Earth Day

Spring awareness

The longer I live the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and the wonder of the world… I have loved the feel of the grass under my feet, and the sound of the running streams by my side.  The hum of the wind in the treetops has always been good music to me, and the face of the fields has often comforted me more than the faces of men.

I am in love with this world… I have tilled its soil, I have gathered its harvest, I have waited upon its seasons, and always have I reaped what I have sown.

I have climbed its mountains, roamed its forests, sailed its waters, crossed its deserts, felt the sting of its frosts, the oppression of its heats, the drench of its rains, the fury of its winds, and always have beauty and joy waited upon my goings and comings.

~ John Burroughs

Greenery.

To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.

~ Wendell Berry

Spring bouquet.

It’s Earth Day, as most of you probably already know.  I’ve been outside, doing some clean-up as my way of celebrating and honoring Mother Earth.  Like John Burroughs, I am in love with this world, and although I live and spend most of my time on a small part of it, I try to be a good caretaker.  The Burroughs quote is apt in many ways, not just for today, but for my own experiences in life.  I, too, have done all of those things, and found the beauty and joy available to us all if we only take the time to pay attention.

Hosta in sepia tones.

While I show you what Mother Nature is up to on the tiny piece of the earth I inhabit, I thought I’d ramble a bit about things I’ve already rambled about.  Usually I do a Wordless Wednesday post, but I’m feeling wordy today.

Gloves for hardworking hands.

After only one post without comments, I’ve decided that isn’t going to work for me.  It feels rude.  There are all sorts of social media outlets these days, and it dawned on me this morning that blogging is, of course and obviously, social media.  Without the give and take of comments and the exchange of ideas, it’s not very social.  Although I have a presence on Facebook and Twitter, blogging has always been my main form of socializing online.  It doesn’t make sense to cut off the social aspects of it.  It makes me feel as though I’m talking (writing) to myself.  I have a private blog for that, and don’t need a public one to go with it.

The big cherry tree in the scrounger’s garden is finally blooming.

I will just have to do what I’ve been doing.  Frankly, I don’t think there is a solution to the problem of blogging time other than balancing things out as best we can.  I know several bloggers who have tried different things, and none seemed to work except giving up blogging completely, and I’m not considering that method.  Maybe someday, far in the future, but certainly not today.

The fringe on the oak will soon be gone.

In other news…  Well, there isn’t much other news.  The day is warm and sunny, one of those warm-up preludes to rain and cooler temperatures.  As soon as I finish here, I’ll be back outside, probably doing some mowing.  Tomorrow I’m going to a local nursery to purchase some plants, shrubs, and trees.  It would have been nice to plant a tree on Earth Day, but I think the day after will work just as well.  Almost every day is Earth Day here on the ranch so I don’t suppose Mother Earth or Mother Nature will care if I plant a tree today or tomorrow.

The snowball bush will have plenty of flowers this year.

Oh!  I almost forgot!  I do have some news.  Look at this:

Prairie Warbler

Yesterday while out walking in the woods, I heard a bird song I’ve never heard before.  It was very distinctive and helped me to identify the bird as a Prairie Warbler.  Isn’t he beautiful?  It’s the first time I’ve seen a Prairie Warbler.  The Prairie Warbler population is declining due to loss of habitat, and is on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List.

Hiding in the irises.

I reckon that’s it from the Wabi-Sabi Ranch.  I don’t know if it will be worth it to go out to the dock or down to the Point to watch the sunset this evening.  The weather folks are calling for rain beginning around 5 or 6 PM.  Sunset is at 7:45 PM now, and who knows?  Maybe the rain and clouds won’t materialize.  Or maybe it will clear up just in time for the sun and clouds to paint the sky before darkness sets in.  If it looks good, I’ll meet you at the dock.  We might even get lucky enough to see a rainbow.

Delicate maple leaves.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

Becoming a regular visitor. Still skittish, though.

May our walking on earth be gentle as the union of the butterfly and the flower.

~ traditional Buddhist blessing

The rabbit asked to join the celebration.