Your Covered

Family and
anyone that knows me well
is aware I love my old truck.
Not in budget to build a shelter
as planned.
This morning after dental
appointment
Stopped at Big Lot
for $20
found an inexpensive alternative

There are many days that
my truck is not moved
out of the drive.
This will surely help to keep it
from being covered with leaves
and protect from small limbs
that fall....

Early Sunrise

The sunset and sunrise at Woodhaven
never fail to touch my heart.
Early this morning
what I viewed.....

Cool mornings and dry warm days
Leaves are beginning to fall.....

~~All the clothes and food I'll need here before me,
a mind free of all happiness, of all sadness

it's like some kind if afterlife.  So what do you do
when you want nothing from this human world?

Mountain Home
Wilderness Poetry of Ancient China

David Hinton

Thank You

This is how I have felt since noon.   So thankful my granddaughter's are fine in New York.

image from http://alifeinsummer.wordpress.com/

Special Words

Words from Sandra that spoke to me this early morning...

Thoughts of advancing storm are ever on my mind.
Two granddaughter's in New York city.
Continual prayers ever going forth...

Comfort like rain...

I've known love
the love of a man
the love of a child
the love of a friend

I've known loss
the loss of a man
the loss of a child
the loss of a friend

I've learned
how big is my heart
how long love lasts
how vivid memories are

I've never known
the loss of God's love
the loss of God's listening
the loss of God's healing

I am blessed
I am grateful
I am praying
I am seeking

I meditate
I bow
I learn
the journey
is changing
always

I love the smooth stones of
love dropped in my heart

each day to awaken
in the knowledge of love
shines like gold
sparkles like diamonds
comforts like rain......

sandra m. hagan      august 22,2011
http://www.thewildmagnolia-southmoonunder.blogspot.com/

What Is It - Mystery Solved

Have discovered this plant in the woods.
Green and now turning red.
Have not been able to
give it a name.
Rain is needed
it is so peaceful
in the woods.
Ever thankful I was
allowed to return.

Leaves are falling.

Mystery solved thanks to Balisha and Tabor agreed.
A seedpod for Jack In The Pulpit wildflower
my woods are full of them.
Just never noticed the showy seedpod before.
Looks like a Christmas ornament :)

Pleasing

After a nice shower on Friday evening
everything has come back to life.
The soybeans surely needed this rain.
Looks so fresh and clean.
This view from my front porch
I find so pleasing....
For 50 years I deep clean Spring and Fall
I will do a little every day
Use Murphy's Oil soap
washing all furniture and everything I can reach.
Books will come off shelves, picture frames,
mirrors, blinds, windows and even garage.
Strange how we sometimes  have a routine that
stays constant over the years.
The main differance is that it use to be perfomed
in a week and now it takes many weeks.
Most important it is done.
That time has returned for the matriarch of
Woodhaven.

A Good Summer

A good summer is about over
the clearing by the cottage is
covered with leaves.
The majority of the flowers in
the garden have gone to sleep.
This morning heard Canadian geese
flying over
must have been 25 or more
love that wonderful sound.
Why is there always one lone
goose that lags behind.
Made me smile.
Yesterday a special belated
lunch with my youngest daughter.
So nice to sit at a table with a tablecloth,
cloth napkins and flower on the table
and have someone serve me.
Food excellent...
Have a wonderful clearing in the woods
I continually cut
noticed this very tall tree in the center was dead
this morning it was cut down.
One wedge, saw just started and
the tree fell.
It was really dead and hollow.
So thankful I noticed
it was always in my path of cleaning....
Little girls back in school
soccer in full force
They are good.....

The Visitor

Not much left in my small kitchen garden
a cucumber and green pepper plant,  a few cantaloupes, little girls watermelons,
and turnip greens are emerging.
One large plant of small tomatoes has survived and
usually bares abundantly
vines are covered with green tomatoes
.Lately in the early morning when I usually
gather a handful of ripe tomatoes I notice
there are not any or maybe one or two.
The thought
something is eating them...
Just saw the culprit making a quick exit
towards the woods
a chipmunk.
A reminder to One Woman that this is
home to all the creatures of the woods.
I imagine they view her as a trespasser..

Forms Change

Working in the woods early this morning, I noticed this tree.
It brought to mind that aging brings about change.
Some simple changes and some severe like I noticed in this tree.
I wondered
if you could talk
what would you share.
There is an area that is bare of trees.
I can visualize an old bench in the
center of this woodland.
I am clearing brush and cutting with the tractor
in the center of this clearing is a tall tree
probably 75 feet or taller
as I looked up I noticed it had no branches
 a dead tree.
It must be cut down very soon
as I am in this area almost daily and also
family when they visit...

Garden Shower

A much needed brief shower and the garden came to life.
Weeding, plants moved, herbs harvested

turnip greens planted one week ago emerging
Miss Callie and I sat down to rest.
Hummingbirds and butterflies
joined us....

Herbs

I found a great place to dry some herbs
the storage room.
I will be adding more
Rosemary, Basil and Sage
the fragrance so wonderful
I put some on my table....

I read somewhere "take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, and kill nothing but time."

Today

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world revolves - slowly,
evenly, without rushing toward the future.  Live the actual moment.
Only this moment is life.

~~Thich Nhat Hanh~~

Morning Not Planned

Yesterday was a busy day with errands.   It had been 10 days and I am striving for 2 weeks.
Past a barn filled with tobacco, smoke coming out of it - I love the smell and a vision of Fall on the way.
This morning I planned on putting wash on line
which I find so much pleasure doing and  one of the advantages of living in the country
far from anyone.
This done
thoughts I will take it easy this cool morning,
Be like the monks in old China centuries ago
I will sit, drink tea, enjoy nature and meditate.
Then the thought I will walk the paths in the woods
and picked up a rake and a blower.   So it was quite
a workout.
Next looking at my small dying garden - I began to clean
and then thought I will water and plant the turnip green seeds that are left over from last year.
Maybe if I water daily they will grow.
I want greens when my daughter from Tampa arrives next month.
The little girls have 9 small watermelons and there is a green pepper plant, cucumber, several tomato plants that are surviving and there is  one cantaloupe that I need to pick.

So I am inside posting and then breakfast

it is early and have done a days work.....

I Remember

I tried all day yesterday to download this image and failed. Or rather I could download but not size correctly.   It sure troubled me !!  Finally the "Birthday Girl" my youngest daughter found the time to do it for me.
So my special daughter Happy Birthday entry a day late!

A young man who lives down the road in his deceased grandparents home
sometimes comes to the rescue when I have a problem.
While on the tractor yesterday a small limb became lodged in the blade.
I called him and he came and was able to pull it out.
On my calendar is marked "twin baby girls due first week of September."
I quickly inquired how was everything going
he shared the babies arrived 6 weeks early and now were home.
I went to see them later in the day.
Oh, how precious were the two little ones laying side by side in the bed.
Both a little under 5 lbs with little heads covered with dark hair.
Morgan and Abagail welcome to the world....

This brought back memories of my fourth baby - Jamie.
She was born 3 weeks early and when I brought her home she weighted 
not quite 5 lbs.
I remember that your sisters and brother played with you constantly.
My first babies I was so careful with and you experienced more freedom
You were put in doll buggies, wagons and when a toddler your brother put a helmet on you
and would take you on go cart cruises with him.  Mary would change your outfits many times daily and tape little ribbons in your hair :)  They loved playing with you and I did not seem to mind.
To think you survived :)
You were and are very loved.

Again, Happy Birthday on August 10th.
You, Alan and those two little girls bring me continual love and joy....

Heartwarming Time

This early morning I smile
tears have dried
a new morning
sun is about to shine.
I can sense you high in
the sky
over the clouds.
Feel pleasure in your heart
much was accomplished.
many special ones received a visit
some were near and some far.
Family times were filled with love.
You introduced me to Chinese Poetry
something I never imagined
falling in love with.
Oh my, many are like One Woman
with her interest in seclusion and nature.
A confirmation received that
closing a small family business
last year
was the right decision
economic world worst shape
now then a year ago.
You did well
let your heart be filled with peace
and a smile on your face....
May your travels in the air
and on this earth be filled
with happiness, health, safety and peace.

Love is sent your way....

Busy Summer Days and Chinese Poetry

Some at wine tastings
another, seems like yesterday
he was so small.
Two, I cannot even imagine
on these surf boards
Another cooking away in New York.
One will soon begin the journey
far over the ocean.
Her first born is discovering
painting talent.  I remember
the easel that once was a gift
and never took the time to be
still and just paint...
For this matriarch - all remains the same
a light shower and gardens look
a little refreshed.
A pocket of peace are
Chinese poetry books
she  finds reading them
 very relaxing.....
Thank you special son
for introducing me to these wonderful words
I will find much pleasure in your collection of
these books...

I admire how easily contentment comes
just sitting here in the midst of all this,
and marveling at the song of heaven,
I blend in a few words and let it
voice my nature: a far-country recluse
caught in nets of human consequence.
My best years offered up day by day,
I trust old age to this mountain return,
a tired bird finding its thick forests,
a worn-out fish back in clear streams
If I ever left here, where would I go---
that people realm all trial and peril?

Mountain Home - The Wilderness Poetry of Ancient China
                Translated by David Hinton

Reclining Buddha

Reclining Buddha has take up residency in the deepest part of the woods.

I need to wear boots when I venture in the woods.
This early morning walking my path
with my usual routine of clearing branches
and using my clippers as I walk.
Just returned and noticed a bloody ankle.
Think I brushed against a stubble
hoping that is it.

As I walked and stood still to listen
for nature sounds
I was aware
hardly a bird was greeting me
In the Spring it sounds like a

wonderful orchestra...

Continueing heat
over a 100 degrees on porch yesterday.

Survive

Early this morning
 the word "survive"  came to mind as I weeded the garden, filled bird feeders with seed and hummingbird feeders with nourishment.
Some plants are not doing to good in this heat.
Some will surprise me and reappear next Spring.
I am going to make my garden a little smaller next year.
Oh, but the no till soybeans coming up are surviving.
Green and lush they looked this early morning.
Also
the new clematis planted several months ago
is doing well.
This word also reminded me
of myself.
I am a survivor.
Ever thankful....

Haze

Early morning
looking over the field
slight haze or fog
grasshoppers on porch
crickets in garage
hint of slight coolness
in the air

makes one think of Fall.
A total contrast to the
very warm and sunny day
that will soon arrive....

Remember "Just Be"

My son spent the weekend with his sister in Tampa.
She forwarded this picture to me.

He always seems peaceful....
Mom is enjoying his visit
Always learn from him
he reminds me to pace myself and
go slower....

Now my day started out different
then his and
will probably be at that pace most of day...
A busy morning
up at 4:00 am
sheets hanging on line
quick breakfast,
computer check
then on the road
my day to babysit.
Sat in parking lot
waiting
for 15 minutes
not so long
85 degrees with almost 100 soon
 I tried to "just be"
found it difficult...
Here they come
on to store
we found that special backpack
not too childish - just fine for a 9-year-old.
Next, haircuts
oh they turned out great
trimmed and compliments on their
color - that blond does not come in a bottle
it comes from youth and plenty of
sunshine and swimming.

Miss Callie meets us as we pull down
the long drive to Woodhaven...