Your Favorite

Your Favorite

I am your favorite song hummed aloud on a moonlit night under the stars lined up bright like a kite string sailing

Just play me

I am the morning mist as it settles down on the thirsty slack plant leaves still hot from the sultry sun of yesterday’s heat

Drink me in

I am a fine wine cultured full with body musty luscious green grapes fat dripping off an old vine

Sip me slowly

I am water rushing to surge over the falls edge glimmering full out in the sparkling summer sun’s ray

Wash yourself clean

I am the story unraveling mysterious with hidden meaning that glints across the cave at you golden

Line your pockets

I am a thoroughly fit small child well clad skipping the rope nimble higher and higher I go

Jump for awhile

I am the mist as it curls 'C ' off the gentle mountain’s slope like the long sweet caress that it is and I am drifting up

Think with me

I am the frothy cream thick and bubbling sweet perched upon the little cup’s edge

Let me linger

I am the shade of a sea of oaks rising up straight like soldiers standing serene in the hollow's green grass

Stay awhile.

Leona

Leona

Seized by the back of my hair, I found myself being overpowered and pulled straight back and down and then down again to the cold, hard linoleum. Stunned, in a flash of time, I thought back on all of my coaxing and the seemingly careful consideration I had given to Leona and her puzzling ways. I thought I had ‘tamed’ her; subdued her sometimes reportedly savage behavior with my winning, confident way about her. I believed that she might have even seen me as ‘safe.’ But this day, I found myself being rescued by my co-workers, unharmed but with the wind temporarily taken out of my sails. Whatever ‘score’ that there was to be settled, in Leona’s eyes, it was satisfied for the time being. Or was it just her madness getting the better of her that had caused her to so plainly assault me? In any event, she had caught me totally off guard. It was me…turning for a small moment in time to get her an item that she needed, trusting implicitly in the agreement that I thought that we had, and she had taken advantage.

How is it that…even ‘professionals’ can think that we know so much about someone…when we really know so little?

It was 7:00 A.M. and I had already been unwittingly pulled right down on to the floor. I knew that maybe I was lucky. The one totally unpredictable thing that always seemed to happen in this (crazy) place that I worked at each day…had already played itself out.

But I did learn one thing that day. Never turn your back…on Leona.

Journeying Well

Mountain beyond the mountain
All places we must go.
Mountain beyond the one I'm climbing
preparing me, you know.
Mountain after mountain
each journey worth the climb
Mountain peak and mountain view
each one special, each one new...
Horizon after horizon
All calling me to push
venturing beyond what is safe
With limit after limit breached
and all upon my dusty foot...
Sunset after sunset
with color that never pales
Until I reach my resting place
Pressing, I will prevail.
Mountain after mountain peak
and singing all the way
What I see from the valley fair
is calling out to me.
Mountains, limitless mountains
all standing in a row
Like soldiers they remind me of
places I have yet to go.
Glory upon glory
and wonders all round
I stand and gaze on mountain peaks
for this is hallowed ground.
Mountain after mountain peak
and pressing all the way
With story after story to tell
I'm leaving on my way.
Fair mountain you are a friend to me
I tuck you near my heart
Calling to travelers everywhere
To up and run, to leave...depart!
Shake off the dust of yesteryear
And breath in something new
Fair mountain with one hid behind
is calling out to you...
So pack then, lightly friend
brave travelers alike
And we will feast on mountain airs
upon this, our lofty hike.
Soldier on, yes soldier on
and we will greet the day
Standing where our ancestry stood
stalwart, come what may.
Mountain fair, O mountain friend
to you we rise and sing
All gathered 'round
as children glad,
receive this, our offering.
Mountain looming, mountain next
to you we must away
And stand as the tomorrow shines
Aglow, as our yesterday.
Fair mountain on horizon, lifting
you beckon to me and call...
I will conquer and upon you stand
for you are fairest of them all!
Arise, O slumbering nations!
and enter in to rest...
Banishing strife and your warring cease
to receive our Maker's very best...
For we each, are gentle warriors
on this, our Earthly home;
each precious day a gift on display
to unwrap, to discover and to gently hold.
And treat this one time journey
just like a loving child...
Held so sweetly to your breast
never left soiled, tired...undressed
And with a lightness in your step
run free, run brave, and run wild.

A Rose by Any Other Name

Front yard rose
basking in the sun
Front yard rose
to see you is to come undone
Front yard rose
a bloom for passers-by
Front yard rose
sweet petal of silk is my
Front yard rose.

Asheville

Baby Wren Being Rescued

Belle Dancer (Asheville, N.C.)

Majestic Mountains

Long View Beauty in the Valley

We had a great road trip to Asheville, N.C. this
past Saturday. The scenic views include the
mountainous terrain of Asheville, with big mountain
tops looming and billowy blue skies rolling over
green valleys to ponder upon. Downtown
Asheville has its more unusual delights...
with skilled bluegrass musicians and
colorful mimes that line the building
fronts and the downtown square to entertain.
Top: We attended a local herb festival in
Banner Elk for a High Country Writers book
signing on Sunday. At the nearby orchid
selling tent, a women was diligently feeding
5 baby wrens that she had rescued.
Don't they look weak? Not sure if they
can survive their innate frailty without
their mother...Free bluegrass musicians
performed here for the day, as well!
And a good time was had...by all.

Saturday Road Trip

Belle Dancer

Fairest of Maids

Maidens of Gold

Rolling Clouds

Come on along!
We visited Asheville, N.C. (Saturday)
and were greeted by rolling clouds above the bluest
of mountains. In the downtown were these most
lovely maids on display to photograph and observe.
Each time you placed your offering in their basket,
they bowed down and curtsied. It was amazing talent and
quite beautiful to behold. Ahhhh. The beauty of a fair maiden!

Down in the Holler

Down in the holler
where the green grass grows
where the trout flops
the bear stops
and no one knows...
its coming or its going-
the rushing river rolls
over rocky boulder
slinking down the grassy knolls.

Down in the holler
you'll find me
basking in the spotty
sun in all my glory.
Down in the holler
where my dreams pass the time
with one toe dipped down in the stream-
a taste of the sublime.

Down in the holler
where everything is green
Come sit a spell and you will find
exactly what I mean.

Down in the holler
where wild flowers line the banks
My thoughts roll round and round my head
full of song and thanks.

Down in the holler
just let yourself all go
and find some peace and a resting place
with no one else to know.

Lovely May Morn Jog

(Just click to enlarge the shots...)
A little jog onto the Blue Ridge Parkway this
morning was akin to a slice...of heaven. The May
morning lighting was 'just right,' leaving
shadows to play. As you can see (from the two
long view shots) it is a hazy morn in the parkway...
(altitude for these shots 3750 feet above sea level.)
Bottom: The perfect plump reddish-peach rosebud
peaked out to as if to say "Lookie here! ...I am full of
the promise of an equally plump red rose to be!"
Next Up: The road stretches ahead in the
parkway on a sweet May morn. (Others) in Mid
Section: Subtle long views today. Can you see
the alligator hidden away? Top: Old, old huge
trees line the Blue Ridge. I particularly like
the weathering of the fence posts all in a
jagged line. In this shot you can see the tricky
but the pleasant to the eye morning lighting.
Do...enjoy the day.

Lakhi at Rest

Here is my pretty-girl friend Lakhi (pronounced
"Lah-key;" just bathed.) She is faithful
and only recently she has begun to lay down
(when we are outside) and to wait for me.
The hot sun (now) combined with the
rather cool mountain breezes make
for some pretty terrific lawn enjoying days.

Color Me Iris and (My) Teenagers :-)

Lovely Lone Iris

Elegant Sliver

Delicate in Color

I am in the middle (presently) of adjusting to my
(almost) 21 year old son being home (from college.)
He is a joy but...I could easily spend my entire
day cleaning (even if they assist) with 4 back in
our home. Teenagers (I have two) carry about
1/2 of their weight with household chores
if you are lucky. They just have so much
going on and still require a lot of sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(O.K.-I'll admit this one time that I am
having a slightly good whine with my gouda...
here :-) ) Oh...and their clothes are way bigger
so the laundry seems to grow and swell up and then
grow some more. You find (slightly dirty) clothes and
strange items in odd places; especially under the bed.
Things like nail clippers, pennies, pens, paper, lost clothes,
and many snack food items. Humph!! Then...they ask
incredulously..."Mom, do I have this and that?" or..."I am
missing this thing...can we go to the store and
get some more??! Like---now, Mom, really."
(I won't dwell on that. But, now I do know just
where all the snack foods go. Anyone care
for a pretzel...just look under the bed!)
On a good note, we had them both for a car ride
deep into the Appalachians (previous post) which
was a first in a long (long) time. Almost 21 year old
son slept most of the way and said "If you've seen
one mountain...I could say...You've seen them all...
Yawn... yawn...stretch and then yawn again...)"
And he meant it.
Fifteen year old daughter quietly watched out of
the window at gorgeous ravines and strikingly,
hauntingly beautiful gorges and mountainous
vistas (...places filled with the mystery of
serious untouched, pristine beauty) but would
not get out of the car (except to eat.) I think that
families should get a tax break just for
feeding their youth
(well.) :-)
An aside for today [as I am literally back
stroking in housework and...of course, to low on
petro (is it expensive or what?; we are feeling the
pinch here!!) for a trip to sooth my frazzled nerves
to the close by, ever patiently waiting Blue Ridge...]
Top: A sole iris delights me; Next Two: A study
in the wonder a of light purple frail flower as it looks
with setting sunlight passing through...and of course...
the 'inside' wonderment of the plant...
lg!
(and waving today!!)
:--)