SWAN SONG

Hello dear friends! Did you remember to set your clocks ahead?  Guess daylight savings time is one sure sign of spring.   But the most exciting one for us is the return of the swans. Sorry the pictures are not very good, in advance.  I keep thinking of what my dear blogging friend, Andrea could have done with this opportunity, she takes such lovely pictures of birds and flowers, unfortunately, I am not a photographer. You'll have to zoom in on the picture if you want to get a good look at them.

There were perhaps  several hundred this time in the farmer's field.( One year there were so many that the ground was completely white with swans for acres and acres) I tried to get as close as I could, but when I got within a hundred feet of them they became skittish and started to take flight.

 

Here's another  picture of them to show you how many there were.  All the white areas are swans.

Here's what I couldn't believe; that no one even slowed down to look at them except for Ran and myself.  Everyone just sped past, completely oblivious to the miracle that was taking place right under their very noses,  an opportunity so rare that only a few people get to experience in their lifetime.  I believe that I live an enchanted life, but perhaps it is only that I take the time to enjoy what is there; a star-filled night, the warmth of the sun on my face, an baby's long eyelashes, the taste of the good earth from freshly-dug potatoes.  Everyone is always so busy with their lists and chores that it seems to me they miss the wonderful world that has been created for us. So many people think that they must spend money to find pleasure, when the truth is the very best things in life are free. The old saying is true. So many people think they must be busy, busy, busy all the time.  As Ran and I held hands and silently gazed over a field of swans, I knew that no cruise or diamond ring would ever compare to that moment and no completion of a task would ever be as important .  I'm sure that if I get to Heaven, there will be fields of swans,  this was just a glimpse of Heaven.  It is well with my soul.

Be still and know that I am God
~ Psalms 46:10 ~


THRIFTY THINGS WE DID THIS WEEK

Ran built this kindling bin from free pallets:

We'll probably paint it once the weather warms up, if we can find any reasonably priced "mistints" at the hardware store.  Otherwise, we'll let it weather to a natural grey color. Had to laugh, we are known around the neighborhood for our love of free pallets.   Yesterday our two elderly neighbors stopped us on our walk to tell us they spied some pallets.  Now even the neighbors are on the lookout for us!

Got half a dozen free pallets for firewood and projects.

While out for our daily walks, we bring back branches and sticks that have broken off the trees this winter.  Our kindling bin is just about full from doing this and plus we have found some larger branches in the neighborhood that are excellent firewood.

Since cabbage is priced so lowly as we approach St. Pat's Day, I made a huge batch of vegetable cabbage soup, the only thing I needed to buy was the cabbage and celery, everything else came from the pantry.  I'm doing the cabbage soup diet this week to jump start my dieting.  I've been on a plateau for weeks. It always works for me.

Brought in the dried hydrangeas from the bush trimmings to decorate with.  You know I wouldn't spend good money on flowers but I still wanted some sort of flower arrangement.

Fortunately for me, I love primitive decorating and dried hydrangeas suit that style.

We started our seeds.  Most came from seeds we saved.

Went to t he doctor's and got a glowing report on my health.  Good health is so vital to having a good life.  Little things like daily walks,   abstaining from junk food, and spending part of each day in quiet contemplation can do so much to help you obtain it and they all are free!

Finished one sampler and began another from supplies I had on hand.  One will be a Christmas present.  It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas presents, especially when you make your own gifts.

Packed away my heavy winter clothes and started getting out my spring ones.  Hope springs eternal!  I never bring out everything at once, that way, when I get bored with my wardrobe, I just have to "shop" in my attic for something new.


That's about it for this week.  I will be taking a blogging break for a while, unless something truly remarkable happens that I want to share in the meantime.  Hope you all have a lovely spring!

Hugs
Jane