Category Archives: Nature

Looking Through Her Eyes

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

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If I could see what she actually
sees as snippets of life
come her way for the very first time,
everything so fresh and new, yet
words unavailable to her,

I would have lots of colors and
movement in everything, with
laughter and excitement everywhere.

I would float with the butterflies,
swirling colors to brighten the world.

I would sing with nightingales,
trilling tones of comfort and cheer, and

I would dance like a fairy princess,
bestowing happiness with my wand.

There would be pure wonder and joy
as I looked at life through her eyes,
the eyes of a child.

 

Child smiling

My Great Ant

11 Wednesday Jun 2014

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I watch in amazement as the ant seems to
scurry around, ferrying her quintuple load as if
it were light as a feather instead of
the weight of an elephant.

Even as the burden attempts to take her down,
she is unfazed by the enormity of the task.
Aware that I’m watching doesn’t change her, either;
She neither prances nor flounders on my account
but chooses to travel merrily along her path.

I, too, shall live like the ant,
neither whiny about my shortcomings
nor boastful of my strengths,
as I enjoy traveling my own path.

Behaving Naturally

21 Wednesday May 2014

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Equality for both sexes!
Equal pay for the same job!
Slogans I had heard and
philosophies I believed. For,

if boys played with dolls and
girls had erector sets, everything
would gravitate to the mean, right?

But there’s just no accounting
for what comes most naturally.

When my daughter was young, we’d bicycle
and chat as we leisurely rode, side by side.
However, while bicycling with my grandson,
he begged to race then
splashed through all the puddles along the way.

While I still believe in equality,
with neither the weaker sex,
I cherish the subtle differences
that add variety to the mix.

Self-Starter

19 Monday May 2014

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I gave her life,
fed and nurtured her,
and she blossomed before my eyes,
much like my healthy viola.

Encouraged by her surroundings,
she continued to grow and excel
beyond my expectations.

She’s a mature adult now
and has flourished on her own,
encouraging others to
reach out and start on their own.

Violas are beautiful plants known to self-seed (true self-starters), and with the right conditions, can bloom all year.

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Roots

17 Saturday May 2014

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I felt his spirit as we worked in the garden
and felt his warmth as we worked the soil,
letting it sift through our fingers, treasuring it
as if pieces of gold.

I saw his smile as we deeply embedded roots
of small, budding flowers into the warm earth.
We were three generations, enjoying our roots,
just as he taught us, flowers and family alike.

Pedal Pushers

16 Friday May 2014

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Enjoying the natural beauty
of sunshine, trees and grass,

I tooled around the park today,
so proud on my two wheels.

I changed perspective, however,
as I watched those less fortunate–

Like the mom balancing a small child
as she pushed a suddenly broken trike;

or the adults without adequate balance–
some wobbled and swayed on their two wheels,

some chose the support of three wheels,
while even others required four wheels.

Neither challenges nor handicaps
changed how we viewed our day.

Different but yet the same,
we were just pedal pushers,
out for sun and fun.

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Into the Wind

14 Wednesday May 2014

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Ever notice birds perched on a electrical line? Did you happen to notice if they were all facing the same direction? Did you by chance notice if they were facing a particular direction, say due South? Turns out, birds choose to face into the wind while on the wire and often in flight. The compass direction does not matter. Why? They use the wind for added lift when returning to flight. It also smooths rather than ruffles their feathers, creating less drag.

Moral of this story:

Like birds on a wire on a windy day,
facing adversity head on will smooth the way.

Blossoming Motherhood

10 Saturday May 2014

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Being a Mother is like a blossoming flower;
it starts slowly, growing hour by hour.
Though budding love for the newborn
is threatened by an occasional thorn,
as the years go by and the petals unfold,
the love of mothering grows to measures untold.

I wish I were a puppy, for…

07 Wednesday May 2014

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when I’d give you puppy eyes,
you’d smile and reach out to hold me,
and I’d jump at the invitation.

As you held me in your arms,
you’d be covered in wet kisses;
then we’d settle in for the evening
snuggling on the couch.

Since I could see better in the dark,
I’d protect you from all harm;
and as you peacefully slept,
I’d be right there by your side.

We’d tell each other secrets
and share our hopes and dreams;
We’d be the best of friends,
forever and till the end.

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Tasting Summer’s Pleasures

03 Saturday May 2014

Posted by in Family, Life, Nature, Seasonal

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Tasting Summer’s Pleasures
   By Absorbing Nature’s Bounties

Absorbing
Tongues innocently lick the mixture of
dripping perspiration mixed with melting
coconut-scented sunscreen as it
careens down sun-drenched faces,
making its way over cheekbones into the
curves of the corners of the mouth.

Nature’s
Subconsciously, hands rise to rub scented pollens
from scratchy eyes and irritated noses, recognizing
too late that instead the mouth inhaled the sensuous
smells of fresh mowed lawns and fragrant roses.
Tastes of nature course through the body as the
nose identifies the delectable aromas of summer.

Bounties
Mouths water as soaked wood chips mix with lit
charcoal briquettes, flames giving rise to a distinct
smoky flavor reminiscent of last summer’s bountiful
outdoor barbecue parties–grill-marked burgers,
chips, dips, relishes, homemade ice cream–
pleasing to palates of all ages, including the family dog.

Bringing Life to Spring

26 Saturday Apr 2014

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Peace and beauty come together as
perfectly shaped, deep purple petals
open to a beautiful inner core, a tulip
of exceptional quality and strength.

Spring ushers in with warmth
to welcome new life, like
my favorite royal flower,
sunny yellow daffodils,
baby animals,
and my beautiful daughter.

Happy 30th Birthday!

Missing You

23 Wednesday Apr 2014

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Staring pensively,
I keep watching
for you to come home.
I can’t remember how long
you’ve been gone,
but I miss you so.

I’m sure sitting listlessly
won’t bring you back
any sooner, but
I just can’t seem to focus
on anything but you.

We have such fun
when we’re together,
and I get so lonely
when you’re not here.

May wishing you here,
make it so.

Lovingly,

Fido

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To Receive is To Give

31 Monday Mar 2014

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His small hand
tightly clutches the present,
the one he picked himself.

So full of pride is he
as he hands me
a golden yellow cluster
of petite petals dangling
from its spindly stem.

“I picked a flower,
‘specially for you.”

Carefully, I take the
delicate gift and
find a mini vase
to showcase its beauty.

“Oh, thank you, honey.
I love it!”

I don’t have the heart to
tell him I’m allergic to
dandelions!

Reading Between the Strokes

26 Wednesday Mar 2014

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Monet’s quick strokes of intense color
bring impressions of 3-D to his
two-dimensional oil paintings, even without
fiiltered glasses. It’s as if stems
catch a breeze…perhaps a wind,
a dog chase, or even a nibbling bunny.
Or as if water gently flows ’round corners
with reflected shadows dancing along.

Reading between the strokes,
I continue to be moved by Monet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Agapanthus, Claude Monet, 1914-1926, Museum of Modern Art, New York
Photo: wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1914-26_Claude_Monet_Agapanthus_MOMA_NY_anagoria.JPG

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Branch of the Seine near Giverny, Claude Monet, 1897, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Photo: wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Claude_Monet_-_Branch_of_the_Seine_near_Giverny.JPG

Planted Memories

23 Sunday Mar 2014

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I don’t like getting dirty,
Yet I like to play in the dirt.

Oxymoron? Perhaps, but

Fresh tilled soil, raked and ready for planting,
is a welcome invitation to run the soil through my fingers,
sifting through memories as I stop to remember
our first flower gardens beside the porch,
mine on the right side, my sister’s on the left.

Tilling, planting, watering, weeding…it seemed so
tedious at times to a child, but it brought beauty to our lives.
‘Twas Mom’s clever way to teach the ways of work…
Responsibility, competition, rewards; and
Dad’s way of sharing his connection with earth,
Where today he rests in peace.