Bird loving

This wren is frequently seen visiting my balcony, and seems interested in the Spirit House. Last Sunday I was putting up the Hummingbird Feeder. That's when there were 2 wrens trying to get me away. I put the Sprit House/wren nest back, but I got lots of chattering from them until I closed the door again. I hope they will continue their nest, and the hummingbirds can come too!

One of the couple didn't like the bird house (its new name) up on the railing, as he chittered away at me.
I was standing inside the storm door, taking this through 2 panes of glass.

 I got the hummingbird feeder hung...maybe a bit too low. I'll wait a day or so to see if anyone finds it there.

 Both the wrens were very upset with me. The bigger one (on right) was singing away, while the smaller one just chittered at me.

The larger bird even got up on the hangar to tell me his opinion of this new decoration on their balcony. I left the door open and heard they had returned later on, and even saw one flying into their bird house. Sigh, that' a relief!

Monday afternoon I saw papa wren bring a bug to mom, and here he was sitting wondering if I was about to come out and bother them. They have made the nest underneath some moss and leaves, so I can't even see her sitting on it...nor will I be able to see the eggs when they hatch.  Drat.

Honestly I don't know if they are wrens or not. If you do, please comment below!

Today's quote:

Longing is the core of mystery.
Longing itself is the cure...

Rumi

Achieving a goal

Looking out the window in these home-bound times, has become a favorite pastime.  I noticed the other day that a squirrel tried over and over to get from the bare tree to the one with promising maple seeds. Amazingly enough, he never fell to the ground below, but would catch another branch on his way down.  Then try jumping from another branch higher up.

 On his way...will he get there this time?

 Nope, but safely on a lower branch!!

 Another attempt gets him over in the green tree.  I think he was nibbling on the seeds or new leaves. There's nothing but flowers and new leaves around these days. He must not have buried nuts last fall.

Today's Quote:

Let yourself be silently drawn by the
stronger pull of what you really love...

Rumi

The Greening of the Mountains

 Tuesday, April 7, Black Mountain NC, looking south from State Street (aka Hwy 70)

This shows the tufts of green trees only go about halfway up the mountain.

 A cloudy day gives deeper color green, and looking through the bare maple to the dogwood and some more colorful ones on the other side of the building. But the sides of the mountain are very grey still!

April 9, Thursday, sunshine and a clearer view of the colorful trees in the valley.

 Dawn on April 10.

 The early light makes everything golden.

Today's Quote:

Set your life on fire.

Seek those who fan your flames.

Who gets up early to discover the moment the light begins?

What was whispered to the rose to break it open last night was whispered to my heart. 

You’ve gotten drunk on so many kinds of wine. 

Taste this. It won’t make you wild.

It’s fire. 

Give up, if you don’t understand by this time that your living is firewood. 

Set your life on fire.

Seek those who fan your flames. 

The lamps are different,

But the Light is the same. 

To change, a person must face the dragon of his appetites with another dragon, the life-energy of the soul. 

What is the body? 

That shadow of a shadow of your love, that somehow contains the entire universe. 

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival. 

A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. 

Welcome and attend them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out for some new delight. 

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. 

Sorrows are the rags of old clothes and jackets that serve to cover, and then are taken off.

That undressing, and the beautiful naked body underneath, is the sweetness that comes after grief.

You haven’t dared yet lose faith - so, can faith grow in you?

Gamble everything for love, if you’re a true human being. 

If these poems repeat themselves, then so does Spring.

 

—Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī

this being human is a guest house

Plates in the BMCA Gallery

 Celtic Tree of Life.  This is the second time I've used this design concept.  I had a turquoise rimmed plate earlier this year.  Wonder what color will inspire me next?

Another independent student of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts Clay Studio, Teresa Arpin, created this large platter, titled "Cookies..."

Elise Reed's "Tree of Life."

Geoff Byrd, Instructor.  "Two."

More plates will be on tomorrow's post.

Thought for today:

Stop using the past to poison your present. Don't let who you used to be prevent you from getting the things in life that are available to you now.  What you seek is seeking you.  Rumi