THE FULL STRAWBERRY MOON AND A BIRTHDAY

"FULL STRAWBERRY MOON" by Sandra Pond

I was looking at the moon Monday evening, the night of the summer solstice, and was wishing it was a full moon to make it an extra special observance. Well, little did I know that the full moon is tonight, on my birthday, making it an EVEN MORE SPECIAL full moon! (Technically, the calendar says it won't officially be full until 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. However, the moon counter on my sidebar says it is 100% of full right now, so close enough!)

Because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June the full moon that occurs during that month was christened the Full Strawberry Moon by the Algonquin Indians of North America. However, in England they call it the Rose Moon or Flower Moon. Other names are Honey Moon, Hot Moon and Planting Moon.

This has been the longest break from blogging I have ever taken. My long absence has been due to a dearth of subjects to write about, and a general dissatisfaction with my blog. However, Lila at Indigo Pears insisted I had to at least write a post on my birthday!! So I come here today to say:

Thanks to all of you who sent e-cards and e-mail greetings, snail mail cards and the birthday greetings on Facebook. Facebook - who knew? I never hang around there, but I still managed to receive the messages on my wall from all you nice ladies who posted wishes for me.

Special thanks to Gemma for also letting me know it is the Full Strawberry Moon.

Special thanks to Sherry Massey of "Of Mice and Men and Cabbages and Kings". I learned just today that we share a birthday. Isn't June 25 THE best day to have a birthday, Sherry?

Special thanks also to my Bismarck friend Judy, whose birthday is tomorrow. June 26 is almost as good as June 25, isn't it, Jude?

Thanks to Kristen for Volumes 2 and 3 of the Stieg Larsson mysteries set in Sweden. I waited until today to open my packages! (I highly recommend Book 1, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo".)

Thanks to my Sis Glori for treating me to Chinese buffet last Saturday, as well as giving me a beautiful hanging lobelia and verbena basket and a heart-shaped white and black "diamond" necklace.

Thanks for Dan who has left me a special envelope on the dining room table and a promise of a gourmet birthday dinner.

Now I'll close by regretfully saying that my break is going to be extended due to my not having Internet service. I am writing this at the library and cursing the defective cursor, while a booming thunderstorm rages overhead. My mama told me I was born during a thunderstorm so how fitting to see another one on my BD!

I'll try to get back every few days to check my e-mail and maybe write a few lines now and then. Until then, thanks so much.