A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...03-21,22-06....Spring, Time for Birds, Bees and Bloomin' Trees

Posted by Mama_Bear for JustAmy | JustAmy

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, dutchess, DollyCali GodblessUSA ~

Happy is the man .. ..
his delights is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
~~ Psalms 1: 1-3 ~~

The best friend on earth of man is the tree:
when we use the tree respectfully
and economically we have one of the
greatest resources of the earth.
~~ Frank Lloyd Wright ~~

And the fruits will outdo what the flowers have promised.
~~ Francois de Malherbe ~~

When life hands you a lemon, say,
"Oh yeah, I like lemons. What else ya got?"
~~ Henry Rollins ~~

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,
Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night.
~~ Robert Frost ~~

It's one thing not to see the forest for the trees,
but then to go on to deny the reality of the forest
is a more serious matter.
~~ Paul Weiss ~~

In this sequestered nook how sweet
To sit upon my orchard seat
And birds and flowers once more to greet
~~ William Wordsworth ~~

Graphic by MamaBear

Flowering Trees

A tree that is a flower,
We take such things in stride.
But children see things differently,
Because they’re open-eyed.

I came back from Florida,
Back to my own fair city,
When I heard a voice from the back of the plane,
“Mommy, the trees! They’re Pretty!”

It was growing late in the Fall of the year,
And the sugar was still in the leaf,
But the beauty to be seen out in the world,
Was enhanced by her own belief.

She had grown up in Florida,
And this was her first trip North,
She hadn’t seen the leaves die before,
Or the glories that always sprang forth.

We, of course, had grown used to it,
And our vision had narrowed to see,
In a beautiful garden of colorful trees,
That Winter would soon come to be.

We recognize Spring for its hopeful signs,
It gets us through our drab days.
But there’s beauty around us each minute,
If we weren’t quite so set in our ways.

Take time to enjoy all the bounty,
Of the garden that waits for your sight,
There’ll be plenty of time for the closing of eyes,
When the turning of day brings the night.

NicknamedBob . . . . March 19, 2006






Graphic by Billie

Spring Sets Forth

The world awakes, and opens eye.
To wipe the sleep-dust from its sky.
It clothes itself in finest dress,
And tempts small things to self express,

The bird in song, the bud in leaf,
The questing pilgrim in belief,
A fool in love, his heart so full,
He cannot stand against the pull.

This is the world of vernal hope,
That calls shy spirits to elope,
To cast aside their sloughing shell,
And step forth, in new Life to dwell.

Bring out the living, cast down doubt,
Leave all dark thoughts, and go without,
The dampened spirit has been wrung,
And in our hearts a world has sprung.

The new-born hope may toddle crude,
While I will stride with certitude.
I have been in this place before,
And well I know what Spring is for.

NicknamedBob . . . . December 5, 2004





Graphic by MamaBear

Trouble Sleeping

I think I’ve heard the saying,
“The early bird gets the worm”
Please pardon me for sleeping late,
But my mattress is too firm.

I have trouble sleeping,
It’s noisy in the wood,
My everyday clothes I sleep in,
I hope that’s understood!

I’d like to use pajamas,
And give these “threads” a rest,
I’d eliminate these wrinkles and ...
Then I’d be better dressed!

I’d wear a killer outfit,
The worms would stand to see,
Then all those other birds would get,
In line to follow me!

NicknamedBob . . . March 29, 2005







Last Night

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt--marvelous error!--
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt--marvelous error!--
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt--marvelous error!--
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.

Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt--marvelous error!--
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.

~ by Antonio Machado ~






Cherry Blossoms

Little cherry blossom buds
Closed up oh, so tight!
See them bursting into bloom,
Colored pink and white.

Along comes the spring breeze,
Blowing all around,
And down fall the petals,
Twirling to the ground.

~ Elizabeth McKinnon ~

12-28-05 ~ Hall of Fame #14

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 03-20-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Mama_Bear]

[dutchess]

First????? Was wondering what happened. And bah humbug...we're in the middle of a snowstorm!!!! ((((lori)))) (((((amy))))) (((billie)))

P.S. Beautiful job!

[Mama_Bear]

JustAmy is sick this morning and asked if I would stand in for her and post the thread, that's why we are a little late getting the doors open here.

Amy, you rest and get well soon. Please come and let us know how you are doing as soon as you feel up to it.

[dutchess]

Awe...just read the "good morning" poem... LOL! Not being a morning person, I can relate :o)

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Great pictures of the trees in bloom. It is hard to believe that it is Spring when you look out the window. We have dark storm clouds ready to dump us with more rain.

My FRiend in NE sent me an email with a picture from her house of snow drifts that are around 3 feet high.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Amy,

I hope that you get to feeling better real soon. Make sure that Just Frank takes really good care of you. BTW tell your little one I said Hi.

[Mama_Bear]

Yep, you are first.

Sorry to hear about your snow, dutchess. I'm sure you have had just about enough of 'winter'. We have been having very cold weather all through March. I am sick, sick, SICK of it!! I want to go out and dig in the mud and plant 'stuff'. :-(

[dutchess]

Awe, lay back have a muffin and hope you feel better soon Amy

[Mama_Bear]

We have dark storm clouds ready to dump us with more rain.

Hasn't this been the rainiest, coldest March? Well, the rain is always good for the valley and mountains, but the COLD I could do without. We should have had some nice warm days by now and I counted very few.

Yes, we have some dark clouds threatening us down here too.

[dutchess]

I want to go out and dig in the mud and plant 'stuff'. :-(

I know what you mean! My daffodils are close to blooming and I am hoping the snow doesn't kill them. (They're not looking too happy right now)

Need to get dad lunch and back to work. Thanks so much for posting this and you're graphics are lovely!!!! (((((hugs)))))) (and cyber eggs to chachi and jackie!)

[Mama_Bear]

Awe...just read the "good morning" poem... LOL!

It's that funny, dutchess? I'll give you one guess who sent them gem to Amy. ;-)

[dutchess]

It's that funny, dutchess? I'll give you one guess who sent them gem to Amy. ;-)

Now why am I not surprised :o) Even the little birdies aren't safe with our big bad wolfie!!!! (((((wolfie))))))

Okay, really need to run! (can't believe I need to brush snow off the car!!!)

[Mama_Bear]

them gem???

LOL! I need to slooooow down a bit I guess. Oh well, it's a poetry thread and it RHYMES!

[GailA]

Father Lord I pray that you will touch our FRiend JustAmy and heal her quickly of this sickness. In Jesus' name amen.

Just checking in and letting everyone know I'm still here, have been busy, preocupied with a boyfriend and am going to finally get up the nerve to go see my grandson in Indiana..a 350 mile trip all by myself. It will be an adventure to say the least as I've not driven that far on my own.

[Mama_Bear]

Oh, Gail! It is wonderful to have you here again. It's been a long time.

I know that Amy will appreciate your prayer for her.

You take care on your trip to Indiana and be sure to let us know when you get home safe and sound. I am not an adventurous driver anymore either. I stay pretty close to home, so I understand your trepidation. Good for you for making the decision to just "do it". :-)

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Thank you Mama Bear.

Hi Amy, hope you're back here with us soon!

[Mama_Bear]

Hi PAL. Good morning to you!

That cat looks like he has tasted something just awful. LOL.

Amy sounds like she put in a terrible night. I hope she feels better real soon.

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Hi Mama Bear. Yes, I hope Amy is up and around soon also.

[Billie]

Amy, hope you are feeling better and was able to get some sleep last night.

This was very pretty when you sent the rough draft to me over the weekend, but gosh, it's amazing what even a little more tweaking can do!

It's so soft and spring-ie! Beautiful graphics and layout and poems and just everything!

[DollyCali]

Get well sweet Amy!

Thanks for jumping in & helping Lori... WONDERFUL thread... looking forward to enjoying it for a few days...

now where or where are a couple MIAs..Meek One GOP & Oesy???

Just let us know you are okay?????