Monday, March 3, 2008

Spring is Sprung!

Welcome to the month of March, the first month of Spring, whether you take the first day of March as the first day of Spring, or the Spring Equinox.







The Spring or Vernal Equinox falls on March 20th. Equinox means "equal night" so from the Spring Equinox, the days will begin to get longer. A great day to celebrate the renewed life of the Earth, to draw strength and hope from nature, to recharge your batteries, and to breathe life into slumbering projects. Or to start a whole new adventure.



The Vernal Equinox is also the time when the sun rises at the North Pole for the first time in six months!






(I think this is actually a picture of the sunset at the North Pole, rather than the sunrise, but it's such an amazing picture!)







March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war.














March, or Martius, was the first month of the Roman calendar, the time when military campaigns were resumed after the Winter. So it's a good time to resume battles of our own, perhaps? To refocus our efforts and determination. Or to come up with some new strategies.








March is often a stormy month. It started with a huge storm, here, which is apparently a good omen for the end of the month to be sunny and warm.














"If March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb"




English Proverb


(Sometimes said the other way around.)







The birthstone for March is Aquamarine.














This beautiful gem is linked to sea and sky with it's blue-green, watery hues. It is said to help give direction in life, to lift the spirits and to calm the nerves.





The flower associated with March is the lovely sunny daffodil, which means "the sun shines when I'm with you!" (More links to the language and meaning of flowers.)
















March is full of celebratory days:

March 1st - St. David's Day

March 8th - International Women's Day

March 17th - St. Patrick's Day

March 19th - St. Joseph's Day



The Japanese celebrate Hanami at the end of March. This is the traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, particularly Cherry Blossom.
















Thinking about flowers (again!) ...








March also includes Mothers' Day, of course, which we often celebrate with flowers.



Hope you all had a fab day yesterday!

These beauties were from Eldest daughter:

















And so was the card that says, To My Lovely Wife on Mothers' Day! (Haha!)

















She said she had to get that one because it said exactly what she wanted to say:



I love you very much


for all the special things you are -


Organiser, gourmet chef


and all-round superstar!


As well as being everything


a special mum should be,


Best of all you're gorgeous ...


... and you mean the world to me!




I LOVE YOU!





Bless! I was really touched (sniff!)



Still looking forward to Youngest Daughter's awesome card, which I did get a glimpse of on Saturday, as I passed her in the kitchen (up to her ears in tissue paper, glue and sparkles), but which she hid on Saturday night and did such a good job that it hasn't been seen since!



Are you feeling full of the joys of Spring?








Or maybe, as mad as a March Hare?


Either way, have an excellent month!


:o)

10 comments:

CL Taylor said...

Hi Moondreamer! Just popping by to let you know I've moved blogs.

My blog is now here:

http://writing-about-writing.blogspot.com

So if you want to update your link that would be cool. Ta :o)

HelenMWalters said...

Mad as a March Hare is definitely closer! Happy March to you too!

Moondreamer said...

Hi Cally!

Will do ... enjoy your new home!

:o)

Helen, me too, totally in March Hare mode at the moment!

And thank you, honey!

:o)

Annieye said...

This made me feel positively spring-like. Thank you for the award.

Karen said...

Another lovely post!
There seem to have been daffodils popping up since early February this year.

Had a lovely Mother's Day - all my cards had unusual flowers on them, funnily enough!

Pacha said...

I love March. It's my month...Emma was born in March, so was I. And I love the hope that Spring is on its way. Blustery rainy day here but I've seen a couple of cherry trees already in blossom. I love that!

I so enjoy reading your posts Moondreamer. Thanks sweetie...

Oh! And Happy Mother's Day (it's in May over here - Father's Day is on the 19th March here though...so confusing!!!)

aliqot said...

What a month of Days etc.

Younger daughter bought me more earrings, in spite of having to buy replacements for the one I had for Christmas and lost. I have forbidden her to buy any that are remotely expensive.

I believe March 6th is World Book Day, too.

And thanks for inspiring me to look for an IWD logo for my blog too.

Lane Mathias said...

What beautiful flowers and words from your eldest:-)

I love Spring. It's so hopeful and full of promise. Can't wait until the clocks go forward.

I love your posts and all your links. Thank you:-)

Leigh Forbes said...

What a stunning sunrise/sunset photo!
And I love the flowers!

Moondreamer said...

Annieye, you're very welcome to the award, and I'm glad this made you feel spring-like.

I hope you're feeling all better now, from your rotten cold!

:o)

Thank you, Karen!

Yes Spring seems to get earlier and earlier!

Glad you had a lovely Mother's day ... seems ages ago already!

:o)

Thank you, Pacha, it's so lovely to have you back!

What a fab month March is for you, can't believe we are almost halfway through it ... hope you're having a lovely month!

Cherry trees not in blossom here yet, but am looking forward to it ... my neighbour has a tree that takes my breathe away every time I leave the house or get home again.

:o)

Aliqot, I have the same problem with earrings, I have lots of lovely earrings ... but very few pairs!

You were right about World Book Day, thank you for telling me, I hadn't realised at all (that's terrible!)

:o)

Lane, you're very welcome, and thank you!

Yes, I love that sense of hope and optimism that comes with Spring too, we are so lucky to have such defined seasons here.

Eldest daughter's flowers and words were very special, like she is! (And her sister ... I feel so blessed to have them.)

Hope you had a fab day!

:o)

Leigh, yes, that pic is stunning, isn't it? Wouldn't it be lovely to stand and see that first sunrise (or last sunset)?

Lovely flowers have lasted really well - bar the odd carnation, they are still looking beautiful!

:o)