Spring time

I guess it is time to write a post a two again because spring has finally arrived (the swallows, too) and life seems to be a bit better. Busy, that’s what I can say about my life at the moment, and it will be even bussier in April and May. I spent lots of time outside in the past few weeks; temperatures were very high for March, around 20 degrees C, which actually suits me very well as I have always been a seeker of warmth and sun. The spring is early this year and Easter is late. Though, the cold can still come. My mom has already sown some seeds but I think that for our boggy area this is a bit too early. Floods can still come. I will wait with sowing a couple of weeks more because also the soil will be warmer then.

And here’s some news. At the beginning of March I attended a training to qualify myself as a guide in Ljubljansko barje (the Ljubljana moor - so, the area I live in). It lasted four days and after that we also had to attend two guided tours to get the certificates which prove that we are the guides. Coincindentaly I had to lead a part of one of these excursions.

The sad news about being a guide for this area is that I can’t live on that. There are too many guides and not enough people who would pay for the guidance. Nevermind, I had a good experience with this training and met some wonderful and very capable people. Besides I learned so many new things about the Ljubljana moor that it was really worth spending four days indoors and listening to the lectures.

Spring thoughts

Remain faithful to what you love, what you believe in, and what reflects your authentic self.
~ Sonia Choquette

Normally I would say that the bike season has started but one look at the odometer tells me to be quiet about this. These wonderful sunny days and meadows with numerous "tulips" (Snake's Heads) are surely a good reason to hop on my bicycle. In time of migration the binoculars are mandatory equipment on such trips.

I always connect year 1877 with the death of Crazy Horse. Since I found another part of my family tree I've been also connecting it with a year in which my great-grandfather was born. He would be 135 years old today. It was interesting to find his name in the Ellis Island archives. The photos I have don't show what color of eyes he had but the Ellis Island data tells me black on white that his eyes were blue. This is very interesting because he had black hair (he is listed under number 15). I had always thought that he went to the USA to work there but my aunt revealed the other day that he only visited his brother. So, another information that fills the blank space - he had a brother living across the ocean.

It is so - I get one answer and with it more than one new question. Once more I am reminded to visit those who are still alive to tell me how it used to be.

Spring is here

Dear Spring, you are most welcome! :)

Colors are coming back, buzzing is already in the air, life is returning into our land. Wonders will be happening in front of our eyes again, and this makes me happy.

In and around home

Oh, how I love spring! I spend most of the afternoons outside, still trying to put things in order around the house. I've planted flowers and put them on the window shelves and I keep fighting a battle with the weeds on the garden beds. I never manage to grow salad, usually slugs eat it before it gets big enough. Below on the picture is our spring "snow", falling down from the willow trees. I hope it will stop "snowing" soon, the house is full of it. And my nose as well... What's new in my home? Nothing really, except that ants that obviously live below the floor, are having some big event today... I don't like this idea but it is time to get rid of them.Some time ago I made myself a new hat. It is too big. Well, in time I will learn how to sew a proper hat, big enough for my head but until then I will buy them in a shop. It is much cheaper and it saves the nerves. Yesterday I was daydreaming again... sooner or later my home will have to get some colors on its walls. But it is a hard decision for someone like me, a procrastinator, to decide on a color. First there were greens, now there are pinks. What a change!I just have to keep reminding myself that nothing is for good and that I can change the colors whenever I want to. Right? :)

Life in spring

To complain about spring is kind of blasphemy: a sin against life, a denial of life's boon. Feel the sun in your bones; feel the quickening of new life. Every sign of spring feels like a gift from heaven: every bud, every bug, every note and every song. ~ Simon Barnes, Birds

Enjoy your spring!

Spring days

First days in April were incredibly warm and this year everything is in bloom and bursting at least a couple of weeks sooner than other years. What's been happening? In my opinion this is rather weird. I keep noticing strange things that keep happening around me. Nature has been changing extremely fast and people don't seem to be happy anymore. Or maybe it just seems so because I am not happy?I was out quite often these past days, almost every day riding around with my bike. It felt sooo good! :) But my gear levers (I hope this is the right word) stopped working completely, so I could drive only on the flat roads and paths. I asked the guy at the bicycle service if he could do anything about the gear levers and he said: "Yes." Yesterday in the evening I came to pick up my "means of transport" and that guy told me that I (still, after more than ten years) have a very good bicycle. "It must have cost you a fortune back then," he said. At that moment I realized that someone someday actually took a good care of me. A long, long time ago. And it felt so good to remember those good old days.

Have a wonderful weekend! I know mine will be good because I will be among friends and children. Without my bike this time. :)

In the woods

This weekend we were collecting the garbage around our homes. Cleaning the garbage others dumped on the meadows, fields, next to the roads...First we were working, and in the afternoon I was enjoying the time in the woods, gathering the food (Allium ursinum) for dinner. Like every year. Gathering herbs for teas as well (Pulmonaria officinalis):The spring has definitely come, birds are singing their nicest songs, green leaves are emerging from the buds on branches, and now and then one can spot blue frog (Rana arvalis) as well. Almost on a doorstep... My heart sings when spring comes!

Spring time

Oh, I am glad it is here. Spring, finally. Some snow is promised to fall on Sunday but I guess that's to be expected since Easter this year is so late. I am experimenting with my meals: Pancakes with some winter vegetables and cheese. And there are new books on my shelf: Prepared for reading in the days to come, when the skies will be covered by dark clouds again.

Happy spring to you all!

It is time for...

... strawberries.For tomatoes, too.And at last, for a new shape of bread. What I did with it will follow in my next post.

It is, finally, a bit warmer outside. Here comes my time of a year! :)

Karma for today: Be gentle in your criticism and encouraging in your praise.

In bloom

I know, I know. This blog has become rather boring, but I have to share with you that I have taken it easy, because I am sure that June will be exhausting. In the previous days I was working in vegetable garden, reading a book, baking some bread, shopping. Not much to share, actually. I do cook every day, which is good, and I admire nature, day after day. The other day when I was driving back home from work, I stared with eyes wide open - it was raining, it was a bit foggy, but the meadows and the trees were so beautiful that I had to share this news with Ž who was again counting birds in SE part of Slovenia. "Oh, it is beautiful here, too", he said plainly. I had to smile.So, enjoy this time of a year, wherever you are.Karma for today: Remember that anything can happen anytime.

Awakening of spring

It's been always late here where I live. Eventually it comes. Everything gets green. Cherries started to bloom this week, one whole week after those in SE part of Slovenia. The most beautiful time of a year for me has begun. Spring. Not just on a calendar.Not much has been happening lately in my life. I am still resting. And running a couple of days a week. Feeling that it is easier every time I run. It started to feel good. I count while I run, so I have no time for any thoughts. Which is good. This was yesterday: I made a wish. I love rainbows, as then that strong wind blows, the one I can almost lean on. And this was this morning from the same spot: It is a beautiful day. A day when I will work in a garden. I am late, but I don't care. Sooner or later my vegetables will be covering the beds. Then I will share some photos with you again. And I promised myself too cook more often this year.

Karma for today: Decide, then persevere.

In green

I needed two weeks to start working normally again. It was a peaceful time for me, and I wish there were more days like these. I went running a couple of times, which is a good start of this season. I hope that April weather will permit me to run more often.I spent this weekend among my friends and birds. I started taking photos again, which certainly means that the spring is here. In the SE part of Slovenia trees are getting their green color, while here where I live, the consequences of long winter with lots of snow are quite obvious. You can guess yourselves where the photos I am posting today have been taken. :)My schedule is rather full for the next three weeks, I hope I will have some time to write a few posts and let you know how beautiful is spring this year. I know already that the end of May and whole June will be rather stressful again.

Karma for today: We only have power over our own lives.