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Spring in the South by Henry Van Dyke

Now in the oak the sap of life is welling,

Tho' to the bough the rusty leafage clings;

Now on the elm the misty buds are swelling,

See how the pine-wood grows alive with wings;

Blue-jays fluttering, yodeling and crying,

Meadow-larks sailing low above the faded grass,

Red-birds whistling clear, silent robins flying,--

Who has waked the birds up? What has come to pass?

Last year's cotton-plants, desolately bowing,

Tremble in the March-wind, ragged and forlorn;

Red are the hill-sides of the early ploughing,

Gray are the lowlands, waiting for the corn.

Earth seems asleep still, but she's only feigning;

Deep in her bosom thrills a sweet unrest.

Look where the jasmine lavishly is raining

Jove's golden shower into Danae's breast!

Now on the plum the snowy bloom is sifted,

Now on the peach the glory of the rose,

Over the hills a tender haze is drifted,

Full to the brim the yellow river flows.

Dark cypress boughs with vivid jewels glisten,

Greener than emeralds shining in the sun.

Who has wrought the magic? Listen, sweetheart, listen!

The mocking-bird is singing Spring has begun.

Hark, in his song no tremor of misgiving!

All of his heart he pours into his lay,--

"Love, love, love, and pure delight of living:

Winter is forgotten: here's a happy day!"

Fair in your face I read the flowery presage,

Snowy on your brow and rosy on your mouth:

Sweet in your voice I hear the season's message,--

Love, love, love, and Spring in the South!

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Anyone else have one of those small video cams? These photos below were taken behind our home obviously at night. Hubby leaves corn for them to feed at night. We had set the camera out for weeks and finally got results. This is the only way we shoot deer.

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Today...just some cool photos from a photographer's past road trip:

Shooting film on the move – CNN Photos - CNN.com Blogs

About the Peach Blossom Flower

By Molly Sprayregen , last updated May 18, 2011



With five cotton candy colored petals curved around a hot pink center, the beautiful peach blossom flower (Prunus persica) grows in thirty states, and all over the world as well. In 1953, it became the official state flower of Delaware (which was once known as “The Peach State, claiming to have about 800,000 peach trees), although it had been the state’s unofficial emblem since a legislation act in 1895.

The peach blossom flower blooms before the leaves return to the trees in early Spring. While many are lighter colored, they range from light pink to a more purple color. Before its one to two buds open up after blooming, the flower actually self-pollinates. Its diameter can grow up to three centimeters. They can bloom in pairs or by themselves.

The state of Delaware shipped out almost 6,000,000 baskets of peaches in 1875, so when a movement began to identify the goldenrod as the state flower, many citizens were unhappy. A widespread petition to name the peach blossom flower the official flower of Delaware led to the act that named the flower Delaware’s “floral emblem until it finally became official in 1953. But the peach blossom flower first began to grow in China. After it reached Iraq through trade, it found its way to America around the 17th century.

From the Rosaceae family, the petals of the peach blossom flower vary greatly in size. They can grow large and ornamental or small and curved.

Flowers have a language of their own, a language which originated in 17th century Constantinople. The peach blossom flower means ‘I am your captive,’ symbolizing the captivating passion that washes over two people in love.



I just snapped this photo from our own backyard......budding peach blossoms:

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The beauty of bicycling on MSN Photos

Click on the photo below :wah:

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Good Friday in United States

Legend of the Dogwood

An old and beautiful legend says that, at the time of the crucifixion,

the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs

of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected

as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use

greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Jesus

in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it:

"Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again

will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross.

Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms

will be in the form of a cross ~ two long and two short petals.

In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be

nail prints ~ brown with rust and stained with red ~ and in the center

of the flower will be a crown of thorns,

and all who see this will remember."

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"Only in Sleep"



Only in sleep I see their faces,

Children I played with when I was a child,

Louise comes back with her brown hair braided,

Annie with ringlets warm and wild.

Only in sleep Time is forgotten --

What may have come to them, who can know?

Yet we played last night as long ago,

And the doll-house stood at the turn of the stair.

The years had not sharpened their smooth round faces,

I met their eyes and found them mild --

Do they, too, dream of me, I wonder,

And for them am I too a child?



Sarah Teasdale

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Dear Abby: I am a married man dating a married woman. She's the love of my life. My girlfriend is sweet, kind, has a caring heart and is very much a lady.

We often sneak away for romantic weekends, where we laugh and enjoy being together and forget our daily routines. Sometimes I'll stop and watch her while she shops or talks to people and admire how beautiful she is. The twinkle in her eyes is as close as I can get to the stars in the sky. I adore her and plan to be with her for the rest of my life.

And one more thing: My girlfriend is also my bride of 40 years!

One Lucky Guy in Tenn.

Dear Lucky Guy: Normally I'd advise you to try to turn your wife into the love of your life, but you're ahead of me!



How sweet! :-4

"The sun was warm but the wind was chill.

You know how it is with an April day.

When the sun is out and the wind is still,

You're one month on in the middle of May.

But if you so much as dare to speak,

a cloud come over the sunlit arch,

And wind comes off a frozen peak,

And you're two months back in the middle of March."

- Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time, 1926

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A Prayer in Spring by Robert Frost

OH, give us pleasure in the flowers today;

And give us not to think so far away

As the uncertain harvest; keep us here

All simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating round the perfect trees.

And make us happy in the darting bird

That suddenly above the bees is heard,

The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill,

And off a blossom in mid air stands still.

For this is love and nothing else is love,

To which it is reserved for God above

To sanctify to what far ends he will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill.

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The 10 Worst Hotels and Motels in America

.....plus a certain Motel called Bates. :sneaky:

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Ghost cars painted with light on MSN Photos



Kinda cool.

Today, the "pickem up" truck:

F-150 and more: Evolution of America's pickup truck - MSN Autos

Custom Cars - Modern Marvels - History Channel Documentary - YouTube

Which one is your favorite?

Fast! Fast is fast, there is no substitute for raw power and speed.

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"Life is like a box of chocolates...with nuts"



:wah:

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Ladies...were you ever a tomboy?

Tomboy style no longer a passing fad - CNN.com

Too cute!

Today....a train ride in China:

CNN Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

Today...Barbie around the world..........

Yahoo! Shine - Women's Lifestyle | Healthy Living and Fashion Blogs

Today..a different kind of story:

A beauty beyond skin deep - CNN.com

"Editor's note: We first met Penny when she wrote to us about a CNN photo gallery showcasing disfigured children and stillborn babies affected by Agent Orange in Vietnam. Penny spoke of the anger and sadness she felt over seeing CNN's "viewer discretion" warning on the gallery. She was born with a disease that left part of her own face malformed and felt compelled to reach out to us about the children who simply look different. "How can I not speak up about this?" she asked. "If not me, who will speak on behalf of these children?" We invited her to educate us all by sharing her story and allowing us to see the world through her eyes."

There is a supervisor when I work who is friendly and seems to be a good employee. It is obvious that he is a survivor of facial burn. He wears a hair- piece and his face bears the scars of a burn. I always say hello to him and make a point to look him in the eyes when doing so. No big deal......he's a person.

Just a little something ....................I hope your Monday was a good one.

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My old "stomping grounds" in Chicago. I lived at that address from the mid 1950's to the late 1960"s. I see it's for sale again. I enjoy the app because I can virtually cruise my old neighborhood.

4852 South Leclaire Avenue, Chicago IL - Trulia





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Travel Photo of the Day - CNN.com

Grab your camera and let's go!

Dear Abby: What is proper etiquette for someone who takes pictures at a funeral?

I am a recent widow who received a package from an out-of-town relative. In it were several envelopes for my family. One of them was for my sister, who lives 40 miles away. I gave my sister a call and told her it looked like it contained a stack of pictures. She said I should go ahead and open it.

Inside were photos taken at my husband’s funeral — pictures of the funeral home, inside the church, the casket, and some of me and my daughter sitting at the gravesite. Abby, it was like going to the funeral all over again! The latter were particularly disturbing.

To me, it felt like voyeurism. Why would someone take pictures of such a sad event? I hope you print this and tell me and others what your opinion is so they may heed your advice — particularly my in-laws. — Grieving Widow in Indiana

Dear Grieving: Please accept my sympathy for the loss of your husband. I can only imagine the shock you experienced when you saw the photos. No one should take pictures at funerals without first having received permission from the immediate survivors such as the widow, widower or children.

That said, the practice is not as uncommon as you might think. After a period of time, family members have been known to find comfort in having them. Short of asking your permission, your trauma could have been avoided had the relative who sent the pictures thought to label the envelopes or include a note explaining what was inside them. That way, you wouldn’t have had to view them until you were ready — if ever — and were prepared emotionally.



I posted this for two reasons. I had my camera, but didn't feel right about taking pictures at my mothers funeral several years ago...so I didn't. No regrets about that. I have my memories.

One of Hubby's sisters passed away a few years ago. Another sister took pictures and sent them to the deceased sister's son.....who was serving time in prison and obviously could not attend her funeral. He opened the mail and was very upset to the see the photos of his mother.He was not prepared to see them. I thought this rather inconsiderate of "the other sister".

I found this old photo on the web just now. I lived only a few blocks from there. In 1955, I was five years old. I remember the streetcars and Michigan was THE place to shop..if you were an adult that is.

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Good morning! :yh_coffee

From our front yard............the good news and the bad news.........

Good..the pretty flower in bloom

:yh_sad Bad....what our mail carrier did to our mailbox Friday

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http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/arts/ ... .html?_r=0

I feel like having a mini-vacation, don't you?

The 40 most stylish women in history - MSN Living



Fashion fades, only style remains the same.

Coco Chanel

Let's go for a walk with this lady.......

something different..................slow down

Dear Abby: I live in a small town where traffic isn't much of a problem. Recently, though, a young man was killed in a car wreck. He ran into a semi because he was texting while driving. His final text was to a friend who had asked if they could get together for a night of fun.

As a rule, we look down on people who drink and drive, as this is unacceptable in today's world. But we do nothing to drivers who text and drive.

Please advise your readers that no message is worth dying over. Last night there was ANOTHER traffic accident caused by the same thing!

Robert in Kilgore, Texas

Dear Robert: Sadly, that "night of fun" will have to be postponed indefinitely. Sometimes it takes a tragedy (or two) to wake people up because they're operating under the delusion that they are the exception to the rules of the road or are invincible.



Hubby and I were just talking about this on the way home from work today. How we STILL pass drivers who are texting and driving and swerving on the road. I said as much about them being "under the delusion that they are the exception to the rules of the road".

"Be like a flower and turn your face to the sun."

- Kahlil Gibran

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Nothing is more beautiful than the love that has weathered the storms of life. The love of the young for the young, that is the beginning of life. But the love of the old for the old, that is the beginning of things longer.

Jerome K. Jerome

Jerome K. Jerome - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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I have a love/hate relationship with my vacuum cleaner. I appreciate what it does, but getting tangled in that long cord and pushing that heavy machine on wheels around furniture is no fun.

This Sunday morning, it was gray,cloudy and rainy. Now, this late afternoon, it is bright and clear and lovely outside. I lost my internet connection for several hours this afternoon, but I kept busy doing other things. It's obviously back on now.

:-6



It's great just to be alive!

Classical music and pretty spring flowers. Enjoy!

"Bequine pronounced bi-GEEN (bi with an 'i' as in sit, hard 'g' in geen) is a dance that resembles the rhumba that is popular on the Caribbean islands of Saint Lucia and Martinique."

Just in case you were wondering.....

Novels vs Film Adaptations.....

'Unfilmable' novels? No such thing, says Hollywood - CNN.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Advent ... ugie_March (Sounds interesting..never heard if it before)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babbitt_(novel)



Are there any books that you would like to see on film?

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

Henry Ford

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Dear Abby: Is it tacky to reuse birthday candles?

It seems silly to throw away candles that have been used for only a minute or two, but I know some people think it’s bad etiquette. What do you think? — Madeline in Rio Rancho, N.M.

Dear Madeline: Most birthday cakes arrive at the table already lit. Some people reuse birthday candles if they haven’t burned down very far.

I don’t know who told you “etiquette would be breached if you didn’t use candles right out of the box, but the next time someone says it, you have my permission to reply, “Better a cake with used candles than no cake at all.

:wah:

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