springing into spring

Good Saturday Morning.

Upon asking, " Why Easter and not Wester?" Wally researched some interesting facts for me.

The only written reference is from the 7th to 8th-century English monk, the Venerable Bede, who wrote that the Old English 'Month of Ēostre' (translated in Bede's time as Paschal month) was an English month, corresponding to April, which he says "was once called after a goddess of theirs named Ēostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month." (Might as well ask how  Ēostre got her name, but I found nothing.)

Interesting fact #2: The word Paschal originally denoted the Jewish festival known today as Pesach (Passover), commemorating the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. In most of the non-English speaking world, the feast is known by names derived from Greek and Latin Pascha.

Interesting fact #3: The Last Supper, was in fact, the Passover meal, known as Seder (meaning "order" pertaining to the order in which courses of the meal, full of symbolism of the Jewish exile in Egypt, is served.) According to the New Testament, Jesus gave the Passover meal a new meaning, as he prepared himself and his disciples for his death.  He identified the matzah (unleavened bread) and  the cup of wine as his body soon to be sacrificed and his blood to be shed. 

Interesting fact #4: Within 50 years of the 1st century A.D., Paul, writing from Ephesus to the Christians in Corinth, applied the term Pascha to Christ.  Pascha is also a name by which Jesus is remembered in the Orthodox Church, especially in connection with his resurrection and with the season of its celebration.

Was Ēostre the goddess of Spring seeing that her name was given to April?

And if her name was then changed to Paschal month, why change it to the Roman name, April, when the Romans had been in England so many centuries earlier?

Language is clearly linked to history, but I think I'll stop here.

This cardinal was calling his version of April last Sunday.

Later in the week he visited again, here with our pseudo Greek bench. 

He is very shy and usually only shows up in the early morning light

so it's been hard to take a picture of him

but it hasn't stopped me from trying.

Muji waited patiently with me while I was pre-occupied.

Babu wasn't nearly as patient the next day as he circled about me

A funny shot of him elongated til I finally got the message that he wanted to

PLAY!! here with his Santa Bear

He's become quite lazy about it and doesn't jump much these days

so I doctor my shots to look as if he's flying

The "Well?" look

calmer now after a good round of play

Yesterday Wally got up onto the roof of Forget-Me-Not Cabin to take shovel off the old shingles

He hates the height, so he squatted for more security

Babu enjoyed watching Wally take out the old roofing nails with a prybar

A clean job, though Wally is debating whether to take down the chimney and put in a cupola

After lunch, the first layer of water barrier goes on

Wally still wanted to do a little planting so he left the job for the next day (today)

I took this shot to commemorate what may be the last day for our old tool shed as Wally has lined someone up to take it away.

I've always been curious about where these houses are beyond the roofline of the cabin

and across the ravine, but we've yet to find them.

Wally washes up after a good day's work. In our household, Wally has learned my father's expression, "arbeit macht leben zees"

work makes life sweet

drying up, we talk about which kinds of work do that.

I would have to say the Meaningful kind, where one feels or senses the fruits of one's labour.

a pleasant start to spring

wishing you one as well

peace

Spring! Oh Joy!

First Day of Spring, March 20, 2015.

Lovely shadows cast by the morning sun

The promise of a beautiful day

The latest pile of snow

Morning of the second day of Spring, March 21, 2015; Wally gets on Forget Me Not  Cabin roof.

Dragging His Scoop Behind Him

Assessing the Situation

I catch Wally's eye

Tentative smile before the task ahead

The Mighty Scooper

Push Off

Another Push Off

The cabin doesn't seem so high nor so large

with the snow swallowing it up

Another Pass

Almost Done

Man on a Roof

Done

Preparing to Dismount

Arbeit Macht Der Lebn Zees

a saying my father used to say, and now we say it all the time:

"Work Makes Life Sweet"

The Cabin Roof shoveled 

And for our friend, Jane, Wally makes a snowman after shoveling the garage roof.

That was yesterday.

This is today:

The little snowman buried

Our Third Day of Spring

I'm beginning to think this week has brought half our winter's snowfall

The Ash Tree to the right of the driveway,

 up to her armpits in snow, the top of the hedge peeking below her 

Five fingers of the Japanese Maple tepee poking out of the snow pile 

The back hedge bowed once again under the weight of a wet snow

More like a Christmas card than a happy Springtime bouquet,

we're enjoying this beautiful gift.

(and it's still snowing)

I don't know who said,"Things you take for granted someone else is praying for,"

but I am feeling ever so grateful today.