The campus at which I teach is going through a major building project--an academic building is being constructed, a student center is being renovated and enlarged, and residence halls are being built. You might wonder, then, why I entitled this as I did. The second project mentioned (the student center) has caused massive changes to be made to the natural elements of the campus--the construction company found it necessary to "deconstruct" some 12-15 trees.
Let me backtrack a bit and explain that the campus is in a somewhat rural environment (albeit within the confines of a "city"). It sits on some 60+ acres...most of which are wooded. It's rather a lovely little campus...oaks, pecans, a beautiful magnolia, a pretty little koi pond complete with the "requisite" gazebo...
In the construction zone (and everywhere else on campus), the trees were just starting to come out in leaf--a soft, breathy-green mist had covered the dormant limbs. Birds were making final preparations for their coming hatchlings (the chirping in the mornings was nearly deafening) and squirrels were "feeling their oats"--giddly gliding from branch to branch happy to be alive and see the sun's return. Pleasing to me, the carpenter bees and bumblebees were back to their active and inquisitive selves.
And then the excavator came...
In a matter of three days, the grand oaks and our lovely little magnolia (all in "the zone") were reduced to matchsticks...the birds were evicted, their nests in shambles...the squirrels bounded for the woods. The bees are still around the koi pond, but even they are "clingy." One stayed near me as I discussed a piece of literature with my class out in the gazebo (pretty days = teaching outside as much as possible). He was an inquisitive little fellow...and very responsive to polite requests that he not do fly-bys in the gazebo (thus scaring my class).
My office looked out on that magnolia...I mourn her loss...she was absolutely lovely...I will miss her. At least I saw her before the excavator had it's way with her--I never saw her felled...I said goodbye and apologied for her demise. And then, I left my office for a while.
And now, the grey skies have replaced the clear, warming blue of Spring's return. Tonight, She will be weeping over "the zone" for those losses...and the rains will fall on my sweet little magnolia's branches and trunk...and on the oaks and palms and all the rest.
Sad...and probably avoidable...but the price of progress is cheap and transplanting is pricey. At least my little friendly bee isn't upset at us for what was done...he found a random wildflower today in the fringe of "the zone."
In the softness of the waning moonlight...
25 March 2009
08 March 2009
Daylight Savings Cometh Early Once Again
I woke today to a "missing" hour of sleep...sort of. In all honesty, I stayed up last night to see what actually happens to one's cell phone and such during Daylight Savings night. Yup...I stayed up to see whether the clock would "jump" on my cell from 1:59am to 3am...and it did. Mystery solved. Anticlimactic, but still kinda fun.
So, this morning (sun up = morning...3am = dark), I woke at what my body registered as 8am and the clock registered as 9am. I went out to take the pups on their morning "business run"--and was astounded to see and hear all the critters and creatures in our yard and surrounding yards FULLY awake and playful. Usually on weekend mornings, the birds and squirrels who inhabit our little corner of Her world tend to be as slow in rising as the humans with whom they are neighbors. It's as if the world itself reset last night when all the clocks did.
And, with that observation, I'm launching into the "yay" portion of my blog for this episode. It's FINALLY sunny and warm rather consistently outside. I've caught sight of numerous nests being nurtured--our mother mockingbird is "on" more than "off" her nest...there is a pair of Carolina wrens who have re-downed their nest atop our front porch's roof post (I peeked in and there are three darling little eggs within...the CW mother was cautiously watching me from the other corner of the porch)...and the resident squirrels are spending more time in the hole in our pecan tree. The paperwhites are spent and the daffodils, carpet violets, and shamrocks in the yard are slowly coming into blooms of lavender, white, heliotrope (a cool color name!), and lemony-yellow. And the birds are launching a cacophony of song each morning.
She has returned in a quiet, soft, uber-feminine way. Even retail culture has noticed it--gone are the fluffy-warm sweaters and cordoroy slacks in the shops...come are the eye-popping Spring colors and thin fabrics in skirts and polos and tees. Open-toe weather is upon us...She likes the softening of our outlooks and our clothing. She beckons us to come outside--I'm taking my students into Her for lessons and lectures and just to get away from dreary spaces and fluorescent lighting.
Oestara is nearly here...Beltane's just around the corner...a full-moon is scheduled for Tuesday...it's a powerful and enticing and re-energizing time!
Welcome back, Dearest One! In the softness of moonlight and the warmth of Spring's arrival....Merry Meet, All!
So, this morning (sun up = morning...3am = dark), I woke at what my body registered as 8am and the clock registered as 9am. I went out to take the pups on their morning "business run"--and was astounded to see and hear all the critters and creatures in our yard and surrounding yards FULLY awake and playful. Usually on weekend mornings, the birds and squirrels who inhabit our little corner of Her world tend to be as slow in rising as the humans with whom they are neighbors. It's as if the world itself reset last night when all the clocks did.
And, with that observation, I'm launching into the "yay" portion of my blog for this episode. It's FINALLY sunny and warm rather consistently outside. I've caught sight of numerous nests being nurtured--our mother mockingbird is "on" more than "off" her nest...there is a pair of Carolina wrens who have re-downed their nest atop our front porch's roof post (I peeked in and there are three darling little eggs within...the CW mother was cautiously watching me from the other corner of the porch)...and the resident squirrels are spending more time in the hole in our pecan tree. The paperwhites are spent and the daffodils, carpet violets, and shamrocks in the yard are slowly coming into blooms of lavender, white, heliotrope (a cool color name!), and lemony-yellow. And the birds are launching a cacophony of song each morning.
She has returned in a quiet, soft, uber-feminine way. Even retail culture has noticed it--gone are the fluffy-warm sweaters and cordoroy slacks in the shops...come are the eye-popping Spring colors and thin fabrics in skirts and polos and tees. Open-toe weather is upon us...She likes the softening of our outlooks and our clothing. She beckons us to come outside--I'm taking my students into Her for lessons and lectures and just to get away from dreary spaces and fluorescent lighting.
Oestara is nearly here...Beltane's just around the corner...a full-moon is scheduled for Tuesday...it's a powerful and enticing and re-energizing time!
Welcome back, Dearest One! In the softness of moonlight and the warmth of Spring's arrival....Merry Meet, All!
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