About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Saturday, April 06, 2013

M is for MEMORIES of MARCH

"In like a lion; out like a lamb" is one saying about the month of March.  I prefer "March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers" because around here we never know for sure if we'll get any decent weather before the end of March.

Did you know that March was named after the Roman god of war - Mars?  Also, the first day of spring, Passover, and St. Patrick's Day all fall in the month of March.  My favourite Irish blessing is "May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand."

Oh, and we must not forget what happened in March a long time ago when a soothsayer warned Julius Caesar that something terrible would happen to him.  And as we all know, Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC.

Because March is the beginning of a new season of growth, we all celebrate new life in nature and the promise of warmer weather to come.  Personally, I start to come out of the darkness that sets into me around October and emerge with my camera ready for action!  I put together a little slideshow with some of the photos I took last month. (There are only a few of the dog, by the way!) It's accompanied by the music "Spring Has Sprung." Enjoy!
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

31 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

March is MY birthday month, so naturally, I knew that that it's named for Mars.

Powell River Books said...

Nice memories. You actually get a better view of Mt. Baker than we do down here in Bellingham. My mom's condo is on Bakerview Road, but all we can see is the tippy top (on a good day). And like Roger, March is the birthday month for my mom and me. - Margy

GaynorB said...

In the UK March was very cold and miserable. We spent the last couple of days of March in France - still cold but less miserable, in weather terms.

Best wishes for April and looking forward to 'D'...

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Interesting post. Sorry I didn't get over to wish you a happy Easter but I am going through a very difficult time at the moment.

Reader Wil said...

Thanks Leslie, for this lovely virtual spring walk! Here the weather is slightly improving. It have been very cold these past few weeks with an icy arctic wind. Amazing for the Netherlands is farther away from the north Pole than you are! In spite of this cold period I have daffodils , crocuses and tulips appearing in the garden.
Have a great spring week!
Wil, ABCW Team.

anthonynorth said...

A good month. I was born in March.

Carver said...

Great idea for M week. Since my daughter and one of my sisters were born in March it's a special month for me in many ways.

Nanka said...

Did read and also heard a lot about March birthday's :) as both my mother and my daughter have birthday's here and one of them on St Patrick's day :) Good to be back Leslie!!

Marleen said...

Thanks for the interesting facts! I use to look forward to March as it means the end of winter here. (well, except for this year..)

Wanda said...

What a lovely picture of March. Really enjoyed the ride.

Anonymous said...

and here in the states we have March Madness (altho personally I don't follow college basketball).

photowannabe said...

Loved the slideshow and all the facets of March.
Simply Marvelous!

Ann said...

March can be a month of surprises here in Kansas, you just never know about snow. Its starting to warm up here and I'm ready for those sunny days.
Ann

Nonnie said...

what a delightful assortment of 'm' words and photos! it's like having a wonderful book!

Meryl said...

Great post. I love coming and learning ...and loved the budding signs of spring. Have a great week - thanks!

Leovi said...

Very interesting post on March. I have a picture dedicated to the Ides of March:

http://lafotografiaefectistaabstracta.blogspot.com/2013/03/foto-abstracta-2620-idus-de-marzo-ides.html

Gemma Wiseman said...

So enjoyed your March video - both photos and commentary! Adored the caption - the MASTER said I should wash my muddy feet! And the mossy trees are simply glorious!

LONDONLULU said...

Spring is springing beautifully! (And your cutie is enjoying it to the hilt:) March happens to also be my birthday month and love this post! (PS So lovely your daughter still enjoys the Princess Bride! Such a classic:)

ChrisJ said...

I love March because I know spring and summer are not far away. I find winter so depressing, even in San Diego -- unless the sun is shining.

MaR said...

Beautiful! and I love that Irish blessing.
Happy Wednesday.

m is for ...

Rajesh said...

Beautiful memories.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

March holds good memories for me too when I was in Canada. Spring after a long drudgery of winter cold.

Mai said...

Love the Irish blessing. Thanks for always visiting!

Gattina said...

March this year is still in winter ;) !
In French March is Mars !
Gattina
ABC Team

Joy said...

Enjoyed the March walk, especially the cherry blossom. Our March was full of snow and icy winds but I'm feeling optimistic today as it was 10 degrees C. yippee.

Hildred said...

As always a wonderful choice of beautiful pictures, Leslie, - you are a real pro at using Smilebox, and I do look forward each week to your post.

Chubskulit Rose said...

March always reminds me of my late brother, he was born in March.

Love your photo collage as always.

Motherhood
Making my rounds for letter M.
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Leslie D. said...

Thanks for the beautiful text and video..Very life affirming!

Unknown said...

Nice memories, especially the mountain in the sunset (whose name I forgot:) )! Thanks for coming by and visiting me!

magiceye said...

March on!!

Loved the slide show. Magnificent images!!

Liz Hinds said...

You can't have too many photos of a dog!