The City Planted a Tulip Tree

Ten years ago, I lost the giant sycamore in front of my house. It must have been 100 years old. I even called in a tree doctor to see if it could be saved. It was a sad loss when in was cut down. I applied for a new tree through the city,

Last Saturday, volunteers planted a new tree in front- Liriodendron Tulipifera. A tulip tree. A yellow poplar. The leaves are the shapes of tulips. It is a beautiful looking tree and I am so grateful to have it planted. I read it is the state tree of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee and may grow to 170 feet tall.

Email instructions arrived on how to water it deeply by using a big bucket with holes in the bottom and how to not put mulch touching the bark so fungus doesn’t grow on the bark are a couple of tips.

Does anyone remember the television commercial encouraging the planting of trees? There was a quote – It’s a mature man who plants a tree under whose shade he will never sit. I looked it up and all I could find is a Greek proverb…

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.”

How about my crop of dandelions?

Flowering Pear Blossoms Fall Like Snowflakes

There were thunderstorms and heavy rains. then it cleared a bit.
As I pulled out of the school parking lot, a strong wind came up and the blossoms swirled and fell like snow.

April Showers, Richie Havens and Here Comes the Sun

It was MIXED BAG (vinyl) in my dorm room in the early seventies. Over and over. Richie Havens sang Dylan better than Bob.

Here’s an email in response to the one I wrote in December.

Subject: A Message of Gratitude

Last Christmas Matthew was back from Croatia and we were sitting in Mark and Erika’s living room in Ohio, remembering the first Richie Havens concert I forced him to go to as a teenager. We saw him together years later in New York City at the Knitting Factory, too. Matthew and Aunt Mary braved a Connecticut snowstorm to see him together and sat right under him.

——————————————————————-

Hi Ruth

Thank you so much for taking the time to send along such kind thoughts. I will make sure Richie sees your email.

Best wishes for 2013!

Leslie
Stormy Forest Productions, NYC

—–Original Message—–
From: ruthehendricks
To: stormyforestprod
Sent: Sat, Dec 29, 2012 3:50 pm
Subject: Message of Gratitude

This is a message for Mr. Havens as I sit with  my 32 yo son tonight (home from 
Croatia where he lives) listening together to RH on youtube.

When Matthew was 14 I forced him to go listen to a Richie Havens concert in 
Pittsburgh Pa at the Carnegie Music Hall.

Oh he was mad cause who wants to go anywhere with their mother at that point of 
their life?
We waited in the corridor afterwards and met Mr. Havens and my son said he emanated 
positive energy right out of himself into him. 

  Matthew saw him in concert at least six times after that and he said tonight 
that Richie Havens was able to communicate to his soul.  We saw him together at 
the Knitting Factory years later.

So powerful and I wanted to express gratitude for his musical gifts and these 
wonderful  loving memories we share of listening to Mr Havens music and energy.
Xxoo
Ruth Hendricks

Richie Havens RIP. Matthew and I spoke on SKYPE last night when we heard of your passing and we will always remember you and your music which touched our souls, deeply.

for Richie Havens Streaming Audio click here

Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

Change.

Have you ever tried to?

Change your mind about something or someone?

Change-the only constant of our lives.

Oh, you changed your hair.

“You’ve got to change, baby”

Change trains.

I have a friend who can change the subject on a dime.

Many people don’t enjoy change.

I can change a diaper. Four quarters for a buck. Switch directions in the car when necessary. Change lanes.

But change?

Really truly change. Change my ways. Change my habits. Change my thinking?

Lots of people are worrying about Climate Change.

Subtle change, drastic change.

Here are some suggested change illustrations-

Hot Dog Vendor checks his supply of change.

Architecture changes over time.

The window dresser changes the window.

Waiting for the red light to change.

And you can always count on the weather to change,

the seasons to change-

although sometimes the pace is agonizingly slow.

Thanks to everyone who sent good words for the milestone 1300th post. Now what? Can’t change it up now, so here’s #1301.

This is a sad change- what it looked like about 7 years ago

On the way into school Friday morning. Steeler umbrella, daffodils, new green grass and a Spring rain NOT snow! A change for the better.

Black Pussywillow Branches Cast Wall Shadows

When we lived in Germany, we’d get Pussywillow with fuzzy gray shapes along the branch and hang wooden eggs and rabbit ornaments to make an Easter Tree.

Add MediaI’d never seen Black Pussywillows until Wednesday night at my friend J’s home. I was to take a photograph over to her and the evening turned into an impromptu supper. My crazy part is I went over without the picture I was to take. J followed me back to my house after we ate and got the photograph to take back to her own home but she didn’t seem to mind.

A great blog post about this unusual looking plant is here. The Latin name (Salix gracilistylus ‘Melanostachys’)

I can’t remember the name/type of ceramic vase holding the branches. (Taken with the iPhone)

Thinking Spring. Seriously!

Even though the weather is NOT cooperating, we won’t speak of ~~w#&*#r~~, cause it is SPRING!!! (Dear Groundhog Phil, You were wrong wrong wrong)

March 20 was Mr. Rogers’ 85 anniversary of his birth and Pittsburghers were sporting sweaters to remember him. And sweaters were just what everyone needed in the city- Yesterday AND today! Not sure about the sneakers.

When I looked out and saw ~~snow~~ coming down I was glad I’d baked apples in the oven to warm the kitchen.

After supper the family called on Face Time and I got to participate in Jack’s birthday and the other grandma (and Pap) were on another iPad FaceTime so we saw each other watch the birthday boy open his gifts. It got pretty wild when Matty called in on SKYPE from Croatia onto his brothers device He joined in the fun and we all watched as Jack opened up the No Stress Chess his Uncle Matthew had sent to him. It was a deviceful family event this evening as Jack turned 6 today.

Helps to have all these communication possibilities available when you live out of town.

The wooden rabbits are from Germany when we lived there. I took them to school and some of the students arranged them to take pictures, make a card. And I saw them set up on a wooden stool at the front of the classroom and I took a quick photo myself as they were looking at me as I got ready to go home.

You can see the pull down screen behind them. They look Spring-like to me!!! (Just don’t look out the window.)

Vernal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere- 7:02 AM

Spring!

We are eager for it to begin. In earnest.

Monday there was a two hour delay due to ice, snow and sleet. It was unexpected and I heard it on the radio as I was already driving to school.

Can we trust the groundhog? Phil said it would be an early Spring. Well Phil, it’s Spring tomorrow on the clock and calendar but it feels like WINTER today. Chilly and gray. We are ready for blossoms, muddy earth, warm breezes. Saturday I saw my first robin in the back on the porch post.

Now I know, no one reads the blog for the weather report but the change of seasons is significant. We just want to be reassured that a true Spring is coming and will warm us up. SOON. (Florida readers- I saw those photographs of you in short sleeved shirts!!)

Before school I stopped in at the Giant Eagle and bought this bouquet. I took the daffodils to school for the students to photograph. They were buds in the morning and by the afternoon they had opened.

You can see the set up with the background of folded white paper to eliminate clutter. When I was ready to go home and the lights were off, this is what I saw.

Just received from a Florida friend who is visiting friends in Boston-First Day of Spring.Thanks Kristin — Just received from a Florida friend who is visiting friends in Boston-First Day of Spring.
Thanks Kristin

Guest Blogger’s Response to Yesterday’s Waiting for Spring Post

Okay Aunt Bobbie (the one who gave Anna the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls). Bobbie saw my almost Spring post of the flowering pear trees and then sent me a photo for the blog today. YIKES!

I was so hopeful. Just when I was thinking of how the earth will warm up and the buds and blossoms will burst. I was counting the days until Spring, ready for the winter to be OVER!

I love it when someone is inspired by my photos on the blog, though. Even if it is a snow photos. Well more that just any snow photo.

21 inches of snow in Kansas City in a week!!!

(Chicago John, this one is for YOU, too!) For everyone shoveling and plowing and hopeful that it will just all go away….and SOON.

(Rob, you must be so glad you moved out of Northern Illinois to Florida this year. Kristin, how was Hawaii? Sue, you enjoying Spring training in Bradenton?)

Thanks Bobbie for the photo today. Where are the crocus?

A p.s. to Aunt Bobbie’s picture

Two more responses, this time from faithful blog reader ROB

writes to

Ruth,

After seeing your blog I wanted to share these photos. The first photo is from a traffic cam showing my “old” office in the background and then I immediately went out and shot (with my trusty iPhone) the photo out our back yard, probably less than 2 minutes apart. I sent these back to my old office staff just to show them the “real reason” I moved from Northern Illinois…just in case someone really needed proof. Needless to say I got varied comments. Thanks again for challenging all to see life through “a different lens”.

Love ya,

Rob

Brrrrrr.

Reminds me of a song that my Music Monday Maestro might find….

“Button up your overcoat, when the winds are free. Take good care of yourself, you belong to me.”

Waiting for Spring

The Spring Equinox is March 20 at 7:02 AM. Just THREE weeks to go. I checked the Old Farmer’s Almanac for the official word.

In another 5 weeks, it’ll look like this in our part of the country….I have to keep it in mind.

Blossoms and green grass, bulbs shooting up through the earth. The RedBud will bloom.

Three weeks ’til Official Spring. This photo was taken two years ago the first week of April.

March is Friday. I think I have it calculated right.

Old State Road in Columbus on the way home. (I pulled over!)

Getting Ready for Baseball Season in Pittsburgh AND Florida

Everyone has their favorite teams. Depends where you live, where you were born, where you moved, or who your family roots for, what players you like…..

some fans prefer football but the beginning of baseball means that Spring will be coming.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training is already happening in Bradenton, Florida.

I know cause my friend and frequent commenter, Sue R. is headed down to watch some games. Has her tickets. Seriously. She is one proud Lady Buc!

This post is for her so she knows that the fans at home are getting ready, too.

My favorite part of the photo is that the house number is also the Pittsburgh area code. 412!

Hope you are enjoying the warm weather and that the Pirates are looking good, Sue. It’s snowing right now. Nothing major but it is gray and cold and snowy.

You can find Sue at PNC Park when the season starts. And then it will be SPRING!!!!