Early Evening in DC

A perfect afternoon gave way to a beautiful evening, so we went into town to walk around a bit. Notice the moon above the capital.

Weeping Cherry

A few weeks ago our weeping cherry tree was in bloom. It is so delicate and lacy, almost radiating a light of its own. It seems a short time until the leaves come in and the blossoms drop until next year. I'm thinking there must be a metaphor in that for life's high times--something about them being very sweet but brief, giving way to the more ordinary and less exotic routines of daily life.




And then the dogwood that remind me so beautifully of the cross with each of their four creamy white petals tipped with a splash of blood.

Baby Birds in a cruel world

A few weeks ago I noticed a very neatly made nest in the azalea bush next to our side porch.
Soon after I noticed it, a robin mother began sitting in it regularly. I was worried because every time we came out the door or drove the car in, we would startle her.
When Elliott was home, he peeked in and saw three beautiful blue eggs. I decided it would be fun to photograph the nest from above when she wasn't sitting, of course. I never jiggled or touched the nest. I hoped to make a little slide show to show my kids at school since we had recently read a story all about chicks hatching and they were VERY interested and curious about it.

Here is a picture of her sitting on the nest, but it is very hard to see her.

Last Saturday I held the camera way up and snapped my picture. This is what I saw in the picture! I never was able to actually see in the nest, my pictures were showing me what was there. If you look very closely, you can see the egg has a crack in it.
On Sunday I snapped my picture, and I couldn't believe it! I snapped another one--it was the same. The nest was completely empty and cleaned out. There were no shell fragments or feather fragments. There were no dead babies on the ground or shells underneath the bush. The only thing I could notice is that the edge of the nest was no longer as neat and tidy as it had been but the straw around it was looser.
This has been my heart ache this week: Where did the little mother go? Did my presence and interest cause her to "clean out" her nest? But how would she and why-without a trace? My internet research tells me that it is more likely a predator--racoon, possum, snake, crow, blue jay, even squirrel. It seems like the bush is too spindly to support the first two at least. I don't know. . .only that they are gone w-i-t-h-o-u-t - a - t-r-a-c-e. Spooky. . . and sad:(.

Daffodils

Daffy Down Dilly
Has come to town
In a yellow petticoat
And a green gown.

I will never get tired of daffodils in this life! I hope there's lots of them in the next too :).

A walk in the woods

Wending our way home from a walk in the woods, the sun sets over the train tracks that pass by 8901 day in and day out.

Spring Break on the Chesapeake--March 18-21

Some kind friends here, the Simmons, allowed us to use their house on the Chesapeake Bay for a few days during my spring break. It is on Kent Island, immediately across the Bay Bridge and south about 5 miles. The weather was cold and blustery with one solid, cozy day of rain, but the other days were sunny and cold. We read a lot, drank many cups of tea, and spent time looking out at the water in a soothing way. Here are various perspectives on their house and those days.

The Cherry Blossoms--Saturday, March 29

Yes, I'm afraid there are a few too many of some shots, but this was my first time translating a slide show on IPhoto into a movie on my blog. So bear with me :). It was very beautiful.

Spring has sprung!

The sun is shining more

The crocus are up as well as the daffodils

And it's spring break week! Other great news is: EDEN IS OFFICIALLY A REGISTERED NURSE! She passed her boards on Friday.

Nashville -- Feb. 22-24

View out the window of the Hampton Inn at downtown Nashville

On Saturday, during the Blood Water Board Meeting, I walked around a bit, including going into the Country Music Hall of Fame (http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/), right across the street from our hotel. The Museum store was having a grand reopening that day and there was a live performance by Jim Lauderdale. You may wish to go to his MySpace and listen to "I Met Jesus in a Bar." (http://www.myspace.com/jimlauderdale) I actually thought he was quite good, playing a combination of country and bluegrass.

Dad/Steve with Aaron Sands
Dad/Steve with Dan and Katie Haseltine

India Journal Break

Unfortunately, our camera became full and I was dependent on others for the pictures in the next leg of our journey. I have not received these yet, so you will have to stay tuned (I hope not toooo long--you know who you are and what you need to do) for the next India Journal entry. In the meantime I am posting a few bits of local news.

These little bits of ice (below) on a couple of different mornings have garnered us the much beloved 2-hour delay opening of school and even a "snow" day last Friday. That was very good timing because that was the day we went to Nashville.


Our hibiscus are flowering in winter inside. Yes, they may look a bit scraggly otherwise, but nevertheless, they have expended the strength to flower. (There's a metaphor in there for life, I'm sure.) Since these pictures, there have been at least three more blooms.


And despite the fact that Christmas passed long ago, our poinsettias are still pretty, instead of the usual sad and barren plants they often become by this time.