Simple Pleasure

Spotting a deer in the front field
still makes me smile
When wheat is cut a lot falls
on the ground.  It has been
discovered by deer and squirrels

3 turning tomato's, 1 cucumber, l green pepper,
8 zucchini and a couple of handfuls
of green beans
enough for one
Need to dig up the potatoes
wonder what size they are now
I liked them when they were small

One small package of beans sowed
and this is the third time I have
picked this amount

One large zucchini plant looks like
something is killing it.  I kept
sharing only 2 were needed
guess that now is my number

The childhood friend of my daughter
Her best friend
is visiting after work
I will share some rapidly
 spreading plants

Bare Feet Time

I love going with bare feet
All the time in the house,
on the porch, deck and
in the yard
It is always bare feet time
at grandma's
in the summer time....

My children have never
worn shoes in the house
Always kicked off at door
when growing up and
now when they are visiting
 grandchildren do the same

Now in colder weather
socks are on the feet
in the house
shoes in the garden...

Lightning so severe during
the night
I even put my pillows on
the cool wood floors

slept there part of the night....

Rainy Sunday

It has rained up until 30 minutes ago
Time spent  in my old leather chair
Read and relaxed
body and mind needed this
Could take it no longer
Umbrella and clippers in hand
muddy clogs
Cleaned and filled wheel barrow
several times
 loved being out in the
soft summer rain
Every time a new garden is created
I over plant
never knowing what will grow
it seems a good idea
Everything planted is thriving
a lot in this garden will have to
come out
Just cannot take care of a
flower and vegetable garden
any larger then what is here
at present
Clumps of most flowers were
brought from the city garden
surely
the prize white day lily
was not over looked
There are several that did not
bloom this time
Maybe next year
it will be a gift
A good day
Relaxed, read, gardened,
muddy, cabbage and cornbread,
fruit tea and my favorite orange cookies
Today was a good day
 a smile on my face
guess the smile is there most of the time
Tomorrow I have my little girls

hopefully the sun will shine....

Saturday Morning

Wheat has been cut
Soybeans planted today
New day lilies blooming
Oh, where is my beautiful
white one that I brought
from city garden?
Small garden is ablaze
with color
The sun is shining

Another busy day
Remember
To pace yourself
Walk slow, breathe and
smile....

Equanimity

Equanimity has the capacity to embrace extremes without getting thrown off balance.  Equanimity takes interest in whatever is occurring simply because it is occurring  Equanimity does not include indifference, boredom, coldness or hesitation.  It is an expression of calm, radiant balance that takes whatever comes in stride.

~~Shaila Catherine~~

May we all experience calmness this very day.....

Its Not Over Yet

A day filled with every kind of emotion
A trip to the big city
for doctor appointment
this appointment has been cancelled
3 times.  So today was the day..
All is well
The lady with beautiful clear skin
is now covered with brown spots
and that is alright
They are nothing
Discovered the itching under chin
that I thought was insect bite from
being in the woods so much
It was the dreaded poison ivy
so shot and cream and hopefully
it does not spread
On the road home my mind took a journey
to another land - thought if I like it  I would not return
I smiled because I could do it
if I really wanted to
that is if something sold.
Wondered is this the end
Just me and the woods - I love - but wonder
Sometimes wish I could be two people
one in the woods and one that would travel
express the other side of her personality
One of the most difficult things to do is control
the mind - mine sure had fun today
Lunch at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant
seafood soup my favorite with spring rolls
Home to Miss Callie and on the mower
Hey you can see quite a way through the woods
My son will smile
The day is over - and -
one of my old favorites "The Eagles"
is playing full blast
memories of dancing till I was exhausted
If someone came to the door of my cottage
and heard this loud music and saw me
dancing - they would think I had lost it...
Now if my little granddaughter's were
visiting - we would dance for hours.
Most of the time I seek quiet and solitude
but this seems energizing for some reason
Enough of my rambling.
A day filled with many emotions....
Kind of nice'
makes me smile
Life is not over yet....

Easy To Please

Wonder why she takes the time to share
Do children and grandchildren
really care about mom and grandma's day
But then the thought
they will know
there is  a different life after all that
is happening in earlier years
If you choose that lifestyle
the desire of all that the world
offers is gone
Should it not be this way
near the end
A peaceful flow of living with nature...

A busy day in the garden
deadheading and tidying up
Some touch up painting on
Woodhaven sign
Cleaned grass out of gravel drive
Sheets on the line at dawn
in the sun all day
smell so fresh and will feel
so good when the day ends
Tractor in yard all day
just to hot for me to cut grass
Phone calls from all my daughter's
Evening meal of zucchini, yellow squash
and potatoes from the small garden
My fresh dill on salmon
Cookies and milk...
A busy day - but
could anything be better?

Maybe I am easy to please....

It's Happening - IT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO TODAY

THIS POST WAS WRITTEN TWO YEARS AGO TODAY
FOUND IT !!!

My move back home to the country was finally happening.
Now I am amazed that 2 years have gone by so quickly.
I continue to be thankful that I was allowed to return
to the woods, nature and a life that was always a dream.

SO MANY OF MY ONLINE FRIENDS
ARE STILL WITH ME AND NOW SOME NEW ONES
THANK YOU....

6/20/09

I clicked on emails early this morning and it put a smile on my face to see some uplifting "cheering on".

Last night decided - I needed more help both physically and emotionally. Guess who came to the rescue ---- I wonder what would this mom do without him. My special son!!

Last night he loaded his vehicle with a number of things I did not want on the moving truck and this morning will bring a cooler to transport groceries to put in my new refrigerator.

I truly needed someone with me. This independent One Woman who for years has always been able to coast on her own has tears in her eyes as she admits her weakness. Guess it is the time of my life and age. I must also add that this is a dream that is becoming a reality. There are all kinds of mixed emotions taking place.

The moving people will arrive in two hours and then I am on my way for my first nights in the country. Where in the world does the "stuff" come from? Especially when I have been continually downscaling for a number of years. This home looks great and I will not miss one single thing that is being taken out of it.

Why am I so emotional? Is this normal? I guess normal for One Woman. A dream coming true and I have the thoughts of - how long will I be able to enjoy the life I am headed for.

Painfully aware that I am in the gift years. The bible says we are granted 70 years and anything after that is a gift. Enough of this melancholy sharing.

On a happy note is the fact that my 7 year old granddaughter wants to go with me for the day and night. She will be truly welcome.

My daughter and husband will be in that old home place area tomorrow and will pick her up.

So my first night will be with my little one.

Thank you so much for the continued encouraging.

To think I questioned having a journal and revealing myself so openly. Revealing the past, present and what is to come. This journey has been a learning experience and a joy that came with many new friendships.


Will be back on line the end of week. Imagine no television, land line phone and computer - I think it will be great!!!


One Woman's big day

A Good Day

Hopefully the rain has stopped
so I can begin to cut grass tomorrow

A rain forest surrounds Woodhaven
The day lilies continue to thrill me
each one a gift that was brought
from the city cottage
A plate picked up from my special friend
of authentic Mexican cooking
and a piece of strawberry pie
piled high with whipped cream
A good day
The Universe continues to bestow
blessings on this One Woman...

The Little Green Box

The lady in her 70's always had beautiful teeth and a nice smile
She brushed and flossed several times a day
Even uses her water pik.
So pleased that to reach this stage of life
and only have a couple of fillings and
2 crowns.
But 10 years ago a visitor arrived
that began its dirty work....
Sjogrens and I really do not like you
I will accept you for something else
might be even more unwelcome

You plague this woman with dry eyes
and she puts tears in them daily
You plague her with this horrible
dry mouth and she uses a variety of
moisturizers - all she can do.

Now you are affecting her teeth
so today she returned from a dental visit
with something she swore for years she
would never have.
A little green box to hold a temporary
insert for several teeth that were pulled
on Wednesday.

At this age she is thankful she has all
her body parts, no heart or lung problem.
No diabetes, cancer and on and on

So the several health issues that are surfacing
are not because of lifestyle, weight or bad habits.
Or maybe the bad habit was the fact that for
 years - controlling stress was difficult for her.

It is said that this condition that attacks the
immune system can be caused by stress,
may be hereditary and cause is really not
known.   It can attack much more in your
body then eyes and mouth.

Enough shared......
This day I am thankful this along with
one other issue is my only health problem....

Dill

The dill in my garden is doing really well.
Love it on fish and eggs
also when I make tuna and egg salad

I find the scent pleasing, reminds me of dill pickles.
This  takes the place of pickles with my tuna and egg salad
With a dry mouth condition I cannot tolerate vinegar

Doing some research I found out Dill is a good source
of calcium - good for my teeth and bones.
Helps digestion problems
and  a good source of magnesium and iron.

Since I could benefit from all this - I will be adding
Dill to my food  as often as possible and  every Spring
it will be planted in my garden.

I even had a few volunteer plants this year....

Enough For One

First year of small kitchen garden
It is thriving
Have already enjoyed lettuce, radishes and green onions
and one green pepper
Now new potatoes and green beans
Zucchini and squash in a few days
Four vines loaded with green tomatoes
Soon cucumbers and cantaloupe
Also collard greens which I have not cooked

Many seeds washed away with Spring rains
Garden not organized as intended
but I am still pleased...

Could enlarge slightly next year
but then
it is just the right size for one
 a pleasure and not difficult to keep

Sure beats organic prices at the
market
and not bad for a city girl
who has a passion for good dirt.....

Planting Patience

When you plant seeds in the garden, you don't dig them up every day to see if they have sprouted yet.
You simply water them and clear away the weeds; you know that the seeds will grow in time.  Similarly, just do your daily practice and cultivate a kind heart.   Abandon impatience and instead be content creating the causes for goodness; the results will come when they're ready.

Bhikshui Thubten Chodron

My Daylillies are blooming..........

Happiness Is A Choice

There is a new blog that I read and am enjoying.
The writer is a young woman who is a fellow student of my son's in Bangkok, Thailand.

Interesting fact  - Bangkok is known as the "City of Angels"
actually the Thai name is Krunthep which means "City of  Angels"
(information shared with me from my son)

The entry I just read spoke volumes to this matriarch of her family.
I am doing good at this time of life but it sure took a lot of years.
So guess I would get a good score except for the working so hard in my garden.

A nurse revealed 5 regrets people make on their deathbed.

1.  I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me

2.  I wish I didn't work so hard

3.  I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings

4.  I wish I had stayed in touch with friends

5.  I wish I had let myself be happier

copied in part from "A summer day6 in the city of Angels"  -  http://alifeinsummer.wordpress.com/

Blue Porch Swing

Porch swings have always been a part of my personal
solitary life.
A lifestyle which started a little over 30 years ago.
Always comforting and bring back memories of a
little girl sitting on a swing with her grandmother.
The night sounds at her home I still remember
as we rocked away and she would brush my hair.
Have been contemplating  painting this swing
bright blue.
Last week it happened.
I like it.....

Summer Solstice

Around the corner...

The first day of summer
Sun at its highest point
in the sky
Summer Solstice
will arrive
about June 21st..

With the temperature on my deck hitting 100 degrees every afternoon for weeks, it sure has seemed like summer was already here.

With the unusual high temperatures I think of the ocean and if I close my eyes I can hear the waves and smell their special scent.
I can hear the sound of fans whirling in every room.
Love walking barefoot on the cool wood floors.
Can't seem to get enough of ice cream and ice tea.

I love waking before dawn, it feels cool. Take pleasure in opening all the blinds, throwing open the solid doors and through the screen doors can hear everything in the woods waking up to a new day.

As the days shorten it will remind me that soon I will be able to fall asleep without seeing the reflection of the sun on my walls.

A Day In June

Even though it is scorching hot outside
who else but One Woman could be excited about
digging up a dozen new potatoes
Felt like I had been given a gift
They are beautiful and were a tasty
addition to yesterday's evening meal
This 10 x 12 kitchen garden is perfect
for me.
There is one new flower blooming
red Bee Balm
moved from garden to garden
it is quite showy
At one time I also had purple
not anymore..
The woods look cool as I view from the terrace
Do not venture into them often
because of so many mosquitos
also the beatles have returned and
finding my flowers tasty..

The Call Of Silence

Silence beckons,
I answer and
I am rewarded with moments of tranquility
that can be found only when surrounded by silence.
Silence encourages me
to intentionally engage in the art of doing nothing
In the silence, nothingness becomes something
of a world all its own.
Beauty is magnified
Serenity surrounds me and
I become mindfully aware of the inner peace
that can be found only when I answer
the summons of silence.

~~Veronica Bowman~~ Moments of the Soul

To My First Born

 

Happy Anniversary
In a few days
Happy Birthday

Love, Mama

Seems Like Yesterday

Little one
it seems like yesterday
you were born

Happy Birthday
Love you
Grandma

You Are My Sunshine

So pleased you and family are home
safely from this
special trip.
So many memories of my past years in
Michigan
My heart traveled along with you
a part of it said I should be with you
But it was best I stayed behind
A busy week in the woods
strong winds came through and hours
were spent picking up limbs and branches
Can hardly wait to see pictures and
sharing about this beautiful wedding.

Life

As for life
I'm humbled,
I'm without words
sufficient to say

how it has been hard as flint,
and soft as a spring pond,
both of these
and over and over,

Every day I walk out into the world
to be dazzled, then to be reflective

It suffices, it is all comfort..
along with human love,

stopping and lying down at last
to the long afterlife, to the tenderness
yet to come

and we will pretend to melt away into the leaves,
As for death, I can't wait to be the hummingbird,
can you?

~~Mary Oliver~~ in part from Long Afternoon at the edge of Little Sister Pond~~

Not My Favorite

Forgive me
I am just not a
squirrel person

Miss Callie and I
end our day outside
earlier then most people

if she was outside
there would be
no problem

As I wash dishes
every evening
I look out the window
there they are

swinging from the bird feeders
climbing up poles
opening suet containers
they party every evening

I open the door and
clap my hands
they scatter and then return

Will have to cover compost pile
with wire - they have a banquet
every evening

Thought comes to mind -
they have it made
but then they lived here
before me :)

Image taken through screen door :)

Hot

This matriarch lives at the edge of the woods.
In the past always cooler in this location
then in the city
always a breeze
 the leaves even
were moving slightly
must be a breeze
but

Yesterday afternoon at 2:30
this is what the thermometer
in the sun on the deck revealed

Wonder what is in store for the summer
 hoping my gardens survive..

Early Morning

First of June
little deer
saw you out of the window
you never moved when
I went onto the porch

Hay being cut
Wheat turning golden

Miss Callie you watch it all

One Woman
out at dawn before heat arrives