Now you see it, now you don't

Book Blog Tour: Week Six -- Diana Raabe's great review and interview appeared on Gather last night and then disappeared today. It is back up now and I'd like to encourage you to head over there. She's asked some unique questions such as how life with Vittorio has influenced and impacted my life today, and the history of my name changes (all for good reasons mind you, no devious attempts to avoid responsibility for past mistakes) and the like. I'll try to connect as often and as long as my temperamental internet connection allows. There's a smoky mist pouring in from the lake right now and the satellite doesn't like that one bit.

While I've got your attention, let me tell you a bit about a phenomenon I hadn't encountered before.  On the way home from Mass on Sunday my car and I had to run a gauntlet of newly hatched dragon flies -- there were hundreds if not thousands of them swirling over the Cascade River bridge. Although it's common to swerve to try to avoid deer,  on Sunday I had to remind myself that it isn't wise to swerve to avoid dragon flies ... especially when several slam against your window every second. 

The rivers were roaring again last week ... transformed from pathetic trickles to rushing cataracts hurling themselves toward Lake Superior. They are slowing a bit now, as it hasn't rained in a few days, but I embrace the sun with gratitude. The sun and the mud provided this happy hiker with the glorious opportunity to walk through clouds of TigerSwallowtail butterflies -- gold winged beauties that "puddle" in great numbers along the trails. Puddling is a term used for the way butterflies will cluster on mud (and/or dung) sucking up the minerals found in either/or both. If you were here I'd take you for a walk through a curtain of butterflies for an experience you'll want someone to capture with a camera.

Oh yes, speaking of cameras, I keep forgetting mine and today our driveway was lined with magical and totally gorgeous Blue Eyed Grass -- an exquisite six-petaled periwinkle blue flower so tiny it takes your breath away. 

What are you finding on your spring-time strolls? 

 

 

The Minneapolis Star Tribune named Beryl as a "Best of 2006 Minnesota Authors." Her book The Scent of God  was a “Notable” Book Sense selection for April 2006 and has been nominated by Booksellers  for a Midwest Booksellers Book Award.