LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Friday, March 18, 2011

Spring-y Spring

Our backyard is an explosion of all the seasonal flowers -- daffodils, jonquils, hyacinth, narcissus, crocus, forsythia, some red flower I don't know, and a tiny white, tall-stem one growing out of the grass that I don't know either. It seems that another daffy opens even as I observe them. The college's b&g people still have not removed the tree limbs brought down in a December storm, so walking about my backyard is problematic -- and there are so many smaller branches, and bark, and so on -- it's a mess.

The birds are making racket continuously, but it is a melodious racket, so pleasant background music.

I lifted the winter storm glass on the kitchen screen doors this morning as it was nearly 60 when we got up and now has reached the day's projected high of 74. The inner kitchen doors are now open, to let fresh air into the house. Alas, I'm coughing as badly as I ever did: next door neighbor had insulation pumped into her upper stories ... I saw much stuff floating in the air around the pumping truck. I wonder if this is the cause? Or is is merely spring pollen, an allergic reaction -- I've never suffered from allergies before -- that's always been el V.'s malady, not mine.  That long tube through which the insulation was pumped: it coiled back upon itself, it looped, it shimmied the insulation materials through in a peristalsis to the top of house.  It looked like Valdemort!  My neighbor ladies agreed, that it was so -- they further volunteered that the Harry Potter movies are their favorites -- these are women who are 65 if they are a day!

I've been walking about on breaks, gazing upon the flowering ornamental short trees, attempting to decide if they are redbud, crabapples, pears, and etc. Oddly, I see nary a tulip here anywhere in town. Is it too early? I am looking forward to lilacs.  I wonder if we'll see goslings and ducklings in a little while?

This evening: Tonight's perigee full moon! It is hanging there, pouring out its luminous white light over the dancing high tide river.

An osprey has built a nest on one of the pilings of the mansion's dock that reaches out into the river next to the public deck. The ducks are swimming in pairs - one male, one female. I was assured that the ducks had been mating all day and pretty soon we'd see ducklings. The other birds were still singing up a storm.

All day long, every time I looked at my backyard flowers, at the flowering bushes and trees, more flowers had opened and bloomed. The air smells so sweet.  The humans are in shorts, sitting on their porches and patios, drinks in hand, adoring the warm soft air, sans mosquitos and chiggers.

2 comments:

Foxessa said...

This sign, Do Not Feed the Birds, went up on the approach to the river's public dock since yesterday. Following the advisory are three reasons why feeding the ducks -- and most likely, most of all, the geese -- is not good for them. The fourth and final reason is that "feeding makes for aggressive flocks."

Love, C.

I am thinking that among many people drawn to the river yesterday and last evening was someone whose young grandchild got the fright of her/his life from the demanding geese?

The crew teams were out this afternoon, practicing -- woo, they are fast. They are also mixed gender teams.

Full, full-moon tonight.

T. said...

Lucky you -- flowers! In bloom! The tulips always come a little later than the daffs....