Today is a good day (waxing moon in the sign of moist, fertile Cancer) to sow more seeds. I've been waiting for the right moon-time to get these dye plant seeds started. I also ordered some actual dye plants but they won't be shipped until sometime next month when the weather is more stable. Fingers crossed that everything grows.
The African violets are settled in under the skylight in the living room. I'm hoping this is the right amount of light for them as it's on the north side of the house and shouldn't be too harsh. It seems like I have trays all over the house, this one is an old chalkboard. I need to pick up some chalk so we can doodle on it. Maybe write messages, too. Like use a coaster for your glass -- that would be a good one for here.
Some of the bees swarmed. The thing I worried about the most happened. And you know what, our original beehive is still full. So I guess it needed to happen. When we saw this swarm, we immediately made plans to go to the beekeeping store for another hive. The swarm was there when we left the house, and when we came back an hour or so later with the new set-up, they had moved on. I felt sort of bad, but it's Nature and who are we to say they shouldn't expand their horizons?
The red tulips were planted 27 years ago by our little boy, Corty, and me. He was nearly three and as we planted -- me digging, him planting -- we talked about how the tulips would come up and bloom for the new baby due to arrive the following spring. And they did. Four years later Corty left this Earth when leukemia made its home in his body -- but still the tulips come up -- and we always call them Corty's tulips. Every spring. And I am always so happy to see them.
Thanks for coming by here and happy weekending. xo
how wonderful that those beautiful tulips are attached to such a sweet memory. those bees swarming would have scared me to death. have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteDeanna, yes, they are wonderful, those tulips. I smiled when I read that the bees would've scared you. But when they swarm they are more gentle than ever -- in case you ever really do see a swarm. ;-) A good weekend to you.
DeleteCorty must be protecting the tulips from squirrels! -- to have them so abundant now, still so beautiful. Like a kiss from him.
ReplyDeleteThe bees will now hopefully find another welcoming spot to teach another human!
I'm sowing seeds in the form of little altars scattered all around.....
Thanks, Jo, that's a nice visual for me. Sweet kisses.
DeleteI'm so curious as to where the swarm ended up -- thankfully, the original colony seems fine.
Little altars sprouting everywhere...
Those tulips are beautiful! I mean really beautiful! What a special memory you have of planting them with Corty. Blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteKathy, thank you -- first time I've been really "public" about Corty. Blessings to you, too.
DeleteBeautiful, poignant; thank you, Peggy, for your continuing inspiration.
ReplyDeleteChris, thanks for your kind words. The tulips are my pearl.
DeleteThank you for sharing your memory; tulips are amazing, nothing quite like them and it must be fine to see their brave red every year and think of your boy! I could not believe the bees - I thought they were tiny pinecones but then I looked closely, wow. Note to self - get eyes checked.
ReplyDeleteRobyn, oh how I love your way of saying that -- brave red! Yes. And he was a brave boy.
DeleteThe bees do look like tiny pinecones, you're right! Your eyes are fine. :-))
Oh Peggy, this is such a touching post. I love tulips and how nice to have this memory to greet them each year. Last night I was talking about 'favorite memories'. Ya know, the kind you think of over and over and treasure so deeply. I bet that planting day is one of those for you. Warm thought to you.
ReplyDeleteOh, and also, I was in my back 40 when I heard a loud noise, looked over my shoulder and saw a hive swarming right behind me!!! I got back in the house very Quick!!!!
Nancy, it means a lot to me that you see it as that because yes, it is a time that I'll never forget, the talking, the day, the earth, the boy, all of it. Thank you.
DeleteOh that is so wonderful you saw a swarm!
The tulips...what a wonderful memory. Tulips usually won't live long in our climate as most places the soil has too much clay. I have one spot where they are going strong eight years later. I wonder if I can hope for 20 or more years?
ReplyDeleteI have to plant my indigo for a second time...planning on doing that today.
Deb, thanks -- if yours have made it 8 years, I bet they'll be all right. I don't know exactly how long they go on. But I'm grateful for every spring these come back.
DeleteThe indigo must be tricky? Oh dear.
The tulips are even more beautiful now that I know their story. We really cannot control Mother Nature (or bees), can we? Wishing you a beautiful weekend.
ReplyDeleteJeannie, oh you said it just right. I once heard viruses referred to as living entities that have as much right to be on the planet as we do. In some strange roundabout way, it makes sense to think that way when I can.
DeleteAnd I wish you a beautiful weekend, too, Jeannie.
You are so wise and so inspiring...
ReplyDeleteCorty's Tulips are beautiful.
Much, much love to you.
Trish, you are so nice to say that but I certainly don't think that about myself. Does anyone, really -- I don't know. Thank you for the Corty love. Love back.
DeletePeggy ( hug) how truly wonderful to see the tulips each year and have such a warm memory of being with Corty.
ReplyDeleteI can see now why you wouldnt consider moving.......
Gadabout bees huh? Well least youve now got a second hive for the next time!
Lyn -- hug back -- and thank you for your always kind words. First time I've written about him, just felt like it now for some reason. I think you know me pretty well by that second sentence.
DeleteWell, we still have the original bee colony that seems to be thriving and have already returned the second unused hive. It had a 10-day return policy. ;-)
I agree with Trish....you are a wise woman <3
ReplyDeleteThe tulips are beautiful and hold such a sweet memory.....
They are a gift <3
I remember my children at that age the most.
In regards to the bees, the good news is you are prepared for the next swarm, right?
Happy planting with the indigo, etc : )
Hugs <3 xoxo
Oh geez, thanks, Marie. One of the tenderest of all those tender moments....
DeleteYou're right about the bees next time because we've already decided we'll house them temporarily in a cardboard box and THEN go buy the new beehive! ;-)
thank you for sharing this beautiful heart touching story of Corty and your tulips.
ReplyDelete& that very cool bee photo, i had to do a double take. once the school's neighbor's bees swarmed onto the playground on the day of an all school & parent event, we just corded the area off & called it a "living exhibit".
love to you.
Thank you, Cindy -- I can't quite describe how oddly wonderful the feeling is of using and seeing my sweet boy's name so much these last days. I am extremely grateful for all comments. It's the kind of subject people get real quiet about all of a sudden and I don't blame them, I react the same sometimes..
ReplyDeleteThe playground bee swarm -- well, now that just even sounds like something you'd do! You are such a wild woman -- turning it into an educational event -- what fun, they'll remember it for-ev-er.
Love back.
I think it's wonderful that you've shared a piece of Corty's life. And I'm so glad this place offers a safe supportive community for such sharing. And yes, the people who go quiet, I met many of them when I lost our first baby mid-pregnancy. K's parents didn't want to know when I got pregnant the next time, saying it would be too sad FOR THEM to have to go through that again. All we usually need is to have our story listened to and acknowledged. I hope you'll share more stories of Corty when you're ready. xo
DeleteThank you, Cindy. And I'm so sorry that you lost a child, too -- the first one seems especially cruel, you lose your whole identity just like that. Sadly, child loss is a big part of women's group her-story. That's the thing, when we lose someone, we find ourselves comforting everyone around us, don't we? Maybe it's part of the healing process. My dad said "let's hope it doesn't happen to Terry's (my brother) baby, too" when our first one was still-born, nothing else. I've had a lot of child loss. xo
Deleteoh, people. they often really don't know what to do. I'm so sorry that you have lost children, children that you held. I cannot imagine that pain. I did have a few miscarriages, along with the procedures to complete them, it was all felt sad and wrong, but my heart goes out to you and your children. K's grandmother was the best- she wrote me a letter about her little boy who drowned when he was seven and that she still loved and missed him every day. I loved that.
ReplyDelete