Skywatch Friday

Mercurial weather here all week: cloudy warm days, clear hot days, hazardous winds and some delightfully cool and bright days. The clouds have been gorgeous especially at day's beginning and end. I took this photo along the Mississippi River, from my car.

I captured this wild columbine blossom in the shady woods neighboring Snail Lake--the last one to be found in bloom.

Sharing our Minnesota sky with Skywatch Friday.

I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur of think at some point, 'if this isn't nice, i don't know what is.'– Kurt Vonnegut

spring's softer side

Spring wobbled in brand new heels
And took the stairs gleefully,
Dropping petals that
Floated softly away.

Summer sat at the end of the table
Picking flowers from a vase.
Pulling petal from stem, entwined,
Moon blushed smile.

Fragrant ribbons unrolled across the floor
As Autumn’s velvet skirts swayed, she
Poured wine in upturned glasses
Intoxicating their dreams

Sated eyes watched the doors
Lips silently repeated the clock’s ring
The slow waltz of regret and wondering played,
Waiting for Winter to accept the invitation.
 

I'm linking these new spring skies I saw this week to Skywatch Friday.

from the sublime to the ridiculous

I had the good fortune of being able to walk under blue skies and sun instead of pouring rain for a change. Along the way I had wildlife pose for me. This young buck is one of two that come farther up the hill to our bird feeders looking for a free meal. The delight du jour here was tree.

Dandelion and visitor soaking up the sun.

I've only seen this variety of salmon colored azalea in this particular yard and look forward to their arrival each spring.

Here are two Canada geese raising a ruckus on top of  condos across the street from us. Territorial issues I'm guessing.

Happy Wednesday from Anytown, Minnesota!

'Life is a great sunrise.'

The promise of a beautiful day captured from our deck as the sun came up last Sunday. I'm grateful that spring, though limping, is arriving day by day. Also, I'm glad to link this pic to Skywatch Friday.

quote from vladimir nabokov

only the brave need apply

I saw reluctant morning skies over White Bear Lake this week, Both the daylight and I were slow to awaken.

Eventually the grey clouds dissipated but not before a fisherman had shoved off into the water and cast his first line.

Spring is edging its way closer to us in spite of a couple of nights of frost. I've noticed two Blue Herons, four white egrets, a flock of cormorants, and a few wooducks out and about in the brisk air.

Factoid: one must be tough as leather to live in Minnesota. . .and like to fish! I'm linking these pics to Skywatch Friday.

welcome back!

I heard you call this morning

And I remember how your red epaulets

Quiver with each chorus.

You’ve found your way back.

Intrepid and weightless,

Eyes on the night

You’re like adult children returning from school.

Is this home or are you coming from home?

Overhead, your wings push out a formation

Then land on dollops of ice and water

The yin and yan of many lakes’

Spreading girth.

Remembering, I laugh out loud

And welcome the healing

In your clever industry

And your lusty song.

One of my favorite times in early spring is when the Red Wing blackbirds show up in the marshy areas among the cattails. This guy was trying to lure me away from their nesting area. His red epaulets are striking against his all black body. See more red here. 

keep looking up

Given my inimitable skill in reporting the obvious, it has to be said:  Spring has sprung in Minnesota! Windy, brisk and sunny it still feels like late winter but trees and grass have greened nicely. The lakes have thawed, boats are out and Canada Geese continue to squabble over property rights. Best of all the weeping willows along with Goldfinches have been changing into their golden attire. Skies are clear blue, when they're not grey, and the clouds seem more to move with more abandon now.

Comparison is the thief of joy.  Theodore Roosevelt

Visit Skywatch Friday for more sky views.

enough already!

In an effort to curb my complaining about our late spring, I found some lovely reminders of the hardiness of Minnesota flora with these examples to send on to Today's Flowers.

Lady Bird Johnson once wrote: Where flowers bloom so does hope. Words to remember for the week ahead. Dr. Daughter is coming for a few days' visit this week so I concur. That will mean sunshine aplenty.

A multitude of small delights constitutes happiness.

 Charles Baudelaire

its a surprise, no peeking!

Lots 'o' sun for Minnesota this week and at this posting, most trees have leafed out. Its been a week full of blue skies and puffy clouds. Above is my favorite tree in the area where I walk--not yet dressed for summer it seems. Below is another part of my walk where I usually see wood ducks and turtles and hear golfers. Peaceful and busy, full of life.

See more idyllic skies from all over our lovely here.

Poor, dear, silly Spring, preparing her annual surprise!
Wallace Stevens

what a difference a day makes

Today was our second day of sunshine so I took to the woods to see what's been happening. Life was happening! with tender, limey green everywhere, many lush ferny places and shy wildflowers. Birds sang and this lovely survivor watched me pass by [please enlarge to see her mottled winter fur].

Barring any more Blogger shenanigans, I'll be back!

frick and frack

Our local skies continue to be angry or serene, usually all in one day. This photo captured the rain coming from the west toward Minneapolis one afternoon last week. Below is a blissful view of the sky as the sun was coming up this morning. But don't be fooled, its been raining ever since. I'm just saying. . .

Visit more skies from all compass points here.

all things stripey and fine

When I came up the stairs this afternoon, I smelled the faint odor of sun-roasted cat only to find Bean soaking up the Easter Sunday sun.

“Once you can accept the universe as being something expanding into an infinite nothing which is something, wearing stripes with plaid is easy.” Albert Einstein

Isn't it amazing that the first brave flowers of spring are delicate and pale? That is, until the tulips bloom. These lovelies were all I could find this afternoon.Spring has sprung in my neck of the woods, indeed. I think I made it!

Visit Camera Critters and Today's Flowers and for more signs of spring.

Imagining what will come of these delightful puffs on slender red branches.
As my pal Yogi Berra said, "You can observe a lot just by watching."