To Jospeh who asked

Message to Joseph who asked about the chicken lamp. Several years ago I
bought it at Marshalls in Newington, NH. Hope that helps.

Iguana love

I've just been out in the cold April rain, running errands. Went to the pet store and one of the young women who works there had a yellow blanket over her blouse, and on the blanket, she was cradling Annie the Iguana (green and yellow). She had Annie's face up against her cheek and then down trailed the long iguana body including a very lengthy tail (that reached beyond the young woman's knees!) The young woman cooed and prattled to the iguana who gave every indication of being in iguana heaven. No camera so maybe I'll try to draw what I can remember. Anyway, after witnessing such earnest iguana-love, the rain really didn't seem to matter.

Because of the snow prediction, I've uploaded a picture of a quilt I finished recently and sent to my sister for her birthday. For the color. . .for the warmth. . .

Later today, we're expected to get about 12 inches of slush or snow. Fortunately, all the hopeful flowers have it within their power to withstand this nonsense. If they can, I can. . .

Nearly April

and we are still ten to fifteen degrees colder than normal for this time of year. Today, low 40s with a fierce cold wind. Students at the university sick of the cold, egging on spring by wearing shorts and tee shirts! Indoor plants have the right idea, too. Full-tilt blooming. So that's what I'm practicing, too.

Cold Mountain Poem

Cold Mountain Poems
Han Shan

Sometimes from down below
I catch the flash of the stream's flow.
Sometimes I sit like a stone on the cliff.
My heart is like the orphan cloud,
with nothing to lean on,
so far, so far away,
what of the world's could sway it?

translated by J.P.Seaton

Sixty degrees and sunny today. It's pretty clear how the crocuses feel about the whole situation!

Magician's Dove on My Head

The Magician's Dove

I have one white domestic dove, Stella, saved from starvation, probably after being released at a wedding. Domestic doves can't fend for themselves in the wild. It's a much better idea to release white homing pigeons at weddings. . .Anyway, she had a companion dove who died. I went on line and found a dove for adoption at an SPCA who had just been surrendered by a magician! Picture is of the magician's dove I named Clara. She loves to hide in soft white fabrics and sings all night long. Secretly, she is teaching me real magic!

Rain, not snow

This winter has gone on for one hundred years. Fortunately, there are only three more days to spring. And today's downpour, though heavy, is NOT snow.

And here is a gorgeous poem by Anita Skeen to tide you over until spring does come.

What the Seed Knows

by Anita Skeen

winter plods on like a Russian novel, spring
hints, haiku

tight blouses unbutton, jackets unzip,
skin is not just skin

rich soil proliferates
in the heart, in the hand
that can never let go

rivers flow unseen, underground, unfettered
unfathomable

some dig down, some rise up
some survive

sleep is not dreamless:
how else the orange, the dogwood?
the phalanx of asparagus?

coddled in the pod,
all the seed needs:

darkness, more snug
than light

grit splits the rock, raises
a tiny fist, screams
the world into profusion
of petaled racket

to uncurl and unfurl
to unhusk from the crust

to inhale, exhale
turn toward what's bright.