D is for…

Just when you thought I wasn’t going to get to “D” in time:

I was hoping that this forced daffodil would be flowering by today, but it was not to be. Here is one from last year:

Here is another symbol to represent what I am using for my D:

I know it is a Leek. Leeks and/or daffodils are worn by the Welsh on March 1st to celebrate St David’s Day. He is the patron saint of Wales, of which I loosely descended (it explains the “e” in my last name) and of Vegetarians, of which I am also one. St David was a pretty cool dude who founded the Christian church in South Wales. I have visited the cathedral dedicated to him, which is in the smallest city in Great Britain, since city status there is dependent on where there is a cathedral.

Happy St David’s Day!

Christmas in Birmingham, England

When I was younger, there was a Tulip Festival held every Spring in Cannon Hill Park. It was a little bit of Holland in the center of Birmingham. We used to go for the Fair and to buy Droste chocolates, Dad’s favorites. Unfortunately, it seems that the Tulip Festival is no longer held. According the Birmingham History Webring, the last one was held in 1973, which seems early. Perhaps the Spring Fair was held without the Tulip Festival and I just assumed that they were the same thing.

At Christmas, Birmingham now holds a Frankfurt Christmas Market. So we have a little bit of Germany every year. I am looking forward to visiting it with Mum in a week or so. We will buy Stolen and very expensive German chocolates, which probably aren’t as good as Droste.

Waves

It was warm here again today and I was wishing myself back at the ocean. I should get a paddling pool or something. At least then I would have some where to cool down.

Mind you, in my garden, I would also get eaten as there are so many insects. The garden has damp spots so I cannot get rid of the little biters.

Sea foam and sea sand

Whenever I saw the waves coming up on the beach I think of the woman’s response in the English folk song Scarborough fair:

Will you find me an acre of land?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Between the sea foam and the sea sand.
Or never be a true love of mine.

Will you plough it with a lamb’s horn.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
And sow it all over with one peppercorn,
Or never be a true love of mine.

Will you reap it with a sickle of leather.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
And tie it all up with a peacock’s feather.
Or never be a true love of mine.

When you’ve done and finished your work.
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Then come to me for your cambric shirt.
And you shall be a true love of mine.

Reference: Mel Bay presents Songs of England by Jerry Silverman

Information about the song with alternative lyrics.

Wikipedia

Both websites assume that the song is about the Fair at Scarborough, but I wonder if a different interpretation was that it meant fair as in “pleasing to the eye or mind especially because of fresh, charming, or flawless quality”. This use of fair was used in Yorkshire when I lived there.

Heron silhouette

©cdavies 2007

Out on Friday night with friends going blueberry and sour cherry picking near the Conowingo Dam. On the way home we stopped on the way to walk along the Susquehanna river near Port Deposit MD, when we saw this Great Blue Heron. It was so still, I thought it was a statue at first. Herons are very cool.

The Caledonia

The Caledonia was also docked at the Halifax harbor front. It was quite exciting viewing for a Tall Ship enthusiast. There will be even more when the Tall Ships Festival is in Halifax in July.

Mar II full sail

A pirate ship with blue strips on their sail? Pretty…

Mar II

This pirate ship was doing public sails but it was cold at the time I walked past so I watched her dock and set sail.

Silvia, Hailifax, NS

Unfortunately she wasn’t doing public sails but it was nice to watch her dock.

Sunrise over the Hudson River

I woke up to this view.  Of course the sunrise was best on the morning I didn’t think to bring my camera onto deck with me.

I had a fantastic week on board the Cleawater. Even the weather stayed dry. It was a little muggy at times. More pictures are available on my flickr page, which you can reach by clicking on the image above. I will also blog about my vacation more in a few days.