Will he or won’t he? February is here and with it arrives the much anticipated prediction of Punxsutawney Phil, the official mascot for Ground Hog Day, February 2. The tradition originated from an ancient European Christian observance of what was known as Candlemas Day. That celebration represented the midpoint between the winter and spring equinoxes. […]
spring
Let the Sun Shine
This week the sun came out and, like an exclamation point on the end of a sentence, celebrated the first day of Spring. Temperatures soared near the seventy mark, a rare occurrence for Oregon weather in March. A mere three weeks before much of my home town had been buried in almost two feet of […]
As Summer Wanes
The petunia blossoms have wilted. The ‘dragons have lost their snap. The paintbrush blooms of the celosia look more like dust wands from my kitchen closet than the soft, flame-shaped flowers they once were. All are signs that summer is coming to a close. Autumn waits. School bells will ring, farmers will plow their fields, […]
To Sing–A Sign of Spring
One of the special events that mark the advent of spring for me is the annual “Fuchsia Saturday” a local retailer hosts, either in late March or early April. All of the Fred Meyer stores, part of the larger Kroger chain, invite the public to bring their potting containers from home, buy plant seedlings, and […]
First Day of Spring–Not to be confused with Easter Miracle
[slideshow] Next Tuesday marks the first day of spring! Already the daffodils are blooming, the crocuses are purpling the landscape and the flowering plums are lining our street. The arrival of spring, marking the beginning of warmer days and summer flowers, makes me want to sing. As my children were growing up, we would celebrate […]