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Tag Archives: crocus

collossal, colossal

11 Thursday Mar 2010

Posted by Jane Bretl in something important, I'm sure

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Colosseum, crocus, February, Roman Empire, Rome, spring

The Colosseum was, frankly, collossal.  Spellcheck says it was colossal, but I think it was collossal.  The whole concept — the Roman Empire building such amazing structures 2000 years ago, piecing together a thriving civilization that lasted 1000 years itself, that then promptly went to crap —  the scale of it all blew a collossal hole in my mind.  Apparently, an empire built with an unlimited number of slaves can lead to high productivity, but on the flip side, also to one’s eventual demise.

But before that slide down the slippery slope, the Romans built a spectacle on par with today’s new Dallas Cowboys stadium, using the technological equivalent of some chisels and the wheel.  The accomplishment prompts deep thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The day we visited the Colosseum, it was sunny.  We did not see much more sun that week, but considering it had snowed in Rome for the first time in 25 years just the week before our visit?  A little drizzle and clouds posed no significant problem.

Plus, we had not seen the sun in our hometown for many moons.  So, in a way, it felt more like home to have it be a bit dreary.  The sky remained cloudy here for the two weeks following our return.  Then, last week, something happened — the sun came out and remained out for the next seven days.  Someone Somewhere flipped the Spring switch.  And it has been glorious:  that long drink of cold water when you are thirsty, a warm hug from above, insert other soaring metaphors here…  because there is nothing quite like Spring to follow a long winter, including a February that by a bizarre mega-leap year phenomenon ended up being 87 days long.

And along with the sun, finally, came the first blooms of the season for my crocus.

~~~~~~~~~~

OK, spellcheck, I see your point — colossal has nothing to do with size.

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spring is in the air

05 Thursday Mar 2009

Posted by Jane Bretl in Photography, seasons

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

crocus, flowers, spring

Here’s a little ditty from my youth:

“Spring is sprung, the grass is riz.  I wonder where the flowers is?”

Wow, that looks even more bizarre written out than it did playing over and over  in my head the last 40 springs.

Yes, folks, now we know why I became obsessed with grammar and words.

Anyway, the flowers are riz blooming.  The gold, then the yellow, followed by white, lavender and purple crocus, opening in that order.  That — plus the cat weaving maniacally around our ankles and purring like an outboard engine — both sure signs that spring is nearly here.

crocus bloom

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jane, candid

In 2009, I started this blog to share my sometimes thoughtful, sometimes funny, occasionally irreverent thoughts on motherhood, writing for publication and myriad creatures that got along as cats and dogs.

One day, I felt like stepping away from living out loud for awhile. Eh, life happens.

Fast forward five years -- I'll gloss over the details for now -- save to say that lucky for me an unexpected detour has provided some new material.

So here I am, standing at the corner. I've been here before, wondering which way to go. This time I choose living.

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