Butterflies in the Backyard

Aphrodite drank nectar from Lo and Behold Butterfly Bushes 

January thaw in Connecticut means it's time to take a look back at my garden and its many visitors, before I break out the garden catalogs and start planning for spring. Couldn't resist sharing these butterfly photos - and a few more!

Spicebush Swallowtail can be identified by the colored "swosh;" missing orange spot

Tiger Swallowtail

This group of Tiger Swallowtails had very small orange spots near the tail or none at all. They may be the males while the one above is the female.

Yellow wings looks so pretty against the purple flowers

Bumble bees pay a visit as well!

Another look at Spicebush Swallowtail. This one is a male.

Monarch in the Dogwood tree

Spicebush Swallowtail spreads its wings

Squirrels often visit our deck

Autumn keeps an eye on all the happenings

Laura S. Pringle is the author of The Pringle Plan, a series of educational guides. 

 See books by Laura S. Pringle on Amazon

 ©2018 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.

Caged Bird Sings

Available on Amazon

Maya Angelou's poem, from her 1969 book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, seems both a fitting and hopeful message today. As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., just days after obvious racism from the President of the United States, I couldn't help but think of Maya's poem. As the #MeToo social media trend evolves into the #TimesUp Movement, I  couldn't help but think of Maya's poem. And as the one year anniversary of the Women's March draws near, I can't help but think of Maya's poem. It is reality for too many. It is hope that keeps us striving toward a more perfect nation. It is hope that keeps us striving toward respect for all living beings. Sometimes hope is all we have, and we must hold on to it. Maya Angelou explains it best:

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

The title and inspiration for this poem came from a line in Paul Dunbar's poem "Sympathy" http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/11717-Paul-Laurence-Dunbar-Sympathy .
It was also the title of the first volume of Dr. Angelou's autobiography published in 1969.

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes

Learn more about Maya Angelou 

Laura S. Pringle is the author of The Pringle Plan, a series of educational guides. 

See books by Laura S. Pringle on Amazon

 ©2018 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.

The Fox and The Turkeys

Mr. Fox wakes up ready to begin his day

We usually enjoy watching squirrels scramble about the trees in the winter time. This year, it seemed strange that we hadn't seen many, until we noticed Mr. Fox had moved in. We think he may either be living under our shed, or under the shed ramp. Their have been multiple sightings of coyotes and coy wolves in our neighborhood. I haven't been able to get any photos of them, but Mr. Fox has stopped to pose several times.

Ok, I'll stop to pose

Checking on the neighbor's soccer field  - and to see if that big dog is around!

Crossing the street, Mr. Fox is on the hunt

He has been eating well, keeping down the mouse population - much to our relief. He has also had some meals of turkey. Yes, we have several flocks of turkeys wandering through our woods and gardens here in Oakdale, Connecticut.

We often catch a peak of the wild turkeys on their daily rounds through the woods

There are several different flocks

Once in a while, one spots me and stops to pose

A snowstorm  doesn't bother these hardy birds

These two are checking my garden for winter treats

This morning I saw this flock walking single file up the road in front of my house

 

Mr. Tom was keeping everyone in line

Spreading that tail to remind everyone exactly who is in charge here

Come on girls, let's pick up the pace

 

The stragglers

Walking up my driveway, they begin to realize food is not far away

Behind a neighbor's house!

 Laura S. Pringle is the author of The Pringle Plan, a series of educational guides. 

 See books by Laura S. Pringle on Amazon

 ©2018 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.

Gratitude 2018

Sunrise January 1st 2018

 As the sun rises on a new year, the moon says good-bye to 2017. It's time to reflect. It's time to look forward. It's time to be grateful.

Moon setting January 1st 2018

2017 was a rough year for family health. I'm so grateful everyone is healing and moving forward. I'm so grateful for the doctors, nurses and many other health care professionals who were there to help my family on their road to recovery.

2017 was also a rough year for America. It seemed there was more bad news than a person of my political beliefs could bare. But I survived, and so did my like-minded friends. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have Marched for Science last spring. I'm grateful others were able to March for Women last winter in Washington, D.C. I'm grateful for the journalists and news organizations who keep us all informed. How would we know what causes need our voices without them?

I also find my self taking a longer view back, feeling the joys of long-term delayed gratification. The years of childhood spent in school, when all you really want to do is play, listen to music, and go to the beach, give way to the gratification of knowledge, skill, and financial independence. The years of working at someone else's assigned task and schedule, give way to the gratification of retirement - a time when you can choose your own tasks, your own schedule, and make choices about the people you want to keep in your life and spend time with.

I'm so grateful for the time I spent in nature this year. Both calming and energizing, I've discovered the benefits of forest bathing, and sauntering. Waterfalls, coastline boardwalks, sunrises and sunsets - Beauty exists all around us.

I'm so grateful for the time spent meeting new neighbors, and getting to know long time neighbors better. There's not a bad apple in the bunch! I'm grateful for the opportunity to live among this caring and compassionate group.

I'm grateful for the wise words of others. Here are a few of my favorites:

On Emotional Health:
"Don't take things personally." Marilyn Vos Savant

On Physical Health:
"Eat a rainbow every day." Dr. Jeffrey Fuhrman
"Think of exercise as play. Play every day." Unknown

On Mental And Social Health:
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." Eleanor Roosevelt
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Aristotle
"Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't." Bill Nye

On Enjoying Nature:
"Now these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not 'hike' through them." John Muir

On Responsibility:
"I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?" Robert Redford

On Choice:
"I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health." Voltaire  

Finally, I'm grateful for a new year. My heart is filled with hope once again, as I refuse to carry the dysfunction of the past forward. In the long run things always have a way of working out for the best. 2018 is a new opportunity for lessons learned, positive change, and the motivation to move forward toward a more enlightened future.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Laura S. Pringle is the author of The Pringle Plan, a series of educational guides. 

 See books by Laura S. Pringle on Amazon

 ©2017 Laura S. Pringle. All Rights Reserved.