Soft and Gentle

The sun rose quietly.
Gently the morning came.
The Crows were silent.



The Moon rose quietly.
Gently she faded
into the day.



The Cardinals called softly.
One by one they came.

The Woodpeckers were still.

Only the sound of my beating heart.
Happy Valentine's Day.

Marking the calendar

The Great Backyard Bird Count begins Friday, February 15, 2008,
and runs through Monday, February 18, 2008.

If you can spend even one hour during this time period counting the birds in your backyard or a city park it is appreciated and needed. It is easy to submit your count.
This is my 11th year of participating.

You do not need to have lots of birds, they do not need to be rare or unusual. Starlings, House Sparrows and Crows count as do the Blue Birds and the Woodpeckers!
The count is just to see where all the birds are! It is nation wide and this annual count is to help find out how the bird populations are getting along. There is a photo contest too. Last year's winners are on the web site. Fantastic photos. My favorite is of a Pigeon on top of a building in New York City. The skyline is behind the Pigeon. Incredible photograph.

Last year at this time I saw a dozen or more House Finches every day at the feeders. This year I have not seen any. There was a Yellow Bellied Sapsucker drilling holes in the Maple tree last year. Have not seen him this year. The Red-Breasted Nuthatches are here this year. First time I have ever seen them.

I am cleaning the binoculars.
This is an event!
Hope you can join in.

Hope

Another cold, gray morning greeted me.
While feeding the birds I saw a tiny bit of blue sky.
A tiny bit of hope for sunshine.
I bundled up and took my tea to the deck.



A northern breeze blew snowflakes off the roof.
I heard the Goldfinches.
The sun came out.
The air was glittered.

Two Red-breasted Nuthutches took turns at the feeder.

Oh joy!

Two White-breasted Nuthatches came to the nuts.
The females were too quick for pictures, this time.

Maybe these darlings will nest near by.
Maybe they will bring their little ones.
Maybe Spring is not too far away.

Did that bird just wink at me?

Abraham Lincoln

I know Mr. Lincoln as the sixteenth President.
The Gettysbury address is famous.
I have studied the American Civil War.

When I found a small collection of his poetry
I found a different man.
Three poems inspired by a visit in 1844 to Indiana.
A glimpse of his childhood.

The Poems of Abramham Lincoln

My Father was a stamp collector.
A few came to me.

They are in frames and I set them out in February.
I am reminded of my childhood.

My Father also collected coins.
I have a few of his pennies.
A few wheatstraws,
a couple of Lincoln's coppers.

From the east

The wind shifted to the east.
The temperatures stayed at 15 degrees.
The flurries were cold.



I stayed outside.
I was cold but the birds were hungry.
I kept the squirrels out of the feeders.



I think they were grateful.

They were unafraid of me.

This is why I go outside when it is cold.

Cold and gray

It was so cold outside but I wanted to
take a few pretty pictures.

Just a few minutes outside
and I am good for the rest of the day!

Entertainments

It is too cold and gray
for me to be outside today.

I have other entainments.
I have other ways to find delight.

Tasty treats and games
are fun.


For a little while
I am entertained.

The wintery mix could go around us.
Maybe just a few flurries.
Maybe just a bit of spitting snow.

I finished all my books.
I finished my tea
and my games.

Maybe I could try to bundle up.
Maybe I could try and go outside
at least for a few minutes.

Mockingbird wants raisins and I see the squirrels have knocked down a suet cake.
Maybe if I made the effort I could be with the birds.
Maybe...
just maybe, I too can puff and stay warm.

Stirring the Embers

I was not sure I had the inner fire to brave the cold.
The birds had plenty of seed. I stood at the backdoor.
I could hear the north wind whistle.
I could see the birds.

I came to my desk and went visiting.
Perhaps you would light my inner fire.

Sue Turner at Tumblewords lit my kindling.
Her poem and watercolor stirred my embers.
I had the energy to bundle up and wrap myself in blankets.
I went outside to my ocean blue skies.

I tucked up on the south side of the deck,
protected from the north winds.
Eleven degrees Fahrenheit, minus twelve Celsius,
the sun added ten degrees and the birds helped me
to forget about the cold.

I seldom see Crows in my backyard.

Wild Inferno

Wild Inferno

Today is the launch party
for my friend's second mystery.

My friend begins her book tour now.
She will be in my city at the end of the month.
We have kitchen table time scheduled.

Book one in the "Wild" series
"Wild Indigo"
is out in paperback.
These stories are gifts from the wild.

Gol

Happpy Chinese New Year

It is the year of the Rat.

I took my meditation to the International Bridge.
I walked and thought about the people in my sister city.

I thanked them for sharing their culture

and their ancient knowledge.

I thanked those in my other sister city.

Their ways are beautiful.

A strong breeze blew the good luck lanterns.
A flock of geese flew over the bridge.
My thanksgivings were sent.

Happy Birthday

I could write a sonnet
About my love for you,
Your kind, generous heart
Your wit, your smile, your care.

I could write a love song
About your romatic ways,
Dancing under the moon
Walking in the twilight.

Perhaps a sentiment
"Happy Birthday to you."
A simple offering
You are my joy and love.

New Cardinal Moon

Tonight and into tomorrow
the Moon will be new.
It is the New Cardinal Moon.
She is telling us our
work has value.

Wild winds swept through the night,
bringing death and destruction to areas south of my gardens.
Sleet and snow came to me.



Monoceros, the Unicorn, gallops across the southern sky.
A faint constellation just east of Orion,
between the dog stars, Sirius and Procyon.



I sat at the dining room table this morning.
I smoothed the cloth and thought of those who lost loved ones.

I watched the snow fall.
A White-crowned Sparrow came looking for seed.

It is time to feed the birds.

Shrove Tuesday

I awoke when thunder rattled the windows.
Temperatures on the cusp of freezing.

The rain is to change to snow.

I am cozy inside.

It is red beans and rice day
at my house.

Happy Shrove Tuesday.

Happy Pancake Day.

It is a Super Tuesday.

Fog

The morning fog
hung low.

My world is soft and warm.

I seldom see fog.
I seldom see soft.

A sense of place

We went to the River Market area
to get our Turkish coffee.
The Mid-eastern market is there.

Some of the buildings in the downtown area have murals.
These works of art commemorate past events.
The murals connect the past to the present.
A visual reminder of the importance of the river.

I have been reading about how where we live influences who we are.
Our sense of place is translated in the aesthetics and the culture of our cities.
We bring our heritage to the landscape and the enviroment dictates our expression
of our traditions.

My city was founded on the banks of the Missouri River, the Mighty Mo.
Although I live 15 miles from the river I am influenced by its current.
My city is dependant on the river.

This influence is not always conscious.
We never even have to see the river,
but the river defines this city and her people.

It is sunny today.

The Groundhog surely saw his shadow.

I can wait for spring.

Rise