46/365 Morning Song

Trilling cardinal in

classic treetop pose brightens

a bleak winter morn.



45/365 Midnight

Mirrored in the night

Sky - radiant with borrowed  

Light - the fresh snow falls.



44/365 Morning Snow

Lazy flakes dally,

Obscuring the sky, blurring

The grey shapes below.



43/365

Patchwork patterns of

Melting snow shift under the

Mid-day sun’s warm touch.



Serendipity

It was a good weekend for our seemingly
never-ending list of projects.
Can't wait to show you the finished kitchen
and you should see what Tim started yesterday!!
Part of the problem - for me- are
those things which come up that aren't even on the list.

 

My serger - out for repairs since early January -

 finally came back on Friday.

Yippee!!

Yikes!!

 I suddenly realized just how many

piles had taken root in my sewing room.
I would need to clean before it could even go back in its spot!!

 

 I cleaned that room yesterday.
Made a curtain for the kitchen, too.
Did some other sewing that had been
waiting for the serger's return.
Felt good.

 

There were also plans to frame a couple trail maps

for Tim's office area which lead to a hunt

for spare picture frames

which lead to

the one box that was never unpacked after our move.

google images

 

I unpacked it yesterday.

 

The box was labeled "music boxes."

I had a vague idea of what else might be in there

but wasn't prepared to find:

 

Mercury glass Christmas ornaments!

I thought they'd been left in Nebraska!!

 

A piece of McCoy!

I'd forgotten it existed!!

 

A handful of wonderful surprises!!

 

Several items that have gone directly
to the yard sale box.

 Done without them for over a year!!

How fun!!  I'm looking forward to finding
just the right spots for all these
unexpected treasures!!

I'll add it to my list of projects...

 

 

42/365 Dusk

Argent moon climbs high

In the east as lavender

Sunset claims the west.



41/365 Lone Tree

A gnarled giant

Stands, marking time and place for

 Long generations.

 

 

I went up to Fort Dodge today and

 - as is fairly typical of a drive through the rural mid west -

came across a stunningly beautiful example

 of the lone tree standing at the edge of a field.

 

Those trees always intrigue me.

 

 

 

 



40/365 Aftermath

Fresh snow sparkles in

The pallid mid-day sun while

Frosted tree limbs droop.



39/365 Conversation

Treasured voices, bright

Against the gathering storm,

Reassure the heart.



38/365 Before the Storm

Cold, steely wind cuts

Deep as the pale sun looks on

Offering no help.



37/365 Waves in the Night

Like surf-tossed pebbles

Distant memories tumble,

Borne on midnight winds.



36/365 Warm kisses

Thick frost glistens in

The shadows, melting when kissed

By the rising sun.



35/365 Morning Calls

Twittering birds greet

The morning sun, calling

To hasten its rise.



34/365 Shadow Play

Trees dancing in the

Morning sun cast delicate

Shadows on my wall.



33/365 Taken by Surprise

Stinging winds, sharp with

Icy spray, rob the promise

Of warmth from the day.

A new favorite

February is almost over.

The check-out period at our library is three weeks

so we have been saying March this or that for

several days already and

it makes the time go so fast!!

 

The last two weeks were fun as

I indulged in my traditional

valentine saturation for Tim.

  He was on the look-out for a particular

stunt that has become a standard, I was able

to mix in a few new ideas and

we both had a few laughs along the way

which is always good.

 

This is what I found last night when I returned from work:

 

 

Aren't they lovely? Thanks, Tim!

Happy Valentine's Day

32/365 Night Sky

Glitter-strewn velvet

Encases the night softly

Whispering, “Now sleep.”



31/365 Bald Eagle

Riding on warm winds

High above receding ice -

  Majesty in flight.

 

On my way home yesterday I crossed the bridge over the Saylorville Reservoir.  At roughly eye-level, right beside the bridge, I saw a bald eagle and thought of my father-in-law.  John used to talk with a particular note of awe in his voice of the eagles that gathered down here.  He enjoyed spotting them and always hoped that we (anyone, really) would have the same opportunity.  Whether for that reason, or others, it is always an intense pleasure to spot one on the fly. This was the first I've seen since we moved back last year.

 

 



30/365 Morning sun

Sunlight streams through snow-

encrusted trees glittering

as icy winds blow.



Snow delay

I should be writing this from home -

 actually I should be home doing my nails

but the weather intervened and I

won't leave until tomorrow morning.

The snow was wet and heavy - 

really rather lovely.

 

 

Aidan and I shoveled the driveway and spent the day

doing a puzzle and playing Dread Pirates.

The dogs slept nicely underfoot until

 someone had the misfortune to

clink their spoon

rustle a paper

say "okay" or

"good boy"

"let's go"

etc.

The

ensuing chaos

would set us both to

laughing.  Then we'd spend the

next ten minutes getting everyone settled again.

I love listening to Aidan spell words so the dogs won't catch on!

It was a happy day.

 

 Tomorrow Charlie and I will head home.

Also a happy day.



29/365 Sleep

Blessed sleep enfolds

me granting respite - labors

cease, thoughts slow, time stills.



28/365 Snowfall

Thick whispering flakes

Cling to tangled vines.  Evening 

 Deepens with the snow.   



27/365 The Pines

Stately sentinels

Offer shelter in graceful

Boughs unmoved by wind.



26/365 Puddles

Shallow ripples mark

The surface as melting snow  

Runs before the wind.

Road Trip!!

 

 

This one will be just Charlie and me

heading to the Northlands.

 

 

So it makes a busy night.

There's always a last load of laundry.

Run the dishwasher

pack me

pack Charlie

pack audiobooks

pack gifts

pack winter gear

etcetcetc.



 

Friday night is Aidan's Chinese New Year program

followed by a dinner of

- what else? -

Chinese cuisine at a local eatery.

 

I've been told that Saturday will feature

frozen waffles

a Monopoly marathon

and a trip to the thrift store.

 

Sunday

we'll be looking at a couple houses.

(Keep your fingers crossed)

 

The day will be capped by a visit to Margo's house.

She and Naphtali have a presentation

for the "docs"

on their trip to Haiti.

Naphtali has only dribbled a few details

 so I'm excited to see and hear more of the story.

 

Monday will find me homeward bound.

I may sneak in another stop

at the thrift store before I leave town...

 

 

 





25/365 Rain at Dawn

Rain patters, rousing

The day with dulcet tones.  Dreams

 Fade to shifting mists.



24/365 Shadow Boxing

Sparring partners dance

 Across the sky - taunting as  

They jab, feint, parry.

 





23/365 Waking

Dreams entwine with dawn’s

Soft rays.  Sound intrudes chasing

Sleep into cold light.



22/365 A Welcome Change

Warm sun.  Soft winds.  Snow

Melting to clean, laughing streams.

Lift your face and smile.



21/365 Steadfast Flight

Silent wings carry

Geese unerringly homeward

Through the falling snow.



20/365 Waking

Landscape in grey and

White waits for sunrise to wake

The colors of day.



Happy Birthday

 

 

 

Birthday greetings for Jacob!

I'm not sure what's required of me in this situation.

Should I feel traumatized that my youngest has turned 30!?

Cards and confetti have been mailed

and though it seems impossible that 30 years have been

measured in this way

the reality is that they have not only passed

but they've been full:

 

 of happy and heartbreaking events

 

of old friends and new

 

of places and opportunities

 

of growth and change

 

of more than could be told.

 

Happy Birthday, Jacob.

Here's to another 30 years!!

 



19/365 Sundogs

Alight with wonder

Bright, arcing sundogs herd the

 Westering sun home.     



google images