Friday, February 27, 2009

Opposites



When I took this picture earlier this summer, I thought it was way too boring to post. Now, I think it's anything but. Actually I love it and feel rejuvenated just looking at it.

After suffering through 28 months + 10 years + 2 leap years + the equivalent of 1 lecture on the origin of particle physics, which = the length of the 2008-2009 winter season....I officially declare that I am tired of the lifeless, leafless, greenless, snowless, lightless, birdless, charmless, heatless, joyless, antless, soybeanless, outdoorless, flip-flopless, shortless, tanless, motionless, fiddler crabless, sun-infused-Vitamin D-less--dare I repeat it joyless?-- winter.

I need to look at this picture and know that change is coming. This picture brings me hope.

Life. Green. Light. Birds. Charm. Rebirth. Sun. Heat. Flip-flops. Soybeans. Ants. Grass.

Note to self: Ants.

Second note to self: Ants and Grass.

Third and final warning note to self: Ants and Endless Grass to Mow.

One last warning note to self because Self is not a good listener: Endless Ants and Endless Grass to Mow.

After all these warnings and with full knowledge of the hours and hours of torment I will endure, I am here to confess that I'd tolerate an ant infestation and grass that grows like bamboo if I could just have consecutive warm, sunny days and the greenery and vibrancy of summer.

Remind me of that last statement in a few weeks when the ants evict me from my own house and I land right in the jungle that will be my back yard when the vegetation (aka "riparian buffer") takes over.

16 comments:

Bayman said...

RIP rip'rarin buffer.
Prepare for Mr. Gravely. And don't make me have to use the sickle bar or sawblade. Tree blocking your view? No problem, CBW.

Meg McCormick said...

Dear Self:
The warm weather is worth dealing with the ants. I promise.
Sincerely,
Soup

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

B - I hope Mr. Gravely isn't the one who is RIP. He wasn't looking too well last time I saw him.

Meg - I never thought I'd say it, but yes, I'd deal with ants if only I could have the warm weather back.

Happy Friday, everyone.

Anonymous said...

"Daffodils" (William Wordsworth1804)

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Out-did the sparkling leaves in glee;
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company!
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Sharon Day said...

It's in the 80s here in Phoenix, all the trees have their blossoms on them, grapevines are growing inches every day, blackberry bushes are bursting. My small garden is a wonderland escape today because outside of the yard--it's brown desert year-round. At least your entire world turns bright green all late spring to late fall. I guess that's an optimist's view.

Mental P Mama said...

I am so remindng you of this post in July.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Anonymous - Perfect. I love it. Thank you.

Autumn - What I wouldn't give for some blackberries. We have a very short season of them around here, but when they come in we eat them daily. Multiples times daily. My mother makes blackberry ice cream (which is instantly devoured). I'm way too envious of your 80 degree weather, but am sorry about all that brown. That's partially what is depressing me - all the brown and gray. Blech. Come on spring. (I'm not a patient person.)

MPM - I know. I know.

mmm said...

If I were a genetic engineer, I would create a grass that stays green from spring to fall but only grows an inch during that time = beautiful lawn with no mowing.

Unknown said...

how soon we forget, right? I'm still stuck on that mathematical equation you started out with.

And congratulations on being the only person who saw Emeril! It was a test, and you are by far the most observant commenter.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait for the grass to grow again. So it can be mowed. So the mower will get rid of all of the DOG POO that's in my yard right now! I just can't bring myself to poop-scoop three open acres of land:/ Qwah!

Oh, and I can't wait for the pool to be opened either!! Bwahaha!

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

MMM - While you're at it, make it stay green year 'round--with no mowing required.

GJ - If you can get through the rest of my garbage and only get hung up on the math, then I'm satisfied. It's hard enough keeping up with my rambling posts without throwing numbers in the mix. (The Emeril picture was hilarious.)

BHE - I'll be submitting a reservation for a poolside table one weekend this summer. Do you require a security deposit?....In my yard it's goose droppings. Everywhere.

Annie said...

Ants..did someone say ants...every time I sit down at the computer downstairs, some ants march out of the keyboard. Does that mean anything, do you think?

I think it just means it is going to rain. I am trying not think that I might need a new keyboard soon.

You definitely don't want grass that grows like bamboo. Trust me! Daffodils, maybe, not bamboo!!

Unknown said...

Annie....Let me be so bold as to tell you about those ants.

When I lived in CA, I always had an ant or two coming and going from my keyboard. I would tip it over and tap it several times and nothing would come out...for a few minutes anyway.
I came to realize a keyboard is an upscale ant apartment or condo complex.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Annie and Grandma J.: Ants coming from the keyboard is not a good thing. Trust me on this topic.

Annie said...

mmm...now you are starting to worry me...maybe I should spray it...with what? The way I figure it..better the keyboard than the computer!!!

foolery said...

The rains start here, in a normal year, in late November or early December, and hit their peak in January. The grass starts greening up with the rain. I love the winter, because by May everything that isn't aggressively irrigated is nearly brown.

Opposite sides of the continent, opposite problem. ; )