“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.” [Indian Summer]”
― William Cullen Bryant
Adventures Around Split Rock Reservoir
This summer we have enjoyed adventures around Split Rock Reservoir. A day of Kayaking with family or friends is a beautiful way to spend an afternoon. We also found some hiking on the west side showing beautiful views of the lake.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Summer Veggie Garden
Late Spring Blooms
Most of the blooms are shot from spots around my own backyard, but I also can’t help myself when I’m at our garden centers to pull out my iPhone and have some fun!
Flowering Beauty
The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogues with him through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms. Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs towards him. ~Auguste Rodin
Finally, Springing!
Tonight I am thoroughly excited to watch Season 5 Game of Thrones where the phrase of the Stark family is “Winter is Coming”, I have to say I am even more excited to say today that “Winter Has Ended”!
Sunshine and warmer temperatures in the 50’s drew me outside to do some yard work. Cleaning up sticks and debris that have accumulated through the winter, I happily found new growth under many of my perennials and my bulbs peaking through the beds. The grass grows a little greener every day, waking from it’s dormant sleep. A few days ago, there were literally 50 robins in my front yard. I guess that was a sure promise of Springtime. It reminded me of Florida and if you had a yard full of Ibis, watch out for hurricane weather! (Okay, the robins are a better forecast!)
I had just spent the week leading into Easter visiting family in Florida and the weather was beautiful in the 80’s every day…. so coming home was a little depressing with rain and 30 degrees all week. I feel like dancing this weekend… tiptoe through the tulips and all that kind of joy! We are getting ready for fish tacos on the grill! Happy Spring Everyone.
Very Early Spring
Very Early Spring by Katherine Mansfield
The fields are snowbound no longer;
There are little blue lakes and flags of tenderest green.
The snow has been caught up into the sky–
So many white clouds–and the blue of the sky is cold.
Now the sun walks in the forest,
He touches the bows and stems with his golden fingers;
They shiver, and wake from slumber.
Over the barren branches he shakes his yellow curls.
Yet is the forest full of the sound of tears….
A wind dances over the fields.
Shrill and clear the sound of her waking laughter,
Yet the little blue lakes tremble
And the flags of tenderest green bend and quiver.
There are little blue lakes and flags of tenderest green.
The snow has been caught up into the sky–
So many white clouds–and the blue of the sky is cold.
Now the sun walks in the forest,
He touches the bows and stems with his golden fingers;
They shiver, and wake from slumber.
Over the barren branches he shakes his yellow curls.
Yet is the forest full of the sound of tears….
A wind dances over the fields.
Shrill and clear the sound of her waking laughter,
Yet the little blue lakes tremble
And the flags of tenderest green bend and quiver.
What a Difference a Day Makes…
You’ve being exiled to a private island, and your captors will only supply you with five foods. What do you pick?
Today (only today), on my island in the Caribbean, surrounded by beautiful turquoise waters and the shade of palm trees with the perfect temperature of 80 degrees on the day before Lent, my five foods would be very similar to what I am having at home… for breakfast french toast, and continuing the “bread” theme – warm french bread with leftover filet mignon for lunch, and to finish off the day pasta with sauce.
If you asked me this question tomorrow, my answer would be very different as my husband and I are giving up white breads and sugars for Lent (and Facebook for me) Now through Easter on my island, I would love coffee with cream, fruit (If I had to pick one it would be pineapple), fish and some sort of healthy brown rice or quinoa. I love all of these choices, just a I loved the ones from the list above, but I know how much lighter and healthier I will feel with tomorrow’s choices.
I’ll check back with you in forty days to let you know how we faired on our island of self denial for our faith and better health.
Kim
Winter’s Blustery Bite
Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
by William Shakespeare (1600)
Blow, blow, thou winter wind.
Thou art not so unkind
As man’s ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly!
This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp
As friend remember’d not.
Heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho!
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
Key Largo mornings by Kim O’Neill
A Little Warmth on A Cold Winter’s Day…After taking photos out in very cold yet sunny weather this morning, I thought I would post some warm images by me and words by the incredible story teller, singer and writer, Jimmy Buffet.
Changes in Lattitudes, Changes in Attitudes
It’s these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of our running and all of our cunning
If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane
by Jimmy Buffet
Changes in Latitude 