Sunday Quote

Yearn to understand first and to be understood second.

-Beca Lewis Allen

Happy Birthday, Tucker

Not the dog I would have chosen had I thought about it. Not the name I would have chosen, either. Rushing to get another dog right after our beloved Moky died of cancer, insanity, and yes, instant regret. Same coloring as Moky, that small blur of black fur running around - initially that did not comfort but just stir up the sense of loss. The old dog (ah, my Em) wanted nothing to do with him. Tucker felt likewise. Tucker, named by the ten year old who picked him out because he was so funny and silly, chose the name too because he "tucked" under his arm on the car ride home. And yet, in that mysterious and mystical way dogs have when they add you to their pack of one and create a family for themselves - he has won us all over, even the husband who was not on board with the whole dog thing is crazy about the wee dog. Thank goodness for ill-chosen hasty actions, absurd impulses, and crazy gestures - not the first time they have brought a wealth of good things into my life. Happy Birthday, sweet and funny, loving and ridiculous little dog. (Who would not stand still for his birthday portrait at all...these are the result of about twenty photographs, all a blur).

Quiet lives in the interior...

snow predicted

Dear Winter,
I have had enough.
Thank you.

Sunday Quote

Action is hope. At the end of each day, when you’ve done your work, you lie there and think, Well, I’ll be damned, I did this today. It doesn’t matter how good it is, or how bad—you did it. At the end of the week you’ll have a certain amount of accumulation. At the end of a year, you look back and say, I’ll be damned, it’s been a good year.

- Ray Bradbury

March, lion.

Sunday Quote

We cannot wait til the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
God came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

- Madeleine L'Engle, First Coming

with hopes to be just ducky...

...soon enough. I know, dreadful photo punning. But with a mysteriously injured back and a sky full of rain, I need something cheerful - and what is more cheerful than ducks? (I would say they quack me up but that would be going just too far, hmmmm?) I do like the silly accidental photo of the duck peeking in his face in all that blue, yes?
To make up for my dreadful puns, let me share a wonderful find - just finished reading Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons. Terrific - and I think it would make a great book club read as well.

Ice Writing

Spring is in the air; the little gull warming himself in the grass may think it is not coming soon enough (I may agree with him) but the signs are all about. Crocus tips and the neighborhood geese returning, Easter baskets on the store shelves, wearing my lighter coat. Spring is coming - and even the ice writes the news.

Sunday Quote

The future is called 'perhaps', which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is not to allow that to scare you.

- Tennessee Williams

My Life...and then some

"My Life is pieces of paper that I'll get back to later
I'll write you a story, how I ended up here
Why the little things make us and how long it takes us
To figure out what matters the most..."

-Lori McKenna, The Most

Been listening to the new Lori McKenna cd - no one I ever mention her to knows her work and she is so good - I love her voice and on every cd there are songs I play over and over - today's song is The Most, was so pleased to find it on Youtube so I could share it (and go get her cds, people!). Also enjoying Esperanza Spalding - I confess prior to the grammys I did not know her work - and what is strange is I never watch the grammys or any awards shows other than the Oscars (which good, bad, or indifferent I watch religiously, welcome to my quirks). Her cd is also great - and also perfect for cooking by :) Nothing like a little jazz in the kitchen. I love the way her music makes you mind take off on its own spirals and twirls.
Thank you WOL for your most complimentary award - and here, all of you somewhere out there, is a link to a blog,
The Owl Underground I visit often - as well as a link here to some creative art and poem play she has been doing - you might note the photographer in a couple of them is yours truly - love to be included in her creative sphere :)
Also over at another favorite spot - Apifera Farm - Matilda, a donkey who has had a difficult life, is now about to know kindness - if you can donate towards her well-being, here is the link to do so. I am in continual awe of the kindness and giant heart and compassion of Katherine Dunn and the Apifera Farm family, crew and friends. Her art book is available on the AF blog as well as Amazon - I thumbed through a copy at my library and had to order it immediately. Spring painting fun just around the corner. (Do you hear me, Spring? I'm waiting...)

March and the mind turns to thoughts of...

...vacay and getaways. Especially as I am on the upswing from some mystery virus and all I can think of is hot places with leaves big as elephant ears and the sun baking all my winter blues away...sadly the price of air fare is beyond daunting - the airlines aren't offering any breaks to northerners...featured is a menu from a Florida trip - how the husband and youngest passed the time at a jumping joint while waiting for their meals. What to do, where to go, that doesn't require endless driving (our last drive down and back to NC felt like forever and not in a good way). Oh for wings. Or a private jet.