Tiny Wild Things

These are wild strawberries that bloom everywhere in June through the start of July - in the meadow out back - in my gardens - they're wild weeds!

Life in our home is so seriously not perfect! It's a bit battered and worn and frayed around the edges and, yet... still beautiful and sweetly fruitful! Just like these strawberries, in fact. And that I'm sharing these in September simply proves my point.

Just keeping it real! ;)

xo

Dear March!

Dear March — Come in —
How glad I am —
I hoped for you before —

Put down your Hat —
You must have walked —
How out of Breath you are —
Dear March, Come right up the stairs with me —
I have so much to tell —

I got your Letter, and the Birds —
The Maples never knew that you were coming — till I called
I declare — how Red their Faces grew —
But March, forgive me — and
All those Hills you left for me to Hue —
There was no Purple suitable —
You took it all with you —

Who knocks? That April.
Lock the Door —
I will not be pursued —
He stayed away a Year to call
When I am occupied —
But trifles look so trivial
As soon as you have come

That Blame is just as dear as Praise
And Praise as mere as Blame —

~ Emily Dickinson

(I always mean to stop and think about what that last bit means but, on a lazy Sunday afternoon? Perhaps another day - heigh ho. ;) )

I love March winds!! How about you?

Anyway! It wasn't but two days after my last post where I said that I was settled in for the long haul of winter that spring came. It came and settled in! The snow melted - the rivers were rushing - the sun was so warm, we barely needed sweaters - for two weeks it gently stayed with us and, then.... oh, hahahahaaa! Funny, Winter! Very funny! Just as I was thinking, "if spring wants to come a month and a half early, who am I to quibble?" Winter came back with a vengeance!! But I see mother nature's secret - there was a flock of robins on my lawn when I got home from church today...

Two thirds Midwinter

You know how we sing about being "in the bleak midwinter" at Christmas but winter has only just begun? Indeed, here in Vermont, it's oftentimes that the snow doesn't really begin to fall and stick in earnest until the end of December. It depends but, generally, for us, middle of February is the middle of snow season - the true Midwinter.

I heard, once, that Midwinter is around the time of the winter solstice because, in the ancient Celtic calendar, winter began on November first unlike our modern calendar when that is 'Midautumn'.

Anyhoo! We've had snow for most of December, this year, and winter is growing long. I, however, choose to not long for what I cannot have but to keep my heart in a place of gratitude for where I am, today! i.e. it's still winter and will be for some time; so, don't even talk to me about spring!!! (Though, I may buy tulips at the grocery store - it's part of the gratitude, you see. ;))

Winter is still so very beautiful! It's still wonderfully cozy and warm inside! Winter, to me, is a long meditation - an antidote to the busyness of the rest of the year - and I wouldn't want to rush it!

xo