Even Pine Needles Cry

And yet this pine, for all eternity stays green;
Its needles and flowers make no discrimination
of the times,
And even when the seasons pass to winter
Its millennial green glows deep in drifts of snow.
What's more, they say pine blossoms make ten appearances,
once every thousand years,
So awaiting this occasion, the branches of the pine,
Bear leaves of poetry, shining with dewdrop gems,
Seeds to polish the mind's sensibility...
--Zeami's Style

This pine tree has been in the front garden even before we moved in.. It's like having a Christmas Tree all year round.. something to cheer me up on days such as these -- gloomy and grey.
Hope the weekend's much better. Have a nice weekend everyone!

P.S.
Sorry for the noise, I really need to get myself a tripod!