Category Archives: Animalia

the ties (or glues) that bind

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house

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

There’s been no holiday baking in my kitchen this year. Counter tops and back splashes  are ripped out, the range is covered with a paint tarp, wires dangle where light fixtures used to hang… and in general it looks as though Home Depot exploded all over the kitchen.

I can’t seem to remember in which boxes I packed which things to store out of the way for the kitchen remodel, and I couldn’t find any tape to secure the wrapping paper on Christmas gifts. Not to worry, though. Wood glue and trigger clamps did the trick nicely.

My dog Chules got a nice treat from Santa Paws. Judging by his newly acquired black snout, I’m guessing the treat is now buried somewhere in the dirt of the back yard.

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My cat Sebastian got some goodies from Santa Claws as well, but judging from his glazed stare, it looks like maybe he dipped into the egg nog when I wasn’t looking.

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I’ve had a wonderful day spent with my beautiful family, eating great food (obviously not prepared in my kitchen), sharing good memories and creating lovely new ones.

I hope your holidays are as blessed as mine!

growing anticipation

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lean into each day
not racing to be the first
rather
in eagerness to explore

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reach ever higher
not to claim more than others
rather
to stretch your understanding

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take time for catnaps
restore soul and sanity
and
allow new dreams to unfold

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The Daily Post weekly photo challenge: Anticipation

Blessed Two

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Last Thursday I posted my contribution to Susie Lindau’s #Blessed Project, which is aimed at inspiring us to consider the blessings in our lives.

I decided to give it a second go-around this week. So here it is, #Blessed, Part II.

I’m blessed with:

the ability to hang on when skies are grey…

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curiosity…

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time to myself where I can just let my thoughts float by…

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a place to line dance when I’m feeling wired…

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and beautiful vistas to admire from my favorite perches.

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With Thanksgiving Day behind us, it’s a good time to notice that there are 364 additional days in which we can be thankful.

Let’s keep counting our blessings.

liquid magic

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which came first,
the clouds dropping water
upon the ground,

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or the ground water evaporating
into clouds?

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did it start out as a fog,
neither of the clouds
nor of the ground?

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perhaps it began as ice…

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or frost…

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however the magic began,
I am glad
for the way it dances

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and quenches our thirst for life.

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The Daily Post weekly photo challenge:  Magic

Five poems, five lines, five syllables

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ONE
osprey standing proud
wind-ruffled feathers
sharp beak, sharp talons
sharp eyes watch for prey
owning this river

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TWO
most call you a weed
I see a flower
most would destroy you
I pick your seed head
make a wish and blow

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THREE
I wish I could feel
the stories you’ve lived
touch your rough ridges
ascertain your truths
splinters withstanding

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FOUR
february lull
deserted branches
streets stripped of traffic
evergreen signals
drive us into spring

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FIVE
skating on thin ice
isn’t as dire as
it’s cracked up to be
if the ice holds, it’s
icing on the cake

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The Daily Post Discover Challenge: Numbers

Through My Eyes

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This rather large creature showed up on my deck the other day. I’m not a big fan of creepy-looking bugs, so I was none too pleased to see it lounging there in the sun as if waiting for me to fetch an iced tea and a straw.

“Would you like your tea with a squish of lemon?”

“Uh… did you say ‘squish’?” The creature eyed me nervously. Or at least I think it did. With those shimmering eyes it’s hard to tell where it may have been looking.

“Did I? That must have been a swat. A slap. Er, I mean a slip. What I meant to say  was a ‘slice’ of lemon.”

The creature shifted from one foot to the other. To the other… to the other…

“Everyone thinks my kind are terrible, and they just want us dead. Okay, so we suck blood. And spread diseases. And harm livestock.”

“And your point is?” I paused, boot in mid-air just inches above the creature’s head.

“Just try to see the world through my eyes.”

“Through your eyes?” I bent down to study the gleaming, striped, colorful shields that I assumed were the creature’s eyes.

“Yes. Look deeeeep into my eyes.” The creature began to sway back and forth. “You’re getting sleeeeepy….”

I could barely keep my head up. I just wanted to lay down and rest.

“When I count to ten, you’ll see things as I do.”

“You can count to ten? But you’re just a bug!”

“One… two… ”

I tried to blink, to turn away, but I couldn’t. The creature’s voice droned on.

“Eight… nine… ten! Now look at me and tell me what you see.”

I flicked my wings and shuffled my six feet.

“Wow! Words cannot describe!” I marveled. “But you know what? I suddenly have a thirst for blood.”

“Great! Let’s go find another unsuspecting human!”

And with that, we buzzed away into the sunny, blue sky.

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JNW’s Halloween Challenge: creature