Sunday Citar

We should consider every day lost in which we have not danced at least once.

- Nietzsche, philosopher

Joy in the everyday - we need to do this. An article at Sparkpeople shared a brief article on this as well as the above quote. Here it is:

"Finding and celebrating the joy in life. Each day is a new chance to find joy and to dance. If you let it pass or think it useless, the chance is gone and you'll never get it back. When was the last time you played? Or just did something for the sheer fun of it? Joy is not found in the world around you, it's within yourself. You can make your own joy, especially during those dark times when you need to really feel alive again. Fun and play are healthy antidotes to taking life--and ourselves--too seriously. They're proven boosters of immune systems and mental health and make life worth the trouble. So do the twist. Sing in the shower. Learn a magic trick. Watch a cartoon. Challenge some kids to a game. Don't let a single day go to waste. "

Be sure to visit the other participants of Sunday Citar here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Friday was a beautiful day - lots of sun and higher than normal temperatures. I had my camera at school as I was taking photos of my class and the student teacher I had this year. Friday was her last day.

Leaving for home, I saw great shadows in the kindergarten area, so of course had to grab the camera and take a few pictures!

Have a great weekend!

Be sure to visit the other great shadow chasers at Hey Harriet, a fun, addictive meme hosted by Tracy.

Macro Flowers Saturday

What a perfect time to be focusing on macro flowers! Flowers are blooming everywhere! I love this time of the year, when there is so much colour and lushness.

These are 2 of my favourites for the garden, especially the pansy.

Be sure to visit other participants here.

Wishcast Wednesday

It is Wishcast Wednesday once again and Jamie of Jamie Ridler Studios asks us to reflect on this question:

Large or small, financial or otherwise, what do you wish to invest in?

As I thought about the question, I realized there are a number of areas I need and want to invest in. Most require just time and effort.

I would like to invest my time and greater effort in:

*My health. There are many simple things I can do to ensure I stay mobile and healthy as I age. (For example - walk every day, meditate, stretch, drink more water, laugh.)

*My relationships - with family, friends, colleagues. I need to make time to be with them, to talk with them, to share with them.

*My art. It is this area that I need to invest the most effort and time (and money) if it is to carry me through retirement. I need to practice, to take some more courses, to study and learn new techniques. I want to enjoy and continue creating on a daily basis.

As Jamie says:
"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together. "

Be sure to visit other wishcasters here.

ABC Wednesday - O is for Egg - I mean Oval

Once again it is time for our weekly alphabet challenge and the letter of the week is O.

Last week I shared the nest that had been built on our porch and my fear the robins had left.

Within a few hours, the robins were back and there were 3 blue eggs (or ovals) in the nest!

The mom has adjusted to my hubby on the porch but still gets nervous if I come out and get too close. Off she flies, scolding all the time!

I am looking forward to the hatching of the eggs and the little ones growing.

Here is some useful information on the eggs and their development from this site.

Nesting
- The robin egg is about the size of a quarter

- The color of the eggs are robin egg blue (light blue)
- Females lay 2 to 4 eggs
- A female robin builds a nest out of grass and small twigs held together with mud
- Robins build nests in trees, bushes, hedges, or on houses
- The bowl-shaped nest is about 6 inches across
- The inside of the nest is about 4 inches in diameter which is big enough to hold a softball
- The nest is built 5 ft to 25 ft above the ground
- The nest is usually protected from rain and predators

Development
- Once the eggs are laid, it takes 11 to 14 days to hatch
- The adult female sits on the nest to incubate the eggs
- The eggs hatch within a day or two of each other
- Nestlings are pink with little tufts of feathers after they hatch (see photo)
- Nestlings eyes are closed when they hatch and they have blue bulges where their eye will develop
- The eyes of nestlings open when they are about five days old
- Nestlings have really long necks and short featherless wings
- Nestlings take about two weeks to develop feathers before
leaving the nest
- Once they leave the nest, young robins are called fledglings

Be sure to visit the other great participants here.

Best Shot Monday

Since photography has been increasingly much more a part of my life, I've been finding new memes that focus on photography. Several I have taken part in a few times but "Best Shot Monday" is new for me.

I love the idea of taking photos and then reflecting on them.

Tracey Clark hosts Best Shot Monday and asks us :

What have you been reminded of lately?

How is life looking in your world?

I have been so loving all the greenery, the blooms, the birds, and new life. The warm weather, even the rain have made me feel so much more invigorated.

After the week I had last week (my ODD student off his medication for the week - that was a real joy! and my very troubled student hitting my EA on Thursday, causing me to hold the door so he would not escape, which resulted in severe pain on my hip all weekend), seeing all this beauty around has really helped.

Check other Best Shot Monday participants here.

Sunday Citar

Earlier in the week I had written about the robin's nest on our ladder, which seemed to have been deserted by the birds (For ABC Wednesday) . Well, they are back and there are now 3 blue eggs in the nest. I have gotten a few pictures.

Every time we open the sliding door we disturb the mom - who flies off and scolds us from the neighbouring roof. It won't be long before she will tolerate us on the porch, as long as we don't come too close to the nest (going by last year).

So, for Sunday Citar this week, I'd like to share photos, quotes and a poem about robins/nests and eggs.


(The strange nest)


(Mom back on the nest)


(The 3 eggs)

In the broken nest there are no whole eggs. ~ Chinese Proverb

Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, then counting your blessings before they hatch. ~ Ramona C. Carroll

God gives all birds their food but does not drop it into their nests. ~Danish proverb

Conscience is the nest where all good is hatched.~ Welsh Proverb

Nest Eggs
Birds all the summer day

Flutter and quarrel

Here in the arbour-like

Tent of the laurel.

Here in the fork

The brown nest is seated;

For little blue eggs

The mother keeps heated.

While we stand watching her

Staring like babies,

Safe in each egg

are the Bird's little babies.

Soon the frail eggs

they shall Chip,

and upspringing

Make all the April woods

Merry with singing.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Be sure to visit the other participants here.