A Spring Monday and the Cuckoo

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"Our" Cuckoo that lives in the little forest nearby has arrived!
This year about two weeks earlier than past years.

...CUCKOO - CUCKOO - CUCKOO...
he greets me every morning.

An unmistakable sound that Spring is really here!

Blossoms - Blossoms.....

....it's green and blooming on every corner...



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To the Cuckoo

By William Wordsworth

"O blithe New-comer! I have heard,

I hear thee and rejoice.

O Cuckoo! shall I call thee Bird,

Or but a wandering Voice?"...

"While I am lying on the grass

Thy twofold shout I hear;

From hill to hill it seems to pass,

At once far off, and near."

"Though babbling only to the Vale

Of sunshine and of flowers,

Thou bringest unto me a tale

Of visionary hours."

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"Thrice welcome, darling of the Spring!

Even yet thou art to me

No bird, but an invisible thing,

A voice, a mystery;"

"The same whom in my school-boy days

I listened to; that Cry

Which made me look a thousand ways

In bush, and tree, and sky."

"To seek thee did I often rove

Through woods and on the green;

And thou wert still a hope, a love;

Still longed for, never seen."

 

"And I can listen to thee yet;

Can lie upon the plain

And listen, till I do beget

That golden time again."

 Elizabeth Gould or Edward Lear.  Goulds Birds of Europe: The Common Cuckoo 1837

"O blessèd Bird! the earth we pace

Again appears to be

An unsubstantial, faery place;

That is fit home for Thee!"
(William Wordsworth)

First blossoms at one of the tree peonies!

HAPPY  SPRING !

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Oh Yes! - Spring is around the corner....

.....finally....

blue sky, bright sun!!!

...my   
Rose de Noël  (Christmas rose - Hellebore) 

in second flower

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Oskar is happy again.... 
sniffing around.....



Helleborus foetidus
started flowering in January  here   and  keeps flowering....
...and flowering...
 such a grateful "species"!

And.....


...do we hear the sound....????

That distinctive and unmistakeable sound?

The calls from a large flock of cranes
signal undeceptively the transition into:

Spring!





The whole air is filled with that wonderful sound echoing from the valleys!

 The migration of cranes from southern warmer climates has started,



  passing over La Pouyette!
Like every year - since I can think back!










In huge flocks  les Grus Grus  fly over the countries
 heading towards North-East to their breading grounds,


 


and group themselves into V-shaped formations.





Why do they fly in a V ?

Scientists have determined that the V-shaped formation 
that cranes and wild geese use when migrating serves two important purposes: 
First, it conserves their energy. Each bird flies slightly above the bird in front of him, 
resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. 
The birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired. 
In this way, the birds can fly for a long time before they must stop for rest.
The second benefit to the V-formation is that it is easy to keep track of every bird in the group.
  Flying in formation may assist with the communication and coordination within the group.
Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason.




Chaos???....complete disorder???



No...No...
just resting a bit on the thermal above La Pouyette,
...having discussion about the next leadership...
rebuilding the formation....
 


...and off they go!

 The typical trumpet-like calls of the cranes which go all over our countryside,
their impressive V flights which glide over Men's heads…

These moments remain magic! 
And rhythm my Spring activity.

The long trip of migratory birds 
is surely one of the most fascinating spectacle that Nature can offer.

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Oh Yes!
Spring is certainly around the corner....

...and we're so pleased to watch a lovely sunset - yet again!

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My next post will be:

 

Old Linen - Monograms

 

from A...

 

 ...to Z

A bientôt....

 

info:

Common Crane - Grus Grus:  here

and   here

Dreams and Illusions - Blog Party - Chapter 3

I´m  dreaming  of ....

 being an Eagle.....

...an Eagle in Mongolia,

...loved...

...honored...

...and well kept...

...by an Eagle Hunter...

......

....but being free...

....to fly, border-less...

...and right up to the sky!

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Illusion

When I heard about today's theme,

Ry Cooder's song "Across the border line"

crossed my mind:

There’s a place where I’ve been told
Every street is paved with gold
And it’s just across the borderline
And when it’s time to take your turn
Here’s one lesson that you must learn
You could lose more than you’ll ever hope to find

When you reach the broken promised land
And every dream slips through your hands
Then you’ll know that it’s too late to change your mind
’Cause you’ve paid the price to come so far
Just to wind up where you are
And you’re still just across the borderline

Up and down the Rio Grande
A thousand footprints in the sand
Reveal a secret no one can define
The river flows on like a breath
In between our life and death
Tell me who’s the next to cross the borderline

En la triste oscuridad 
Hoy tenemos que cruzar 
Este río que nos llama más allá 

But hope remains when pride is gone
And it keeps you moving on
Calling you across the borderline

When you reach the broken promised land
Every dream slips through your hands
And you’ll know it’s too late to change your mind

’Cause you pay the price to come so far
Just to wind up where you are

Now you’re still just across the borderline

In utter stillness, the bright light,

pervading all, enfolds the great void.

Worldly things, when closely looked at,

are like illusions in a dream.

Buddha

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I have reached and received so much in my life,

more than I've ever dreamed....

...and keep my

   Vision  and  Hope  up...

... that the dreams come true

for  all those people in the world 

who are daily battling for a better life.

"Ich habe einen Traum...."

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please visit Marsha's blog   Slpenderosa
for all the dreams of our 'party' guests.

Remark:

All images internet