My Mother's Birthday

She was all

that I wanted to be,

intelligent and loving..

always there

but quite practical

"I am not here

to entertain you,

Ellen."

and...

"The world does not 

revolve around you, Ellen".

She taught me so many

things...

be true to yourself,
know how to be
alone with quiet peace
while giving love to others.

Music, music, music.

She read book after book,

pages of poetry

every night when

she tucked me in bed

with prayers and songs.

She found the surprise

in every day.

She found the good 

in everyone she met.

I still want 

to be like her

and sometimes

it is hard, as

she left me too early.

But I know that 

I did have her,

and I still see the

fluorescent stars she 

placed on the ceiling

of my bedroom

that blessed me

and kept me company at night.

And, I truly know

that I had much more

than many people have had.

My beloved Mother

best, e.

Dear July,

Not quite gone

still here

in and out

you have been

with your summer colors

your coat of greens

yellows and orange

reds

and yes 
even lovely gray

a good thing

and yet

I have cursed your

early morning mists

as I have loved your

night's chill

We have yet

to make friends

and clasp our hands

together 

in celebration of summer

I wonder if you

will fulfill your promise

of years gone by

I guess it doesn't matter

I have all of

the Yesterdays

of your loveliness

your goodness

and bounty
and that should be

enough to keep me

through the days

and dark nights to come

We have been good friends

you and I July

it just seems a little

different this year

but then

I am not the same

from year to year

and why should you be
I look out and see
the chartreuse and red
that filters in
through the window 
as we eat
I wonder how 
I can fault you, July
you bring unexpected gifts
and teach me 
that it is a gift to be alive

And, I have your yesterdays
Dear July

best and with love, e.

Sabled

with shoe button eyes

exquisite hands

question marked tail

tidy, tiny

Saturday's gift

Filed in my heart

under U

Unexpected Joy

see also F

Filled to the Brim Bursting.

best, e.

III Prayer

Give me a little less

with every dawn:

colour, a breath of wind,

the perfection of shadows,

till what I find, I find

because  it's there,

gold in the seams of my hands

and the night light, burning.

John Burnside

best, e.

Morning Glories

Shadows

Fence Lace

best, e.

Dilly Dilly

Sheared and Sheaved

Come deep December

when I slide out the drawers,

pull open closet doors,

or spread clean linens

on the bed,

I will remember the sweetness

of this Summer Saturday.

best, e.

Garden

Goose Necked

Entwined

Whorled and Bejeweled

Stickled and Furred

I should have added,

Chewed.

I don't know what small creature

is making a banquet out of our garden.

Whatever/Whomever,

will need to consider joining

Weight Watchers.

Wishing all a good end

to another week.

How they fly by!

best, e.

Crocosmia

Sounds like a lizard or a mini dragon

you would have as a pet...

scaly skin, dry breath

and beady eyes,

count slowly to ten

and the eyes open,

count slowly to ten

and the eyes close..

moving from one place to another,

half a life time away..

your minute is his hour..

Little Lucifer

in his glass enclosed house,

decorated with bleached wood,

sand and a small desert plant.

Nope. Not a lizard,
but a brilliant flower.

best, e.

Saturday Still Life

...Group Naps...

best, e.

More Fun

..Learning to print on fabric..

I had some leftover fabric paint

from last summer,

and decades old fabric.

These might be coasters.

I used blackberry leaves,

and although I like most of them,

I think that there is just 

a bit more paint on some

than I would like.

It was/is fun,

and I will try it again with other leaves.

And, on the home front today,

I picked some flowers for the table.

Aren't they pretty?

Flowers with mint leaves

on the table..

a feast for the eyes

and the nose.

Regarding the mundane,

I may have to Google

"How to remove slug glue

from a Newfoundland dog's ass."

It could be tricky.

Right now, I need to traipse

off to the garden

and turn the sprinkler off.

I might, just might

play in that water.

After all,

it is above eighty degrees.

The crows are cawing,

and this morning the new rooster

was practicing his morning greeting.

He has many miles to go

before he gets it down.

It's a good day, I think.

Love to all.

best, e.

What I Have Learned...

...about blogging.

It has been such a wonderful journey.

I have learned to do things on the computer

I never thought I would be able to do.

There are still so many moves to learn.

I have learned that there are

so many beautiful and wonderful 

people out there.

I have learned that people

reach out and support one another.

I have learned that we all struggle at times.

I have learned that there is such goodness

to be found, such inspiration

and generosity.

(I have learned that my spelling skills

have absolutely degenerated.)

I have learned that I love this space,

this place.

I have "met" women who I hold

so dearly in my heart.

I have learned that I do not have to be

like someone else.

I have learned that, although, I maybe

a good cook,

I am lousy at taking pictures of food.

I have learned for my own self,

that I have a strange little

and engaging mind. (for me, at least).

I love to take photos.

I cannot help making stories.

They may be so silly and dismissive,

but they give me pleasure.

So...today, the messy gardener

went out to the garden..

raised beds, weeds and all.

She picked what was good

and brought it in.

She left the huge and overgrown

collard leaves on the ground.

She turned on the sprinkler.

She came back and saw some of these.

And, she just had to make up

a story in her head.

Late at night

when the moon was so bright,

and the stillness was silent,

and the moon was so golden,

(you remember those nights)

the smallest of the small,

the diminutive little fairies came out.

The Lilliputians drenched themselves in water.

Their children puddled around in the

small droplets...

imagine learning to swim.

The adult (think no larger than a gnat) fairies

staged their own Olympics...

back stroke, breast stroke,

butterfly and diving.

Fireflies danced and sparkled their warm

light.

Tiny fairies in bright colored Speedos

flashed across the water.

Elder wee folk sat on the edge

of the raised beds.

They raised their hands,

clapped and cheered,

lamented and cried when

their favorites came in last.

Smallest of the small

medals were passed out.

Gazanias for the Bronze,

Calendula for the Gold,

and Lamb's Ears for the Silver.

It was a night of magic.

As the Mother Moon robed and slippered heself

in preparation for bed,

the little wee ones tucked themselves up,

happy in the Glory of their night,

and safe in their beds.

Crimson, yellow and green enfolded them 

and kept them safe...

...and the Peepers sang a lullaby,

the wind rocked them gently...

It was a good night.

best, e.