Geese can amaze me

I decide to drive through the reservoir on the way home. As I approach the dam, I can see the water spilling down, wave-like. I continue on the winding road and I’m amazed that geese are standing atop the spillway!

Img_9574

I find a place to park, walk back and hear them chattering as geese do. I image them all offering encouragement to each other to stand strong or paddle against the current, but I do have to wonder why, in such a large lake, they are here.

Img_9570

What fun are they experiencing or is this a kind of late afternoon strength training exercise?

There are no answers from them so I move on to my favorite place and into the golden glow.

Img_9576

And I find that the drive and the beauty and the brisk air are strengthening for me today. I hope you have a place to soak in the golden glory of late afternoon sun.

Img_9580

November in Layers

Img_9499

The month was layered…layers of blankets and quilts…sweaters and scarves and caps. Mornings were layered with fogs and mists that gave way in wisps to show sparkly carpets of frosted grass and leaf in rising sun over fields and woodland. And oakleaf hydrangeas wear frost in elegance on their now colorful leaves.

Img_9501

Trees are more defined in November, dark trunks and branches against evergreen and the late color of red maple and coppery blueberry and golden viburnum glow in the afternoon light, like layers of a masterful painting.

2012-11-13

There are layers too of bird chatter as snowbirds and wrens scuffle around in mulch and dried leaves near the door while finches perch for fresh water and all kinds of birds cling to the feeders surveyed by chattering, fat, furry squirrels while flashes of cardinal and bluejay brighten the yard.

My thoughts are all layers too, stuff and plans, memories and dreamings… some shrouded in frost or cloud, some bathed in sunlight or moonlight. But always as I survey my small piece of world, I look to see through the layers, to really see, and to be grateful, giving thanks for all that I have been given in this life.

 

October Memory

So much storm preparedness going on all around as forecasters warnings are relentless.

It seems so much more than a week since we visited the Queen City of the Alleghenies and drove through wonderful mountains and valleys and stayed in The Castle. I want to remember the glory of that autumn time.

2012-10-19

We were on an adventure to find past and give past, and we did. As always, we loved the drive and this time the autumn color added to the beauty of the journey.

2012-10-20

I couldn’t get enough of looking through the beautiful old glass of the windows of The Castle. In the night, as wailing sirens echoed through the river valley, I gazed through arched windows at stars rarely seen at home. And I gave thanks for those who heed the call to serve in crisis.

And now, looking into the face of this storm, we pray for safety for those who are serving and will be serving all along the Eastern Seaboard.

When life overwhelms

Img_6252

There is a saying that comes into my mind this morning – all things continue as they were. It seems to go with my thoughts of yesterday. I was driving with no place to stop to capture the beauty of sky and autumn leaves around me; how could the day be so beautiful? It should be rain to weep for me my unshed tears and hail to match my throbbing head; lightening should rend the heavens and thunder peal for my lack of words.

Have you ever had the loveliest experience and seemed to be ‘walking on air’ in your exuberance? You were so delighted with everything happening in life that you wanted to shout and dance about and shake the gloomy faces around you and tell then that life was wonderful!

Or have you had the worst news ever that tells you life will never be the same for someone you love or yourself and they are the same in your pain? And you want to shake the people laughing and dancing and tell them that life is hard.

We’ve all probably had both, many times, or will. These times seem as relentless as the ocean waves. And we long for calm seas. But they will not carry us anywhere and I must, we must, hope and long for the joy to come again. And I must see the beauty in the ocean power and majesty while wary of the same.

Where does your strength and endurance come from?

The words of a Psalm come to me, “My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.” and I go and read the ending, “The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life, the LORD will watch over your coming and your going both now and forevermore.” And like many before me, I wonder at the words and hope and pray this for the one I love whose hope is small today.

Just taking a walk

I have always loved the cadence and the imagry of George Cooper’s October’s Party.

“October gave a party;

The leaves by hundred’s came…

Then, in  a rustic hollow,

At hide and seek they played,

The party closed at sundown,

And everybody stayed.

Professor Wind played louder;

They flew along the ground;

And then the party ended

In jolly “hands around.””

2012-10-10

After a night of wind, I walk about crunching leaves underfoot; finding the treasures of the day. The herb and vegetable gardens are ready for their winter resting but I’ve work to do yet in the flower beds. But I dawdle, winding down from summer as if I too had been to some grand party and I want only to re-live the joy and conversation of it.

September dances through

Storms turned the skies to September blue, hostas turned gold, the burning bush flamed, cleomes burst seed and the last of the blue hydrangeas changed to rosey attire.

2012-09-20

Some seasons of life I’ve enjoyed the life of a night owl, but I’ve come back to treasuring early time. So I search and photograph and go back into the cozy warmth of kitchen only to be drawn out again knowing the wonder of early light is happening. Moving my chair to face the east where cloud play is illuminated in the rising sun, I huddle into an old quilt with my mug of coffee. And watch. I hear the traffic hum of those on the go and I begin to hear hammering and saws nearby. Work calls but I stay listening to quiet bird calls beginning to sound through the yards.

I lower my eyes to write and suddenly feel like there is a disco ball in the yard! The aspen leaves wave their quivering morning excitement filtering and shattering the light into sparkling pieces as the sun rises through them and the birds sing applause now. The coffee chills but I still sit and wonder why I am not here every morning when dawn calls hope and promise for the day.

With hot coffee, I return to find my quilt like stained glass. A breeze stirs now and the sound of leaves dancing close fills my ears and I huddle again into the quilt and move my chair into the expanding warmth of the ever rising sun. All too soon these days pass and the exuberance of October is upon us!

Like a dance…

And August goes by in a quick, quick, slow…

2012-09-07

Slow, quick, quick!

Recovered_autosave

And it is gone and September busy-ness arrives. After such a summer, I feel the earnestness of autumn setting in and I feel a kinship with homemakers of old to clean up and clear out summer and move into quilts and sweaters. I’m not quite ready to give up the wonderful iced coffees of summer so I’m easing into that part.

Hubby went hunting and gathering yesterday to bring home some sweet corn unwilling to part with August and was told by the grocer that corn season was over. Fortunately, the local farmer is still harvesting from his fields and we feasted on August in spite of the calendar.

Like a great wonderful golden treasure, we found late season peaches for one last pie!

Img_9141

But September continues the dance of the seasons, a slow step and quickly on! And all the wonderful things of harvest wait before us, calling us, get ready!

 

 

September 9th musing

Today I remember Mom…

Photo_2006_11_17_22_56_43-001

I love the look of expectation on her face in this photo.

I met a distant relative and her first in person words to me were, “You look just like your mother!”   And my thought was, “You had not seen her in decades!”

I remember “The Day” in my early teen years when Mom came home from the hairdresser – A Blond!  I don’t think I knew anyone whose mom had done such a thing; I was a bit scandalized.

But for Mom, it was a perfect fit with her blue/green eyes and golden skin. She was never going to be grey or white and was always a bit dismayed that I chose that route. I had not the eye color nor the skin tone of a golden girl.

While she was known to take one aside and give a bit of unwanted advice, I don’t think anyone doubted her good intentions. She wanted only the best for her family and gave her best whether she made a favorite dish for a holiday meal, sent a special card, gave a word of encouragement, spent hours on a hand-crocheted afghan, prom dress or even a wedding gown

If you were excited about something, she wanted to be in on the fun. She loved life.

Happy Birthday, Mom, you’re never forgotten.

 

 

Remember me…

Img_8946

This afternoon we went to pay respect to the life of an older friend. In these last years that I have known her, her conversation would always flow to family and festivities and the cakes she would be baking. The list of cakes would sometimes include a 1,2,3,4 Cake and always a Hot Milk Sponge Cake, both of which would make me yearn for my mom’s cakes. So we would talk cake and Brownies – actually, she would do the talking, I rarely bake and no one is going to give my cakes rave reviews – just saying. I never had an opportunity to sample her baking but I always had a sampling of her heart in the joy and love radiating from her as she anticipated the occasion.

So I talked about cake today and watched eyes fill with memories and tears and heard again of the Hot Milk Cakes. I also listen for stories and today I heard, “She was very old school and wrote letters and cards for everyone. No one does that these days.”

When it was time to leave I noticed an amazing assortment of beautiful hanging baskets of flowers. In an unusual and gracious gesture, her sons had purchased these for their visitors to take home, to remember.

So, in remembering LaRue, I share my flowers and I write to you.

Peaceful dreams to you this night.