In a follow up to yesterday’s rambling about gardening and reading the future, today has been mighty productive.
In giardino
Eager to enjoy some outdoors time, I put on the layers and headed out just at midday. The air temperature is about 32 F; mostly clouds and a pretty steady wind at 10 mph. The first thing I see are the low bush blueberries on the little hill. Meadow hay covers about half of their branches. Oh! I usually bundle them up by Christmas day. Into the shed I went to surround them with the last of the mulch, burlap wrap and tied by string. Here’s the before and after photos. They are deep in dormancy and need some protection from cold and wind. This pile looks like a great escape for country mice. A nice shelter close to the bird feeder!
The blueberries love a heavy feed of organic matter in the early spring. Sometime around April, hopefully, the burlap will be removed and gradually, the hay. In late May, I’ve got to remember to check for gypsy moth caterpillars. For some reason, the pests love to feast on the middle shrub. They get on the others but two years ago, almost completely defoliated the middle one. Last summer, they came back and got going again. There’s a spray I use to knock down the killers but it’s got to go on when they are seen swinging in the wind, not when they are full size chomping away at the tender green leaves. The leaves have returned but the plant cannot survive this type of attack and regrowth in one season too often. The heavy feeding has produced some yummy little berries the last few years.
I gave an hour and half to chopping out a layer of ice on the driveway. It’s about an inch thick and unforgiving. Man is that frozen. Chip, chop and scoop it away. Made more room for another snow day. No pruning, my back and fingers got a bit sore. I had to wham away at the stuff with the ice chopper and shovel.
I know it’s time to go in when I get either cold feet or a shiver. I had a mild combination of all those signs when I quit.
Past, Present, Future
Instead of just pulling cards randomly, I made a ritual out of reading the tarot today. The cards were surrounded by blooming cyclamen and all the owl beeswax candles I’ve made lately. The sunshine also blessed it for several hours. Later on, here’s what came out when I said, past, present and future; What’s the story?
Past – Sun upright
Present – Fool upright
Wands 3 – upright
What a cool spread! Yes, in the past I enjoyed riding a horse, being outdoors, and giving into the pleasure of sunshine and sunflowers. Life was good
The Fool! To me, this card says it’s okay to daydream and look forward to new horizons, but look where you are going fool, else you’ll fall right off the ledge.
Wands Three – A card of maturity and again, looking towards a bright horizon. A gaze fixed on boats in the harbor sailing away. I’m not on them. But, look at the staffs beginning to sprout leaves.
This spread is auspicious and talks about joy, carefree days and leading the way.
Blessings on such a winter’s day.
And so, the last day of the year has arrived. It’s just after sunset on a cold day here in West Brookfield. The wicked sleety, ice storm left a pile of frozen slush ankle deep. The early evening show of thunder and lightening yesterday was bizarre. Still, the lights stayed on, the howl and spatter only rattled the windows.
Late May is when the forest pixies emerge from under the owl’s wings to tiptoe along the mossy stones. The roots and rocks are worn down now. Trees close the path a bit now. Sapling oak has been fearless. Look how tall you have grown!
The trail leads on. There is nothing ahead and nothing behind. All is wild. Tree limbs rub and creak above. Flies and gnats visit. Where are they? Once a year, the dear slippers are lost, left clinging onto a shoe rest waiting for the owner to return.
A day of delight. Walking along with a stout stick to help the old legs get along. We brought no gift. We took nothing out except happiness. The unknown sorrow of many a long night left in this place. The reassuring solace of woodland ways
LuceStellare 