Time to Crawl Out from Within

Small Budling Saying Hello to the World

I need to crawl out from within. I've been going more and more into my small world and neglecting the bigger universe around me - not for any particular reason except that it's easier (as an introvert, it's just so much easier) but it's not necessarily better. All this introverted time I have been working on my business but not sharing it - it's time to share again.

So as this little budling ventures her way out of the tree stump I will venture out of my within. Spring is the best season for baby steps and new beginnings and I see the inspiration all around me. Stay tuned for more emerging...

The Young Family

We are having some gray and rainy days here so I'm in need of a jolt of brightness, blooms and beauty.

When I look at beauty, whether in the real world or in a photograph, I always feel better.

Although beauty is not a necessity for living a life it certainly soothes my soul and makes the living of my life much more enjoyable...

Simple But Spectacular

Spring is definitely here and the earth (in my part of the world at least) is coming alive once again. I love it when this happens.

We have the color of bursting buds breaking free which is so refreshing and rejuvenating. Everywhere I look there is either the bold and beautiful color of a blossoming tree or the less obvious subtle hint of color adding intrigue to even the simplest things...

Sweet Reminder

Just a little sweet reminder that Spring is on its way!

The Sweet Exhale

I am not a cold weather person. I like temperatures that begin around 75 and go up from there. Needless to say, winter is a difficult season for me.

When I take a walk these days and see the brilliant Forsythia bush in full bloom I nearly viscerally feel my whole spirit, and maybe my soul too, exhale. Certainly my body relaxes the tension it was holding during the winter months and I can tangibly sense the promise of summer (my favorite season) which I know, when I see the Forsythia, is certain to be coming along soon.

The funny thing is that I don't particularly like the color yellow -- and I don't feel any affinity with the Forsythia, but I can't deny that when she reaches her full bloom the relief I feel at knowing that the worst of the winter season is over is *so* sweet to me that Forsythia, for the time-being, is my most favorite of them all...

Seeking Out

As the suns becomes brighter and warmer with each passing day I feel like this tender little flower tentatively seeking out from her winter hiding place.

Quietly, and with anticipation, she is curious to see all the new-born and re-born wonders that the Spring might deliver...

Well, finally Spring is beginning to arrive here, and not a moment too soon!

Although I try to remain stoic during the winter months I can't help but *exalt* when I see the first stirrings of new buds and growth. It is so reassuring when the cycle starts around again.

View from My Kitchen Window

This is what I see when I'm doing dishes in the early morning hours of spring.

It's my neighbor's gargage and his old fence that are nestled together with a blooming lilac bush.

Such a pleasing sight!

Code Yellow!

The finches are back in full force!

I had been waiting to get the finch feeder back up and in action until the grass/mud dried a bit (selfish of me, I know, to keep the birds waiting just to keep my shoes from getting muddy) and now that I have put the feeders back up the little yellow members of the backyard community are back in great numbers.

The males are already almost fully yellow but there are some other birds (either young males or females) that have a more muted yellow coloring.

I love these finches because they are a pretty strong little bird! They will fight with each other when they need too (the females are a little more demure) but they always remain a sense of dignity. They sit at the feeder as if they are the sweetest thing and just keep pecking for their thistle. Only when provoked to give up their perch do they do some defending.

And in addition, the finches have such a lovely song that they sing and they do it from the tops of the tree branches of the crabapple tree like a clear and present beacon of optimism. The little finches whistle their sing-song melody with all the confidence of a bigger bird as they call out to whoever is listening. -- I know I am!

Musing Inspiration

Ok so I am just loving that spring has returned. I found this picture among my photo files and was so pleased. I took it a couple years ago and seemed to have forgotten about it (how?!). It is so pleasant to me.

It speaks of contemplation and comaraderie and creativity. These are three things I am working on right now. I love the muted colors that speak to me of mystery and unknowing.

What are the nymphs thinking about? What are they wondering? How do they feel?

Foggy spring mornings that hover between winter and summer are so full of potential. The energy that was reserved during winter is coming out of hiding. What will it produce?

Spring is Springing!

Spring has finally arrived! Of course I knew it would but this year it seemed to have had a little trouble getting started with the lingering snows, cold and wet weather.

But spring is officially here! The bud, blooms and blossoms are popping up all over the place. There is newness at every turn. I love spring and the energy it brings.

I've been thinking about energy lately and how I have so much of it and how it isn't focused. If I could better harness my energy I could get so much done! Well, I do get "so much done" but if I could determine what exactly it is that I *most* want to get done then I could put my energy into that and really go for it. This is the task I want to take on -- figuring out where to harness and focus my energy.

But for now I am anticipating new flowers and new nature to walk in, look at and take photos of! As much as I don't love winter the reward of spring is so sweet!

Rite of Spring

I've been listening to the Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky in preparation for hearing my good friend play it this weekend. He plays the bassoon which is how the piece opens.

This music is so difficult and attractive at the same time. The music is discordant yet enticing that you can't help but get pulled in by its drama.

The Rite of Spring is also known as Sacred Spring and it has a subtitle of Pictures from Pagan Russia. It was originally written as a ballet and was meant as a fantasy vision of a pagan ritual. The complex music depicts pagan fertility rites. It caused a scandal in Paris when it was first performed. (It was also the music used for the classic Disney Fantasia movie).

The drama still hasn't died down. This piece is something to hear and for me it feels very right in the push-pull tension I feel in the late winter/early spring time.

We still don't have a full-fledged spring here in spite of the wish of all creatures around to begin new fertility. This music understands the dilemma....

Spring Emerging Slowly

For winter's rains and ruins are over,
And all the season of snows and sins;
The days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.
-- Algernon Charles Swinburne
Atalanta in Calydon (1865)

Spring Aspirations

[Original Posting Date: Monday, March 17, 2008]

Well, I've been a bit lost in the haze of a lingering winter but this week is the Spring Equinox so I know that new and fresh flowers are headed my way very soon! I look forward to new blooms to inspire more feminine creativity and more designs to add to the sites. And, of course wedding season is fast approaching....