the sound of wings

During a recent zoo visit, I voyaged into the Epicenter of Madness - the new Children's Zoo. It's actually set up nicely... certainly better than the nearly non-existent one of the past. (Except, their "read these descriptions of the animals to the tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb" thing was incredibly annoying because the one I tried didn't even have the same number of syllables. Not that I wanted to try with all of them anyway.)

One of the things that delighted me actually existed before at the zoo, but it had limited hours and I had never tried it out. I bought myself two containers of nectar. I then tried out the Lorikeet exhibit. It wasn't busy at all (yay!).

I opened the nectar with careful help.

Then I was covered with birds. On my arms, on my shoulders, on my head.

Being that I'm all about prim, I was...

gleefully delighted!

Afterward, I took photos of some of my buddies -

happy mom's day

I'm not someone who thinks that Mother's Day is a bogus holiday. While I don't at all think every woman has to be a mom to have a meaningful existence, motherhood is still a powerful transition. It's a big deal, so putting a day on the calendar in honor seems perfectly appropriate to me.

"Having a baby is an opportunity to transform a life, because in the moments of labor and birth all the forces of the universe are flowing through a woman’s body…" (Sister MorningStar)

In celebration of Mother's Day, two photos of my daughter, taken in May 2009 at our backyard picnic.

One of my oldest son taken then too (with his incredible eyes).

Last, but not least - our latest (and final!) addition at his first Easter (2010).

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And finally, a poem I wrote for Ari Ella -

Ella, "Beautiful Fairy"

I can see in your eyes
that same whisper
that drives me,
that makes me sneak past the doorway
that divides here from there,
that pulls me into the greens of trees
and silvers of midnight

your eyes sparkle and cha-cha
and peer at the world through
a veil of wonder, mystery,
presence

you are a living fairy

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Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there. And for everyone else, just remember, your mom probably really did try... it's not an easy path! ;)

spring hellos

Close your eyes, place the shell against your ear, and feel the water slam into your bare feet. Okay, no. I've yet to find seashells in Oklahoma big enough to capture that experience. But these little ones are still fun to spot at the Martin Nature Center in North OKC. :)

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I'm not sure what my reasons are for not posting here in so long. I suppose I could come up with a few. For example:

However, that would be just an excuse. I plan to start posting again regularly. So... hello! ;)

melting into the scenery

Another place I enjoy in the Tulsa area is the Mary Oxley Nature Center in the NE part of the city. Meadows, forests, marsh, pond. Peacefulness, many trails, vibrant red dragonflies, fluttery sunny butterflies, and eye-gazing frogs. A good energy for an afternoon of exploration. :)

the veil of light between us

Over the weekend, we traveled to the Tulsa area, about 1 1/2 hours NE of OKC. One place we visited was the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks (just west of Tulsa). This photo is of a shark floating overhead. It's a magical sensation and experience... and the dome has an amazing echo, which made me wish they rented it out for song and chant. :o :)

lost in the meadow

Martin Nature Center in North OKC is a beautiful, serene retreat. These photos are from September. My daughter decided that even for a nature walk, she needed to pack up a purse. It had odd items, such as a new container of tooth powder that she took from the house on the sly. Never know when you might need that.

The nature center has a blend of scenery, but this is the heart of the meadow - grasses and flowers and creatures tangled together, soaking in sunlight.

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I've, obviously, been off in la la land. The one known as life, how strange. :) September and October were quite a strong blend of bliss and stress, growth and chaos. They were also quite photo-rich, whoops. I'm finding my footing again, and will start posting here daily.

awake beneath the flora

Also from the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Eyes that seem to see things, and he didn't particularly mind having random things growing all over him. Or, maybe he did and next time we'll see him eating his way out of that little tropical chaos. (Okay, or maybe not.)

sitting up high

Today, I went deep into tropical forests... or, well, seeing as how those aren't too common here in Oklahoma, the closest thing: the Myriad Botanical Gardens. :)

a dance of clouds

Yes, more from the lake (Hefner). I've been going with my children, and by myself, a lot. :)

I've also been a tad (only a tad?) less than daily here - I've just started kindergarten (homeschool) with my son, so we're getting settled into our rhythms.

moody lake

I went to the lake tonight. This photo was taken right before it started pouring. The wind was strong and when the rain started falling, the sensation against my face (eyes closed) was amazing. However, the short walk to the car soaked my clothes, and I could barely get the car door open from the strength of the wind against it. Pure natural power, and I was in heaven. (But glad I wasn't wearing something nearly-sheer. :o) My actual house, not too far away, didn't get a drop, so I was especially pleased to have experienced the beauty right by the water's edge.