Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
From the Foothills to the Ocean, in style and chocolate
I dread the arrival of summer here in the Foothills. It gets so hot up here. I love the heat for maybe 2 or 3 reasons: my vegetable garden early in the morning, wading in the Mokeulmne River looking for gold and the evenings with it's fragrance of the oaks and manzanitas. That's about it. From late June to almost Halloween it's just nasty, horrible hot, hot, hot here. I've never gotten use to it and always try to rationalize why I continue to live in such a furnace. I guess I put up with the summers so I can enjoy the rest of the year. Where else can you take long walks in winter and not have to worry about a freek snow storm? Only here do I wake up to deer drinking out of the water bucket we leave for them and coyote songs. So now, thanks to my sister's generosity, I have an escape. She offers her lovely second home to everyone, but I get priority treatment: After all, I am her only sister....., and she lovvvves me. Right sis? (That was all a bit too ingratiating wasn't it?, but when the summer heat is involved, I'm shameless.)
Even though it isn't summer yet, I jumped at the invite to spend a couple of days with Sis at her place. The weather was cold, windy and mostly sunny. We had such a good time. Mostly just relaxing, but we did manage some shopping. On our way over we hit a few places in Berkeley, down on 4th St. Great stores and good food! Then In Pacifica there is a Ross store. From Sur La Table and Anthropologie.... to Ross: from the sublime and expensive to the "Oh wow! What a deal.!" store. We bought some food at Safeway( and lots of chocolate) so we wouldn't have to leave once we settled in. We had a good dinner, watched T.V., gave each other a back rub and did our stretching exercises , then, with no guilt at all, we ate CHOCOLATE.
The next day we drove around and looked at all the little cottages and homes tucked up into the canyons over looking the town of Pacifica, lusting over a few of them. Then we took a walk on the Pacifica Pier. This took great bravery on my part because, and I hate to confess this, I'm extremely afraid of the ocean. Yes I am! My camera has become my lifeline and seems to take my mind off of where I would never be if I didn't want to take pictures so badly. I have been on this pier twice and I always get a bit shaky out there. It was very windy last week and the waves were huge. About half-way out they roared under us and shook the pileings and the whole pier vibrated. Taking photos didn't overcome the panic and I said something to the effect of "That's it. I'm going back." Then, I thought about a strong earthquake hitting the coast and swallowing that pier and tossing it into the first ocean trench it could find. I was out of there. There is no "good" reason to be out beyond the sand and serf when you can see it from the shore. That my belief and no one will ever change it. Sis was very kind and followed me back to the parking lot, but I know she was smiling...., and thinking, " My big sister; the brave one. " Dad would have called me a "Landlubber". He was in the Navy.
We went back to her place and ate CHOCOLATE.
Even though it isn't summer yet, I jumped at the invite to spend a couple of days with Sis at her place. The weather was cold, windy and mostly sunny. We had such a good time. Mostly just relaxing, but we did manage some shopping. On our way over we hit a few places in Berkeley, down on 4th St. Great stores and good food! Then In Pacifica there is a Ross store. From Sur La Table and Anthropologie.... to Ross: from the sublime and expensive to the "Oh wow! What a deal.!" store. We bought some food at Safeway( and lots of chocolate) so we wouldn't have to leave once we settled in. We had a good dinner, watched T.V., gave each other a back rub and did our stretching exercises , then, with no guilt at all, we ate CHOCOLATE.
The next day we drove around and looked at all the little cottages and homes tucked up into the canyons over looking the town of Pacifica, lusting over a few of them. Then we took a walk on the Pacifica Pier. This took great bravery on my part because, and I hate to confess this, I'm extremely afraid of the ocean. Yes I am! My camera has become my lifeline and seems to take my mind off of where I would never be if I didn't want to take pictures so badly. I have been on this pier twice and I always get a bit shaky out there. It was very windy last week and the waves were huge. About half-way out they roared under us and shook the pileings and the whole pier vibrated. Taking photos didn't overcome the panic and I said something to the effect of "That's it. I'm going back." Then, I thought about a strong earthquake hitting the coast and swallowing that pier and tossing it into the first ocean trench it could find. I was out of there. There is no "good" reason to be out beyond the sand and serf when you can see it from the shore. That my belief and no one will ever change it. Sis was very kind and followed me back to the parking lot, but I know she was smiling...., and thinking, " My big sister; the brave one. " Dad would have called me a "Landlubber". He was in the Navy.
We went back to her place and ate CHOCOLATE.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Thoughts on a Wildflower
I just had to post the photos of the Globe Lilies I took this morning on my walk. They are all over the hills and roadsides this week; not one to be seen before I left home over a week ago. Now they're everywhere. Nature never ceases to amaze me. It's so astonishing to look closely at the landscapes of our lives that man has no part in. It gives one a different perspective on "life" and what it truly means. Nature gives me faith in the things I don't understand, making me feel grounded and more secure.
I'm not one to quote the bible (my friends will attest to this), but when I look at the beauty of a wildflower like the globe lily I think of Matthew... "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." It's true! Man may have given this lovely, transient thing a name, but not it's beauty. I like to think that whoever really wrote this, (It could have been a man named Matthew.) was looking at a globe lily( or what ever they called it then) when he "considered" this "field" of lilies. It's pleasant to think that someone saw the same flower 2000 years ago that greeted me, here, on a morning walk. That's kind of a contiguous thought isn't it? Yes, I like it.
I'm not one to quote the bible (my friends will attest to this), but when I look at the beauty of a wildflower like the globe lily I think of Matthew... "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." It's true! Man may have given this lovely, transient thing a name, but not it's beauty. I like to think that whoever really wrote this, (It could have been a man named Matthew.) was looking at a globe lily( or what ever they called it then) when he "considered" this "field" of lilies. It's pleasant to think that someone saw the same flower 2000 years ago that greeted me, here, on a morning walk. That's kind of a contiguous thought isn't it? Yes, I like it.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Don't trust the Internet
Yes, I,m all right!!! Thanks.
Two weeks ago my computer crashed. It spent some time in the hospital and, finally, I have it back. Now the fun begins: I have to re-program everything. I'm going to call in an expert ( who knows exactly what they're doing) and ,also, have an antivirus program installed. I can't say this loudly enough: PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER!! Don't open any forwarded email or spam. I still don't know what happen, but I think it's going to be all right. I learned another lesson before this happen. Don't mess with the settings in your computer unless you know what you're doing. I don't know if I started all this, but the computer was acting funny for a week before it stopped.
After I had a small breakdown, I pulled myself together and went to my Mom's for a week. I just got back today and it is so good to be home with the prospector and the dogs. I have a lot to tell about my trip and(since my camera was working) I have new photos to share. Stay tuned.
Two weeks ago my computer crashed. It spent some time in the hospital and, finally, I have it back. Now the fun begins: I have to re-program everything. I'm going to call in an expert ( who knows exactly what they're doing) and ,also, have an antivirus program installed. I can't say this loudly enough: PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER!! Don't open any forwarded email or spam. I still don't know what happen, but I think it's going to be all right. I learned another lesson before this happen. Don't mess with the settings in your computer unless you know what you're doing. I don't know if I started all this, but the computer was acting funny for a week before it stopped.
After I had a small breakdown, I pulled myself together and went to my Mom's for a week. I just got back today and it is so good to be home with the prospector and the dogs. I have a lot to tell about my trip and(since my camera was working) I have new photos to share. Stay tuned.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
I have many names
I am cat.
I sit all day
In the sun
And run like wind
Toward mice
And Dragonflies;
The greatest
Challenge of all.
Waiting, unseen.
Lean.
Leaping high,
I capture
This prey;
Stalking away
Pleased.
I have many names.
I am called
Beautiful, swift
Wise, prideful
And aloof.
But...
Only the dragonfly knows
My real name.
>>>^<<<
Anne Cat
She comes. Sniffing bushes.
Walking, stalking quietly
Through the garden, toward the house.
She sees me in the window
And quickens her pace.
But a bird catches her eye, and she stops
With intense sureness,
To switch her tail
And click her teeth;
Wishing to taste
The elusive feathered creatures...
An instinct as old as the earth.
She is beautiful. Her fur; a coat of
Dark stripes, dusty orange, and soft gray,
With white paws and black tipped tail.
Graceful. Curious.
Moving through bushes like her ancient ancestors.
Moving, without sound, toward
The feathered Redwing perched above.
I see this drama,
And knowing her cunning,
I call to her...
The bird flies away and Annie turns
To look toward my voice,
And I know I have betrayed her.
There will be others
Annie my love.
I cannot save them all,
And you will have your dinner
Of warm feathers soon.
She turns away and drinks
From the birdless bath,
Then looks toward a new sound,
Following it behind the fence,
Out of my sight.
The birds sing and return to the fence.
I cannot help you, feathered beauties.
She is the one who waits for us all.
Her name is Annie.
She is as old as the earth.
She waits patiently,
And the garden is hers.
<<<^>>>
s.
I sit all day
In the sun
And run like wind
Toward mice
And Dragonflies;
The greatest
Challenge of all.
Waiting, unseen.
Lean.
Leaping high,
I capture
This prey;
Stalking away
Pleased.
I have many names.
I am called
Beautiful, swift
Wise, prideful
And aloof.
But...
Only the dragonfly knows
My real name.
>>>^<<<
Anne Cat
She comes. Sniffing bushes.
Walking, stalking quietly
Through the garden, toward the house.
She sees me in the window
And quickens her pace.
But a bird catches her eye, and she stops
With intense sureness,
To switch her tail
And click her teeth;
Wishing to taste
The elusive feathered creatures...
An instinct as old as the earth.
She is beautiful. Her fur; a coat of
Dark stripes, dusty orange, and soft gray,
With white paws and black tipped tail.
Graceful. Curious.
Moving through bushes like her ancient ancestors.
Moving, without sound, toward
The feathered Redwing perched above.
I see this drama,
And knowing her cunning,
I call to her...
The bird flies away and Annie turns
To look toward my voice,
And I know I have betrayed her.
There will be others
Annie my love.
I cannot save them all,
And you will have your dinner
Of warm feathers soon.
She turns away and drinks
From the birdless bath,
Then looks toward a new sound,
Following it behind the fence,
Out of my sight.
The birds sing and return to the fence.
I cannot help you, feathered beauties.
She is the one who waits for us all.
Her name is Annie.
She is as old as the earth.
She waits patiently,
And the garden is hers.
<<<^>>>
s.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Gardenspeak
Old Dog
Feeling the sun on my back
I took a picture of my old dog.
She must know how this warmth,
reaching down to your bones,
makes you feel yellow
like daisies,
makes you feel green
like the hills.
>>>^<<<
Showoff
Something has happened in a corner of my garden.
The azalea has acquired an attitude
and there's nothing I can do about it,
but watch.
>>>^<<<
Adornment
The lady is wearing sweet alyssum in her hair
Should I tell her that, later on,
with blossoms, come bees.
>>>^<<<
Feeling the sun on my back
I took a picture of my old dog.
She must know how this warmth,
reaching down to your bones,
makes you feel yellow
like daisies,
makes you feel green
like the hills.
>>>^<<<
Showoff
Something has happened in a corner of my garden.
The azalea has acquired an attitude
and there's nothing I can do about it,
but watch.
>>>^<<<
Adornment
The lady is wearing sweet alyssum in her hair
Should I tell her that, later on,
with blossoms, come bees.
>>>^<<<
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