A Poem for Late February

"Late February days; and now, at last,
Might you have thought that
Winter's woe was past;
So fair the sky was and so soft the air." 
William Morris

Judging by the new look of my blog, I guess I could be accused of seeing the world through rose-colored glasses (or green lol), although right now it is more like frosted glass. I regularly visit all sorts of blogs and while I often enjoy the edgy, bordering on cranky ones, it is just not my style. My musings are for those who are trying to cut back - I suppose I'm in the 'lite' blog category. 

I thought the above poem was perfect for today. Our skies are blue, the sun is almost hot at times (when you are driving in the car or sitting by a window) and our days are noticeably longer. But as the poem indicates: reality check! It will not be spring here for a good while. Earlier this morning a number of bloggers I regularly visit were in the midst of busily sowing seeds or in some cases, already setting out their delicate seedlings on windowsills in anticipation of our long-awaited spring. Here is a great example. The longer I mosey through life, the more I begin to appreciate poetry. So much feeling, texture and atmosphere is translated into a concise, disciplined form. Yet good poetry always feels free and all encompassing. 

My maternal grandmother passed away this past Sunday at 96. She lived a very long and healthy life. She was a nurse at one point and then, once married, lived on the family farm in southern Ontario. Many of my childhood memories are centered around summers spent on that parcel of land. My great-grandmother (who also lived on the farm and I remember well) and grandfather are gone and now my grandmother. A chapter has closed in some respects. It is the circle of life, and certainly gives one pause for thought. In the picture below, Helen is the gal in the front row, far right, with the black short-sleeved blouse and belt. Considering it was 1935, I think she was quite stylish for her time. The picture expands for a closer look.

We're Getting There!

I really wish I'd seen this cute summary from the Old Farmer's 2011 Almanac sooner. February is almost over, but I thought I'd post it anyways. I'll post the one for March once we turn the page. Overall it turns out to be close to accurate for this month - we did have a couple of ridiculously warm periods followed by the inevitable bitter cold. If this little ditty continues to hold true, we should experience another warming trend in the next few days. I have my fingers crossed: right now we are sitting at -14C!

Groundhog cowers:

sunshine, 

then showers.

Too warm for storms.

Mercury plummets,

fingers turn numb:

It's frigid air.

Pleasurable, 

then unmeasurable 

out there!

Starting to drip --

it's a pip!

Wet 'n' wild,

but mild.

Winter Returns

Under the snow the vegetables purr, 

Like an old man 'neath a mantle of fur.

A couplet for February 8 which I found in the 2011 Canadian Old Farmer's Almanac. 

We are back in winter's icy grip, thankfully our skies are blue. 

This time-lapse video is very soothing and has won 3 international awards.

I hope you enjoy it.

A Taste of Spring?

As you can see, Aslan has lost his crown for the time-being. We had very lovely weather for much of last week and our snow cover diminished considerably. It's cold again (-12C) but we've yet to receive any more flurries to replace what was lost - save for a light dusting yesterday. Early this morning we were actually bordering on overheating in our car, just from the sun's warmth. And it was so bright - I'd swear I was part vampire. It was divine. I know it's only February 6th, but I can feel spring is on her way.

This is a very weathered wall hanging on my patio.

I love the patina Mother Nature has created on it.

Februarius

February arrived and I suddenly realized I had not yet hung up the calendar I had received for a gift last fall. At the time, I was so pleased I could scarcely wait for the year to end so that I could begin using it! It did briefly come to mind a few times in January, but on each occasion I was involved and the thought quickly faded. Anyways, it is now being proudly displayed, and after all it's only February, so no harm done. I will post each month as we move through the year. 

The poem below it is a Native American late winter song; I feel it complements the calendar very nicely. As winter drags on, I feel myself beginning to echo their sentiments.

‘Oh, long, long
The snow has possessed the mountains.
The deer have come down and the big-horn, 

They have followed the sun to the south
To feed on the mesquite pods and the bunch grass.
Loud are the thunder drums in the tents of the mountains.

Oh, long, long 
Have we eaten chia seeds 
and dried deer's flesh of the summer killing.
We are tired of our huts
and the smoky smell of our clothing.
We are sick with the desire for the sun

And the grass on the mountain 
-Paiute Late Winter Song- 


I am a huge fan of Native/Inuit art. We have a few pieces of Inuit art which our son kindly brought back from a few jobs he worked at in Baffin Island and the North West Territories. Here is one of my favourites.

The word February is believed to have derived from the name 'Februa' taken from the Roman 'Festival of Purification'. The root 'februo' meaning to 'I purify by sacrifice'. As part of the seasonal calendar February is the time of the 'Ice Moon' according to Pagan beliefs, and the period described as the 'Moon of the Dark Red Calf' by Black Elk. February has also been known as 'Sprout-kale' by the Anglo-Saxons in relation to the time the kale and cabbage was edible.