126/365 Ominous

Storm clouds build, boiling

And bumping across the sky

All through the long day.

Saturday evening

It's been a long day.

 

I had wondered recently

how Proton would do with the new fence?

Not to worry -

he simply ignores it when the need arises.

 

To be fair, it has taken him almost a week,

but he did jump it today - twice.
Sailed right over it.
Apparently the dogs on the other side were too appealing
and he had to chase up and down
barking with them.

So we added what seemed like
a substantial barricade
using a trellis and the grilling table.

 

(Sorry about the fuzziness)

And he went over that about a 1/2 hour later.
We heard the grill rattle so we know he went over it.
Tim is already formulating plan B.

We put in several hours when I came home from work
building a privacy fence at the back of the yard
so the dogs didn't have our full attention.
Charlie waited in the shade watching us.
Proton watched us, waiting for his opportunity.

My wisteria is blooming.
 

 

I have a few things to finish before I can call it a wrap...

 

125/365 Dusk

Shadows deepen then

Lose their form, blending into

Approaching night.

124/365 Siesta

Soft shadows and cool

Breezes invite the weary

To linger at rest.

Thursday

My computer time has become

 less-than-predictably-reliable.

Walking the dog (dogs for another week)

and watering flowers

-activities to be finished before the day's heat settles-

 now claim the first blush of  morning.

 

google images

 

Evenings are simply too lovely to

spend at a keyboard...

 

 



123/365 Evening in May

The hammock’s rhythm

Stirs fragrant air while fading

Light signals day’s end.

122/365 Afternoon Nap

Sprawling lazily

Across the floor, yawning dogs

Rest contentedly.

Tuesday Morning

This is such a heady time of year.

 

A treat for the senses.

 

A day like this makes you forget

 the long months of snow,

 reminds you that this is a good place to be. 

 

 

Colors

 - seemingly absent yesterday -

surround me today.

The back yard is scented with

lilac and lily of the valley.

Pear and crab apple trees

 are in full blossom.

The wisteria

is ready to join them.

And the birds! 

 

Such a day!

 

 



121/365 Spring Morning

Sweet scents and sweet songs

Fill the air as blossoms join

Birds to welcome Spring.



120/365 Windy Day

Whence come the wild winds?

 Both grass and tree bow before

Such relentless strength.

I'm listening to the birds singing.

I can't tell you how entrancing the songbirds

 around our neighborhood have been.

 

With apologies to Mr. Wilson, I could burst into song like

Marion-the-librarian

wondering why they've never before

made such an impression -

but we'll skip that...

 

I do have to wonder, though, how such

tiny creatures produce such volume.

 

Naphtali and Aidan left for home earlier this afternoon.

Tomorrow is a big day for them.

Papers will be signed,

keys exchanged,

and the opportunity to craft their life anew

begins.

 

It's been one year. 

This same weekend last year

a different set of papers were signed

and we helped them move.

Amazing.

 

We'll go up at the end of the month

to help as we can

- and return Proton to his rightful place-

but most of it should be done.

The next couple weeks Naphtali will be 

painting,

planning,

and making small hauls

from where they are

to where they will be.

 

Can't wait!

 

 

 

 

 

119/365 A Good Day

Dirt-smudged faces beam

With pride and laughter as shared

Work becomes pleasure.

Saturday Morning

Naphtali, Aidan and Proton arrived

last night.  They made good time.

Tradition says they sleep in on Saturday morning.

But I'm not sure how/why they ended up on the couch together.

 

Tim had Proton out for a walk earlier.

 

We'll head out shortly for graduation festivities.

We have plenty of sunshine but

a very cool wind is blowing.

 



118/365 This Morning

Is anything so

Lovely as the face of a

Child immersed in sleep?

117/365 Friday

Warm sunlight slowly

Succeeds the morn’s grey mists to

Ripen with the day

116/365 Wee Hours

Thunder and lightning

Jolt dreams beyond reach as rain

Croons softly of sleep.

115/365 Slipping Away

Time eludes our grasp

Like water flowing to meet

The wild, endless sea.

114/365 Flowers

Bright blooms entice the

Senses shifting and winking

In dappled sunlight.

Gated Community



 

Busy days ahead with

company

family events and

major projects on-going

in the house and yard.

 

 We've added some fencing

to make a section of the yard

 

dog-free.

 

Any plants that fail to thrive will fail

for reasons unrelated to dogs being dogs.

 

It's worked well for Charlie

but Proton will be here next week

and that will be the real test.

 

Naphtali and Aidan will come down Friday.

A graduation reception

and Mother's Day visits will fill the weekend.

They'll head home, Sunday, 

- with Tim's pick-up -

leaving Proton with us until Memorial Day.

 

Why?

Because they'll be moving!

 

Papers will be signed on Monday!

Painting

packing

hauling

will take up the next couple weeks

and Proton can skip that part of the process.

 

 

We're all excited to see this transitional

period end.

For so many reasons it will be good to see them

in their own home.

 

 

 

 

 

113/365 The Cardinal

Swift scarlet flight and

Ringing treetop arias

Proclaim “Tis my realm!”

112/365 Relief

Soft breezes hint at

Change as thinning clouds skim past

Ending their grey siege.

111/365 Wellness

Chicken soup reminds

The weary heart to savor

Kind ministrations.

110/365 Nightfall

Tonight, no sunset;

Grey skies simply deepen to

Black, marking day’s end.

Peer Pressure

We have always

always

always

waited until Mother's Day

to do anything with bedding plants.

 

This past weekend our neighbor and her adorable

preschool daughter

had filled their big, red wagon

with all sorts of flowers

and made their way around the yard

planting and

laughing and

oohing and ahhing

and having so much fun together

that I went and bought

some plants on Monday.

And Tuesday.

And they looked great.

On Wednesday.

 

Last night when I came home from work

I noticed those same neighbors had been busy

covering their handiwork with sheets

so I tromped around in the dark spreading

 a few sheets of my own.

 

It has been snowing all day.

 

All day.

 

All day!

 



 

 



109/365 May Snow

Plump robin redbreast

Bright against fresh snow shares my

Cold befuddlement.

108/365 Progress

Planning comes in waves

As options solidify

And excitement grows.

107/365 Explosion

Overnight, it seems,

Buds burst spewing vibrant hues

In all directions.

106/365 Sweet Cacophony

Children’s voices arc

With the climbing sun, filling

The air with bright hope.

105/365 Satisfaction

Dirty hands and face

Bear witness to work done well

As the day’s light fades.

Sunday Evening

We enjoyed a beautiful day.

 

A lot of very

important

and

necessary

work was accomplished here today.

 

The list includes

(but is not limited to)

the following:

 

Post holes were dug.

Posts were set.

 

Mulch was spread. 

 

Columbine were relocated.

 

Chicken was grilled.

 

 

 

The hammock was hung.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

104/365 To Donna and Libby

Conversation flags

As two friends soak their cold bones

In the warm sunshine.

Quick Catch-up

So many things running through my brain tonight but

I still need to write a poem so this will be quick.

 

Who am I kidding? 

 I'll natter on here for much longer than I ever intended...

It makes me wonder why I bother to attempt

these quick just-check-in-and-get-right-back-out posts...

Never works that way...

 

I returned, earlier this evening, from a couple days in FD.

My mom and sister had been planning a yard sale

and ( for a variety of reasons) I agreed to help.

So I made myself available, driving up on Thursday, 

and returning home today.

That covered set-up to clean-up

and divvying the loot.

We managed to play a couple games of scrabble.

Crossed paths with old acquaintances.

Managed to stay warm in the mornings and then

 - later in the day -

peeled off sweatshirts in the sun.

 

So on the drive the array of color was breathtaking.

I was entranced by the barest blush of color the trees were sporting.

It seems that everything is in bud right now

and it creates an almost fuzzy effect on the bare branches against the sky.

Not leaf green but, on many, a pinkish glow.

(For instance - the maples in our back yard have a deep burgundy bud case.) 

And the weeping willows were a fluorescent yellow.

And the red-twig dogwoods along the fence lines were a treat to see.

Quite lovely.

 

 So I'm driving and listening to
Splendid Solution: Jonas Salk and the Conquest of Polio
 a-more-than-fascinating-book.

The numbers are mind-blowing!!
10s of thousands every year for soooo many years!
They reported 40+000 cases in 1950.
40+000!!!
That's (almost) in my lifetime.
What happened to the young victims who survived?
How long did they live?  Are they still alive?
I asked my mother if there she knew area families
from her childhood that had dealt with polio.
She could think of two incidents.
Living on a farm she said "you just didn't hear much..."

The process of the medical research is riveting.
The prevailing methodology of the time was to use
 live -but greatly weakened -
virus for most vaccines.

Salk had been successful in creating a "killed"
influenza  vaccine for the Army
and wanted to bring that same approach to polio.

I can remember going
 to the high school one night, as a kid,
to get a sugar cube with vaccine.

I learned today that means we ingested live virus.
(unless the next few chapters explain that they found a way around that...)
I see much more reading about this in my near future.

 

Tim and Charlie were glad to see me.

I am glad to be home.

 

 

 

 

 

103/365 Budding Romance

A kiss of sun brings

The first blush of color to

Trees flirting with Spring.

102/365 Going Home

Familiar rhythms

Transcend age, and distance to

Seal our connections.

101/365 Long Night

Cold tremors assail

The restless sleeper vainly

Seeking warmth, repose.

Milestones

Just a few quick observations to go with today's

 100th (100th!!) haiku.

 

Recent conversations with my sister

and a local friend

have reminded me how fortunate

 I am to be where I am,

involved with

family

and friends,

to have work I enjoy,

time to call my own,

to be healthy,

happy,

content.

 

Here's hoping the same for you...

100/365 Contentment

Simple pleasures, kind

Words, helping hands make smiling

Faces at day’s end.

99/365 Springtime Lullaby

Lilting birdsong drifts

Through open windows coaxing 

Drowsy eyes to rest.

Monday Morning

Busy weekend.

 

Tim caught the gardening bug.

I caught the respiratory crud bug.

We'll see who makes the most progress.

 

We picked up some fencing the other day and

Tim worked on creating a

 dog-free section

of the back yard so he can garden in peace.

There is a nifty little gate that

 calls out for an arch with clematis.

He planted peas, beets and

 a variety of lettuces and spinach.

 

google images

 

I had plans to putter out there a bit today

but overnight rain

and this cough have me re-thinking my plans.

 

Later this week I'll head to Fort Dodge.

We've convinced my mother that she/we all

have too much stuff laying around.

She/we should have a yard sale.

She/we will have one.

This weekend.

I've been gathering my contributions

and need to get things marked

and ready to go.

This is probably a good day to do that.

98/365 April Morning

Sparkling frost graces

My morning walk.  Chill air stings,

Quickening my step.

97/365 Commitment

Is any distance

Known so great as that traversed

By the seeking heart?

Friday Morning

Sunshine!!

And 31 degrees - but

Sunshine!!

 

I love this room in the morning sun.

I also love it cozy and dim in the evening.

Add a fire? Heaven.

 

Right now Charlie is enjoying a patch of sunlight on the floor.

His coat is glowing.

And in desperate need of a trim.

 

We had 2.5 inches of rain - on Wednesday.

Yesterday was a combination of rain and sleet.

At times it came sideways in the wind.

 

But today we have sunshine.

And laundry.

Mending.

Bleak House with Gillian Anderson.

96/365 Good Morning

The day holds promise

As sunshine, feeble but true,

 Greets rising sleepers.

95/365 Rainy Day

Rain stops – birds appear.

Rain starts – they hide again.  So

It goes – all day long.

94/365 Rainy Day

Drumming and dripping,

Great drops fill the air - chilling

Soaking, renewing.

93/365 Boston

Fostered in darkness

Hatred’s cunning madness seeks

To despoil the light.

92/365 A Moon

Waxing crescent, faint

Gold in an ink-black sky, skims

The dark horizon.

91/365 Blustery Day

Surging winds push clouds

Across the sky, as we wait

For the rain to fall. 

90/365 Familiar Haunts

Tired thoughts slowly

Meander on well-known paths

Relishing the pace.

89/365 Today

Bitter winds assault

Tender buds as birds huddle

Together, shiv’ring.

88/365 Soporifics

Snoring dog, dripping

Trees, ticking clock whispering

“Naptime” in my ear.

You Have to Laugh

I brought this book home from the library recently:

Overdressed
The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
by Elizabeth L. Cline.

 

Of course, the next day,

JCP had a flier in my mailbox promising

everything I need for summer

for $20 or less.

 

I already shared the opinion

(and have tried to be responsible in my attitudes and consumption)

that there was something amiss in

the way clothing is

 perceived,

marketed,

produced

 and/or procured

so it won't be a life-changing read.

 

 

One comment, on page nine of the introduction, elicited

a "Seriously!?" when I read Ms. Cline's

earnest exhortation to

"...develop more of a relationship with the things we wear."

 

While I understand, and agree with the

basic premise,

I couldn't help but think that I have

family/neighbors/co-workers

with whom I need to develop relationships!

Please don't add my wardrobe to that category!!

 

 

 

 

 

87/365 Spring Rains

Slender earthworms, freed

From wintry beds, glisten on

Cool, rainy sidewalks.

86/365 Relief

Long awaited news

Brings peace to the anxious heart

Eager, now, for change.

Still, small voice...

This is always a fun time of year.

There is something new to enjoy everyday.

 

The wisteria made it through the winter and has buds!

The sun sets later each day.

Birds are singing.

People are opening their windows

(I can smell coffee on my morning walk).

 

We sleep with a window open year round which leads

 to an convoluted process of

 trying to find the right mix of sheets

and/or blankets.

For these few weeks

temperatures climb and drop so much from

sunrise to sunset and back again.

Thus, today's dilemma:

If I take the flannel sheets off I can leave all the blankets on.

If the flannels stay I need to eliminate

or exchange at least one blanket.

 

 

 

Here's hoping that the quiet whisper I hear, now, saying

"you should have stuck with the flannel sheets" 

doesn't become  a wailing

"YOU SHOULD HAVE STUCK WITH THE FLANNEL SHEETS!"

when I crawl into bed tonight.

85/365 Grief

The ebbing of time

And loss follows no schedule

In a grieving heart.

Sunday Morning.

A fire is lazily conversing behind me.

Tim is on his way home from Minneapolis

so it is just Charlie and I getting a slow start to the morning.

Delightfully slow.

 

 

I had company yesterday.

 

My mother and a sister scheduled a visit as they would be

 "in the neighborhood."

I wouldn't be home from work 'til 3:30 so I told

 them the door would be open and

please let Charlie out,

 if they got there first.  It wasn't too much of a

surprise to see their vehicle

in the driveway when I turned the corner to come home.

 

They came about 2:15.

 

They sat out on the deck, chatted, relaxed, waited.

They brought cute things for me.

We visited.  I fed them.

 We laughed.

They left.

 

A good visit.

 

 

84/365 Sunday Morning

The wet gloom of fog

Hovers while a cozy fire

 Creates welcome cheer.

83/365 Smile With Me

Those endearing quirks

Cheer, bright’ning a weary day

Like Spring's warm sunshine.

82/365 Fresh Air

Thoughts gambol as Spring’s

Lilting air invigorates

The patient dreamer.

81/365 Qiuet Warmth

Ticking clocks, drowsy

Dog, streaming sunlight, bring joy

To early mornings.



Happy Birthday Aidan!!

80/365 On Display

Tall trees reach to touch

Pendant stars strewn, glittering,

Across the night sky.



79/365 Dawn

Together light and

Song slowly fills the chill void

Of early morning.



78/365 Coin Toss

Brilliant sunshine warms

The drowsing earth and highlights

My dirty windows.



77/365 Anticipation

A subtle sheen on

 Bare branches stirs the dormant

Heart with fresh visions

76/365 A Change in the Air

Honest Spring sunshine

Brings everyone outdoors to

Visit, dawdle, bask.



Friday Evevning

Quick!

Name the last time you felt sorry for a squirrel!!

 

google images

 

Yesterday morning throughout the whole

 neighborhood the sound of

cardinals, finches

and robins

(there were/are others)

was replaced by the drone of power tools.

Not your average

grass blower

(though I have heard them recently)

but the deep throaty roar of big chainsaws.

The neighbor behind us was having his tree trimmed.

At least that's what I thought.

 

I will admit it was fun to watch them

rig all the support cables and then one guy

began to pull himself up the tree in his harness;

 a skillful, oddly elegant, process.

 

Saws were raised,

 branches were lowered,

breaks were taken

and I had to leave.

 

 When I returned several hours later

the silence was the first clue that the job was finished.

Imagine my surprise when I realized

that the tree hadn't been trimmed

it had been removed!!

 

It was a towering maple

and I can't help but think of all the history

that tree has seen.

I hate seeing trees cut down

and this one was a beauty!

I honestly hope that it was an agonizing

 decision for the neighbors.

 

There were so many birds and squirrels

that made their home in that tree.

The poor squirrels just kept running back to sit

on the stump as if maybe this time

the tree would be there.

 

I know - they're squirrels - even so

they had my sympathy.

 

 

75/365 Soundtrack

A great tree felled. The

Thrum of soulless power tools

Broadcasts its demise.



74/365 Housekeeping

Breathe.  Head up, shoulders

Back.  Reach deep for cleansing peace. 

Force out the stale.  Breathe.

73/365 Spring Rites

The morning’s fresh breeze

Carries ancient echoes as

Bird song fills the air.



72/365 Tuesday

Morning sunshine brings

A bright outlook to my day

And disposition.



71/365 Spring Snow

Poor Robin Redbreast

Huddled in the shelter of

Snow-covered bowers.



70/365 Comfort

Familiar faces,

Kindly voices, helping hands

Ease the weary heart.



69/365 Friday

Another stolen

Sunset as storm clouds, once more,

Obscure western skies.



Friday Night

It seems like it's been a long week.

Maybe because twenty four hours just doesn't seem

like enough time anymore.

Or maybe just because I'm weary of the grey skies

and another impending weekend storm.

 

Naphtali is still house hunting - and beginning

 to show signs of fatigue. 

She faces an insanely competitive market.

Yesterday, a house entered the market at 1pm. 

 By the time she saw it several hours later

multiple offers had already been made.

 

The previous week she wrote an offer

- for a flip -

at 15k over the asking price.

She found out later that the high bid was

more than 25k over the asking price.

Insane, yes?

 

We talk pretty much every day.

I keep making soothing, supportive sounds:

you'll find the right one

you still have time

you'll get this figured out

let us know...

 

All true.

All sincere.

All beginning to sound  - to me - like:

blaahblaahblaahblaahblaah.

 

It doesn't seem like enough.

 

My heart aches to see her in this position.

We would/will help in any way we can.

(and she knows that)

 

But the reality is that this process is hers to complete.

We wait.

We listen.

We wait.

 

It doesn't seem like enough.

 

The broken arms and misplaced toys of childhood

become the lost innocence and broken dreams of adulthood.

Both our kids are smart and strong.

They are capable and compassionate adults.

They make of proud.

They make us laugh.

Sometimes they make us long for the days when troubles

could be kissed away.

 

Our children's fears change as they grow older.

Mine remains fairly constant:

I hope I got this right.

 

 

 

68/365 Contentment

The lolling cat turns,

Basting evenly in the

Afternoon sunshine.



67/365 Morning

Brittle cold seeps through

The covers spoiling my warm

Repose – time to rise.



66/365 Futility

Like dust before a

Fierce wind words meant to comfort

Seem formless and void.

65/365 Stillness

Roiling thoughts obscure

Desired dreams - a quiet

Heart restores vision.



Monday

 

 



 

 



 

 

This is one of the things Aidan and I did during his visit.

His went home as a spot of color/cheer

for Naphtali.

 

 

 

I brought the dirt and grass seed in the house to warm up

for a few days before we planted.

This is one week's growth.

 

The plumber came today and I'm happy to report that

our sink (both sides!) and disposal are working.

Yippee!!

 

 

This was my project this afternoon:
 

 



It seemed silly not to make use of the back of the cabinet

Clock, calendar, reminders, recipes

all need a place for easy access.

Here it is.  For now.  

Something better may come along...

All the supplies were already in the house

and I love a free project. 



 

The ribbon is tacked to the top of the cabinet.

Super-size paper clips allow papers

to be posted for easy access.

The calendar shares a magnetic board with recipes.

Teapot and pitchers fill the top.

 

 

Yesterday was spent measuring and cutting the

beadboard for the backsplash.

Today I put the first coat of spar varnish on everything.

 

Tonight I watch Anna Karenina.

 

 

 

64/365 Snowy Hush

No sound of trilling

Bird or teasing squirrel breaks

The snow’s silent weight.