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

Voted

Election. We were with Hillary.

Dog Days of Summer

Bok Tower Gardens, in honor of Sirius in the night sky, held a day in honor of the canine.

Tom and I already quite in love with the beauty and historical significance of Bok Tower and the surrounding gardens wanted to share the day with Willow.

It was, however, very, very warm. Languishing in the pools of water around the water spickets throughout the

various gardens were perhaps his favorite parts.

This, and laying in the grassy lawn with us under the shady oaks.

As we left, a photographer was set outside asking to take photos of some of the dogs. She said they may be in professional trade publications. Willow sat (and lay down) for a session. She said she'd send us a few of the prints.

https://boktowergardens.org


We were hit in the rear in an accident on the way home, in the Kissimmee area. Our new Escape. No damage to see on our vehicle, but the young woman's car who had hit us was badly damaged. Her father was coming to get her.

Summer Days By The Pool

There are no words only a musical background of some new groups that accompany us on these hot, lazy afternoons.

Elephant Revival. Wood Brothers. The Head and The Heart. Edward Sharpe  and The Magnetic Zeroes. The Avett Brothers (old stuff). Justin Townes Earl. Dave Rawlings. 

Willow is our first collie to like the water. He's not a swimmer (yet), but he doesn't seem to mind hanging out on his raft or on mine. He loves to play on the water from the hose when we're watering.

Hammocks.
Naps.
Books.
Music.

Summertime.

First Hike Since Hip Replacements

It couldn't have been a more beautiful day, weather wise, and company wise, for a hike at Hal Scott Preserve. This was my first trek with Willow. http://www.sjrwmd.com/recreationguide/halscott/  For therapy after the surgeries I had been walking the mile around Fay Lake with Tom and Willow, but this was a full out "lets go for it." I had hoped to not use a "stick," and started out with a pole for stability, but by the end, I had to use a cane.

We didn't take the full 10+ mile (2 loops) within the reserve so we didn't get to check on the great horned owl that has the giant nest in the pine on the outer loop. I would not have been able to make it around the outer loop, as I was barely able to make it the 4.3 mile first loop that took us to the little creosote bridge that forded the Econolohatchee River and back again.

The river area at the end of the first loop is surrounded by bald cypress. The South was built with cypress wood, so any stands left are so very precious. This is one that is gorgeous; small, but breathtaking. As we entered, the cypress stand the drop of a Wilson tennis ball from the branches of a cypress caught my attention as at the same time a red shouldered hawk took off from the same tree with a loud cry. That yellow egg must not have been worth any more effort to try to bust open! We threw the tennis ball for Willow a bit more as we left the stand and started back through the scrub, but Willow prefers sticks and soon tired of it. Perhaps another rapture will be fooled by its beguiling shape and color.

I was so proud I made the goal. At the end it was twenty-five steps and stop for a moment, stretch forward, then twenty-five steps more. I hadn't taken anything for pain; I hadn't even thought of it before we left. Oh well. I have a next outing planned: Moses Creek Reserve (partial), then drop by Manatanza's Inlet to introduce Willow to the Ocean.  I am so happy to be able to back in nature again.

We got home and the chili was ready in the crockpot for eating while watching Superbowl 2015. Go SeaHawks!!

Willow's Nap in the Sunporch

At only a bit over 7 months old, it is a nice time of day for the cats and I when this ball of energy needs to take a break.

Born April 1, 2014.
Jester Willow Moon.

Jewels in the Trees

This winter visitor is still hanging around.

They usually stay through March and into April before migrating home again. This year I have spotted four or five males around the feeders and baths at one time.


Of course where you find the colorful males,

you find the green hued females.




Peace.
Brianne

New Neighbors

Outside the kitchen window I am privileged to
watch the growth of these Carolina Wrens.

The parents are so very attentive.

Peace.

King of the Hill: The Games They Play

I caught these two, Ocee and Emmett, in one of their favorite games the other day, King of the Hill. Kudra didn't want any part of it.