Hummingbird!
Saturday April 18th 2009, 7:00 pm
Filed under: Amaryllis,Knitting a Gift

There was a photo in the paper yesterday of tree pieces being cut up and removed from the roadway after a heavy windstorm the other day.  My outside amaryllises, however, being used to a bit of breeze out there, somehow did just fine.  It did help that they had an awning overhead and two outside walls of the house for shelter, but still.  Not such a fragile plant after all, if you give it a little experience with the elements of life.  These, even though they had buds starting to open that would easily catch like a sail the wider they got, gave way in the wind just enough to still stay upright and no more.  I know–I was watching them nervously and debating bringing them in.  But they seemed okay.

And then there was a green hummingbird at my tall one today! I was afraid to move, then finally reached for my camera, at which point it of course skittered away.

imgp7468

So I tried to get a picture to at least show you the flower it had gone to.  At first, standing on my tiptoes with my arms held high over my head, I got this, which gave me a pretty good hummingbird’s-eye view as it zeroed in.

And then, looking up from ground level, this:

imgp7469

Well, okay, but I really wanted a good shot of that flower, so I tried standing imgp7475on a chair.

We’re getting there.

Oh, and: my surgeon’s shawl is blocked, yarn ends run in and trimmed, and ready to go. The cashmere seems so fragile to me! I keep telling myself that all knitted up into a fabric like it is now is much different from testing a strand held taut to break it; the finished shawl has a greater strength and resilience than how the yarn alone immediately seems.


15 Comments so far
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Think of it this way; one person, like a single strand of that yarn, seems pretty fragile, and easy to break. But when we all work together, like that yarn, knitted into a shawl, we can accomplish so much, because we’re stronger as a whole than we are on our own. 🙂

Comment by Serena 04.18.09 @ 7:49 pm

Beautiful flowers. I’m glad they weathered the storm. I’m sure the cashmere will hold up better than a first glance might imply too.

Comment by Channon 04.18.09 @ 8:07 pm

I didn’t like that wind the other day — nearly blew me over. Apparently the flowers are more sturdy than I.

Humor time:
A CAT’S PRAYER

Now hear this!  You may live in this dwelling with me, but keep in mind your sole purpose for existing is to care for me.  I pray God keeps you able to do so.

Feed me well and promptly, so that I may then find a quiet place to lie down and stare at you.  If that place happens to be the top of the television set, do not keep trying to dislodge me even though my tail is hanging in the middle of the picture.

I expect full run of the premises, including the kitchen table.  I sniff your food only to see if I would prefer it to mine. Brush me twice a week.  Pet me as often as you wish, but I can do without those idiotic statements you utter as you do so.  

When I bump my against your leg or cheek, its means I accept you as part of my environment.  Keep in mind that if I thought the lady next door would feed me better, I’d be out of here in a minute.  If you’re looking for loyalty, get a dog.

Comment by Don Meyer 04.18.09 @ 8:57 pm

Those flowers are gorgeous and I would love to see the surgeon’s shawl.(((((Hugging You))))) Darcy
p.s. I finished my chocolate kisses Urchin:)

Comment by Darcy 04.18.09 @ 10:38 pm

The flower is beautiful. I am glad it survived the storm.

Comment by Henya 04.18.09 @ 11:42 pm

Maybe your hummingbird is Amish.

Comment by LynnM 04.18.09 @ 11:59 pm

I can see why the hummingbird desired your flowers. What beautiful blossoms! I had a tuber begonia hanging out in my back garden last summer and while having dinner outside one evening something moved by it and caught my eye. It was a hummingbird trying to get nectar from the blossom! I was so excited that when I moved to get my camera,even though I was in slow motion not to disturb the bird, he flitted away never to be seen again. I decided this year to put two more hanging begonias out there to see if I can attract more hummers.

Comment by Jody M 04.19.09 @ 4:35 am

Puts me in mind of the Aesop fable, in which the oak tree [strong but inflexible] is uprooted while the willow [seemingly weak, but flexible] survives. One of life’s little ironies is learning to be emotionally and spiritually resilient while in an increasingly brittle and inflexible body. [Yes, I went to the dance last night; yes, it was hard to roll out of bed this morning; and yes! it was worth every twinge.]

Comment by Lynn 04.19.09 @ 5:40 am

I saw a hummingbird last week. So precious are those little birds. A lady in Vermont was on TV last year as she has so many hummingbirds that come to her many feeders that you can actualling hear the buzzing of their wings as they flutter.

Comment by Joansie 04.19.09 @ 5:53 am

Be sure to take a picture of that shawl before it is presented. We’d like to celebrate your FO with you.

Comment by Barbara-Kay 04.19.09 @ 5:53 am

Your comment about the shawl makes me think of the strength we gain by reaching out to each other — in person and on the web. Together we are much stronger than each of our frailties. Thanks for being part of my “web”

Comment by Bev 04.19.09 @ 7:46 am

The lengths us bloggers will go to to get a picture! And very nice pictures indeed.

Comment by Carol 04.19.09 @ 8:29 am

I can’t wait to see the shawl! And you are most definitely right; all of those lovely loops work together to make the yarn strong and resilient 🙂

Comment by Jocelyn 04.19.09 @ 9:23 am

I can see you climbing and trying to get a picture…I am so glad you are “up” for it.

About the shawl: do you block cashmere more carefully than other fibers? I know the knitted fabric is stronger than the individual thread…but I was wondering.

Comment by karin 04.19.09 @ 4:56 pm

Beautiful! Glad to hear your out and about taking beautiful pictures these days. I bet the shawl is gorgeous. Can’t wait to see it!

Comment by Alicia 04.21.09 @ 12:10 pm



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