I am brand new to this group, so by way of introduction, my name is Stacey Adams, I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA where winter is just beginning to loosen her grip. We had a major snow back in mid-December which still has remnants in the shady spots that get little to no sunshine. And we’ve had the better part of two weeks of solid grey skies being met by solid fog rising up and meeting the clouds. What I’ve been noticing is finally three straight days of real sunshine and blue skies and the hope of the snow finally departing for good. Tomorrow I shall take a stroll around the house and see if anything has broken through the ground yet. More anon. 💕🕊💕
Welcome Stacey - it’s so good to have you with us! I think you’ll love the group - so diverse snd supportive….. and we all notice and rejoice in such an amazing variety of natural beauties!
Thank you for the welcome and yes, the sunshine and skies have felt good, both physically and mentally. I love Wisconsin especially because we get four seasons. Unfortunately, winter tends to be the longest, stealing from both autumn and spring most years. Autumn is my favorite but it can disappear quickly if winter decides to come early. 🌾🍂🍁🍄🍂🍁🌨️❄️❄️❄️❄️⛄️☃️⛄️☃️⛄️☃️❄️❄️❄️❄️🌬️🌬️🌬️💨💨💨💨💨💨❄️❄️❄️
What a gorgeous picture of your lovely Nana Pearl ! Reading about her long life, and how close you were I was reminded of this Lia ….
Late Fragment
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
Raymond Carver
Iim sure you are celebrating her long and no doubt eventful, varied and fulfilled life - and her legacy that lives on in you …. But all we really want is summed up in these words . And your deep love for Pearl is so clear in every word you write.
Gosh, that poem's stopped me in my tracks, Sue. Approaching the anniversary of losing my Mum next month and it made me think fondly of her. Thank you. X
So many things seen and enjoyed this week it's hard to choose. Swathes of delicate snowdrops in a local churchyard, the heady scent of a lage Daphne in full flower, a pair of perky Robin's hopping about my garden as I clear all the fallen, browned ferns. Not to mention some surprisingly clear star filled night skies here in Birmingham.
the beautiful ploughed lines in the land where I walk every day in the South downs. Above the land was a murmuration half hidden in the mist -really magical
I think I am in love with the hellebores where in shady spots they delicately blossom often hiding their beauty through dropped petal blooms that once you tiptoe towards them and lift show amazing colour and pattern -hidden beauties of February 🥀🌱🍃🌿
The plum blossom was out on the marshes and I replaced candles with a couple of blossom twigs to celebrate longer days coming. The petals are so delicate and there are tiny bright green leaf shoots. My cousin tells me they will celebrate Chinese New Year with her son in law’s family and I think how oriental my twigs look.
The opening of the first Iris reticulata always takes me by surprise, with how vibrant the blues are. A shock to the retinas! And a camellia flower out. (This early?) pics on sunday . ( Lia, LOVE your photo of Pearl…..)
My thoughts have been with you and your family Lia, lovely to see you back. We went to Leighton Moss in North Lancashire to try and catch the starlings - and catch them we did, a breathtaking murmuration over the reed beds, a very special moment. A bonus spot too of marsh harriers wheeling overhead, and the sound of a booming bittern.
I was going to mention snowdrops in my garden but whilst admiring them I noticed some of my shrubs have tiny green buds. The garden is slowly waking up.
Such a gorgeous shot of your dear Nana, Pearl. My word, what a long life, and to be so missed is what we all hope for. Sending hugs from France.
The snowdrops are slowly emerging ... we planted five mimosa trees early on in our time on our tiny smallholding, and they are slowly coming to life ... we had hoped to see a splash of yellow before now (fingers crossed the frost hasn't done too much damage).
Sorry to hear of your family's loss, Lia. May the comfort of friends, family and memories help to soften and brighten the days ahead.
As February advances, noticing the sun's ascent a little higher each day, pushing away winter to make room for spring. Though I'm still holding out for more winter weather; let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...
I am brand new to this group, so by way of introduction, my name is Stacey Adams, I live in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA where winter is just beginning to loosen her grip. We had a major snow back in mid-December which still has remnants in the shady spots that get little to no sunshine. And we’ve had the better part of two weeks of solid grey skies being met by solid fog rising up and meeting the clouds. What I’ve been noticing is finally three straight days of real sunshine and blue skies and the hope of the snow finally departing for good. Tomorrow I shall take a stroll around the house and see if anything has broken through the ground yet. More anon. 💕🕊💕
Welcome Stacey - it’s so good to have you with us! I think you’ll love the group - so diverse snd supportive….. and we all notice and rejoice in such an amazing variety of natural beauties!
Hi Stacey, welcome! The sunshine and blue skies must have felt good after all the gloom.
Thank you for the welcome and yes, the sunshine and skies have felt good, both physically and mentally. I love Wisconsin especially because we get four seasons. Unfortunately, winter tends to be the longest, stealing from both autumn and spring most years. Autumn is my favorite but it can disappear quickly if winter decides to come early. 🌾🍂🍁🍄🍂🍁🌨️❄️❄️❄️❄️⛄️☃️⛄️☃️⛄️☃️❄️❄️❄️❄️🌬️🌬️🌬️💨💨💨💨💨💨❄️❄️❄️
Watching with rather mixed feelings the magpies building an impressively large nest in the silver birch in my front garden.
the mixed feeling made me chuckle! I'd be feeling similar
And me!
grief is a living thing which can be companionable when we learn to accept it. You are so right to lean into those feelings and not be afraid. x
Thank you. Sorry i did read this at the time but it has taken me a while to get back to it xx
What a gorgeous picture of your lovely Nana Pearl ! Reading about her long life, and how close you were I was reminded of this Lia ….
Late Fragment
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
Raymond Carver
Iim sure you are celebrating her long and no doubt eventful, varied and fulfilled life - and her legacy that lives on in you …. But all we really want is summed up in these words . And your deep love for Pearl is so clear in every word you write.
This was so beautiful and made me cry when I first read it. Thank you Sue, and sorry it's taken so long for me to say so x
Lovely poem Sue.
Gosh, that poem's stopped me in my tracks, Sue. Approaching the anniversary of losing my Mum next month and it made me think fondly of her. Thank you. X
We read that poem when we scattered my Mums ashes. It was one of her favourites. Xx
Beautiful poem Sue. Thank you for sharing it. 🥰
So many things seen and enjoyed this week it's hard to choose. Swathes of delicate snowdrops in a local churchyard, the heady scent of a lage Daphne in full flower, a pair of perky Robin's hopping about my garden as I clear all the fallen, browned ferns. Not to mention some surprisingly clear star filled night skies here in Birmingham.
the beautiful ploughed lines in the land where I walk every day in the South downs. Above the land was a murmuration half hidden in the mist -really magical
I think I am in love with the hellebores where in shady spots they delicately blossom often hiding their beauty through dropped petal blooms that once you tiptoe towards them and lift show amazing colour and pattern -hidden beauties of February 🥀🌱🍃🌿
Very Japanese love the idea 🙏
The plum blossom was out on the marshes and I replaced candles with a couple of blossom twigs to celebrate longer days coming. The petals are so delicate and there are tiny bright green leaf shoots. My cousin tells me they will celebrate Chinese New Year with her son in law’s family and I think how oriental my twigs look.
The opening of the first Iris reticulata always takes me by surprise, with how vibrant the blues are. A shock to the retinas! And a camellia flower out. (This early?) pics on sunday . ( Lia, LOVE your photo of Pearl…..)
My thoughts have been with you and your family Lia, lovely to see you back. We went to Leighton Moss in North Lancashire to try and catch the starlings - and catch them we did, a breathtaking murmuration over the reed beds, a very special moment. A bonus spot too of marsh harriers wheeling overhead, and the sound of a booming bittern.
My daughters most want to see bird the bittern, heard but not seen. We went to Leighton Moss in September, osprey fishing and otters 😊
We love it there, I’ve never been lucky enough to spot the bittern though, just hear it!
Thank you so much Cathryn, and sorry it's taken me so long to say so x
It sounds wonderful 🙂
pink blossom buds on my neighbours Malus tree. They catch the sunrise and glow with hops.
Snowdrops - at the beginning of last week just a couple but now seem to be sprinkled everywhere.
I was going to mention snowdrops in my garden but whilst admiring them I noticed some of my shrubs have tiny green buds. The garden is slowly waking up.
Such a gorgeous shot of your dear Nana, Pearl. My word, what a long life, and to be so missed is what we all hope for. Sending hugs from France.
The snowdrops are slowly emerging ... we planted five mimosa trees early on in our time on our tiny smallholding, and they are slowly coming to life ... we had hoped to see a splash of yellow before now (fingers crossed the frost hasn't done too much damage).
Thank you so much, sorry it's taken me so long to respond x
Not at all. Lovely to hear from you. Happy … Wednesday. Had to check there. Sunny day en France.
The daffodils are blooming, and the light is shifting and lengthening. More birdsong and activity throughout the day.
Sorry to hear of your family's loss, Lia. May the comfort of friends, family and memories help to soften and brighten the days ahead.
As February advances, noticing the sun's ascent a little higher each day, pushing away winter to make room for spring. Though I'm still holding out for more winter weather; let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...
Thank you so much, apologies it's taken me so long to respond x
yes same here!
some parts of the country have had lots of snow this winter but not a flake in Gloucestershire, so far... let it snow...