Sadness

The odds are you are unaware of the recent increase in violent crimes against gays (and those perceived as gays) internationally and here in the States. These stories do not often make a ripple in the media. Besides the sadness I feel because of the violence and the suffering of the victims and the attackers, I am sad to see how little public outcry one hears from religious leaders about what is happening. I am not surprised, and that fact saddens me even more.

The Buddha once prayed, "Let none deceive or despise another anywhere. Let none wish harm to another, in anger or in hate." I make that part of my daily meditation. It is so easy to wish harm and then to do harm in anger or in hate. I have to fight the temptation to think people who suffer do so because they deserve it. I was raised in a Christian home and was taught better than that.

Flowers

After a long-lingering winter, we are now in full spring and flowers are blooming. This is the corner of the sidewalk in front of the house. Besides the phlox, violets, vinca, bleeding hearts, grape hyacinths and a lonely red tulip, the iris are ready to open up if they can survive the rainstorms we expect tonight and this week. If you can see the tiny bit of yellow near the middle of the right edge of the photo just below the bench, that is one of the day lilies Mama gave me from her house. There are plenty of other lilies around, but that one looks like it will be the first to pop.

The lilac bushes are out as well as our puny little crab apple and the sand cherries. It is now fun to sit out on the deck or the front porch, with the permission of the wasps, and enjoy the flowers and the bird song.

Yipes!

Thanks for the greetings on my birthday. Here is the one from Steve in Kenya:

Asante sana!

Veggies

I don't know. If you have to eat zucchini, grilled sounds like the way to go.

We went out to eat with friends tonight at a local vegetarian/vegan restaurant. Guess that's why this caught my eye.

Brazil

Brazil^, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and the Latin American region. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population, with over 193 million people. 

^{Motto on the flag: Order and Progress}

Minnesota

Around the Dells during tourist season, we see all sorts of license plates. Most out-of-state plates, not too surprisingly, are from Illinois or Minnesota.

Birds

Yesterday an oriole showed up while I was on the phone with my mother. It was flapping around near the deck doors, attracted apparently by some plastic wrap on a useless hornet trap or maybe by the large stained glass panel that hangs inside the door. Sundance saw it and came running over, crouched down and tried to figure out how to get through the glass.

The oriole flew around quite a while, and I went out later and put a cut orange on the deck. Nothing after that. I figured the raccoon would take the fruit, but it was still there this morning. So I put a tablespoon of blackberry jelly on it -- not having any of the recommended grape. Later in the day the oriole was back, picking happily away at jelly and orange.

Saw my first towhee of the year, although I had heard their call already. Also the first cowbird, the only parasitic bird in the state, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds for hatching and raising. I am tempted to think, "Bad bird!", but they are also a reminder of the bison herds that they once followed across the prairies. Peg reports sighting a scarlet tanager and indigo bunting. Beautiful birds, both of them.

Lots of activity at the feeder today. Maybe the birds are stocking up in preparation for the expected sub-freezing temperatures tonight.

Hope everyone had a happy Mothers Day!