Before work

This morning, I had a little extra time before work because of a teacher in-service that didn't start until 10:00 am. What a luxury compared to the usual Monday mornings which start at 7:30 am! I took a walk in the pollen-filled air already making sleep at night more difficult than usual. So many colors are emerging all over my neighborhood which is ripe with azaleas, dogwoods, red buds, and forsythia. These are the ostentatious plants.

My Japanese maple is currently a little more subtle, though it is also showing signs of new life. Little rosy buds are starting to form where leaves will one day unfurl. As I documented the color changes of its brilliant autumn changes, I plan to capture the greening of this tree this spring.

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." -- Frank LLoyd Wright

I think so, too.

On Fire

Rising above,
the sunlight found me

and set me on fire

so that I could glow
and dance
even in the shadows.

Nature's Knitting VIII

From a playground
at an elementary school
in South Jackson,

From a daffodil corner
at an elementary school
in Northeast Jackson,

A city is bound together,
neighborhoods are tied together,
manicured lawns and vacant lots
are knit together

With little wildflowers
and children
dancing through breezes
drinking up rain
lazing in sunlight
sleeping under stars,
and blooming
in early March.

Nature's Knitting VII, My Knitting

Casting on the colors of spring,

binding off early blooms,

not wanting this day to end,
not wanting this yarn to end,

but I'm close to binding off and
casting on something new.

Nature's Knitting VI

Rosemary enlivens the tongue,
wool awakens the skin,
earthy and warm,
pungent and pure,
fringe and fiber.

Nature's Knitting V

Spaces like yarn-overs
filtering an afternoon, overcast light
through waxy, thick, green leaves--
through textured and smooth
gray bark with hints of rosy brown.

My Knitting, Nature's Knitting IV

Multi-colored stripes in my knitting. . .

Brown, green, and white stripes outside. . .

White!