Heads or tales

One day I went to the nearby nursery to purchase plants; specifically the Oriental cabbage. Having arrived I traveled row to row inhaling the wonderful scents of winter flowering plants. I was captivated by the Red Bud, mesmerized by the Holly, and the Pine took me back to the past. Somewhere in-between the Paper Whites and the Hibiscus, I spied the cabbage of my choice!

The nursery used little red wagons to help you collect plants for purchasing. You simply load what you want and take it out to your vehicle for unloading. Little red wagons were everywhere! Oh, and I spied an even bigger-sized one; guess that was for transporting trees.

At home I took the Orientals out back and clustered them together. You know what they say: “Two heads are better than one.” Surely seven little heads would look really nice?! But~ I noticed that something was missing; something that had previously added to the picture of delight. What was missing? My head went ‘round and ‘round, thinking, wondering, and then… aha!

Tomorrow I shall be going to the hardware store in hopes of finding a little red wagon.

My head has finished this tale. Bye for now.

Ode to a friend ~ unconditional control

Can’t you see me? Can you see me~ I’m so lonely, so lost?
This better not rhyme because I’ve already paid a high cost
To love, to hate~
To all the things that make me ache

Don’t you have control? You have control~ of my love, my heart.
What was I thinking to give you that from the very start?
To goad me or guide me~
To hesitate dismissing your plea

Please change me, rearrange me, into whatever makes you want to stay.


Won’t you stay? You won’t stay because inside I’ve already told you, ‘no.’
Already, ready for your sigh; your last goodbye~
But please don’t go.

A breath of stars

What is it that I have taken in over the years I’ve lived?
Dreams allowed access to my heart as truth~ so young and not so smart yet.
At my age can I now be considered wise?
No, but I consider myself happy.

Do I release my dreams into the night air, like a breath of stars, into the sky?
It can be a single exhale~ I’ve no need to hold back.
Send them to safety and commit them to occur as they will or will not.
So many dreams prompt me to exhale more than once.

Is it better to give than to receive, believing the gifting is the greater blessing?
It is our dreams that move us~ we join in this universe of breath.
A breath of stars sent from each person to the sky.
To fall upon us later when we are ready and find our happiness from within.

Snow glow 2010

On Christmas evening we left a family gathering heading home. The closer we got home the more flakes fell; slowly getting bigger and bigger; coming down faster and faster. The excitement was electrifying as we pulled onto our street. What some often call, “the Christmas smell” was in the air.

My hometown meteorologist said it was the first Christmas snow, here, in two hundred years. I’m not sure about his stats, but it was the most beautiful I can recall since the 1960’s.

I stood out in the driveway snapping photos, while far off two churches were sounding evening chimes. I found myself praying that we have a small bit of snow to appease the children, and yet, not be burdensome on the homeless. I’ve come to believe that only God knows why things are or come to be as they are.

The next day the wind was blustery; snow swirled from branches overhead to the ground. You’d have thought it was snowing again. We didn’t get that much snow but the sense of quiet and peace it brought was joyfully received. Since then I feel so much more alive!

Wishing each of you a very Happy New Year~

Thank you for reading,

Dixie

Christmas Peeps

Four little babies, lying in the bed ~
The first one rolled over, and this is what he said:

“I really want a train that runs along a track ~
And I’ll be good for Christmas, or you can take it back.”

The second baby said, “A football would be cool ~
And I’ll be good for Christmas, obeying every rule.”

The third baby contemplated every single toy ~
And soon he fell asleep, counting everything as joy.

The fourth baby frowned and finally said these words ~
“I want a room all by myself; not huddled with these birds.”

The warmth

As a child this scene was so familiar. A glowing fireplace shared with the season of Christmas. How often I would lie in front of it and reflect on my world. It was with great delight that I stayed right there, very still, and absorbed the warmth.

Climbing for Christmas

One Christmas morn I felt quite hardy
Excited for the family party
I took a trail that lead uphill
The sights and sounds gave me a thrill

Then halfway up my toes went cold
This great idea was really bold
The bright lit sun beamed on the path
As if to act as warming bath

But cold arose as I went higher
My toes began to feel like fire
The Christmas gifts I packed with care
Were dragging lower on the stair

I focused on the love and peace
Of every nephew and every niece
Their happy smiles would greet me there
But first I must climb up this stair!

I reached the top with happy shout
Then to their home for thawing out
The crazy climb made me a star
But come next year I’ll drive the car!

Walking in light

I’ve read so many blogs recently; so many wonderful writings. Why bother to write one of my own? Why bother sharing my thoughts, experiences, and silliness? Why not? I love to write and when I’m ready the words just tumble out.

At sunrise I sat at my desk looking for my “Yanni” cd. It’s purely instrumental music that inspires me; “Music that soothes the savage beast.” Yes, there must be a beast within because I feel so calmed by this music. Lost in the music I allow my mind to travel, yet let go of thoughts. Where have I been?

Visiting other blogs allows me to glean from their life. I see a blog as a child carrying his or her light along a path. A path that may or may not intersect with mine and the light I carry. Adults honoring our inner child in ways we may not realize. It is always the child who carries the light. It is the adult that develops the strength to share their light. And in sharing, we light the entire path.

Thank you~

Picture credit: “The Graphics Fairy”

Forest Fruit

It is the first day of December
And the pine, in beauty glows
On its limbs the fruit await
To reach the forest ground below

Their silent fall will touch the earth
Where they wait until they're found
By happy children toting baskets
Gather all, then homeward bound!

Shopping time ~ Let it snow

Oh ~ it’s shopping time
People rushing to and fro’
Hurry, hurry, got to go
All I want is lovely snow.

Oh ~ it’s shopping time
Out to buy the perfect tree
Gifts that pile up to your knee
If only I had learned to ski.

Oh ~ it’s shopping time
Buy some hats with matching gloves
Gifting them to those I love
For snowballs from the stuff above

Let it snow.

Stress Management

Just in case you are having a rough day (week, year, and life), here is a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological journals. The funny thing is that it really does work and will make you smile.


1. Picture yourself lying on your tummy on a warm rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream.

2. Picture yourself with both your hands dangling in the cool running water.

3. Birds are sweetly singing in the cool mountain air.

4. No one knows your secret place.

5. You are in total seclusion from that hectic place called the world.

6. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.

7. The water is so crystal clear that you can easily make out the face of the person you are holding underwater.


There!! See? It really does work. You're smiling already.

Tears

Tears like leaves do not fall until ready.

There are ten bags of leaves by the road, with more to rake.

I think the tears are on the way.

Meld with peace

Realizing my mind plays tricks
The days go by and I’m not fixed
But on the morrow of my sorrow
I meld with peace and find myself.

* * *

The nights of sleeplessness may have brought me, yes lifting up in crescendo, to a pain I don’t want to know. I lie there as if waiting for the axe to fall upon my neck; my life verily severed. It is then that I wonder how much more can I take? It is often the quiet moments that bring me an answer.

I sat and watched the movie, “Avatar” for a third time. There seemed to be something missing but I don’t know what it could be. [Now the television is advertising a new version, “coming to a theater near you.” Seems the director and producers are reentering some scenes they previously edited out. Okay.] During my third viewing I saw what I knew to be a problem with my own reality. There are people who want to destroy what other people believe in. Speaking metaphorically, the destruction of the “Soul Tree” in “Avatar” was meant to destroy their beliefs. Destroy it and you destroy them? Can that be?

The “bad guys” in the movie wanted the special minerals in the soil. They learn that the biggest deposit is under that tree. They learn that that particular tree is the most prized possession of the people living there. Does that stop the “bad guys”? Has it ever? It gave me a good idea of what “corporate-run military” looks like; soldiers of fortune for hire [call 1-800…].

There are many tragedies I do not understand. Life is full of painful actions and reactions. My own perceptions may mislead me. It is then that I must retreat to a place I’ve come to know as my sanctuary. My own “soul tree” waits as I learn from my behaviors, and move another step closer.

* * *

I meld with peace and find myself.

Welcome August

It's a cool day. The temperature is almost 20 degrees less than the previous weeks of days. The skies are overcast with a yummy gray... not to be confused with that dank looking dark gray. The colors found in the trees and surrounding foliage reflect their colors upward. It's quite mesmerising.

Hold on, I've found a small ray of sunlight. Welcome August!

outdoors

I’ve grown accustomed to my yard.
I stomp the earth beneath my boots.
The flowers growing make me happy
And the beans all make me snappy…
~inhale slowly-exhale slowly~
Ah yes… I’ve grown accustomed to my yard.

(Find some time to enjoy the outdoors.)

A prayer for Susan

My dear friend
please surround her with loving arms
invisible and yet
feeling your presence

Give to her more than you would me
give her so much more
stop her ache
dry her tears

Annointed one of everything good
I trust your way
help my friend today
and through tomorrows...

Summer warmth

All winter long I wait for this. I wait for temperatures to reach the nineties. Add some humidity and it's 104 degrees Fahrenheit. So warm, but to the bones it feels great! It's like a warm bath soothing my achy muscles.

This is one of my favorite places to sit. Thanks to a very dear friend who takes care of the yard. I miss the days when I could do it all.

Here's my 'cool off' tip: take a bottle of water when you're sitting outside. When you get too warm pour a small capful of water on top of your head. Even if the water is warm it will feel cool.

Have a great summer everyone!!

Accountability

Big fancy word, accountability. I had to ask myself, "how many miles would I be willing to give up driving, to save the oceans? Would I be willing to see family less often? What products that use petroleum would I give up as well?

So began my questioning of my actions. I can sit here and say I didn't cause this gulf mess, however, I do use fuel. So I could say they're drilling for me. Only I wish they'd ask if a five mile below surface drill seemed the smart thing? I would have told them to invent another product conducive to 'life's' continuance. Every night, on the news, a parade of animal life is dead arriving on the shoreline, or else floating upon the waves.

Alas, Global Greed at it's finest, forsaking accountability? Nah, I don't think so. I think there's more to it. More will be revealed as time goes by; keep watching.







*A correction for my previous post, please note: Joni Mitchell wrote the song, "Back to the Garden." A big 'thank you' to Paige!

Now...

"We've got to get ourselves back to the garden."

~Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Taylor, and Me.

Scallop fettuccine

Ah vacation time!

This summer all flights are being diverted to the Gulf Coast. It's a promotional thing that sponsors "fine dining by the sea; thus refueling the plane and the people simultaneously. It's an ideal idea. It will be fun to watch them pull in crabs and scallops from the shore's edge.

You may want to 'question' that scallop fettuccine with the brown sauce. Reminds me of the good old days and Oysters Rockefeller.