. *shrug*

Today I ate lunch outside, by my waterfall which was turned on and it was blissful. Lunch was a tuna and sprout sandwich with sorrel from my herb garden. It wintered over fine. Yummy. I was gifted some raw milk, which is one of my favorite things and have been delighted with every glass. Loving treats.

The pear trees are blooming as are the strawberries. The delphiniums are eight inches high. I can sit on my bench in the herb garden again. The city changed how we recycle garden waste. They now allow containers and I am so glad about that. The friends plant sale listing is out. Yay plants!

My house guests were here for most of the week. All last week I was braced for something to 'go wrong' with travel plans but it didn't! They came, they were awesome and it was wonderful. Of course they couldn't stay forever but I am not dwelling on the leaving part.

The knitting group I envisioned for Ascension Place got started by someone else. Now I can take joyful part in it and not have to organize it. I have been finding the space for my knitting and enjoying it a lot. 

I was feeling some stress again about finding light-weight pants for this summer but I have found someone to make them for me out of linen. It will be so awesome and I am so relieved. I will be able to deal with the heat if it comes.

I could just babble on and on today -- friends, family, spring, plants, animals are all so enjoyable. It's amazing to have this period of delight. Wishing delight to all. Share if you want about something fabulous. xo

whirlwind day

Well -- it's March today. February ended with slushy, soggy, messy snow so it's lovely to have it be March and remember Spring is less that 3 weeks away.

It was a busy full day today, including the dentist, and in the evening I volunteered to teach a few women knitting. This was fun and a challenge. One woman has been practicing for 2 weeks and wanted to learn how to perl and the other two had never picked up needles. It was a bit hard to try to show it all.

When the self talk of the two beginners got really negative I felt at a loss. I didn't want to contradict their feelings. But I also wanted to remind them of reality -- when you are trying to learn a new thing it is hard. That's how new things are, there is no fault. I want to say more about this but I realize I'm too tired. I have been noticing my tiredness pattern lately.

Sigh. Hand on heart and deep bow to all the teachers in my life. And off to bed. xo

waves of chilled lilac

This chilly spring has still been amazing. It has been quite breezy and my new wind chimes have been ringing gently for days. And it does seem like everything is blooming out at once.

Today I noticed my neighbor's huge hedge of lilacs is just about to pop open. Is it my imagination or are flowering trees and shrubs at their most fragrant just before they bloom? Anyway the result is cool waves of lilac breeze blowing into my bedroom window in a heavenly way. More precious because it is so fleeting.

The sunset was also unbelievable. The rays of light broke under the clouds gilding every leafing tree. The red maple against the blue grey sky looked like a painting and the newly leafed elm trees showed so many shades of green, light and shadow they were impossible to count. All I could do was stare and feel lucky.

spring is here

I have been hearing a lot of complaints about the weather. People asking 'where is spring?'

It's true that it has been quite a cold, wet and chilly spring thus far, but people it's still spring, really!

Since Monday there has been lots of rain, we set a new daily record for it yesterday, but you know there are compensations.

Two of our shrubs were glowing against the fence yesterday afternoon. Really glowing, gleaming in the grey light, like they were made of glass. They were glorious.

Today as I went past the neighborhood pond the three willows on the bank were dressed in the the freshest green, the strands looking like naiad hair. Seriously beautiful.

And surely I am not the only one who thinks the yellow flowers are singing right now?

Somehow it seems that spring has gotten more important to me the past few years. Last year it was so early and warm and wonderful like being in Italy or something. I thought that was why I loved it so much. But this year although dreary and slow I love it just as much. Does it mean something to love spring more?

new regrets

It is hard for me to believe it's less than 2 weeks to Beltane.

I have been mulling it over in my mind recently. Perhaps it won't rain and I'll be there at dawn to watch the current morris dancers greet the day. It's a Sunday after all, that just makes it easier.

This led to fond thoughts of morris dancing in years gone by, who knows who I might run into at the celebration... I was remembering the squire and founder of Moonwood Morris, his patience and gentleness in teaching and guiding. His lovely dancing. His flips in Rapper sword. Although I hadn't seen him in years my thoughts of him were all fond happy ones. Then last night at dancing I heard that his memorial service was yesterday. I hadn't even known he had died late 2010.

It was so weird to hear about someone's death when I had just been thinking of them as alive. It is so strange to remember all those times I thought about looking him up and saying 'hey'. That door has closed now with regret. My fond thoughts are what's left.

it's snowing

This year is not a repeat of last year's long and glorious spring. But still the snow falling outside is quite beautiful even magical. Snow on April 15th just doesn't seem quite real to me.

I am surrounded by gardening books, I noticed the first shitake on the log outside earlier and I made my traditional spring cheesecake. Eggs from the coop are much larger than just a few weeks ago. It is spring just a different one.

The weird east wind finally dropped and the snow has been drifting down for an hour already. I wonder what the world will look like in the morning.

it's spring, bring out the bike

But I didn't have a bike to bring out. Mine was stolen last June and I spent so much time running during last summer that I vacillated about replacing it. Occasionally I rode my wife's but now I think I was grieving for my old bike.

The warm weather returned this month, gas prices shot up again and I thought more and more about biking. So I went bike shopping. Then I realized I was hesitant to buy a new bike. I felt like I couldn't afford it and I worried about that one getting stolen. [yep, I worried about a future that was unlikely to even happen...definitely human I am]

Used bikes were priced high on Craig's list and I just didn't know what to do. It seemed hard, too hard. My wife suggested I adopt one of her bikes, so with grateful thanks I did. She bought it used but we think it's this one. Her kindness saved me from most shopping tasks although hers needed some fitting out to make it more commuter friendly, there was no way to schlep any stuff with you unless it was on your body.

Today I had my first ride of the season, in glorious spring weather and I went to a local bike shop to get a rack, maybe bags and some lights. It was about 6 miles round trip. I had to laugh though after I picked out a rack and lights, all I had was a small messenger bag, there was no way I could tote that stuff home on my rackless bike. Since it was spring the shop was much too busy to install it on the spot. So I left my stuff there and swung by later on my way to the coop in the car.

I can see I need to get used to thinking 'bike' again. I'm still planning on running outside this season as well, I hope to finish the C25K and finally make it all the way to 5K. All this and I am planning a cheesecake and a few crocuses are blooming. What are the different ways people are celebrating spring?

the first week of spring and vacation starts

Well the first week of spring had lots of rain and inches of slushy snow. So no running outside yet. And my entire house went on a shoveling strike.

Then I got ready for our trip to CA and there was spring! We spent 4+ days in Monterey and San Francisco. There were lots of green trees and flowers, lots of rain the first 2 days and lots of green. It was brisk on the coast but just delightful.

The getting to CA was a bit fraught, a starter blew on the engine and had to be replaced so we sat in the plane at the gate for 2+ hours. It was dark and pouring when we arrived and impossible to find the key my sister had hidden no matter how hard we tried. I did meet the neighborhood skunk and thankfully did not get sprayed. Luckily the rehearsal dinner had ended early and we got specific directions for key hunting and collapsed. The sea crashed all night long, I kept waking up and hearing it and falling back asleep happy.

Our mini vacation just kept on getting better from then on...

welcome spring 2011

Here it is the first day of spring and I still can't type. You would not believe how many typos there were in that first sentence.

It seems as I get older I enjoy spring more and more, perhaps it because we have actually had a spring the past few years? I still really enjoy winter and dislike bugs but still I look forward now to the weather warming up. It may be bike related.

So much snow has melted that even with a couple of feet still blocked on the streets by old snow the roads look incredibly wide today. If I had a bike that was ready I would be tempted to ride to dancing tonight.

No big equinox celebration planned, I'm getting ready for a family wedding and that is taking quite a bit of my energy. I did get my first long walk outside without a hat yesterday. The trails aren't clear enough for running, I was a bit optimistic about that but soon they will be. My cat sits outside in his yard with satisfaction and the birds and squirrels are going crazy, spring everywhere.

I can't quite believe with tons of snow this year I still didn't learn to snowshoe, so something to look forward to next year then. xo.

breezy Beltane

Please do not ask me why blogger decided to jam the last 2 postings into the same day, because really I have no idea but I dislike it. Looks so weird.

Anyway happy belated Beltane to all pagan types out there and spring lovers or FOPs [friends of Pagans]. My holiday was really a stellar one.

Woke up early, did some errands with my beloved wife and felt grateful. Some much needed early mowing also got done. The Lilacs are already open and the air is dizzy with scent.

Had a fabulous time with some other pagans in which we chanted, bound our desires to us for the next 6 months, noshed, talked and so forth. There was more cheesecake. This time with a hint of maple and strawberries. There were conferences in the garden. It was extremely windy so we did our work inside, but it was still spring and beautiful. Again there was much gratitude

After the weavers left to go on with their evenings I listened to some Tara Brach and took the 3 refuges. Then my wife and I had tickets for the sold out late show at the Bryant Lake Bowl. First time we have ever seen Chris Pureka with a band. Good although a bigger venue would have been better for this but they wouldn't have the awesome mock duck rolls you can eat right at your seat. Gratitude rests gently on me like a mantle.

It was an excellent holiday. It was so full I didn't have time to make it to the parade at Powderhorn today. I wonder how the giant puppets did in all this wind? I hope May is starting out well for everyone.

springy rituals and joys

I love a personal simple rituals. I seem to create them with ease and before I know it there are little ritual flags all over my mental calendar waving at me.

I love flowers as well, and since I live in a place where flowers are non-existent in the winter I look forward to the first flowers of the spring. As I child I remember waiting for the lilacs or lilies of the valley to bloom, the first violets then I moved someplace with longer and colder winters, so I adapted without realizing I didn't want to wait for May.

By the middle of March you start to see bunches of daffodils in the grocery stores. I love these flowers, for me they are the heralds of spring. Although their scent is elusive I also play with the idea that they have sound, that one can actually hear them singing with the waking world. I thought about all of this last week and pondered if I should buy some when I knew I would be going out of town all too soon. Should I spend the money? I was going to a place where spring is in full swing surely that's enough?

I didn't need to decide, my dear wife saw them in the stores and picked them up for me as a matter of course. I love them. They are spring and joy embodied by slender green stalks and golden trumpets.
I am so grateful for the turn of seasons and the sweetness of a spouse that notices and remembers. I love to hear about the rituals of others. I wonder how mine will evolve this year.

appetizers for the flower feast

There are a bunch of blooms to report on even in cold MN. A lot of them are right in my house.

I found there fabulous white 'spider?' mums at the coop for the dinner table. I put them in a short vase with sprigs of yellow forsythia. They continue to be so cheery. This was the first time I brought forsythia into the house. It really worked.

The spray roses that I mentioned earlier were heavy drinkers, I didn't realize their water got so low on Saturday, I think this is what ended their time so early. Usually spray roses stay and stay. I'm sad about this.

However one of our dinner guest brought a fabulous yellow potted Parade rose grown in Canada. I think I'll plant it outside in a few weeks, but for now I am enjoying its scent immensely indoors.

Another guest brought beautiful mauve tulips. I love them. Tulips always amaze me for their colors with hardly any scent. Basically I guess I just love flowers.

What to do with fabulous flowers when you go out of town? I guess ask your cat minder to check them, but it seems a shame to not have someone enjoying them. Should I take them with me in the car.... inquiring minds want to know.

Outside things are popping up all over. We have a few tulips open. The crocus is done. The buds on the cherry tree are fat. The peonies are awake should bloom 'on time'. The later tulips are coming up but no signs of the siberian iris which surprises me. The dandelions and violets are out on the south side, I have already started to pull those golden beauties, and the creeping Charlie is also purply on the south.

All in all it's a very hopeful start to another growing season. May is practically here, hurray!

effectiveness and beans

I'll go out on a tiny limb [in good company] and state for myself "I don't give a shit how effective torture is, it is illegal and imo immoral as well". Why anyone is even making this moronic argument, sure if a co-worker is threatening me, and someone kills him that would be an effective way of getting rid of the threat but still -- illegal. Do people even listen to themselves when they say these lame things? Why isn't every bible thumping christian up in arms about this? Do they think their Jesus would support it? You know, as long as it's effective, sometimes oh ok never.... I'm just going to stop myself from continuing down this crazy train.

Though I can join my 83 year old father when he says "I didn't vote for him or his administration --either time", it doesn't make me feel any less heartsick now. I have been telling my dogs how lucky they are to be dogs this week. *sigh*

So to other less depressing topics. Green beans are unavailable right now, my coop isn't even carrying them, so I need to rethink my side dish for tonight. I know in the past I have bought green beans at this time of the year, something must be different this year. I am thinking super simple roasted veggies. I am noticing other food oddities right now. I am finding some of the most yummy grapefruits I have ever had outside of AZ. It's almost May, surely grapefruit season is over? I'm not complaining mind you, just confused.

What my coop does have right now are spray roses which I love. I got some awesome coral ones, but I need something for the table as well. I love flowers. The violets and forsythia are blooming outside as well. It really is spring. I may have gone a bit overboard in buying juices for tonight, but most people invited do not drink alcohol so I went a little wild. I also bought a bottle of Campari and some soda for me. I love it and I probably won't be opening a bottle of wine for myself.

I have that 'nervous yet excited before a party' feeling. It will be a good time.

Spring-like?

Thank goodness the sun came out in force this weekend. All the grey in the middle of the week was pretty hard on me for some reason. I think it was part of the rather painful transition from VA to MN.

First of all the plane ride Tuesday was horrid. I found the turbulence not only uncomfortable but quite scary. Second, it was so sunny in VA while I was there although basically the same temps as here. Not only did I enjoy the shore every day but all the trees were blooming like crazy along with the camellias and lots of other spring flowers. So cheery. Here we have just a few bulb shoots pushing up on the south side. Some years they would have flowered by now but not this year.

I guess it's rather hard to leave spring and come back to winter. oh well soon it will be here. I hope we have a fabulous one. We may need to get through another snowfall first though. It sounds like we could get a few inches Tuesday. This will put off my bike riding if it happens.

Note to self: when you lost your keys in CA over the winter holidays did you lose you bike lock keys? I guess I better figure that out soon. I hope all are enjoying this first week of spring.

first daffodils

Sometimes I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I have so much to be grateful for and one thing I am really grateful for this week is my wonderful incredible wife.

This week, the week before St. Patrick's day is when daffodils start showing up in the stores around here. I love them. They just make me happy looking at them and when they are open I feel like they sing the most beautiful spring-worshipping song and I love to listen to them.

I have been struggling with PMS related low moods all week. The kind when for no actual reason you find yourself thinking, 'perhaps I'll go home, hide in my bed and cry all evening'. Blech. When I was in the office on Thursday I saw daffodils on someone's desk and I almost mentioned them to Carolyn when we talked on the phone. I thought it would be so nice to have some. But I had PMS and well I just didn't bring it up. I felt too gloomy.

I came home super late from work that same evening and there sitting on the kitchen island was a vase full of daffodils just waiting to open. She had remembered all by herself and there they were. Then I wanted to cry because I felt so loved and listened to, even now I can't quite believe it. Life is good. I have been listening to them, feeling happier ever since.

Less than a week until spring! Renewal to all.