First bee glimpsed in 2011.
Yes, our pollinator friends, harbingers of spring, are back!
And hey, so am I.
I’m not quite sure what to write yet. That first entry after a long absence feels wobbly, I’m learning, like the first day out and about after the flu. Of course I was inclined to write the apology first, along with the obligatory explanation for my disappearing act, and then the thank-you note for all the messages of support and not-so-random (well, not to me) acts of kindness over the past six weeks.
But frankly, I’d rather just get on with it and write about, you know, the usual — bees, sky, seeds and roots; seasons, harvests, growth and change; love, joy, patience, beauty, gratitude, wonder. Y’all know I’d have been here all along, writing away and sharing images, if I’d been able to manage it. (Don’t you?)
And I hope you know how very glad I am to be able to come back to this space and pick up my virtual pen again to communicate with you.
I’ll be back here every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This new schedule makes more sense for my circumstances now. I look forward to witnessing what unfolds in 2011 here at The Enchanted Earth. With all of the uncertainties F. and I are juggling at the moment, I anticipate at the very least an interesting journey — maybe even an exciting, beautiful, creative and meaningful one, too.
As always, I’m so grateful you’re along for the ride.
Namasté, y’all.
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Welcome back, Meredith! Glad to see you again, and looking forward to spring in your garden
Thank you for the kind welcome, Merrilee. It feels good to be back.
Good Morning Meredith, It must be lovely to be amongst the bees again. I look forward to your walks around the Duke gardens . . . if I remember correctly . . . I think you often visit those gardens and share you walks with us. It would not surprise me if I am wrong . . . my memory is not what it once was. I do remember well the lovely warm feeling I have been left with after reading many of your posts. Inspiring and uplifting as well as those that tug at the heart. Whatever . . . and however often . . . you can produce will be greatly appreciated.
Carolflowerhillfarm´s last blog ..Birds in Review Part XII More Winter Feeding
I do often visit the gardens — but the South Carolina Botanical Gardens, not the Duke Gardens, which are in North Carolina (and which I hope to visit when I next get to visit my best friend now living in Raleigh.) You have a great memory, Carol, especially for the important things, like bird nesting sites and migration schedules and which perennial is planted where underneath all that snow and what to feed an ailing butterfly.
Important things to remember, don’t you think?
OOPS . . . I forgot to say how lovely your honeybee photo is! Wonderful!
Carolflowerhillfarm´s last blog ..Birds in Review Part XII More Winter Feeding
I’m so glad you liked the shot. I wasn’t too thrilled with the quality — but it was only a quick first sighting. Hopefully, I’ll get better ones as the season progresses.
Welcome back to you and the bees! It is great to have a promise of Spring in the midst of our cold and freezing weather.
Thank you, Annie, for those kind words of welcome! We got a couple of days of springlike weather over the weekend, just to remind us what it’s like and lift our spirits as we now return to enduring the cold. Seasonal hiccup, maybe?
Equally glad to see the bees AND your blog post.
Lynn´s last blog ..Monday Monday- outdoor time and big batch
Aw, Lynn, thank you, my friend.
I’m afraid bee sightings are a long way off in my gardens, but when they return, I will rejoice. We are still wearing Winter Whites, but I am finding the beauty of our Winter to be glorious. (Now if it just wasn’t so cold!) Always love your posts, Meredith, hope all is well in your world. I’ll look forward to reading more from you.
According to my garden journal, my first sighting last year was February 2nd, so I suspect there’s a pattern forming here. I’d need to stay longer in the same spot to find out, I guess. We’re definitely still in the midst of our Southern winter here, too, but the beauty of this season is subtle and layered and sepia-soft, not the glory you describe and share so well on your blog.
I’m so grateful for your kind words, Carolyn. Thank you!
Welcome back to you and the bees! It’s a beautiful day here in Florida, I have the house open and I’m treasuring the nice weather (forecast for this whole week–yay!) before it either gets cold again or heats up. Or both. You just never know. I’m looking forward to hearing about your 2011 journey–I’m sure you’ll make it with humor and grace.
Kathy´s last blog ..Reading Challenge Update
Kathy, thanks for the welcome. Great minds think alike: I, too, aired out the house this weekend and gloried in being outside for hours. In the South, this is the season of confusion; you’re right that it might warm up or cool down.
What I don’t want is the warmth to last long enough to get the early spring trees blooming — and then mow all that loveliness down with a bitter frost or, horrors, a late snowfall. Local folk wisdom is of the opinion that we’re due for another major snowstorm because of the eerie behavior of the last one. Oh, goody!
Whatever the weather does, though, I’m so glad to have you along for the journey.
Glad to see you back, I’ve missed your beautiful photos and words!
LL Cool Joe´s last blog ..My love for Billy stopped me blogging
It’s so nice to know I was missed, Joe. Thanks.
I don’t why, but bees always make me feel optimistic. That is such a gorgeous photograph.
I am glad you’re back Meredith, but sorry to hear you and F. are still juggling uncertainties. That’s not fun.
Susan Tiner´s last blog ..32 Old Person Alert!
Susan, I think bees are a very positive sign of life moving forward. No wonder they make you (and me!) feel optimism.
We’ll be juggling uncertainties for a little while yet. His PhD defense is coming up, the job search continues, and who knows where we’ll be living? I’m getting better at living in the moment, though. Thanks for the commiseration.
Hello Meredith, it is good to see you out and about and know that all is well. I love seeing your bees, a bit too early for us yet, but sooooonn.
I do have some vegetable seedlings already that have been transferred from the house to the hoop house. It is time, don’t you think for spring to be here? Have a great week.
Diana´s last blog ..SkyWatch and Seedlings
Diana, I actually suspect that was just a fluke. Now that we’re back to winter temps again, the bees have returned to their hives. It’s so hard to wait for that elusive “sooooon” of springtime sometimes; isn’t it?
Dear Meredith, No doubt you are just as busy as the delightful bee of your picture. It is, however, really good to hear from you and I look forward to catching up with all your news. I admire your resolve to stick to a schedule. I find that I simply cannot do this….LIFE just gets in the way!!
Edith Hope´s last blog ..A Woman of Substance
Edith, I am so glad to hear from you, as well. Glad to see you’re still writing beautiful prose on your blog.
I think a schedule may be a necessity for me. Knowing I need to produce on certain days, I tend to get it done. If I say I’ll write when I can — well, then I usually can’t. Why that is, I have no idea. Ideally, I’d like to return to a daily schedule, but the reality is, I’m writing other things behind the scenes, and yes, I’m busy with *just a couple* of other responsibilities, too.
Nice to see you back. I’m glad to see the honeybee. We have a couple months yet to see them here. But we’ve already got new plants coming via catalogue. And I’m ready to start tomatoes indoors in about 2 weeks. I believe I’m ready for spring.
Renee´s last blog ..Walking on Eggshells
Renee, I am so with you in your longing. I am right now trying to decide what to plant for the spring season. I’m pretty sure we’ll remain here until the beginning of June, so that gives me a narrow window for a few things. Just the whisper of warmish weather we had last weekend makes me itch to get some seeds into some soil, ASAP.
aloha friend,
i’ve been in a bit of a blogging funk to…i’m trying to downsize all the busy activities and blogging has been on the back burner lately to things i’ve been putting of…but i do love hearing from you again and reading your beautiful prose – hope the spirit puts you in more creative bliss to share with us again soon!
noel´s last blog ..The Hot- the Loud and the Proud 11
Noel, I understand completely. You need to reclaim time to just be — and to be busy in your garden! Downsizing is hard. I just hope we still get to see some glimpses of your beautiful world now and then.
Oh how I would LOVE to see a BEE! No bees here yet.
So glad you are back to blogging! Not sure what struggles you are going thru – but I hope they soon pass!
Kerri´s last blog ..We Only Have This Moment
Thank you for the kind thoughts, Kerri. You’re lovely — and I’m sure your photos of the bees will be lovely, too, once they return where you are.
Welcome back, Meredith! The bee is a lovely sight. We are far from bees even in my current southern PA location — but as I walked to work one morning last week, I heard the sound of cardinals loudly claiming their territories.
Jean´s last blog ..Favorite Garden Books- Stronger Than Dirt
Oh, that is a great detail to have noticed, Jean! (We had a cardinal glut here recently, but it’s calmed down now. During the snow I looked out my bedroom window to see *seven* males sitting at the woods’ edge, awaiting their turn at our bird feeder.) It must be wonderful to hear that song series, even in the midst of deep winter, and know what it portends.
Meredith,
I am so pleased that you’re back:~) I have missed your writing and your photography. The bee is perfect and a great opening for your return.
I loved your quote on the sidebar, “Things change. Our ideas change. We change.” These are perfect words for the light and shadows of our lives as bloggers and as people. They also fit the garden, which to me is one of the best metaphors for life. So, I give a toast to your return, the bees’ return and life’s changes. I look forward to seeing your posts pop up in my email:~)
Sara´s last blog ..Story Photo- ABC Game
Thank you so much for that sweet toast! I’m glad to be back, Sara.
Really enjoyed your story challenge this week, too. It was fun to step outside my normal zone and work playfully with the absurd.
I think change is one of the most wonderful forces in the universe — if only we can learn to embrace it wholeheartedly. I’m still working on that last part, you know.
So glad to see you back Meredith, and your lovely bees too. I was clonked in the head by an errant bee in the garden the other day. Probably a wobbly bee just out for a first stretch on a warm winter day. No apologies necessary either, I think it’s good to take breaks. Looking forward to more regular doses of the Enchanted Earth though, and a belated happy New Year!
Curbstone Valley Farm´s last blog ..Clavulinopsis laeticolor
I love it when they are wobbly, Clare. Maybe he still hadn’t gotten his air wings — kind of like us accommodating to life on the ocean by acquiring sea legs?
Happy 2011 to you, too!
Bees! So beautiful.
Welcome back – I always love visits to the Enchanted Earth.
Elizabeth´s last blog ..a lovely special
As I love it when you drop by for a visit, Elizabeth!
Welcome back Meredith – well, to be fair, I guess there aren’t too many flowers to photograph in January.
David l macaulay´s last blog ..Down in the Hood Park
Thanks, David. I think I could have found some flowers, if I’d been trying, but I hardly photographed anything much over the last five weeks. It’s fun to get behind the lens again!
I am just back too – almost not quite fully – so we will hold hands and re-enter together?
I so loved the bee picture. We found a crocus but no bees yet.
About 20′F tonight after a sunny day, but the solar panels truly clicked out the energy.. WOW
40 pounds of carbon offset this year so far – that is like planting one health hearty tree
Patricia´s last blog ..Teaching a Pup to Rain Walk
Oh, Patricia, I was so moved by your crocus entry. What a wonderful discovery!
Yes, let’s enter together, slow and gently and carefully and with lots of self-care, okay?
Great bee pic, Meredith! I’m so glad to see you back too….have missed you! xo
Serena´s last blog ..Please keep Northern Queensland in your thoughts tonight
I’m thrilled to be back in touch, Serena.
And you’re a grandma now! How exciting!
and a sigh of relief – meredith is back
I’m getting namaste tattooed on my wrist – it’s your fault, hahaha
carrie´s last blog ..Developments in the back garden -
Welcome back Meredith. I’m glad to see you and the honeybee!
Hi Meredith .. welcome back .. I had a wasp wanting to live with me .. it kept disappearing into my pencil, stationery pots .. but bees – beautiful photo .. please come over and show me how to do it!!
Have a great year – lots of change I seem to recollect ahead .. go well and it’ll be great keeping up with your enchanted earth .. cheers Hilary
Hilary´s last blog ..February Creative that unusual month
I didn’t know you were ‘missing’ but glad you are back–along with the bees! I just found you after hopping over from Talon’s blog . . . lovely here!
Darla Graves Palmer´s last blog ..Bliss