Friday, July 14, 2017
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Prairie Garden Time
Our front garden--yard--is a prairie. And now the butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, is in glorious bloom. The butterflies and bees love this plant.
We have some pale purple coneflowers, echinacea pallida blooming now and the yellow ones are echinacea paradoxa--yellow coneflower.
Each year there are changes. It's fun to see how the plants grow and change through time.
Here's a poem called 'Hum,' by Mary Oliver
HUM
by Mary Oliver
What is this dark hum among the roses?
The bees have gone simple, sipping,
that’s all. What did you expect? Sophistication?
They’re small creatures and they are
filling their bodies with sweetness, how could they not
moan in happiness? The little
worker bee lives, I have read, about three weeks.
Is that long? Long enough, I suppose, to understand
that life is a blessing. I have found them-haven’t you?—
stopped in the very cups of the flowers, their wings
a little tattered-so much flying about, to the hive,
then out into the world, then back, and perhaps dancing,
should the task be to be a scout-sweet, dancing bee.
I think there isn’t anything in this world I don’t
admire. If there is, I don’t know what it is. I
haven’t met it yet. Nor expect to. The bee is small,
and since I wear glasses, so I can see the traffic and
read books, I have to
take them off and bend close to study and
understand what is happening. It’s not hard, it’s in fact
as instructive as anything I have ever studied. Plus, too,
it’s love almost too fierce to endure, the bee
nuzzling like that into the blouse
of the rose. And the fragrance, and the honey, and of course
the sun, the purely pure sun, shining, all the while, over
all of us.
The bees have gone simple, sipping,
that’s all. What did you expect? Sophistication?
They’re small creatures and they are
filling their bodies with sweetness, how could they not
moan in happiness? The little
worker bee lives, I have read, about three weeks.
Is that long? Long enough, I suppose, to understand
that life is a blessing. I have found them-haven’t you?—
stopped in the very cups of the flowers, their wings
a little tattered-so much flying about, to the hive,
then out into the world, then back, and perhaps dancing,
should the task be to be a scout-sweet, dancing bee.
I think there isn’t anything in this world I don’t
admire. If there is, I don’t know what it is. I
haven’t met it yet. Nor expect to. The bee is small,
and since I wear glasses, so I can see the traffic and
read books, I have to
take them off and bend close to study and
understand what is happening. It’s not hard, it’s in fact
as instructive as anything I have ever studied. Plus, too,
it’s love almost too fierce to endure, the bee
nuzzling like that into the blouse
of the rose. And the fragrance, and the honey, and of course
the sun, the purely pure sun, shining, all the while, over
all of us.
Thanks to the Honey Bee Conservatory for this poem.
For more about Mary Oliver visit her website or connect and become a fan on her facebook page.
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Looking Inside and Outside
It is the season of summer in Minnesota. Though the summer solstice marking the beginning of summer is 10 days away, the heat and humidity are high in our land. The days are long with sun and everything is growing. Here are some images around Winona in these beautiful days.
Peonies are blooming and oh so fragrant.
Fox live at the edge of the city
Mississippi River is part of my favorite walking trail
An inch worm on Bob's biking jersey
Baby robin fledgling
End of the day--thanks for all the beauty on the Earth.
Peonies are blooming and oh so fragrant.
Fox live at the edge of the city
An inch worm on Bob's biking jersey
Baby robin fledgling
End of the day--thanks for all the beauty on the Earth.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Nia Another Perspective
Why men who do Nia, do Nia - Jason Alan Griffin (JAG) interview
by Fred Bass
This lovely video of Nia from the perspective of a man is
rich with insight. Take a listen, if you’re
curious about Nia as a man or a woman.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Women’s March 2017 USA and Around the World
The Women’s Marches around the USA and the world were an
amazing act of bravery, celebration, and “wake up, we’re here and we will be
heard.” The energy at the marches was
uplifting and powerful, as shared with me by a friend who attend the St. Paul, Minnesota March.
Here are some pictures that share hopefulness, in a time
when the US president and administration are not supporting women, children,
Muslims, LGBT people, the environment or the Arts.
One group of women, who were in the hospital, found a way to
be part of the unity.
Photo credit: allie oetken
Black women came and were angry at white women. Wow, I’ve got work to do on connecting with
black people. The word Intersection felt
good to me. Peoples coming together, no
matter their color, their sex, their religion and working together.
On the Minnesota March
Ilhan Omar is Minnesota’s newest State Representative and America’s first Somali-American female legislator. She believes that together, we will ultimately triumph in our fight for unity and justice. (Photo Credit: MSP Magazine)
MN Senator Patricia Torres Ray is the first Hispanic woman to serve in the Minnesota Senate. She is passionate about diversifying the state Legislature and of bringing more women, especially women of color, into positions of power. (Photo Credit: Lorie Shaull)
Join us Minnesota!
Photo credit: Women's March Minnesota facebook page
Woman sang this song at the DC march "I Can't Keep Quiet."
Sydney, Australia
Mexico City, Mexico
Washington DC
Chicago, IL
Photo credit: John Gress Gettyimages-632301936
Boston, MA
Photo credit: John Tlumacki Boston Globe Gettyimages-632297316
Park City, UT
Photo credit: George Pimentel Gettyimages-632299584
Columbia, South Carolina
Photo credit: Sean Rayford Gettyimages-632304430
Sydney, Australia
Photo credit: 170121092734-03-international-womens-marches-0121-exlarge-169
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Photo credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos Gettyimages-632291388
Here I am wearing my pussy hat in solidarity with all the marchers. Made by Camille Meeker.
Sending love to all.
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