Open Thread – White Bird
I’ve always been one of those people that sees things in clouds. And I’ll say to whomever happens to be around, “Hey! Look at that… It kind of looks like an angry pig with a hat eating a pine tree! Do you see it? See, it’s snout is there, and the pine tree is off to the right…”
More often than not, I’m the only one who sees whatever it is I see. Occasionally, someone will be polite to me and say, “Ohhh. Yeah. Uh-huh. I see it,” and I know they’re totally lying.
I think it may be genetic. I remember one morning, when my young toddler daughter was eating her oatmeal, and all of a sudden a delighted and urgent cry came from the kitchen table. “Mommy! Mommy! Look, a giraffe outside!” One doesn’t usually hear that sort of thing spoken at breakfast in Alaska, so I raced to the table to see her pointing a little finger to the sky. Sure enough, a cloud giraffe in all it’s glory hung right over our cul-de-sac. And I really did see it.
I rarely point out cloud images any more, and generally keep my little discoveries to myself, but THIS one, dear readers, is a winner. I was driving down Minnesota Blvd, when I looked up and saw a HUGE white cloud bird right over where my house was. I went for my phone, so I could pull over and snap a picture, and realized I’d left it home. I knew I’d never make it in time, and imagined what it might look like 12 minutes later… some kind of twisted, mangled up shape that resembled nothing at all. I was very happy to be wrong. Miraculously, it stayed perfectly bird-like, and was the only cloud of note in an otherwise blue sky.
I stood for a long time, admiring it – a colossal dove hovering over my valley. I’m glad I can share it!
Love this…and the song White Bird by Beautiful Day was the song that came to my mind..though I LOVE Joni song as well….
Happy Day Everyone…
I love it! I noticed that this bird did not have a hat, nor was it carrying a bent accordion so I recognized it right away without even trying!
If it will help my friends from Alaska,I will think about all of you while I scarf down aparagus later this week. My Grandgirlies apple trees and my lone surviving peach tree have leaves already. Rilly weird Winter and Spring in mikey land this year.
Our grass is greening, violets, daffodils and forsythia are blooming, leaves are coming out on shrubs and trees – all way too early in northwest Lower Michigan. Tonight and tomorrow night are predicted to be in the high 20’s and the days in the 40’s. Rain and freezing rain are predicted for Tuesday. All of this after a two-week period (at least) of record temperatures. I hope the trees and plants can settle in for a few days of seasonal weather. Much more and the orchards and vineyards could face problems. Enjoy your asparagus; our season for that is usually early June. The annual asparagus festival in Empire MI is lots of fun if you like to see people dressed up like asparagus spears.
We generally stop cutting asparagus in early June. Last year the stuff came up in May. We could get snow yet,before all is said and done,although I hope not.
Mike, this will help you enjoy that fresh asparagus even more: at the grocery stores in Anchorage, imported asparagus is $5.99 a pound.
Your Anchorage grocery is less expensive than one of my health food stores, where it’s $7.99 a pound (organic, of course). I’ve found it for much less elsewhere.
While I imagine Mikey eating his sparrowgrass, he can imagine my home-made Hollandaise!
Reebok is in trouble, for being asshats:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/boycott-reebok-company-sexist-and-anti-women.html
Ohhh. Yeah. Uh-huh. I see it.
Look Earthward. My asparagus is showing,at least four little purple colored heads are sticking up. I looked down from my bedroom this morning and had six turkeys under the old apple tree beside the house. The earliest I remember asparagus in my thirty four years here was April 1st,several years ago and they froze off. I also have some volunteer gourds in my yard. I imagine they are nest-egg gourds from last year. I wasn’t gonna plant any gourds until mid or later May,because they refuse to grow by my rules. It was completely overcast and foggy this morning. No clouds for moi.
We have a freeze warning for tomorrow night so I just came back inside drone putting the cover back on my mini hoop house over my early seed starters. I want it to have a chance to gather a little warmth before tomorrow night.
I won’t be able to see earth for another month or so…. Sigh.
We keep joking here it might be ice fishing in June if this keeps up!! Just got out of negative temps the last day or so, but still!
Nothing better than young asparagus! I’m glad I’m not the only one who calls vegetables that show up on their own “volunteers.” I learned that from my favorite gardener, who assigns that term to, for example, the cherry tomatoes that sprung up unbidden from the compost heap.
That is the only printable name for wayward plants that I’ve ever heard. We have had a variety of vegetables pop up in corn or soybean fields over the years including punkins and tomatoes,cucmbers,gourds,ground cherries and other stuff. Volunteers one and all.
2 day rain stopped long enough this afternoon for me to mow the yard, tomato transplants all doing well and growing.. found about a dozen raspberry plants I’ll have to dig up and give to one of my co-workers and the volunteer sunflower plants are EVERYWHERE! Should be a good year, except I have to start over with my artichoke plants – frigging gopher ate the roots !! so will put in wire baskets this time..sigh.. have to wait 2 more years to harvest.. ah well, gives me an excuse to head over to Castroville for fresh chokes… 🙂
getting ready to rain again for another 2 days.. now, where’s that hot toddy mix to go with the fireplace…
I always look up. I’ve seen dragons, sailboats, and many more configurations in the clouds. Unfortunately, I live where I can’t see all that much of the sky, but I do visit places I can.
astoundingly beautiful and visiting your home. very nice.
Beautiful white bird
I’ve got that It’s A Beautiful Day
song going in my head now:
White bird must fly or she will die.
The sunsets come, the sunsets go.
The clouds roll by,and the earth turns old.
And the young bird’s eyes do always glow.
Tears and fears and feeling proud, to say, “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I’ve looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange they shake their heads, they say
I’ve changed
But something’s lost but something’s gained in living every day
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down
and still somehow
it’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds
at all.
Truly beautiful!!!!! Hopefully it means Peace ON Earth!!!!!!!
About twenty minutes ago, as we passed noon, the neighborhood church bells played Let There Be Peace On Earth. True story. I do so love living in the proximity of church bells. They clear the negativity out of the air.
Okay, I know I am a bit feisty around the edges, so I am playing right into that image, but I couldn’t resist sharing this on an Open Thread.
The first link takes you to a great discussion of how women are reacting to the GOP’s War on Women.
http://blogalacart.com/2012/03/government-free-vjj/
The second link, listed below, is actually at the end of the first (above), but deserves its own spotlight. It has numerous knit, crochet, and sewing patterns to make and share with your state and federal legislators.
http://www.governmentfreevjj.com/the-patterns/
Rejoice! There is an actual society for people such as us who enjoy looking to the clouds and letting our imaginations speak to us.
http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/
Plus, if you explore their site, you will find a category of “Clouds That Look Like Things.” People from around the world can upload and share their beautiful visions.
http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/cloud-tags/cloudalikes/#p=1&t=cloud87&i=0
Our family has always enjoyed investing time in setting our imaginations free. Of course, these days, I no longer can get down to (or up from) a blanket on the ground, nor do I allow myself time to simply contemplate the sky. As a child, I would spend hours on the ground watching both the day and night time sky. Now dishes and duties call loudly enough to make me forget the wonder that still waits just outside my window. So glad so many here embrace the simple pleasures.
I do this, too. It’s usually some sort of animal and I’m generally the only adult who can see it. Kids, however, pick up on it right away, and usually add features I miss. 🙂
this one is a winner.
The clouds in my part of the sky right now look like a big wet wool blanket. I once saw a beautiful sea turtle in the sky. Not many people look up when they are outside. It’s a shame too. In my neighborhood there is a whole world full of drama playing out among the treetops.
Met up with my kids yesterday to celebrate my son’s and my recent birthdays. We went to Amish country and I came home with three bags of loot. Cheeses, flours, butter, cast iron skillets, flour sack towels, kitchen tools….
I made chocolate covered bacon for my son for his birthday and I got lots of face time with grandbaby Hannah. I was a good day.
Chocolate covered bacon???!!!
Yep. DARK chocolate covered bacon, DARK chocolate covered bacon with allepo pepper and DARK chocolate covered bacon with chili pepper. All of it organic, local and yummy.
DARK chocolate covered bacon??!!!
Oh sweet (and savory) cholesterol heaven, open up your pearly gates and let me come in!
Let me take up some dark chocolate covered bacon
And my troubles soon be over!
Actually, the dark chocolate and chili have natural chemicals to unclog your arteries. They cancel each other out. So dig in darlin’ !!!
Cloud seers..have been..the ones..who invented..the world. In womb..they heard the words/sounds/communications..as they were crafted..by the flow of the human genetics..and soon..soon..they arrived..with whish of bodilyrain..and after a bit of shaking, calming..began the decoding..of the outside world. What had they heard..inside..and what did..it connect with now? What sounds..came from here/there/this moving/that movingthat coldness..this warm breathing? As information..seeped into the building ability to..form meaning..out of the void..these talents..grew. Some have that ability..from, as the saying goes..’from the get-go’. They also have dreams which makes of them..dream-speakers, the medicine people..in cultures..through time, and around the world. First..thank all those in your family ..who mentored the abilitys you have. They taught you..not to fear..being a seeker of ..Newness. The genetic trails which have..presented..you will protect strongly. Thank you for the photograph, for the awareness of what it means..to form the language of ..escape to the future..and betterment. ‘ Interconnect’..is a primal language..seeking those..who ..Will speak its Truth!
I see things in clouds, too. and in airplane contrails and steam plant pipe exhaust. The sky is a fascinating place.
Oh my!
You made me cry .
It’s an ok cry. maybe it is time.
“If peace were just a small white bird
and mercy was her name
I’d pray to God she’d fly to me
And ease my aching pain
And ease my aching pain”
from
Peace Was Just a Dream I Had
by
Buddy Tabor
Alaskan singer, songwriter, poet
March 1949- Feb 2012
I miss you so , my friend. I miss you.
Ahhh, he continues to ‘visit’ and let all those he cared for know he is with them!!
This time just shared with a wider audience:-)
Hugs!
Awww that’s lovely AKM! How thrilling & beautiful.
Speaking of Minnesota Blvd. I just finished reading a fascinating story!
I’ve been so impressed with Al Franken, that even though he was once a comedian he’s been one HECK of a serious politician. He hit the ground running. This gives a lot of history and was one fun read:
Al Franken: You Can Call Me Senator
The satirist and comedian has a new role: statesman.
http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/03/you-can-call-me-senator