Sunshine on my deck rail...

The sunshine has reached the deck rail. Yep, I know. That's not earth-shattering, awe-inspiring, or life-changing. It is not photogenic, useful, or motivational. It is not even clever, fun, or unusual.





The deck doesn't have any gorgeous flowers on it (yet) for me to show you. There aren't any cute birds out there at the moment. Even the cats aren't in evidence. Well, not much anyway. All my excitement is focused on that one line between shadow and light.




It is part of the cycle. It is like the long-anticipated bulbs coming up. And the brand new leaves on the roses. It is similar to the first night in a LONG time not below freezing (forecast for tonight) or even the first tomato of summer. It is something special, a marker (for me anyway) in the seasons of the year. And that is why I am so thrilled to see that the sunshine has again reached my deck rail.


Have a beautiful day!

Solstice...

O.K., so I was going to write about pagan things, like ancient ceremonies, the magic of evergreen plants to ward off evil, the lighting of fires to entice the sun to return, Newgrange and Stonehenge. (Wouldn’t Stonehenge make an amazing garden?)

(Photo taken by my dear brother)

But it wasn’t working right. I mean, after all, the winter solstice is simply the time when the earth has tilted at its furthest from the sun and seems to pause in its journey. Solstice literally means “stand still.” As the solstice passes, the days will get longer and the shadows will move back in the other direction.




I am a shadow watcher. All year long, I look at where the shadows are. For example, my front porch (if you can call it that) receives sun in the winter and the tipping of the earth will gradually move it back into the shade for summer. And the shadow of the house will recede away from the deck to leave it in the sun and then I will be able to fill my pots with flowers for the hummingbirds. So, to pass the time as the shadows shorten and the days lengthen, stay warm and enjoy your garden books!


Have a beautiful day!