In Celebration of the Vernal Equinox

Just to Be Out of Doors

Just To Be Out of Doors! So still! So green!
With unbreathed air, illimitable, clean,
With soft, sweet scent of happy growing things,
The leaves' soft flutter, sound of sudden wings,
The far faint hills, the water wide between.

Breast of the great earth-mother! Here we lean
With no conventions hard to intervene,
Content, with the contentment nature brings,
Just to be out of doors.

And under all the feeling half foreseen
Of what this lovely world will come to mean
To all of us when the uncounted strings
Are keyed aright, and one clear music rings
In all our hearts. Joy universal, keen,
Just to be out of doors.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Wind and Sky

My husband and I took a day trip through parts of San Bernardino County yesterday, on multiple errands. At the end of the day we headed to an art show in Palm Desert to meet desert artist Carl Bray and see some of his recent paintings (we acquired one of his early ones last year). Anyway, as we were driving along I-10, the wind turbines were all a-twirl in the high winds. In the distance, a mass of storm clouds was making its way over the top of the San Jacinto Mountains. The blues and whites in the waning light were absolutely beautiful, so I had to snap some "freeway photos" as we flew by. This one captured the scene. Sometimes the machines we humans build do have a certain kind of magnificence.

Speaking of Spring

I found out that my friend Sharon submitted a few photos to "First Person" on the MSNBC Web site and they were posted in a slideshow called Spring Blooms. Two of them were selected as Editors' Picks. Other people submitted some great shots as well, so if you like spring and flowers, you might want to take a look.

I have to admit to having Spring Fever. Seeing all the flowers blooming and grass greening the hills is making me want to go outside and play. But, since it's been cloudy and rainy, I've been having fun playing inside instead. Yes, I am trying to be creative. Scary. Anyway, I just finished adding this card to my Zazzle store. These snowdrops are always the first thing that makes me realize spring is coming when they voluntarily appear in my yard every year — a special surprise. I poked around online for a quote to match my delight. Maybe someone will be inspired to pass along some springtime joy to her friends.

Sitting quietly, doing nothing... by dragonflyseye

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