The Full Moon of April 4th, was big and bright. The blood moon was not seen by me here on the marsh. I'm an east coaster, and I think the five minute eclipse was better seen from the west coast. Just seeing Luna in her fullness was enough for me. This Libra Moon is only the second Full Moon of the year that I was able to witness. Rain has been a prominent feature over the past few months, not that I'm complaining. Of course rain means overcast, and overcast skies are not conducive to viewing the Full Moon. It's okay...I know she's up there...
So, wow! This is my first post of 2015. Better late than never, I suppose. I've been working up to posting on here for several weeks. Toiling in the mine has monopolized a lot of my time. For as much as I'm thankful for having a full time gig, it is exhausting. I work in a frame shop. Peering in from the outside it may not seem like a busy or laborious job, but...it is. There is always a lot to do. I'm really not complaining. If it weren't busy I would just get bored, and who wants that? Not me. The only draw back is the condition of my hands. Mainly my left hand. A pinched nerve is causing my middle and index fingers, along with my thumb, to be numb. My index finger is the worst off. The numbness is a painful one, as well. I've gotten accustomed to it for the most part, but there are certain tasks that require me to concentrate visually on what I'm doing. Since I can't feel what I'm doing I have to watch things closely. Saw the doctor earlier today and he is referring me to ortho. It sounds like surgery might be presented as my only real option to relief. *sigh* Guess I might just have to bite the bullet and let them snip both of my wrist 'tunnels'. Oh well...
Another mild frustration I've had over the last couple of months is my car. For as much of a glorious convenience they are, they can sure be a pain in the ass. A month or so ago my 'check engine' lamp lit up. The engine would "lope" a bit when it idled, but that was the only out of the ordinary thing it was doing. Just figured it needed a tune-up. I took it to the certified Audi mechanic here in town (a family owned shop cleverly called 'Two Nuts & A Bolt"). After hooking it up to their computer that apparently speaks 'Audi TT', the results said it was a valve. The valve was replaced. Easy-peasy. So then...
A couple of weeks ago the 'check engine' lamp lit up yet again. The engine is doing the same loping thing in idle. *sigh* The car seems to be running fine for the most part. Trying to figure out when to take the car in, and when I can financially do it (if it isn't related to the valve they just replaced). All I can say is I know how Penny feels...
A few of the major holidays have already passed by in these first four months of 2015. Valentine's Day was mellow, coming and going like any other day. I've never been a big observer of this particular "holiday". A rather odd day as holidays go. For the most part, the Valentine's Day we all know with an arrow wielding cherub, boxes of chocolates, and roses is mostly a creation of greeting card companies. St. Valentine (for which the day is named) bares little viable connection to the day of love. *meh* My boyfriend and I exchanged the obligatory "happy Valentine's Day, sweetie" sentiment. I worked that day. My wishes may have sounded a bit perfunctory, but I was tired. Toiling in the mine really takes it out of me, what can I say...
The next widely observed holiday was St. Patty's Day. It is quite a big 'to-do' here in Savannah. There is a parade, the fountains are "greened" (green dye is added to the water of the old landmark park fountains), and beer flows freely. Especially on historic (and touristy) River Street. It was debated as to whether we would venture out in observance of the day. Maybe shoot some pool. Have a beer, or even a Guinness. Instead we stayed in. Decided not to bother with the crowds of drunken obnoxiousness that usually fill the heart of town. Nope, just had a couple of brews at home, and went to bed in hopes of getting some rest before the mine.
The last observed holiday that passed not that long ago was Easter. Whatever your beliefs on what the holiday represents, I see a day that has risen to commercial heights only surpassed by the biggest commercial day of the year Xmas.
This is my one and only Easter egg. It basically sums up the day for me. Nothing of note to report. Uneventful. Lazy. Many kids celebrate by tearing into baskets of chocolate bunnies, and those horrid marshmallow Peeps. If I were a kid, my basket probably would have held a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans with an over abundance of booger, rotten egg, and vomit flavored jelly beans inside. No, I'm not usually a glass half empty kind of person. Most days my glass is half full. Let's just say it was jostled around a bit and some of the contents splashed over the side. Moving right along...
I'm more of an Ostara gal. Observing the Spring Equinox as opposed to the more religious Easter. A time of renewal. The northern half of Gaia turns green once more, and the brilliant colors of spring flowers burst out all around. Here on the marsh azaleas are blooming everywhere. It was during one of my strolls on a day that was warm enough to venture out in a t-shirt that I came across a rather large and fuzzy bee. It was feasting on blooms on an azalea bush that was so covered with pink flowers you could hardly see the green of the leaves. I tried to get a satisfactory photo of the buzzing bee. It was actually a funny encounter. It would buzz down into a flower, and I would reach in with my camera and snap a pic, hoping that I would end up with a shot or two that was in decent focus. A couple of times the bee flew up and turned to face me, almost as if to say, "do you mind? I'm trying to eat here!" Finally it just flew off as if in a huff. Okay, yes, I'm taking some creative license...you just had to be there...
Another prominent flowering bush here at the condos is the Camelia. We have a big bush by the front porch, so I've snapped quite a few pics of its blooms. We have had a very rainy season thus far that is in deep contrast to the same time last year. I love rain, so it doesn't bother me a bit.
Thanks to the famous rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, we were told to expect six more weeks of winter. For much of the north east that was true. It was true for the marsh to an extent. Here on the Atlantic coast in the deep south we did have colder days for a bit longer than we would have liked, but we also were having warmer days (upper 50's to low 70's). By every indication, it looks as though the cold days have now left us. Temperatures have been getting up to the low 80's some days. That coupled with the rain makes it unbearably humid. That's why I enjoy my walks. Over by the marsh there is usually a cool breeze that blows. It not only cools one off, it keeps the mosquitoes at bay (and they can be really bad, let me tell ya).
Through my camera's lens I have chronicled the many moods of Gaia by way of the marsh. The various colors of death and renewal. From overcast to foggy to clear blue with the cotton of clouds. The above picture still showing the mustard yellow of colder times illustrates winter's lengthy stay.
Green is my favorite color. Nature's beauty here on the banks of Wilmington Island shows green in it's various shades. High up on the trees, or around their base. In the brilliant green reeds growing on the bank of the rippling pond. I wish that Summer were like this, but alas...moderate temperatures will give way to the heavy humid heat of June and July.
I'm going to end this post with some more shots of the two Full Moon's that have been visible this year. I've also added this shot of the Moon during the day. Oddly enough, I have had people tell me how incredible it is to see the Moon during the day, and how it must mean something. They think that it represents an omen, that there is some bit of folklore about it. How about it's closest to the Earth and it is also reflective. All it's doing is going through it's usual orbital cycle, people. *snerk*
On that note...
I'm finally back after a few months hiatus. More posts on the way...
Here on the marsh in my corner of things I not only see the natural world around me. Whenever I can, I experience it. The flora and fauna that covers the Earth's surface is vital to mans existence. The bee for example. Bee populations have greatly diminished. They are responsible for pollinating crops that feed us. If bees become extinct, 70 of the 100 crops that feed 90% of the world will no longer be around. Things don't end there. If we lose plants pollinated by bees, we lose the animals that eat those plants, and the loss continues as you travel up the food chain. Saving Gaia's animal and plant life is not just a cause for "tree huggers" (and I do love trees). It is a cause that everyone should take seriously.
Inevitably, it's not about "saving the planet"...it's about saving the human race. The Earth will be here long after we humans cause our own extinction. To me "saving the planet" is about saving our way of life. Things are going to get worse...and if we continue along this path we're on, down the road, things will become dire.
Will the Earth change drastically in my remaining years, however long that is? I think some changes will occur. Hopefully some of them will be for the better. I think major change will be left for future generations. Mankind needs a wake up call. Who can say what that is?
