Drunken Butterflies....

...fill my prairie field. It seems that everything is in bloom, and the butterflies and hummingbirds simply cannot get enough of it!

The hummingbirds are energized by the nectar. The bees a bit lethargic. But, the butterflies are simply drunk with the sweet syrup of late spring. They land on hands, flit to shoulders, and loop through the air - bouncing on breezes - without a care.

And, I find myself walking a bit slower, breathing a bit deeper, and drinking in all that is around me - bouncing butterflies and all!
 

A Bit Perturbed...

As I previously posted, hummingbirds are one of my favorite birds... by the time summer comes, I consider them nearly to be pets. When fall's cool breezes stir, and they pack their little bags for warmer weather, I feel a bit blue as I clean the feeders and place them away until the following spring. Yes, humming birds are one of my favorites - but not my absolute favorite. That honor goes to....

...the ever elusive Baltimore Oriole!
From the first day I saw that flash of orange across the prairie sky, I was hooked. I wanted more!

These beauties are hard to spot. They flit and fly - and it is only when they are airborne that you see that brilliant orange blaze.

So, why am I perturbed? 

My feeders - two types - are ready - cleaned and filled - waiting for them. One is full of bright orange liquid - that looks just like Tang. The other is a votive candle holder full of grape jelly that sits in a white bird-sized gazebo. Really, these feeders are lovely. Just ask the humming birds who are gorging themselves on the Tang....or the wasps who think the grape jelly is divine.

But, you can't ask the Baltimore Orioles.... they aren't here!

(But, if you see them, put in a good word for my little prairie feast!)

Gardening bit by bit...

Yep, that's me... umbrella in one hand, planting flowers and feeding birds on the other.  Every single day this week, we have had rain. And, though I am tempting to stomp my feet and complain, I know we really do need these showers.
So, I am gardening in bits... pull a weed here.... prepare a bed there... hoping for clear skies on Sunday... we'll see.
How does your garden grow??

Finally...They're Back....

...those wonderful, sometimes wicked, tiny, buzzy birds!

Nearly four weeks ago, when the temperatures reached a high in the 70s during the day but dipped into the mid-40s at night, I went up to the machine shed and retrieved all of the feeders for the summer birds - humming bird and oriole feeders - and cleaned them thoroughly. I made my first batch of hummingbird nectar, filled the feeders, and waited. After about five days of checking feeders from time to time throughout the day, what did I get? 

Ants.

So, I dumped out the nectar, cleaned out the feeders, and refilled them.

One week later... more ants.

I let the feeders sit there, full of yucky ant-ridden nectar through the recent rains. Then, two days ago, I decided to try again. Today, we had torrents of rain, followed by sunny skies and warm ripples of wind. I opened all of the windows and sat down to write... when I heard it. A buzzzzz like a ginormous bee followed by several shreiks - almost like angry mice. I turned and saw them - yes, them. Two male hummingbirds, each claiming my feeder. Off and on, all day, they drank, chased, and bombinated at my feeder like two adolescent cowboys vying for the same piece of land.

I imagine the ladies lay in wait....

So, welcome back little tikes!

So much better than those pesky ants!

Lilacs Galore!

I love this time of year - the succession of bloom... crocus, then Tulip Magnolia, next lilac, followed by tulips, and soon after....lilacs! Of course, this year, everything is a month early. On most years, the lilacs appear on the scene just before Memorial Day - and here we are, still in April, and we have lilacs galore!


Someone asked me if everything blooms early, what happens in late fall? Do fall bloomers stick around - or do we have a four week window when all the plants just hang out, waiting for frost? I guess we'll find out soon enough!


But for now....bloom, bloom, bloom!

Ending and Beginnings.....

We have had quite a few landmarks during the past two years in our family. My daughter got married, got a new job, and now is expecting our first grandbaby, My oldest son is starting a new job. My parents are moving from their home of 51 years to a new, beautiful place. My nephew is getting married. And, my youngest son is giving me all those "last" experiences... last prom for one of my children, last graduation, last sporting event, last choral concert, etc. And, even though I do mark each of these with a touch of regret, I have learned that, truly, life offers no dead ends unless we seek them. There is always a choice for a new adventure, a new project, and new way of showing our children we love them, a new way to love God by loving those around us. 


Today, one of my family members asked me if "the last prom" made me sad. I had to think about it a bit and I realized that yes, I am sad about the kiddos growing up - but I wouldn't want them to stay little forever. I want them to meet their mates, serve God, have their own children, etc. So, if I want all of those things for them, I have to have "lasts" for some things.


And, "lasts" bring "firsts" such as our first grandbaby, our first trip together without children present, nights when we work on our own projects, when we have time to explore new dreams.


So, no dead ends here...only new directions! New dreams out here on the prairie... 


How about you?

Managing the Lush Days of Spring...

During these lush days of spring, I find myself pulled in so many directions. Gardening... work... writing... family times.... church... routine/ mundane errands.... what to do, what to do?

I am trying to new ways of managing all of my "I have tos" and "I want tos".
 
First, I am trying to plan ahead, scheduling days off, looking forward and scheduling when things can be done. I mean a month ahead - that much to be done! This includes buying seeds and flowers, cultivating beds, planting canna bulbs, buy baby and graduation gifts... all those things that, if not scheduled, seem not to get done.

Next, I am trying the "nibble" method of accomplishment. When my to do list gets overwhelming or discouraging, I try to do a bit of what I need to do at a time - for the projects I don't relish - and schedule large blocks of time for those I do enjoy doing. This includes cleaning, working on a paper that is due, and sending out invitations.

Lastly, I am trying to structure the items on my to do list. For those items I want to do - but find it difficult to carve out sufficient time (such as my Bible study, exercise, etc.), I am scheduling them in conjunction with other items. Now, my husband or I read our Bible study to the other while that person cooks dinner. I find ritualizing behaviors helps "cement" them. Next I plan to ritualize my treadmill time - but this is a bit harder task! 


Block, Nibble, Ritualize - techniques I am using this busy spring, wanting to get so much accomplished. Spring has sprung, and I feel it in my bones.... time to shake off the dormancy of winter and move ahead... but in a bit more structured manner.


How are you getting your spring frenzy under control?