Snow Sculpt

I am always impressed and on the lookout for natural structures and sculptures. Those works of art when created by the natural process's of the earth are so remarkable and beautiful. I love flow forms and faces in trees. Ice patterns and tree's split from lightning and wind. Lichen growing on rocks in the shapes of rivers, a glowing geography of the earths landscape in miniature.

Today I saw some very special sculptures that I can't share with you in images but if you live where it snows you can go out and find them.

Beautiful and grotesque all at once the snow that has been built up on the sides of the highways and roads around here, and has been melting. Creating incredible five foot tall statues coated in grass and sand that has been kicked up by plows and compacted by snow. You can find them around mailboxes and entrance ramps and huge piles where roofs have been scraped free of snow.
There was literally so much snow that there were crews out for two weeks after all the snow that fell in January and February using bucket loaders and removing it off the highways. Over bridges it went. There were even the tall sections of sound barrier walls that were removed and snow pushed through. Sculpting and molding snow piles as high as they would go. Stark yellow machines against tall white castles.

Their uniform artwork has mostly melted now, but the chance for the ice and dirt to make their last stand has come. And they are taking the opportunity to show themselves off. Though not so crisp and clear as it was when it fell, bringing us to that magical wonderland of snow filled dreams. The snowmelt now melds what we see into something closer to reality. We are no longer looking up at the sky wondering what the snow will bring, but looking down to the earth, and dreaming of the first crocus's and bouncing robbins.

And if indeed father winter has more in store for us I know I will be waiting for the next formation of icicles on un suspecting objects, and animal prints just dusted on to that magical stuff we call snow.

Bee's To Arrive!

Welcome creatures of the Sun!

Pat assembling a box.

This is the year we are finally getting bee's! I'm so excited, it's something I've wanted for a long time now, but we dove in head first and there is no going back now. The past month I have been working on cleaning up an old hive that a friend gave to me (not always recommended due to the chance of disease, it's best not to take old equipment unless you're really sure where it's coming from) assembling frames, making orders, and doing lots of research and reading. I'm so excited to embark on this new endeavor along with Pat.

I am lucky to have a couple of good beekeeping friends who I hope will help us along the way. Here is a link to a "hanging basket hive" at the Melissa Garden. Prepare to be amazed.

Some new supplies that came in the biggest heaviest box I've ever had addressed to me. Some bee supplements, a hat and mask for Pat, hive tool, and two "deep boxes" the main body of the hive where the bee's spend most of their time over winter, and laying brood, before all those extra honey supers ever get put on.