The U.S. Open :-)

A shout out to Sammy Stosur
and tonight, to Novak Djokovic
for their wins at the U.S. Open...and to all the
gifted tennis players who played their hearts out
and made it one of the best tournaments
in the world to be a part of!!
What terrific entertainment
you have given to all who
'sat back' and watched!
Thank you & Congrats!!
We are looking forward
to next year's Open
because of the great
stuff you bring us!

La Lune

the moon last night.
:-)

A Way of Seeing

A Way of Seeing 

I said

“Good morning”

to the sky…and the sky said

“Tangerine.”

I watched the child say

“Hop, hop!”

to the squatting frog…

and the frog replied back with a short but rather high hop and a

“Blink, blink.”

I watched the green ocean ebb and flow and I saw the waves slap at the sky

and the sky said back

“I will embrace you with my azure

blue.”

I watched the mother, watching over the child and I saw her think

“I will protect you.”

I watch the old man sitting in his chair and I see him sob, with a heart that yearns

for all that has passed--

as I watch his young(er) son say

“Look over here, Dad.”

I saw the floppy eared little dog coming up the hill

and the dog said

“Cuddle me.”

I see the food on the plate, and the garden fresh food says

“Eat me! I am a gift.

Let’s celebrate!”

I see the soft spoken gray haired women standing still,

dressed in gray

leaning hard against her cane, quiet--

yet, she is telling all those who will listen

“Slow down.”

I see the clothes, washing themselves today

and saying

“Smile, it suits you.”

I see the ivory keys, white, in sharp contrast to the dimness of the morning light

and they arrest me saying

“See me.”

And C through E chime in, saying

“You need to pay us a visit.”

I see the baby, with tears streaming down her swollen, red and puffy cheeks--

and I hear the

“Drip, drip,”

as she glides past

riding up high

in the front of

a shopping cart,

cold metal--

at an hour unlikely

and I see

the mother’s absent-minded stare also blank,

as she tries hard to maintain her state of

oblivion;

fingering the clothes, and I hear her empty sighing

as she lingers in the aisle--

and all the while

I hear

the screaming cry

of the young little baby, as it demands to be heard,

saying

“Mother, mother, let me lay my head down…and

put me to bed. I need my rest— now,

this instant. ”

I see the big black truck menacing me and my car bumper says

“Watch out! This is not a stable person.”

I see the mist laying itself completely over the top of the trees and it says

“Come now and play.”

I see the heat streaming in curves and rising

up off of the pavement—hot, hot

and it says

“S-s-s-s-summer.”

Cyrano

de Bergerac?

I have no words...
to describe the delight that I have...
to have the opportunity...to share
this photo.
:-)
(A real, unadulterated,
specimen of...eggplant...
from our garden.)
[Wow.]

(!)
?

63

What a great door this was. It was worn,
and scratched (with some green
showing through) and hugely tall
(10 feet or so?) I like doors (as doors go)
and especially do enjoy bringing you...
this particular doorway, with the red
brick just behind the glass panels.
Where do the doors lead...
in your life...
in your mind....
and in...your heart?
Just give me...an open door.
:-)

A Shout Out...

to a simply fabulous young women
who was a silver drumming mime
on the streets of Asheville, N.C.
['twas...apparently the place to be (!)]
in the HOT Carolina sun
(this past Saturday,
the 3rd...)
To appreciate her thoughtful gaze
and the simply delicious silvery-ness
of her skin and her attire,
just click to enlarge!

Blurred Color

Blurred color...
What are your dreams?
Be assisted (if you will)
bringing them to focus~~
ideation, imagination,
creation,
cogitation,
hard work,
paint, and sweat...
all issuing forth
to find a home
canvasing the heavens,
crossing the sky.

A Good Thing

I was astounded to find this lovely etching on a rich
granite stone found at the grave site where my
mother-in-law (Barbara) was recently entombed
(just on the 29th.) What lovely grays and blues elicited
from a stone. I have seen this as a painting but it
looked hauntingly beautiful etched on granite.
It was a wonderful focal point and a nice surprise
for a somber occasion.
lg

Waterfall Video; Come on along!!

The Man on the Moon?

I found...
the man on the moon!
(Just kidding, obviously...!)
But it is...a man on a rock.
And a B-I-G rock!
Again, this is from our travels last weekend. W-a-y
out on a gravel road (in the Appalachian mountains)
I spied this graffiti around a corner bend in the road
drawn out on a series of rocky ledges very high up.
I thought the colors were extraordinary against
the iron stained brown and the gray rock. I don't know
who the author(s) are, but it provided some fun
viewing and does make for an unusual photograph.
There is no way for you to appreciate the massive size
of these rocky ledges and subsequent drawings
(but I thought I would try to communicate it to you!)
What can you find??!
For you.
:-)
lg
(As always, click to enlarge for detail and effect.)

Ahhh. The World Looks Brighter.

Lord, help the things which
need to be in the forefront
of my mind to be there.
Help me to be mindful
of what You would have
me to be mindful of.
And bring the
things of
beauty...
into
focus.

Edgemont Road Drive

Simply Beautiful View
(click to enjoy)

Small Waterfall (off a winding State Highway)

Highway on a Mountainside

Sunday Drive with Grandpa:
We are taking full advantage of the wonderful weather
we are having (highs in the 70's with lows in the upper
50's at night.) Sunday we took a drive along Highway
221 out of Blowing Rock, N.C. and down a gravel
road (old Edgemont Road) that goes down (maybe)
2500 feet. We only went partway down its steep switchbacks
and peered into rocky gorges along the way. Here are a
few photos from our journey. On another road up,
out and back, the road changes from gravel to pavement
and back (again) to gravel. People live down in this
area (which amazes us as they are deep in the 'boondocks'
of the Appalachians; there are some very nice cabins
and some 'pretty rough' methods of living deep
in these ol' mountains... I would say.) Sandwiches along
the road on the way back while overhearing
the 'grunts' and talking of rock climbers
500 feet above us was a nice touch.
Grandpa ate his sandwich on the tailgate.

lg
:-)

Come on Along!

(click to enlarge.)

Do enter in. This is the Todd Bakery in Todd, North Carolina
(population just a bit over 2000.) The 'downtown' consists of about 4 or 5 buildings
set down off of a small country highway road and along a small river. This old building is over 100 years old. Inside, you will find a (sweet) women who bakes her own bread and sweet items, and also walking sticks, wooden bowls, cards made of local photos of wildlife and mountain scenery, hand knit items and various arts and crafts from this area, all made by local artisans. It is quiet in Todd. People live in Todd; visitors raft and tube there, they trout fish and there is also a small stage where (local) musicians come and play. Todd is known for its music (Doc Watson plays here.) Todd is the kind of place where you can close your eyes and see a dirt street (of yesteryear) and a horse-drawn buggy or two. I just got this one shot off of the 'bakery,' which gently invites all passersby to enter in through the wide wooden screen doors. Step right in.

Oh, to Be a Butterfly

Oh, to be a butterfly
fluttering I go
up and over treetop, flower
winds that take me so
Oh, to be a butterfly
dainty, lithe and trim
lofty breezes are my friend
o're yonder holler rim
Oh, to be a butterfly
up, away I go
captivating
flutter-by,
red flowers that I know...
My acquaintance is the
bloom standing alone on the hill
My playmate bouncing mountain air-
catch me if you will
Oh, to be a butterfly
yellow black and blue
mosaic floating on the lawn
all fanciful
for you.

A Dedication; (On) Heaven's Boughs

I must fly, she thought
and off she flew--
all this time, she was thinking of you.
I must away, she dreamed
of a place shiny, new
and now she has gone there...
ahead (of me) and you.
Husband--
dear one,
hold your head high,
for down the road (just a piece)
in the sweet by-and-by...
she stands waiting
alone
with arms
eager (outstretched)
and open wide...
to hug
(once again)
your sturdy,
strong
neck.
And lofty you will be,
and flying you will go
to the sweet arms of Heavenly God--
to a place, once more,
where together you will trod.
Do not weep for me,
my gentle husband.
Do not weep for us.
We will not be parted
for longer than a moment;
than a glimmer.
United again we will know
the fullness
the wonder
the glory
of a love that blooms
on heaven's boughs.

With love, dedicated to
my mother-in-law,
Barbara Jane Powell;
( June 8, 1933 to July 29, 2011.)