Journal entry from March 2009

Walking past the snowdrop ravine, the air is perfumed with their scent- the scent of spring.  It draws the emerging honey bees to collect nectar.  The snowdrops dance on the spring breeze.  Their outer skirt of three petals spread up and out providing a glimpse of an underskirt of dotted green, edged in white lace.

Farther into the walk, we find violets in bloom at the base of a blue, limestone and cement wall, that has been warmed by the sun.  The violet's scent reminds me of perfume candies that my grandmother bought for me when I was little.  Mmm!  And, the bouquet of violets my father would give me.  Mollie and I stop to pick a bouquet.

As noted in a previous post, I again found violets blooming along the limestone/cement wall, and picked a bouquet to bring home.

Snow Forecast

Snow is forecast for the next few days.  Oh, how I am looking forward to Spring!  The flowers, the color, the scent, the new growth - and a renewal of creativity.

Events- This Sunday

This Sunday, I celebrated my niece's birthday with her.  We had waffles for breakfast.  I cooked.  Wow! She is 21 years old today.

She stayed for lunch.  My brother and nephew came up for my mothers stew and dumplings.  The family talked and played, and then everyone was full and took a nap.

Later Mollie and I took a Sunday walk.  We found violets blooming along the side of a rock wall.  Such a lovely scent.

Sunday Walk

Mollie and I enjoyed a Sunday evening walk.  The day has been warm, and the evening still had hints of this warmth.  Mollie found a mountain of snow to climb.  

We were able to visit the ravine of snowdrops.

Spring in Utah Update

Now, we have a blizzard!

Visitor to our bird feeder

We have many birds that visit our feeder, juncos, chickadees, pine siskins, sparrows and finches.  Look at this lovely gold finch in its winter color.

Last week a kestrel visited our yard looking for mice, voles or unwary birds that it might enjoy for lunch.

Coptic Book Binding Class

I took another book binding class with Adele Greenleaf at the Eccles Community Art Center.  I had a great time creating a book with a two needle coptic binding.  It is a great addition to all the other fun books I have created.

Spring in Utah

Tuesday, I saw my first Spring Butterfly.  Snowdrops, buttercups, and crocuses are blooming.  Yesterday, I heard a small group of birds singing their dawn chorus,  This morning more birds joined in.

This evening, while driving home millimeter balls of snow hurl and splat against my windshield like a cluster of insects.

Another Journal entry from last year

Journal entry: 3/20/09

A sunny day.  A walk with Mollie.  We are accompanied on our walk by butterflies - mourning cloaks- that look like swatches of brown velvet edged with old fashion ivory lace, as well as smaller butterflies, who hide on tree trunks with their wings closed then a flash of orange with brown spots, their wings look like torn paper.

Comparison of years

Last year at this time, I was able pick a bouquet of snowdrops from a ravine on the grounds of the old Hermitage hotel.  This year Mollie and I could see the snowdrops blooming in the ravine surrounded by deep snow.  We will need to wait a few more days or weeks to pick our bouquet.

Journal entry:  Friday  3/13/09

Leaving the canyon this evening; everything was golden with the sunset, not the syrupy gold of autumn but a transparent , reflective gold like a wash that a water colorist applies to a painting.

This year, I missed witnessing the sunset; instead I had a wonderful evening enjoying dinner with friends.

Spring is sneaking in

Look!   I see fuzzy toes, could it be that Spring is sneaking in.  A photo of a weeping pussy willow at a friend's house.

Classes

I was able to finish the art center class schedule and e-mail it to the printers today.  I am offering three classes for children: Open Studio: Sketchbooks, Enchanting crafts, and Open Studio: Art Materials.  These are all new classes for me, but I am excited to teach.  I enjoy exploring creativity with children, and often learn as much from the children as I assist in their explorations.

Class registration

I was excited to receive an e-mail registration for one of the children's classes that I will be teaching at the Eccles Community Art Center.

Melting

The sun is out, melting our piles of  snow.   Spring may yet be coming. The downside-  I got stuck in a rut created by melt water.  

Thanks, neighbors for helping me get on my way.