Birthday/Valentine Present....

....for a dear friend. My inspiration came from a wreath featured in a Williams-Sonoma catalog.
Mine is not quite as perfect; it's a bit off kilter, but I think that she likes it!

Best

Thank You....

Sarah, for pointing me in the direction of his poetry.
I had never read any. I love this one....

Penumbrae

by John Updike

The shadows have their seasons, too.

The feathery web the budding maples

cast down upon the sullen lawn

bears but a faint relation to

high summer's umbrageous weight

and tunnellike continuum—

black leached from green, deep pools

wherein a globe of gnats revolves

as airy as an astrolabe.

The thinning shade of autumn is

an inherited Oriental,

red worn to pink, nap worn to thread.

Shadows on snow look blue. The skier,

exultant at the summit, sees his poles

elongate toward the valley: thus

each blade of grass projects another

opposite the sun, and in marshes

the mesh is infinite,

as the winged eclipse an eagle in flight

drags across the desert floor

is infinitesimal.

And shadows on water!—

the beech bough bent to the speckled lake

where silt motes flicker gold,

or the steel dock underslung

with a submarine that trembles,

its ladder stiffened by air.

And loveliest, because least looked-for,

gray on gray, the stripes

the pearl-white winter sun

hung low beneath the leafless wood

draws out from trunk to trunk across the road

like a stairway that does not rise.

Isn't this lovely? Oh, to be able to stitch such beauty together with word and intent.
Aren't we blessed to have such loveliness to read? Each stanza (is that a correct word for what I want to say?) fills me with gratitude and, what..I cannot explain it. I love all of this, especially: "And loveliest, because least looked-for..."
Perhaps, we should all seek the "loveliest and least looked for, and the shadows that have their seasons, too".

Best

Early Evening.....

piebald beans, ham bone knuckle whiteness
tender greens
ruffled goodness of purple
red tomatoes
falling darkness
richness of ground coffee
a call to come outside to see the star
I run with the blessings of
white knuckle bone
freckled beans, richness of red scent
and perfect purple ruffles
to see the beauty of the white
spot in the sky.

Best

It's My Birthday.....

....on January 20th.

Yesterday was Poe's birthday, and if I could have, I would have left some cognac and roses for him. I would have.
I would have put up an adorable picture of me to celebrate this momentous birthday of mine, but it seems a bit crass at this time. Although I love Poe, and I am happy to have a birthday, nothing comes close to the Man Who Came Before; his vision of freedom for so many, his hope for this country, his peaceful messages, his commitment to so many, his belief that peace and goodness, love and acceptance could be made manifest. And nothing comes close to this man, who I hope, with everyone's help, will lead us into a new world; full of peace, understanding, acceptance and safety...all peoples, all over this planet.
He won't be perfect. He will have clay feet. He inherits a world of such overwhelming problems. We all do.
Let us join hands, all of us throughout the world to make a better place for our children, for all people of all religions and faiths. It will take a world.
And when it comes to everyone's turn; may each be able to say, "I am glad to celebrate my birthday. I give thanks for just being here in this precious place."


Best

No Title......

At the center of the universe is a
loving heart that continues to beat
and that wants the best for every person.

Anything we can do to help foster
the intellect and spirit and emotional growth
of our fellow human beings, that is our job.

Those of us who have this particular vision
must continue against all odds.

Life is for service.

Fred Rogers

I do not make New Year's Resolutions, but if I did, this would be mine.

Best

Big, Huge, Scary Wind.....

We experienced a tremendous wind storm several days ago. It was so frightening. We have many big trees around here and although it is exhilarating, it can be discomforting.
The next morning after my grandsons arrived and were out and about, one of them came in and told me that we had a pelican in the nursery. Did I think he was imagining..yes!
We live about 40 miles inland from the coast..and even at that, most of the pelicans either live further south or much more up on the north coast. This poor guy/girl had to have come at least 40 to 50 miles.
I spent almost an entire day trying to find some rescue for him. I must have called every agency I knew, the Chamber of Commerce people on the coast..on and on.
He/she did not survive the night. I will forever call the wind that was so terrific and terrifying the Pelican Wind. I wish that I could have helped he/she.

I know that we will have such winds again...please may we not have such vulnerable animals buffeted so far from their home.

Best