Sunday Scribblings - What's Your Sign?

Tammy, Sept 24th, Libra- Team player, objective, works better as a pair, hates conflict, strategists, organized, social. Librans are artistic, stylish and enjoy creating a beautiful world. The converse of this is that bored Librans can become apathetic and lazy -- but they'll smile anyway. Librans like to put their mind to good use, and enjoy communicating their thoughts to others. Librans are not above using their persuasive charms to get their way. Manipulative? Nah, Librans really are too nice for that. In the game of love, Librans are a bundle of energy, romantic and loyal to the core. The great strength of the Libra-born is their quest for fairness, peace and harmony.

Dave, Aug 13th, Leo- Leos are an ambitious lot, and their strength of purpose allows them to accomplish a great deal. The fact that these folks are also creative makes their endeavors fun for them and everyone else. Warmth and enthusiasm seems to seep from every Leo pore, making these folks a pleasure to be around. Putting these folks at the helm is a good thing, too, since the Leo-born are natural leaders. They may ruffle a few feathers along the way, however, since they can also be overbearing and somewhat autocratic. Lions are indeed opinionated and set in their ways. The Lion's enthusiasm is boundless, and along with that comes generosity of spirit and the determination to succeed. They are also decisive, intensely proud and wonderfully romantic.

TAMMY (Libra) WITH DAVE (Leo)

Leo is ruled by The Sun and Libra is ruled by the Planet Venus. The two Signs coming together form the basic foundation of relationships -- warmth and passion. When the Lion's unbounded energy mixes with Libra's natural sense of harmony, this is a romance of great balance. Libra lays on the charm and good manners, which tame Leo's direct and acerbic personality. But Leo is far more decisive than Libra. Leo can help their partners to make decisions more easily and they can teach the art of spontaneity. Leo's endurance outpaces the fleeting whims of Libra, the initiator. They have to work together to make their dreams come true.

Do I believe in astrology? I had a complete chart done once and it was sooo me but there is so much more to us than science. Our genes and environment can change these generalized traits. Life has left me a bit jaded and Dave a little less direct. I admit reading horoscopes can be fun but I don't take much stock in it. I do believe there is something to it, but it is just a small piece of a bigger picture.

Fair Finds and a Meme

PHOTO BOOTH

memories in a box
balanced on a tiny stool
straddling a knee
tangled legs showing
couple hidden
coin slotted rush
spontaneous poses
flashes of fun
*My scanner is at the new house so this is not such a good picture.

We purchased a sign with our last name on it and this cute welcome post for the new mountain house. That is a solar light on top. :)

This is a bear close up covered in honey and bees. One bee is on a spring.

Hand made nesting dolls from Russia. Dave does not watch any sports except the Packers...thank you God!

Nancy at http://journals.aol.com/nhd106/notions-of-nancy/ reminded me that I did not do the "ask me 3 questions meme" properly. I asked questions of her and Jimmy but did not let anyone ask me three questions. I know I did the "interview me" meme but I've been tagged a few times and I've lost track. So ask away Nancy or anyone else not on a blog break. I should be on a blog break packing to move but instead we are cleaning for an open house.

Poetry Thursday - Wildfire

Wildfire

Fire rages with the wind
devastation smolders in its wake
forgive us nature for we have sinned
Acres blackened in an instant by mistake

devastation smolders in its wake
animals perish fleeing into the flame
Acres blackened in an instant by mistake
Irreplaceable treasures reduced to a claim

Flame scorches everything green
devastation smolders in its wake
Dreams shattered in too much seen
Acres blackened in an instant by mistake

Firefighters exhausted in the fight
Flame scorches everything green
Thick smoke blankets out light
Dreams shattered in too much seen

Flame scorches everything green
devastation smolders in its wake
Dreams shattered in too much seen
Fire rages with the wind

I wrote a Pantoum to express the devastation being caused by a fire in South Lake Tahoe. Our new home is about an hour east of Tahoe and we are not in danger of losing our home, unlike many others. My thoughts and prayers go out to the many people who have lost everything and the safety of the people fighting the fire. The forecast says wind is predicted for the next few days.

Photo from StockXpert

The Fair and Two Tags

We want to try these posts with moss and fuchsias in our garden, blanketed with azaleas, we saw at the fair.

We had one of these signs made.

We had a fantastic time at the fair this weekend. I wanted to ride the upside down twirling rides but Dave had said "no way" and when I clucked like a chicken, he reminded me of our junk filled stomachs. Good point! That clown was not yelling at me, he is actually the trash can Dave parked me at. Fun photo booth shots will be coming this week with a few fun things we found.

My partner in crime Pam at http://capeandtights.blogspot.com/tagged me for 8 random things about me.

1. I'm very organized and clutter makes me uncomfortable. I'm borderline compulsive about having a clean house, just ask my housekeeper Julie. :)

2. I hate car trips over two hours and airports make me ill, yet I love to travel for vacations.

3. Gravity is not my friend. When sitting on the bed naked while dressing I look over at the mirror and see a hunched over, hairless mama oranatang with long breasts, resting on her pooched out tummy. I'm not taking that mirror to the new house! She is a cute oranatang and even has some red hair after a fresh dye job. :)

4. I watch some reality TV shows. Survivor, Idol w/o auditions, So You Think You Can Dance w/o auditions, On the Lot, Top Chef and Food Star.

5. Movie Junkie! We rent two movies by mail each weekend, go to movies once/mo and don't usually watch a movie more than once.

6. I love live musicals, concerts and poetry readings. Luckily so does Dave.

7. We are not a very social couple and don't entertain much but are fun and talkative when in a social setting.

8. I don't love the holidays...gasp! Too commercial and too many expectations.

The next tag is from Chris at http://inanethoughtsandinsaneramblings.blogspot.com/ who wants me to write about 5-10 songs that made an impact on my life.

1. Mary Had a Little Lamb- My favorite song as a child.

2. Kung Foo Fighting - heard this alot during puberty.

3. Reasons - 1st make out by Earth, Wind and Fire.

4. Michelle - I hate the Beatles but my ex loved them and named my 1st born Michelle.

5. Lady - Dave bought this to play on our first date by Kenny Rogers.

6. Somewhere - Played when Dave proposed and it's on our wedding video by Barbra Streisand.

Blogland is in its slow season with traveling bloggers so play along if you're around and let me know so I can read them.

Friday Fun!

TK got to go camping on the beach at Fort Bragg. He LOVED it even though sand was everywhere on his body (including mouth). He learned to "bump" the volleyball and play in tide pools.

Swirling water

griping sand with toes

summer firsts

These were fun accessories I chose to conceal ugly switch covers against brightly colored walls. It's like hanging a mini picture and these are a few of the ones I picked. The angel goes in my blog room. :) You can do this cheaply (are you reading Amber?) by cutting wallpaper and gluing.

Dave and I met on the Internet and yet both grew up not far from each other. We each went to the same county fair growing up and as parents. Hoping to move soon, we are making the drive to that same county fair for the first time as a couple. We need the sweet escape!

I can't stop singing this and it cracks Dave up that I only sing the fun part. :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Poetry Thursday

I mentioned a few months back that one of my older poems was chosen to be published by The Rattlesnake Press. It's a free poetry publication distributed all over No. CA and Sacramento. It came out this month so I thought I'd share it today. I was inspired by an accidental garden surprise and Dave's love of flowers. Remember I was wet behind the ears and I'm still a practicing poet.

Chrysanthemums

I remember when you were small and pretty

but the seasons changed, covering

you in heavy snow smothering

you in a silent death,

so I replaced you.

And planted a circle of pansies

to adorn the bird bath.

Spring had arrived

playing it’s symphony in color

as the bulbs surfaced, like a delicate string,

and learning their song as they rose

I could hear,

the music beginning to tune in rhythm,

with tulips in purples and daffodils in

yellows, and the greens of grass all

together again.

Then I noticed,

unusual stalks of green that had no

song, but kept growing long past

the sounds of spring, smothering the

pansies and growing up the bird bath.

As fall arrived you were to be the final piece,

and as your stalks began to bloom, I remembered

your old song smothered in white.

You emerged triumphant and tall, your color sang

to me brilliantly, loud and clear,

a solo, to end the year.

Bravo

Create a Connection

My blogging has slowed due to stress and heat which together bring fatigue. I saw this at create a connection and was motivated to play, in the cool of the morning. This photo is Dave's as he played with the reflection on our back table.


When did you begin your first blog and what inspired you to do so?
My husband's daughter had an AOL blog to keep us updated on their lives far away and I got hooked on reading other blogs. I came across a woman that was writing her journal on her battle with cancer with raw honesty and strength. When she died I sobbed for the loss and the connection I had made with her, even though she never could return any of my comments. I was seeing real life, creativity and encouragement in every blog I read. It made me want to be a part of it and not just a voyeur. There was a mass exodus from AOL at the time, so I tried out blogger Nov. 2005 and here I sit.


Do you have more than one blog? Why? How are they different?
I thought of doing a "poetry only blog" because I wanted to eventually put together a chapbook. I found that I was not keeping up with my clubs and was blogging too many hours due to my one working finger. When I scaled back I found a good balance and no need for another blog.


How would you characterize your blog? Creative,Political,Informational,Community-oriented or something else?
A journal of my life, Love's and newly found creativity. I'm hoping my grandchildren will know me fully one day by reading my blog and the power of encouragement from people all over the world. Pretty cool legacy!


To paraphrase Oprah, what is "one thing you know for sure" about blogging?
People need to be connected to other people. Blogging connects people on many different levels and brings a creative outlet to many.


Is it important to you to get feedback in terms of comments or pings? Why or why not?
I think the love and encouragement in a comment keeps me blogging, gives me confidence and allows friendships to blossom. Comments are a validation that what I'm doing is worth the effort. I don't know what a ping is and I don't have a site meter. I can tell the "response" comments from the ones who care about all my posts. It's good manners when in a club to give comments on as many posts as you can. Some of those encouraging "response" comments can bloom into real friendships over time. I do my best to have good blog manners, so I cut back on clubs and discovered Bloglines. :)


What 3 blogs would you recommend to our readers and why?
There are not just three and at this point I could never narrow it down. I would like to say a loving thank you to those who lift my spirits on every post, whether good or bad. I'm really drawn to poetry, creative writing and photography.

Join in here http://www.bealivebelievebeyou.com/create/2007/06/getting_to_know_1.html

One of Those Weekends

Have you ever had high expectations for a weekend and they go to seed? Dave and I left for the new house early Thursday morning, planning to return home Saturday night. So many small things went wrong that combined with the two house stress, we left Saturday morning. Dave is burned out and I'm overwhelmed from living in limbo. We have had no traffic or offers on the house so we made some decisions for our mental health.

Dave drives 4 hours a day to his full time job, keeps this house staged and yard looking great. He then has taken every three day weekend to spruce up and care for the new house/yard to make it move in ready. He retires August 13th and if the house does not sell he must find a job here in town until it does. So we dropped our price, new house stays as is until we sell, Dave will take a two week vacation right before retirement and chill! Maybe put in a few applications but fishing is high on his "to do" list.

Tell me, who wouldn't want to buy this yard? Takers? Anyone? lol



A new lily this year

From our Roses of Sharon bush.

Day Lilies

Lavender bush is so huge it had to be tied. (In front of swing)

Hydrangeas and lavender.

Daises and red grass by fountain.

Keeping the yard nice for buyers keeps Dave's mind off the pickle we got ourselves into. Me, I just worry. The gladiolas and chrysanthemums are coming soon. I'm breathing deeply and praying.

Poetry Thursday - The Blue Jay

The Blue Jay

I sat quietly on the bed
watching the garden’s performance.
Lilies emerging from stalks with
rose buds unfolding their charm.
Birds swooping and pausing
to splash in the sprinkler’s spray.

I was startled by the collision
as you hit the window full force.
You landed on your feet, fixed.
Your eye’s gently closed as
your beak slowly opened like
an old man beginning a nap.

I spoke softly at your side
but there you stood, stunned.
Praying silently for your life I
pleaded with you to fly away.
Your beak began to close as
one eye gave me a wink.

You stood like a beautiful sculpture
in the garden, surrounded by life.
Hues of blue with soft feathers
of grey, this was not your day to die.
Your silent restoration gave you flight
to live in another beautiful day.

This happened during the week and I became connected to this bird as I watched the event unfold. I'm not a fan of Blue Jays because they shriek and bully the smaller birds (not to mention they crap on everything). While I got down on my knees (no easy feat) he became another living creature that I desperately wanted to live.

Happy 1st Birthday, One Deep Breath

Hummingbirds play

wings hum as they swoop

stopping to refuel

Trumpets beckon

hummingbird ambrosia

wings levitate

Orange silk tablecloth

awaits winged guest

repeat customer

Susan and Jennifer have done a wonderful job at http://onebreathpoetry.blogspot.com/ . I have enjoyed learning about different haiku styles that have challenged my creativity. Thank you for all your time and effort. *smooches*

This week, in celebration, we can choose our own prompt. I spent a frustrating weekend trying to capture these two hummingbirds feeding on my Lilies'. They have been zipping around so quickly that I could not get off a good shot. I'm using the best of the worst shots and because the little turds took up so much of my weekend, my haiku is on hummingbirds.

Sunday Scribblings - "Spicy"

I love spicy foods, unless they are so hot I can't taste any of the food flavors. Tabasco or Louisiana hot sauce would go in everything I ate and brought a little zing into every dish. Dave not liking alot of spice in his food slowly phased out the zing in the cooking. I will sneak it in sauces and soups he has made, if he is not looking, in minuscule amounts. I eventually lost interest in the taste of most foods as my allergies slowly damaged my sinus's. What I thought were 8 months of winter allergies turned out to be a viral infection, left untreated.

It is being treated now, but my taste buds will only acknowledge strong flavors and my smell is mostly gone. My taste and smell may come back in time but the doctor is talking surgery and I am not. When I got used to losing abilities with my ALS, the loss of my smell and taste just did not bother me so much. I miss my husband's smell and the taste of his kisses but I don't miss my dog's breath or other unpleasant odors. Eating too much is not an issue anymore but it is amazing how much your memory of certain foods and textures can fool you into tasting. My other senses were kicked up a notch to meet the challenge.

Strong flavors (spicy) I can taste and if they are hot enough to make my nose run, I can catch the Jasmine hanging in the air from outside. I am hopeful I will get my taste and smell back, eventually. It's been over a year, but now I will eat almost anything Dave puts in front of me and I can say no thank you to popcorn and sweets. Not to mention I've become a cheap date because it seems silly to pay for an expensive meal if you can't even taste it.

Dave and I don't eat lunch very often but instead we now have become addicted to chips and salsa breaks. It's been a few months and now a nice routine. I can't dip a chip on my own, so it has become an intimate, spicy nooner for us. He buys "Scoops" a tortilla chip shaped like a bowl and he pops every other one in my mouth. I sit awaiting my turn like a baby bird as we chat about our day. He even likes the spicy version of salsa now. So I'm thinking this temporary sinus condition isn't all that bad if it has brought a little extra spice into our lives. :)

Photo from stockxpert

Friday Fun!

This is Dave's only child Jolene and her family. They have wonderful news! Baby number three is going to arrive in January. I'm praying for a girl but healthy is always added :) Jolene will graduate from Washington State this fall as her husband continues working on his masters and a great job. Congratulations on all your accomplishments kids. Jolene loves all things vintage, cooking, bargains, gardening and knitting. You can check out her passion for being a "Vintage Housewife" at http://vintagehousewife.wordpress.com/ You might have already met her at Sunday Scribbling.

My Horoscope for this week:

LIBRA (September 23- October 22) Find yours here http://freewillastrology.com/horoscopes/

In their translation of a poem by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai, Chana Bloch and Stephen Mitchell write, "I'm the chimp of chance, the champ of chance, I'm a chum of chance and a chump of chance." Judging from your astrological omens, Libra, I suspect it'll soon make sense for you to speak those words yourself. Dumb luck and blind fate will be swirling around you, whipping up both unexpected pleasures and knotty challenges. What can you do to be more of a champ and a chum of chance, and not so much of a chimp and a chump of chance? Welcome everything that happens, with no exceptions. Love the easy and the difficult, the playful and the contrived, the lucid and the confusing.

(That's not very easy)

TK was wanting on my lap as I was at the computer. His arms were reaching for me, melting my heart because I can't pick him up. I carefully locked my hands together, tucked them under his diaper padded butt and pulled up while he climbed...woohoo! This is his bewildered look at his mom while she cheered us on and me doing what I always do when this close...kiss that face. He slid back down, almost falling backwards and my daughter captured my panicked gramy face. lol

Poetry Thursday - A Tanka

You fill my spirit

seeing me whole through your eye's

I am filled with hope

Tasting the sweetness of you

wrapping you in gratitude

To my grandson TK who gives me so much joy!

Labor of Love

Our 8ft tall Jasmine keep the house smelling nice for buyers, if there were any. :)

I missed Dave's Iris' this year but the Day Lilies are blooming.

My personal favorites :)

At the new house I discovered an oak shelf at the end of the hallway with major water damage. The previous owners must have watered plants on it. I was relegated to Dave's personal tool belt (see screwdrivers in my bib) because he kept losing them. I wanted a promotion to shelf fixer-upper but my foreman was very sceptical. I pleaded like a five year old and got the job! My curled up fingers were perfect for sanding, even if elbow grease was kinda low, I did it! (Ok, foreman helped)

Notice the artistic two handed flair and the help of my tongue sticking out for focus? I rocked that shelf!

Dave was bursting with pride as I also cleaned the sliding doors. It may have taken a 2 day recovery but the love in his eye's was soooo worth it! I think a table runner and grandbabies were meant for this shelf :)

One Deep Breath - "Architecture"

( This arbor runs down my side yard at the new house.)

Grapevine arbor path

green leaves invite my repose

canopy of fruit

transports me far, far away

to vineyards of Tuscany

Tanka for "structure or design of something, natural or man made."

Grapevines climbing

decorating the forest

dressing fence in green

I love how this ugly, but deer proof fence has been draped by the big beautiful grape leaves. The new house's fenced area is protecting 3 varieties of grapes, nectarines, peaches, green apples, strawberries, red apples and pears. Dave plans on a vegetable garden as soon as we are there full time. He wants to learn to make cider, jelly and pies. Not to mention canning. I think I'm going to like his retirement.

To visit or participate at ODB go here http://onebreathpoetry.blogspot.com/

Sunday Scribblings - "Country or City?"

When I was a little girl most vacations were camping trips. The smell of that old green canvas tent, a roaring campfire and the forest aroma's, were my fondest memories as a child. Sadly the tent was upgraded to a confining, hot motor home, but the best parts of camping remained. Swimming, smores, campfires, fishing, pine cone gathering and the smell of the trees never stopped calling me back to the mountains.

Camping, as I became an adult, remained a treat reserved for vacations and long weekends. I lived and raised my girl's in the suburbs while commuting to big cities for work, until I was thirty five. Fast food was easier on soccer nights and shopping at the malls was a fun weekend activity. I usually lived pay check to pay check always needing something to make life more convenient. We had a nice house two miles from a sewage plant and 5 miles from a tiny airport. On certain breezy days you could smell the sewage and the summer air shows would rattle the windows. Traffic, rushing around and money was my life for 35 years.

When my ALS was starting to become a bigger part of my daily struggle and being already retired, I kept asking myself is this really where I want to be? I remembered my beloved mountains but knew snow in the winter for a disabled, single mom would not be in the cards. Instead I picked up and moved my girls to the foothills. A country life, a little snow and mountain views. We ate better, spent less and became members of a small community where we knew many of the faces around us. We didn't need to lock everything up tight and felt safe and happier.

Meeting Dave and getting married, as the children were leaving home, was a wonderful gift. We took a leap of faith together and bought a house in the mountains 5 minutes from a lake. When I'm there I can smell the pines, hear the breeze blowing through the cedars and I can even smell the camper's campfires at the lake. I'm living my life as one big vacation and I'm very thankful to have been given this gift. City life can be a treat to visit for a movie experience, a play, dinner or a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Yet country life has brought me full circle and really fits the new me.