Sunday, November 15, 2020

Lost in thought on a windy day _

To stand in the midst of rusty tan broomsedge
     near the end of another year

With downy fluffs of seeds floating about me
     as spiders on their threads nudged by the breeze

*
To hear in the distant street the shuffling
     of dried leaves on the edge of the wind

A large crispy specimen heard cartwheeling
     down that old crumbling asphalt road

*
To look to the far edge of the garden
     baring its soul of skeletonized limbs

While robins gather feasting
     on plucked berries shriveling with age

*
To draw in that vision of nature
     slowly and quietly disrobing of its fineries

While the music of its inhabitants
     goes on quietly and unobtrusively

*
To sit at my table while playful breezes
     caress and a gust tangles with my hair

And breath in that elusive tease
     of autumn's perfume in the air




It's just me

*
And the earth

*
And a lovely cup of tea,

*
And barking dogs

*
And gas mowers

*
And screaming kids next door



Soaking up the warmth on a cool day


No idea what it is.
It's blown in each autumn for the past few years.




Columbine




White-breasted Nuthatch
on the Rusty Blackhaw Viburnum shrub


Fragrant Sumac


Miss Ivy


Tulip Tree leaf


Azalea




Stones River Greenway

Walked two miles, but halfway back one foot was complaining angrily.
Over sixty cars in the parking area, and we were the only people with masks.
Everyone was acting as if things were normal,
and corona virus was something that only existed on some other planet.


Leaving freeway and parking lot behind us.
Low 60 degrees, but sunny.
Dog park at beginning of trail was a no go. 
Only big dogs there, and it was quickly obvious
most people couldn't control their dogs.






That's it!  Nothing else worth taking photos of  :'(
I guess to expect more in the middle of civilization
was a bit unrealistic.


Pelted by nut meats from high in a tree by a generous squirrel.
We took home some of the acorns on the ground
to identify them...Bur Oak.





While my gardens have passed from glory terrestrial, they seldom in this climate ever experience glory celestial.  They lack the required hardscape or countryside backdrop that makes a property of skeletonized plants stand out.  The ambiance is more of lonely than heavenly.

I’m not married to a gardener, and no funds were ever allocated to improve a yard more than the lawn it was created with.  Years were spent collecting rock from construction sites and countryside, and more than one complaint was expressed when plants unexpectedly appeared to be tucked into the earth around me.

While my other half worked overseas quite late in our lives is when fineries began to appear in the gardens without justification.  It was a lovely period of my life.  It was also a hard existence always dominated by enslavement to controlling invading greenery from nice but inconsiderate neighbors through the chain link barrier.

Reaching my seventies with declining health issues in tow, I declared it was either burn down the gardens or build a wood barrier to emancipate me from the assault of intolerant neighbors with mean dogs.  That demand was met, perhaps as a safeguard for a happily ever after kind of life.

I think of my garden as gardens, although I'm on just a small square of property with a house stuck in the middle.  The south side of the house is the backdrop of the prairie patch.  Photographs are seldom near the house as its concrete stucco base just cries ugly to this photographer.  The slope drains it, and although water collects on the pathway after rain, it seems to thrive.

Backyard is dry in the upper right corner, but a rain garden exists below to collect runoff of rain from the yards behind and aside us.  It seems not a plausible existence, but it works.  The main backyard is the wildflower area and my favorite of all favorites come early spring.

The far end above the prairie patch is too water logged during wet weather, and ground cover or small shrubs seems a viable solution, but I have yet to discover a controllable one that loves sun and shade and drought and moisture.  Quite a tall order.  Fungicide had to be applied once this year to this area to control the white fuzzy bloom cover that grew after a wet spring.

The front yard is complicated, and a perpetual headache most of its existence to make it eye candy worthy to a neighborhood of manicured lawns.  I’ve resorted somewhat to a barrier of shrubs to block out the rest of the gardens that are a bit on the wild side.

I’m abandoning this blog for a bit as the holidays begin, to see if there’s anywhere for it to really go.  I feel like I’m in that groundhog movie of repetition, where I have to come up with a better narrative than the one before each time I post.  Eventually, instead of standing at the edge of this cute little incline of wildflowers in my backyard, I’m standing at the base of Mount Everest.  I’m too old to want to climb Mount Everest :’( 





Thanksgiving is just another day in my private world, but no matter the downside, the upside of experiencing life is precious.  Vic always loves a good meal to celebrate, so I'll be thankful he's no longer the type of guy who appreciate nothing unless it's accompanied by a bottle of catsup ;)

Menu
Quiche Lorraine with double swiss cheese and double bacon
Roasted broccoli with caramelized onions and farfalle
Deep dish pumpkin pie with cream

Much happiness to all my blog friends.

33 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos I especially like the Nuthatch.
    This species does not occur in the Netherlands.
    Greetings Irma

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  2. Beautiful words. And some lovely photographs!

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  3. ...I like your "two foot leaf!"

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  4. Perhaps it reflects my twisted mind, but in the image of your "two foot leaf" with your jeans wrinkled around your ankles, it looks as though you are sitting on the john! Enjoy your time away from blogging for a while. We'll all look forward to your return.

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    Replies
    1. You do have a twisted mind ;) but now that you mentioned it, I'll see that image forever too. Thanks for brightening my morning! Take care.

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  5. Hello,

    Love the images from your walk and the Nuthatch! I hope your foot is feeling better. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your blog break. Take care, enjoy your day! Wishing you a happy new week!

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  6. What a lovely post, beautiful photos mixed with wonderful words. Take care, enjoy your holidays and blog break.

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  7. Hello Yvonne. I’m feeling some unusual happiness this morning. Well, you left me a kind comment on my blog but, even greater, your comment led me to check out Perfection … More or Less. When I started reading, I thought, this poetry is good. And then I enjoyed all the photos … yes, even the one with the two foot leaf. :-) Then, as I continued, I knew we were on the same page, at least with this … “Over sixty cars in the parking area, and we were the only people with masks.” Good golly, I can’t understand people who think their “rights” are more important than their “life” … or causing someone else’s death. Then, I continued reading, all the while thinking, this is a really good post. Finally, I came to this … “I feel like I’m in that groundhog movie of repetition, where I have to come up with a better narrative than the one before each time I post. Eventually, instead of standing at the edge of this cute little incline of wildflowers in my backyard, I’m standing at the base of Mount Everest. I’m too old to want to climb Mount Everest." It’s hard for me to express how much I feel the same way about my blog. I’ve been blogging now for 10 years. I’ve experienced the good and bad of the blogosphere and lately it is taking more enthusiasm than ever to put together another post. So, if I can put in a vote (perish the word) I hope you’ll continue with your blog at a pace that works for you. Although this is the first time I’ve visited your blog, I found it a delightful way to spend a few minutes of my time this morning. I hope to see you again at John’s Island. Take care, have a good week ahead, and stay safe! John

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. Your comment made my morning a bit lovelier.

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  8. Awesome post and photos ~ love the bird on the tree ~

    Live each moment with love,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  9. what a beautiful post, you write so eloquently!! your images are so pretty and that of the nuthatch is wonderful!!

    we have been having a lot of wind and acorns, lots and lots of acorns!!!

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  10. Thanks for the visit to my blog and for the kind comment. I see you are now taking a break so enjoy and return refreshed. Have a great week and keep well. Diane

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  11. Beautiful words and beautiful fall pictures especially the cute nuthatch bird. Enjoy your holiday.

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  12. Beautiful fall post. So much to love here between inspiring words and nature photos. Thanks for dropping by my blog!

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  13. I saw a post on Facebook where someone made a bird path out of one of those leaves, they pressed it against cement, it was really cool.

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  14. BEAUTIFUL words and photos, Yvonne!

    I especially love "Azalea".

    Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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  15. Walking vertically up and down the tree, I think only a nuthatch can do that? The colors of the sky and the earth, which are reflected in the river, are worth seeing, no other photos are needed. I don't know these types of nuts, do they look good? But would I really like to have seen the cheeky squirrel that threw the nuts?

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  16. Little and cute Dustin! He enjoys the rays of the sun! A happy dog!
    What can I say? I have the feeling that I'm living the "Mole Day", like in the movie... We don't even have a small garden to breathe in. But we have a cat! And time to time a little dog. 😊
    I like your photos. And I especially like... the puppy! ❤️
    I wish you seren days! ❤️

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  17. Your verse is very deep in its mental imagery and your photos of the autumn colors made me smile :)

    As for where your blog is going--you don't have to have a better post than the last one for us to keep reading; you just have to be honest and post what YOU want to share (not what you think we want you to post). I was at that point in my first blog and just announced that I will post when I have something to share. It worked out fine, nobody died and I still have readers :)

    I hope your holidays are filled with good moments.

    I'm so happy to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week!

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  18. I enjoyed the poetry, the colorful leaves and the perky little nuthatch. I share your disgust about those who decry the "shutdown" and yet do not take the simple measure of wearing a mask. If everyone complies this would be so much more effective than closing schools and businesses.

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  19. such a beautiful poem and lovely photographs of nature. Thank you!

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  20. Your poem is so beautiful and peaceful – well until you mention the screaming kids next door… There are also two kids next door. They keep playing with tennis balls against their garage door and many balls end up in my backyard. Last month I could not see a couple of them and it broke my lawnmower when I went over them. Then last week I almost fell while walking on another ball. I wrote a note to their parents, which they ignored – so no more yard walking for me since I am alone, if I fell, I’d be on the ground for days! So I enjoyed yours.

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    Replies
    1. That sounds like a nightmare with the tennis balls. Sorry you have no more yard walking. My next post won't lure you in, and then take away the mood. I promise.

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  21. Dear Yvonne, this huge leave is really fascinating. And the White-breasted Nuthatch is a beautiful sight.
    Your texts and descriptions sound melancholy with a good pinch of anger at civilization - in a way I can understand that. (Even if I don't wear a mask in the nature ... But we don't have 60 cars in the wild either.) I hope you still feel good. Hopefully, Thanksgiving will bring you joy: Your menu sounds delicious 😋.
    Hugs & happy weekend
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2020/11/novemberlicht-ausfluge-und-etwas-andere.html
    PS: Have you already managed to convert the dimensions of the pumpkin cake?

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    1. Usually I leave the unpleasant out and post the enjoyable. Sometimes I let a bit of the other side in. The beginning of the prose is how it is when I shut out the neighborhood, but reality is the ending. I spent a week trying to do a video of the sounds of nature in my gardens, and the result was always the sound of cars on the street, haha. I tried all hours with the same results, although after 10 pm nature winds down but the cars don't. It's a struggle in my everyday life with pain, and that puts me in a dark place for a while. I'm decorating for Christmas a little each day, so after Thanksgiving I'll try the pumpkin cake. My husband's willing to give it a taste test, and if I know him, it will have a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top :)

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    2. In my blog, I mainly try to preserve the enjoyable, too, but sometimes the not so enjoyable comes through. We want to stay authentic, don't we?
      Silence is something so valuable - unfortunately you can hardly find it anymore. Only once in my life I consciously experienced REAL silence, that was on a foggy winter-day on a mountain (about 30 years ago). It was .... just WOWWOWWOW! Wonderful! Incredible! So I can well imagine that it is almost impossible to record pure nature sounds.
      Oh! What kind of pain do you have to struggle with?
      The pumpkin pie will be definitely delicious with vanilla ice cream. I wish you bon appetite!
      Thank you for your comment on the topic of winter picnic. Haha, I think you have to be a Russian (or an Inuit or live in Alaska ...) to enjoy a picnic in an icy winter landscape ;-) But great that you tried it! :-)
      Best wishes and happy Thanksgiving,
      Traude
      https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2020/11/freie-sicht-auf-hallstatt-salzkammergut.html

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  22. Hello Yvonne,
    I love the cute pup soaking up the sunshine. The Nuthatch images are wonderful. Beautiful poem and Autumn leaves. Hubby and I tend to find places that are not crowded with people, we will put on a mask if anyone comes close. I hope you enjoy a blog break and come back soon. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post! Take care,enjoy your day! Have a happy weekend!

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  23. What beautiful pictures and such a beautiful poem, a feast for the eyes, I enjoyed reading and looking.
    Have a happy weekend.
    Greetings Eva

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  24. you have a very beautiful and colorful fall. I really love all the leafs, birds and other details of your fall.

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  25. Beautiful poem and beautiful pictures of nature.
    Greetings Irma

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  26. Always love your posts.. So much to read and see

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  27. Beautiful pics from all the colorful leaves und especially of the little White-breasted Nuthatch.
    Your Thanksgiving Dinner sounds delicious. Enjoy it and have a great time!

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  28. Great nature shots with sweet critters ~ Happy Thanksgiving to you.

    Live each moment with love,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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