Waiting Part 2

Swallow Reddish-bellied Parakeet

 

 

while waiting for spring to arrive, spring the way I remembered from my childhood in Northern USA, I think spring Brazilian style arrived. Today I woke to the songs of what sounded like a thousand birds. Yesterday, Camillo caught a swallow sitting on the veranda. Our friends and neighbors the green parakeets are back. They try every year to get back into the house and sit and screech at us in frustration when they can't. Our mom and pop team (maybe wild pigeons) are still waiting for their chicks. She has been sitting the nest almost 3 weeks, he stays close by. I haven't seen it happen but he must be feeding her for she never leaves her post. Yes, sometime while my back was turned, spring arrived in subtle ways, now we wait for the rains to come.

Today was cloudy, and windy. Last night we had thunder and lightening, this morning there were clouds in the valley, a sure sign of an increase in humidity, but we have yet to have rain. I can hear thunder again, keep your fingers crossed.

GingerV

Just Leaves

The Jequitiba-rose tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 The Forest is a mysterious and majestic place.  

On Sunday, Camillo and I drove from Friburgo down to Cachoeira de Macacu to take pictures of the (springtime) flowering trees and because he had something he needed to show me.   Just north of Cachoeira in the state of Rio de Janeiro's Parque Tres Picos, there is a tree - not just any tree, but a fine, very fine example of the Jequitiba-rosa tree.

 

After a very bone jarring ride up a dirt road, you can park in a grass covered 'parking lot' and take a short walk through old forest, to see this tree.   Everyone, especially those with children, should visit this tree at least once and if possible once a year, just like going home to Grandma. It will inspire instant love and respect for the forest. 40 meters (120+ ft.) tall, 19 meters (62.3 ft.) around and estimated to be 1000 years old, it brought tears to my eyes and a feeling of joy to my heart.

Waiting!

Waiting.

Spring is here, I know it is because there are 'spring sale' signs in the windows of the shops in Rio. Just like everywhere else in the world (Well, in the northern hemisphere the signs say 'fall sale' but the concept is the same), when all else fails to give us a sign, the new clothing lines are a sure indicator for a change of seasons. Now that spring is here, I am waiting for the spring showers to bring the May flowers. Only here it is spring showers bring November flowers. Now that spring is here I am waiting for the smell of warm air mingled with freshly mowed grass. Of course, I wait in vain, there is no smell of freshly mowed grass here. But I can dream can't I?

In one of our pines, just off the patio, there is a "soon to be mama" bird, waiting. And the "soon to be daddy" bird, waiting. And I am waiting for it to feel like spring.

Succulents - Madrid's Botanical Gardens