Still spring in mid May!

post #490
           So many of us are appreciating this year's extra long Appalachian spring.
          
           I've felt compelled to document even more of this season than I usually do because there's no way in today's world to guarantee the vitality we are currently squandering. I want the beauty I perceive to be something we all share, preserve and enhance.    

           I realize that so much of the essential work on behalf of Mother Earth is not taking place as much as it needs to happen.  It's hidden behind the chaos of the global coronavirus tragedies.  Yet the longer the science of the atmosphere is denied, the greater the cost of digging us out of the resulting damage to our air, water, food sources, and nature's needs. What if we insist on education classes for all ages devoted to envisioning possibilities for the earth and figuring out how to achieve them? Vision 101, for everyone.

chives in J and R's garden

creative retreat in the yard, with some shade and access to the wifi from the house (for calling a friend) during time spent being #healthyathome for T, who's now nine.

I'm always crazy about the greens as the leaves go through their "adolescence.

H A R D

and     E V E N  H A R D E R

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last moments before the rains beat down these flowers

two views from a single vantage point

one single purple iris

surrounded by many white ones, along side of my shed, totally neglected by me.

        
          This potted plant was left on my porch a year ago, after I had broken my foot. I still don't know who "done the deed"! Nonetheless, I have managed to keep it alive! And yesterday, still in the house due to late frosts, it produced this blossom!  So, my beauty, welcome to this world filled with the unexpected.  
          Be safe, everyone, be kind, for the sake of others, especially those keeping us alive at great cost to themselves. So please do the social distancing, to help other humans, and, as always, love a tree.

outside my window while I sit in my chair

post #489
         I finally gave up my reluctance to bear witness to all the birds drawn to my feeder this year -- so many more than earlier years.  As I've said before, I'm not set up to be a bird photographer, but the purpose here is simply to record what I could of the ones stopping by. They do tell a story even if I don't have time to do all it takes for excellence. I'm happy I can share some of my visitors with readers who can't come here to see them with me.

Cardinal

Chickadee

red breasted woodpecker

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are so showy!

goldfinch in summer glory

I am guessing this is a FLEDGLING Cardinal?  I only managed to catch this one photo of him.

not sure, because of the center stripe on the head

 

female Rose-breasted Grosbeak?

working on his abs?

This male red-winged blackbird does NOT stay still.  There are more of them this year than usual.

If no one can tell me what this one is, I will take the time to try to figure it out by next week!

         I have to confess that I also use that chair for Zoom sessions, and I was led to combine my Zooming and the bird zoomings. This was possible and necessary because the bird doesn't come when you want it to. It's a case of now or never.  The light has to be right as well, of course.  Rain helps with that when the camera isn't directly in the rain.
          I should add that I am thankful for both the birds and the sessions I have had via Zoom, including the virtual memorial service in New Hampshire for my dear cousin Steve. His was not a virus death, but because of all the virus deaths, we had to gather remotely.  We are all surely aware of all the deaths people face every day.  Again I say how much it helps that our Kentucky governor is determined to limit as many deaths as possible. Please stay safe and wear a mask where there are people nearby, and use common sense.  It's real.

It would have been a beautiful Derby weekend.

post #488
          It's still spring here because we've been experiencing a long cool spell. Many trees show a slow road getting to that deep summer green. They're not there yet. Yesterday was beautiful -- my birthday, for one thing. Calls with friends and family, but still mostly #HealthyatHome.  SO, to prolong spring even more, I want to share some of the most recent spring views as the pandemic continues its harsh path through the reality of our lives while the efforts of so many citizens to take one for the team have helped us all out. Thank you all, including the ones who aren't always sure they are making a difference by seeming to do nothing.

OUT AND ABOUT, favorite spots, in the car, by myself:

rear wheel drive sculpture

Closer to home:

coming home after a walk

One birthday, three friends (a surprise) in three different cars, tea and sympathy  -- and laughter from way more than three stories of our long history of these families helping each other out. Thanks for the surprise and the company!!

bluets again, all over everywhere

DISCOVERING THE LAST BLOOM IN A PATCH OF DWARF  IRIS IN THE NEARBY WOODS.

          Can the red-winged blackbirds be found? There's one in each photo -- a summer rerun at the pond:

the other birthday in the family, T. is now 9!

having to redefine "close" with family, for the time being

Two hours ago, at home:

         Most Kentuckians continue to be so grateful to Gov. Andy Beshear, for his clear commitment to helping as many of us as possible to stay alive.  He and his team put common sense science and compassion ahead of political games and, well, to be blunt, greed.  
          And let's hope that if we do have the Derby instead in September, however unlikely that is, that we have an equally beautiful day for it. It's quite the tradition in Kentucky.

this week, while the world swirls

post #487
          A regular week in irregular times -- which doesn't mean there aren't one time only things not happening. (That sentence is sort of a good example of a double negative being positive....)
        We all have to keep records of our day to day life these days if we don't want to have  events to blur together.
       In one unexpected happening, a special apple tree blew over early in the week, in full bloom. It was "always" part of my life in Kentucky, as much as a tree can be. It lived outside the living room window, entertained and sheltered various birds, and dropped apples on the metal roof, sounding like tennis balls thrown against a wall. 

        This photo was made on Easter day because of the laundry on the line, but it ends up being the last photo of the tree, full of blossoms, behind the house. 

 

         The tree blew away from the house.














The trunk's totally worn out. It was an empty shell. Oh the birds it attracted....

the remaining apple tree -- is that a bird? perhaps a love bug?

        This whole time we are observing social distancing.  And it was not the best time of day to get good light before taking a few photos, but since these days (and nights), we are making up our new normal, some imperfection is to be expected.  

local visionary

resident gymnastic cat!

    Back at my house, I now have a few birds, but watching them is not yet the same as it was at my original house (where my daughter and family now live.)  I do have a red-winged blackbird that returns to my little pond every year, including this year.  And the feeder provides me with great pleasure:
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on the post near the bird feeder

across from where Sideway Road connects with the road along Mauk Ridge

       
          The last three photos are also along Mauk Ridge, as spring takes over all of eastern Kentucky.  I know my current photos may not be as sharp as I would like, but here's the scoop:  I can blame it on the coronavirus, since I was about to have my cataracts removed.  My appointment will happen soon enough, but, I hope, not too soon, not before we are ready and know how best to help these changes happen safely. 
            It's hard doing what we need to do to bring down the virus numbers unless we accept the reality that by not doing anything we are doing a lot.  I tried to show today how ordinary stuff weaves it way into the current major upheavals and anchors me.  
        Some new readers might be visiting this blog, and I say welcome! Two things to know: I have a place for comments, but for some reason it doesn't work for everyone. I have it set up that I review a message before it gets published.  Also I am not reliable about answering a comment.  Sorry.  The other thing is if a reader clicks on an image, while on a laptop or maybe an iPod, all the photos in the post line up along the bottom of the screen, and clicking on them enlarges them. (It may not work on a smart phone.  No room.)
        I seem to have some readers in many countries, so sometimes I include political comments, to reassure them that there are many points of view in our nation.
       Again, thank you for your interest in my work, in Appalachia, and in going gentle on this earth.