Choose your red berries carefully

In honor of the daughter person's natal celebration day, no rants today, but an acknowledgement of what a pleasure it's been to know her for her entire life so far.  You might have tuned in expecting a diatribe (is that two tribes or a head tribe?) about the Polymet SEIS. Well, to be honest, I couldn't have read 2,000 pages by now even if I'd tried. Look for a return to that topic in the near future, however. In the interim, last summer, during a family visit (at least most of the family) to Wild River State Park, the dappled sunlight made this scene too pretty to miss capturing.

Turns out the red berries are baneberry, which is poisonous. I think the reason it appealed to me aesthetically is because it reminds me of holly. Somewhere out front, I'm told by my better half, is one stem or so surviving from a holly bush we planted several years ago. Next Spring we'll add this one (unless we manage to kill it indoors this Winter). I have a thing for holly but a different kind of thing for our current weather.

Is it possible Shakespeare was out in temps and a "breeze" such as we enjoyed in St. Paul this morning just before he wrote this poem?

"Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind"

By William Shakespeare 

Blow, blow, thou winter wind,

   Thou art not so unkind

      As man’s ingratitude;

   Thy tooth is not so keen,

Because thou art not seen,

      Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:

Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:

   Then, heigh-ho, the holly!

      This life is most jolly.

   Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,

   That dost not bite so nigh

      As benefits forgot:

   Though thou the waters warp,

      Thy sting is not so sharp

      As friend remembered not.

Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly...

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Thanks for listening. Come again when you can. Enjoy the season. Stay warm.