Irma

The winds of hurricane Irma if perceived subjectively, did not like trees. These winds also were noted to not like Caribbean islands, houses, boats, or the Florida keys.

The new look to the front. Poor maples took a beating.

As I listened to her take her time passing thru, she whipped the trees and filled the ditches with water for a good twelve hours.

Both piles by the road started the morning after storm. Five other piles waiting for another trash ouch up day.

This is the fullest this ditch has been in 32 years.

We didn't loose any trees, just branches. The big pine out front, dropping many rain sodden branches broke so many beautiful full maple branches coming down.

Back facing East

Back looking West from citrus corner

East walk by azaleas.

Making Ready for Spring

March keeps our attention, with strong North gusts, as we make finishing plans in the gardens this Sunday. Tomorrow is the Vernal Equinox in our hemisphere.

Tom and I prepared a space out by the West corner and planted wild flower seed, a bee-friendly mix. Today we put in a tangelo in the same area. The other citrus are out there also in the West corner.

We planted a couple red salvia in Gabby's garden, along with the pennyroyal, for the butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. Kudra enjoys Gabby's garden with me these days.

A Tabebuia (trumpet tree) we decided to plant in the middle of the vegetable garden. It'll give a nice filtered shade in the hot summer afternoons. I made juice from the wheatgrass. Special brew for a healthy, joyous Spring.

Cheers

B is for Bees

We have planned for it with our Langstroth beehive set up in the yard.

So, on my first day of vacation, on the punitive "spring-forward" clock time of 7:30 (formally 6:30) Tom and I set off toward Mims to Jester Bees.

Minus, two bees caught up in my hair (I should have pulled it back) picking up the bees and bringing them home went well. Tom loaded the frames in the permanent hive.

The nuc had five frames.

I took six out of the permanent box.

 
 

Willow gets his interest peaked. Could a collie heard bees?

Lesson learned, give the smoker a few minutes to get the fire going inside before expecting to use.

Peazzzze

Stairway of Existence

We are not in pursuit of formalities or fake religious laws,

for through the stairway of existence we have come to Truth's door.

We are people who need love, because love is the soul's life, love is simply corporation's greatest joy.

Through the stairway of existence, O through
the stairway of existence, Hafiz,

have you now come, have we all come,
to the Beloved's door.

                                                                       Hafiz

Poinsettias in the Afternoon Sunlight

All day long you do this and the even in your sleep ...  pan for gold.

We are looking to find something to celebrate with great enthusiasm,

wanting all our battles and our life to make sense.

"I found it. I found I. I found it!" a hermit once
began to shout, after having spent years in
solitude, meditating.

"Where?" a young shepherd boy nearby asked.
"Where?"

And the hermit replied. "It may take a while.
but I will show you. For now, just sit near to me."

All day long we do this with our movements
and our thoughts... pan for gold.
                                   
Hafiz

The robins have left.

Freyja

Last week, as our attention was so shockingly averted toward negative happenings, we decided to do something positive.

We brought another into our fold.

We named her Freyja.

Named after a nordic goddess who transforms into a falcon (her fur looks like feathers) and has a cart pulled by two forest cats.

When we brought Freyja home we realized how she so easily blended into our furnishings.


One moment she's with us....and the next moment she's off somwhere. Another dimension?

Oh, wait, there she is. She was there the whole time. Or, was she?

The Robins are Back

Although they have made themselves known in random sitings on neighbors' lawns and in the old oak, they did not truly arrive until yesterday.



Arrive the way that only Robins know how. Who could not have gone through their day, yesterday, and not have thought, "ah, the robins have returned."?

We exclaim it with delight! 

We celebrate their return! 

With their flight it is as if they clasp with their tiny claws the heavy tarp of summer, uncovering us of it so that autumn's clear, cool air can keep us company for a while.

Enjoy your stay dear robins. May we delight you in turn. We, for our part, will keep our birdbaths full, our soil organic, and there will always be trees for you to alight.

Robins

American Robin Fledgling

Flame Robin

Indian Blue Robin

Pekin Robin

Japanese Robin