Clair de lune

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

This month’s full moon, having reached its peak at the spring equinox, is March’s Supermoon–nearest to earth, and thus, the month’s largest moon. Early Native Americans named the annual Supermoons to indicate the changing weathers and tendencies of nature. Since spring equinox signifies the earth’s warming and an oncoming abundance of wild game and crops, its moon is called a “Full Worm Moon”, representing when Robins will start pulling earthworms from softening ground. It’s also named (among others) a Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Crust Moon, Sugar Moon, and Sap Moon.

Yesterday, around 7 p.m., and not thinking of anything related to the first day of spring, I exited the house to make a final check on the horses. I stopped short at a sight of the rising moon, “Oh, my, it’s March’s Supermoon!” I hurried inside for a zoom camera in order to photograph the lovely moon.

While heading down to the barn and noticing that this almost warm day had turned cooler, another sight captured my fancy. The Cascade Mountains, which earlier had been sunny and clear, now were shrouded in a curtain of dimming frost. The slightly visible string of dreamlike peaks felt mysterious–this top line, especially captivating.

I was planning to stay out and photograph more, but around here, unexpected realities demand attention. Just then, I saw that a gate (one Rosie often kicks at compulsively) finally had been seriously damaged, and to an extent that forced changes to my plans. And so, in that beautiful, misty moonlight, instead of a camera I held a bunch of zip ties, and while on hands and knees in deep snow and squishy mud, tried to create temporary repairs.

Ah, another first day of spring!

Dear Friends, For sure now, it’s spring, so sigh, and breathe deeply of new air. Diana