It is snowing now as I write this, and with the prospect of snow on four of the next five days, I just couldn’t bring myself to post another photo of winter, no matter how white, peaceful, calm, and beautiful it might be. So I went looking for something with the color of green – the color of spring and hope and warmth. These calla lilies seemed to fit the bill, even if they do include quite a bit of white! The gentle arches and curves of the flowers struck me as both delicate and beautiful. And in this image their colors take on a soft wash because of the shallow depth of field with the photograph. I know spring will yet arrive, even if winter has its tight-fisted grip on us for a bit longer.
spring
Signs of spring approaching
Although we were in sub-zero temperatures earlier this past week, we are all looking forward to spring on the calendar. And as if in answer to our pleas, the thermometer has been getting into the 30’s and 40’s the past few days. Sure signs of spring in Minnesota are puddles of water from all the melting snow, as well as people outside in their shorts and short sleeves. Granted, to most people 40 degrees doesn’t warrant shorts, but for us the temps are 50 degrees warmer than what it has been — a grand reason to celebrate. To me, another sure sign of spring are chicks, and in this case, baby chicks less than a day old! Through the generosity of some great new friends, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to photograph a group of silkie white bantam chicks that had hatched within the past day. Silkie chickens are unusual in that they have dark blue flesh and bones, and they have five toes on each foot whereas most chickens have four. What an amazing group of little birds! They would be up hopping and walking around chirping, and then be fast asleep all huddled together under a heat lamp. The little chick being held in this photo has a look of determination in his eye. In his short life he’s already pecked his way out of his egg, has gotten his feet working, has dried out all his feathers (and had them fluffed up thanks to the humans watching over him), and is ready to get on with his life. In no time he’ll grow into a full white pompadour of hair on his head.
Lessons learned from a sprained wrist
It’s now been two weeks since I slipped on our notorious Minnesota ice and badly sprained my right wrist. Much like the camellia in this photo, I am starting to emerge from this injury although I’m still seeking some protection as I do so. I realize though, that I’ve certainly learned some lessons from my injury: (1.) Appreciate all the things you take for granted. Until now I haven’t realized all the things, big and small, that I do with my hands. (2.) Trying to do things with a non-dominant hand is not as easy as one would think. OK….I tried to get my brain to talk to my left hand and tell it how to move and what to do, but of course the message wasn’t getting through completely. I have humbled myself many times as I fumbled trying to do simple tasks. (3.) Mindfulness is really important, and not second-nature. I have learned to pay more attention to what I am doing at a specific time. If I’m outside walking, I try to concentrate on my walking — one foot in front of the other. How easy it is to be distracted with thoughts of how cold it is, where I’m going, what I’m going to be doing there, what the roads are going to be like, what I’m having for lunch, etc, etc, etc. Live in the present!! (4.) When walking on ice or slippery surfaces, always carry things in your dominant hand. I read this tip the day after I injured my right wrist. If you have something in your dominant hand and you fall, you will most likely use your non-dominant hand to break your fall. OK, you just might injure it badly, but you will not be nearly as incapacitated as you would be with injuring your dominant hand. (5.) Everything takes longer when you have an injury, and patience is something to strive for. I haven’t been able to tie my boots, put a glove on my right hand, or turn the key in the car ignition without some assistance from either my left hand or from the willing two hands of a friend. My frustration would get the best of me at times. And photographing with a tripod and a dominant-hand injury forces me to slow down — look, observe, envision the shot, and only then do I spend the five minutes to mount the appropriate lens, place the polarizing filter, set the camera on the tripod, adjust the tripod legs, attach the cable release, focus, and then make the image. And just maybe, that’s not a bad thing.
Peonies and roses of late spring
Our spring garden is in full bloom right now — a delight to all the senses! We have three peony bushes that are all beautiful. The white bush is one we purchased here in Minnesota, but the two pink bushes are from my parents’ yard in Overland Park, Kansas. It’s always a treat to see it bloom and think of them. Our roses are also in full bloom, making for a wonderful and delightful compliment in this arrangement. The John Cabot roses in this image are from a large climbing bush in the backyard. Our early spring and summer weather has the gardens about two weeks ahead of their normal schedule, but I’m not hearing anyone complaining. It is such a treat to enjoy the blooms not only outside in the garden, but to be able to bring them inside to brighten our home.
Spring passages
In amongst the hustle and bustle of the past week I noticed the whitest of lilac blossoms peeking out amongst the green leaves. Whereas the purple lilacs are now past their bloom, the white lilac is at its peak. So similar yet so different, not only in its blossom but also its scent. Our house has been filled with the fragrance of spring, although that too will be coming to a close as the last of the lilacs fade away.
We celebrated another ritual of spring this past weekend — a quick trip to the Kansas City area to attend my niece Alyssa’s high school graduation. With her high school studies, sports, dance, and other activities behind her, she’s now looking forward to attending college in the fall. Congratulations, Alyssa — you’ve made us all proud and we’re excited for you and your future endeavors.
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