Kitchen

I have been spending a lot of time in my kitchen lately.
Not doing thisso much as lots of this


Unfortunately, I also have this to show for it, which I don't have to wear all the time, but should wear more than I do.
It just gets in the way when I am doing what I would rather be doing like this
and this
Anything new and exciting out there for you all?

Spring

Spring, the sweet Spring, is the year's pleasant king;
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing,
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The palm and may make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the [shepherds pipe]1 all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay,
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet,
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
Spring! The sweet Spring!

Thomas Nashe

From the Fifth Lamp, Viewing the Floodwaters

Here are some views of the Mississippi River from the Fifth Lamp Down.
West

March 2008March 2010
East
October 2009
March 2010 (this is usually all grass here, and you can see the road to the parking lot disappear into the water)
The waters are rising in Saint Paul.
We're at about 4 feet above flood stage, lots of parks on the river have closed due to rising waters and unsafe currents.
From up here on the bluff, we get to watch in safety and amazement at the awesome power of nature.

What have I been doing all week?

Well, let's start with this -
And lots of this -

While listening to this -And with a side of this -Have a great weekend everyone!

Breaking News

This is Jessica Bandelin, reporting from my kitchen where I have the windows open.
I am listening to the sounds of happy children playing on the sidewalk (freshly ice-free)And, as I am preparing lunch for said children I look out and see something like this -

What am I doing inside?
Good question.
As soon as the luncheon is prepared I will meet you all outside for a walk.

Primavera

This was originally posted in March of 2008.
I was feeling just this way today, so I thought I'd throw it up here again.

In college I sang the song "Primavera" by Celius Dougherty it was one of my favorites, mostly for the fantastic vocabulary used.

Here is what I can remember of the poem by Amy Lowell

'Spring has arrived.

It is no use your telling me to look at the calendar

and saying that it is 5 good days 'til the 21st of March

Is the year bound to obey the almanac-makers?

O, model of all egregious pedants!

Would you shackle Spring to times and seasons,

or catch her back by her long green skirt 'til the moment you have planned for her?

She has stolen a March this year, for certain!

Today at sunrise I saw a white-breasted nuthatch running up the branch of the oak tree that was so broken by the ice-storm last December.

And in the garden a pheasant was picking grains out of the manure covering the garden beds.

There is a snow-drop up by the porch shot clean through the tulip straw.

And the crows are all agog over the neighbor's pine trees.

It is a game of catch who catch can with that green skirt then.

Even though, in your passion for order,

you bring about a snowstorm tomorrow,

it will not matter to me.

This morning,
Beyond a shadow of a doubt,
I saw the Spring!"

Regional Spotlight

Hi
I just wanted to let you know that my singing group Caritas Vocal Ensemble will be featured today on the Regional Spotlight on MPR.
Here in the Twin Cities you can hear it on 99.5 FM and they stream their broadcast online Here.
The host told me that the broadcast would be around 3:15, so tune in and listen!

Update:
I added the link to MPR's website, so you can listen if you missed it.