Which may very well be the sun. It may be the crisp breeze that ruffles the crinkled sheers in my dining room windows. (Which means they've been opened!)
It may be the receipt of a text message from Max, telling me the plane has safely hit the tarmac in Washington. And the breakfast food was not so bad. Though the tour guide "talks in a weird way" which he can barely comprehend. It may be the thought of my son simultaneously smiling and yawning. It certainly is not rising at 3:00am to get him to transport.
It's part woodpecker banging holes in the wreathless front door. Part Lulu going to school wearing her badly nicked "pauper shoes." The year is nearly over, I say. If that ink-stained white polo passes standard school issue, then we won't worry about the shoes. And Lu's conspiratorial grin. Because it's certainly spending dollars on flip-flops. Not black leather loafers or flats.
It's the cluster of moist red grapes I had for lunch. Iced coffee on the porch.
And the budding Rose of Sharon. And the bees, who have gathered by the overgrown front beds. At the very bramble my husband refuses to trim.
It's the cadence of nature. The audacious fructification of the earth.
And La La La...
When I was a little girl, tincture of iodine soothed the scrapes. (Ah La la la!) As did a kiss. As it still does. As does the fresh smell of honeycomb. And sprigs of rosemary rubbed between fingers.
A salve. Massive awakening albino blossoms mottling the landscape like a faux finish.
And the flowering "sperm" trees that smell like semen and hot sex. (Pear trees, I believe, known as a symbol of nature, males, sex.) Get it on! they urge.
It is counting on Spring. And not being let down. Finally.
It is all this—the dramatic unfolding and ambrosial smell of Spring, the clinks and clanks of wind chimes, the joy of family and the early American ting of Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three.
It is getting down in the dirt on your knees and inhaling the earth, the scent of its deep, dark roots.
Anodyne.
(That's Ketch Secor—of Old Crow Medicine Show—in the corner with his fiddle.)
(Oooooh La La La!)
_________________________________
This Frolic won a Post of the Week award from Hilary at The Smitten Image.
Thank you, Hilary!
I just love your blog. Reading your words today made me want to skip like a school girl, and smell every blossom...and love everything! Wonderful words & music Jayne. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI never knew pears could be so exciting. I don't believe I'll see them in that old, boring light ever again.
ReplyDeleteLeah- I think I did skip like a school girl today! A grand dosing of vitamin D we had today... sorely needed!
ReplyDeleteNessa- I'm telling ya, there are some funky smelling trees (and bushes) around here. Um, this isn't sounding right... Let's start over. The pear trees are beautiful here this time of year! Very fragrant, too. ;)
:-)
ReplyDelete...'The audacious fructification of the earth'. - beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFeels like everything's gone a bit wild this Spring!
Loved reading this.
you can't beat the cadence of nature - great post Jayne
ReplyDeletepokey lafarge, didn't i seem him in lonesome dove?
ReplyDeletesorry, i couldn't resist. must be the vitamin d.
Dale- Right back atya. :)
ReplyDeleteSF- Spring gone wild--absolutely. From its heartbreakingly damaging weather to the bold showing of flora. Crazy wild. ;)
David- No, you can't. Except I feel for those who've been effected by it's wrath--whats been tearing across the country. It's been tame here in New England compared to all of that.
B.P.- Got any cards, Gus? Sorry, I couldn't resist, either. ;)
This is gorgeous Jayne. I had a similar thought during my week in SFO but it's still in notes - to write about little signs of spring sneaking up on us.
ReplyDeleteWell it's almost summer here now!
Hi Jayne, Great post. You brought some springtime right into my office. I hadn't heard of Pokey Lafarge before. Very cool videos.
ReplyDeleteWell Jayne...you kinda got me here. I hate to admit it but I have not even heard of Pokey. What an enlightening and great piece of minstrelsy. However I do know of Ketch Secor and briefly said g'day to him when the OCMS graced the shores of Oz.
ReplyDeleteI do dig this type of real old timey stuff. There is a local band here called The Band Who Knew Too Much who do very similar stuff...you may wish to check 'em out. Funny stuff.
Now, your writing. Fantastic stuff, I can almost smell spring, though it is autumn here. Very evocative.
Speaking of smelling, those pears look like....well...ummm...ahh
Like that,excellent.
ReplyDeleteThis post was a refreshing spring day in itself. Nicely done, Jayne.
ReplyDeleteShopgirl- Yes, I'd imagine that the surf's on in sunny SD now. But then again, isn't it always? May 1 is looking like an original Monet. Beautiful day! :)
ReplyDeleteCheryl- Thanks so much. Glad to bring some warm, fresh air into your office. Glory, glory--open windows! ;)
Dan- Really? Never heard of them? I've accomplished my mission much sooner than I'd thought I might! And Ketch--my--wouldn't I love to shake his hand. He seems like a nice guy, and his wife is a fabulous writer.
I took at look The Band Who... lots of energy there--good times in Oz!
I can't take credit for the photo, (wish I could) but it is rather evocative, isn't it? Does make me want to start photographing fruit. ;)
Me- Thanks much. Glad to have you stop by.
Hilary- Thank you! And thank goodness there's no need to fabricate spring any longer. It's singing! :)
For a time, long ago, I lived for a bit in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. It was always this time of the year from May going into June, that I loved. The air had a crispness and all possibilities seemed alive.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a fabulous blog! Today's post is great fun and oolala, a fine, wild spring, n'est pas?
ReplyDeleteAh, the joys of spring - you so perfectly capture the dizzy, light mood of all the senses singing - yes, yes, life is good, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteJayne! This makes me want to dance. The language. The music. There's something about your blog that always pulls me out of my chair and into the La La La of the day. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteA cultura daqui é diferente, os folguedos... mas deu pra imaginar.
ReplyDeleteFiz uma transposição nos sentimentos e entendi tudo. Uh la la la!
Abraços!
Sorry unplugged before I read this. I so am looking forward to the cadence you write of! But then you had me with one at the grapes :D
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Laoch- Yes! Especially by the water in EG!
ReplyDeleteCathy- Oui, Oui! Et Merci beaucoup! ;)
Shrinky- You got it. Although I thought there was a bit too much celebration here in the States today.
Sere- So glad to see you here! Glad to have assisted in you La la la-ing! ;)
BlogDoProfex- Maravilhoso!
Jules- Sun and fruit. I can almost see that tropical island. Until then, spring is looking good!
Well I just feel all kinds of in a good mood now! Congrats on your POTW, I loved this!
ReplyDeleteI have a La La song i sing with my grandson, all the same words, Lalala.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth- Thank you! Now I'm going to have to thank Hilary! :)
ReplyDeletePrairie- And doesn't it make your grandson smile?! ;)
And la, la, la. This made me smile, and laugh and even think a bit, even on a gray day like today, when my brain is resistant.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I will look at a pear the same way for a while, though ;-)
I said I'd be back, of course, but what better time to return than now, to say congratulations on your potw? Well done.
LOL! I knew there was a perm tree. Every now and again I'd pass a tree and think it. I'm glad my thoughts were confirmed. I LOVE your voice. I'd read your grocery list if you let me. =)
ReplyDeleteOK, I meant sperm.
ReplyDeleteCricket- Thanks much! Yes, pears do have a whole new meaning now, don't they? ;)
ReplyDeleteTana- LOL! Yes, perm and sperm do have decidedly different aromas, now don't they?!
Hells bells! Now I can put a title to my life...it has mostly been La La La.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, and well worth your POTW mention.
Moannie- Thank your for stopping by, and congrats on your POTW piece, too. I read it, and it was very funny!
ReplyDeleteHilary is so sweet. :)
Jayne, have you been sniffing that chestnut tree next door again? Ha! I'm not going to think of pears in the same old way, lol! I might even sing fa la la when I shop for them now. And when people look at me and wonder, I'll just give them that I-know-something-you-don't-know look :)
ReplyDeleteOops, I mean la, la, la . . .
ReplyDeleteLin Ann- Remember stringing shoelaces through a chestnut and knocking your neighbor--that pesky boy--over the head with it? Ouch.
ReplyDeleteYes, pears--good to have those kinds of secrets... ;)