Blog Description

A French-Inspired Garden and Home by Judith Stringham

Pear Tree Reminders 2014

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Nothing profound, 
nothing new, 
in what I have to say.

Just reminders of what we 
already know, but sometimes forget. 

The winter of 2013-2014 
has been harsh 
all across the United States. 
And, for many, winter still roars 
with deep freezes, gray skies, gloomy darkness 
filled with chilling winds, ice, and snow. 
Even in usually mild locations 
such as Houston, there is still 
the possibility of winter's bitterness. 

All my memories of Houston are filled 
with muggy days even in winter from the very first time 
I visited my in-laws as a new bride in 1972. 
The city was so warm in December around 
Christmas time that my new family had 
their air conditioner turned on. 
I was surprised. 
It was strange to walk around outside in shirtsleeves
and to carry a sweater, not a coat, and not to wear the sweater.  
Just carry it, in case the temperature dipped a little. 

Not so this winter. 
Even Houston experienced wintry mixes of ice, sleet, and snow.

But, 

O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?
"Ode to the West Wind" 
by Percy Bysshe Shelley



Just last week, 
north Texas had record low temperatures in the teens, 
but the peach trees survived and bloomed this week! 
Perhaps there will be peaches after all. 



See that clear blue sky through the OPEN windows? 
The temperatures were in the 80s today. 
No, thankfully, these temperatures will not last, 
or else our summer would truly S.I.Z.Z.L.E. 

Then, looking out the sunspace window through 
the peach tree branches on the breakfast table I saw... 


The pear tree in full, glorious bloom!

I remember planting this tree many years ago 
and watching for its blooms every spring. 
Many years the blooms were sparse, 
even when other trees around us were filled with blooms. 
When did it get to be so tall? 

Last week the hard freeze caused the first
pear tree blossoms on the tree's lower branches
to shrivel and to turn brown.

I thought that the blooms were done for this year,
one of those years with not only sparse blooms,
but dead ones.

but, no....


In the clear sunlight, the blooms were fully open and shimmering in the light.
So many days have been overcast, gray, dreary days that
I missed the new blooms opening until today.



Spring is coming.



What at first appeared to be dead blooms, are instead, 
alive! 

How do I express those feelings inside? 
The ones that have been reawakened and been reminded 
on many levels 
there is life after the darkness. 

That after seasonal climatic winters and emotional personal winters, 
spring will return. 



O Wind,
If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?

"Ode to the West Wind" 
by Percy Bysshe Shelley
~~~~~~~~~~
Do you have a dream house in your head? 
I did, for eight years. 
Now I have been living in my dream house 
for twenty-six years. 
Stay tuned.
Coming soon... 
A series of posts 
about building my dream house, 
a post and beam house. 


~~~~~~~~~~
Please join me at these inspiring sites...
SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY