Monday, December 1, 2014

a joyful greeting

with the turn
of a
page



i've gone from
not only
november to december


but
duck to goat
:)


earthy golden hues
and
lively 
oranges


to
reds and greens
silver and gold
 glittering lights
and
 big velvet
bows


let the 
festivities
traditions 
snow 
and 
song
fill the days ahead


greetings
dear friend
so good to 
see you
again.



Saturday, November 29, 2014

thankful, outrageously

in the spirit of
giving thanks
we often look at the biggies
life
love
health
for which i am truly blessed

we may look to the small
often overlooked 
beauty



nature's bounty
of sunrise and sunset
flower and fauna
clean air and water
for which i strive
to consciously
give due notice

and then
there are those
glimmers of perfection
that almost take your 
breath


like that first
taste of the turkey
that has been filling your home
with roasting goodness


and it is declared 
delicious
by all who sample


 gathered around
in the smallest room
to be together
for those last minute preparations
rolls in the oven
gravy made to utopian standards
(thanks, susie)
the traditional sides
kept warm
and plated for serving


why
 even the dogs
know
that something great
is about to happen
and they stay
close


while mom and sue
help every step of the way
cutting and chopping
stirring and tasting
providing the necessary dose
of laughter
sons who graciously help
wherever needed
a husband who not only carves
but cleans the dinner dishes 
as well

wow
a time for
thanksgiving
indeed


good food
good drink
good company
fun words
served up with the 
pumpkin pie
and 
after dinner coffee


wishing it wouldn't end

that we could stall time
just this once
then
as if in answer
the snow began to fall
temperatures dropped
cold enough to store beverages outdoors
making room in my 
crowded frig


road conditions worsened
and just like that
the fun was extended with
an overnight guest 

holding onto this time a bit longer

we watched a movie
drank a hot toddy
before
finally giving in to sleep
waking with mom
  enjoying her morning presence
over a coffee and a 
big
breakfast

remembering childhood dreams
prayers
that a day
could somehow last
forever

and like any prayer
God answered
and granted a memory
that will do
just that.

amen.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

courage and creativity

there are
those days



that regardless of the weather
quite possibly
because of the weather
you come to the
decision

yes!
let's go

sure
you're already succumbing
to the call
of hibernation
and it seems such an effort
to go out
in the evening
which is quickly balanced by
the knowledge
that the winter is oh so long
and you
go


to see
to hear
a beautiful woman
speak to a hall
packed with other women
and a few men
who have pulled themselves from
their respective couches
as well
to brave the weather
to leave feeling
renewed
inspired
to write
dance
sing

create
their hearts
joy


words and ideas
freely shared
without apology

authenticity has a way
of speaking to your heart
and you just know

you should take note


the only pad 
at my disposal

to review
reflect upon
relive
remember

a story shared about
finding joy
susan
a woman in her 40's 
who couldn't recall
the last time she felt it
then
she saw her 15 year old self
skating on ice
and was determined to 
reclaim that spirit on the surface
she had left years ago
finding a rink
making the time before work
making it happen
doing it
she humbly returned 
with
 gangly young girls around her
and there it was
right where she had left it
joy
now she continues
her gliding journey

this is where
the story 
ended

it's not about
achievements or awards
making the Olympic team
or other grand
destination

it brought her back

back
to her hearts
 song

finding it
singing it
dancing it
sewing it
drawing it
writing it

doing it
in spite of 
fear's voice
 telling you
not to
for every reason imaginable
because in that 
unknown place
where fear resides
joy is often
hiding
waiting to reveal itself.


reason to take
note
indeed! 




Friday, November 21, 2014

this moment

taking pleasure
in the now

with a still life

a trio in waiting

What child is this?
our family favorite...

Play a song.
Sing a song.
Let your voice be heard!

Enjoy the stills 
of your weekend.
xo

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

fwinter

with record breaking temps
 in the teens
not to mention wind chills
that chill to
the unprepared bone
a new season emerges


"fwinter"

with pumpkins and autumnal wreaths
under a blanket 
of snow


that somehow
even after all those
preparation posts
even i!
was found caught off-my-guard


and the hose
that was carefully drained
and left to lay in the sun
hangs waiting to be
put away


as do the 
few garden stragglers

wilted cabbage


a sweet batch of parsley
that the local rabbit
is happy to have
at his disposal

for that 
i am happy
as well

but
 its the snow covered
lawn furniture
that really
hurts


reminding me
every time i leave the house
that
there is still much to 
be done

then 
on my return
mr. gnome
is there


with an expression that once spoke
 a warm welcome
today stares back 
mockingly 

ah
what's one to do...
as the snow begins to fall again
like a ready or not
war cry
i will


sit with it
and celebrate this 
new season
with a warm
holiday
brew.

Stay warm this
snovember
day!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

kaylee's day

how blessed i am

to live right up the street

to have the privilege
of making the
 "important people
 who can pick me up
from my pre-school bus stop"
list


an early afternoon
can't sit still long enough for a picture
cookie break


a silly time
break


a glam it up
posing
break


a catch me in 
a blink
break


a giggly
great big smiley
break


a sweet as can be 
slice of life
break


a "take a picture 
of my shirt"
break


take another
just to be sure
break

basically
a grandma break
that began with my
Kaylee
four years ago today!

What can I say...
i'm in love

and 
oh
so
sweetly
blessed.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

dear diary

sorry i haven't
been writing lately
but some weeks
 get away from you

ideas and thoughts
will pop in my head
and i feel that old
excitement
to share them here


family
work
play
passions
all have a way of 
compromising my commitment
to you

one constant
food
because you have to eat
no matter how busy

pretty greens 
on vintage corelle plates
somehow
grab hold of the inner photographer
the consistent blogger
who thinks
wouldn't it be fun to
give some of my vegan favorites
a post to shine


not a spectacular
ah-ha moment
but one bite of avocado toast
will win you over
a don't knock it till you've tried it
perfect way 
to start the day
the secret is in the vegenaise
seriously good stuff

always planning what's next
and its a safe bet
the recipe will require
cashews
so get 'em soaking


to transform them
into a creamy base 
at a later hour

dinner hour


cover with a corelle
plate
and let the planning
begin

until then
have a muffin


a double banana walnut
muffin


light and moist
and tempting me to
have
another

a hold me over until
lunch


an absolute favorite
potato, cauliflower, chickpea
curry soup

it just doesn't 
get any better

then
as dinner hour arrives
get those cashews blending
with
miso
nutritional yeast
lemon juice
to create a creamy
dare i say it
cheesy
 base to make


broccoli cheddar-ish soup
served alongside
crusty bread
and picture ready
on yet another classic
corelle

and so
as the last of the leaves are collected
 halloween stored away
to make room for thanksgiving
hallmark channel's countdown 
enticing me to sit
for a spell

a week flies by
and i realize
i've neglected you

forgive me diary
but there is 
much living to
do

just last night
i talked my sister sue
into going to an hour and a half
first time for us
glow zumba party
with glo-sticks
and lots of neon dance fun
followed by
a margarita and super nachos
(i had to sweeten the pot)
 every day may not be
 a perfectly vegan life
correction
everyday is perfect in its
unpredictable way
vegan or nacho
dance or couch time
jack-o-lantern or cornucopia

always
enjoying
the
moments

ps
will make time
to stop by again soon

please do the same
until then...
keep enjoying

xo

Sunday, November 2, 2014

oh no i'm not



the one morning
each year
that i look at
my clock and think
late for church


again


and then
with the press
of a 
button
realize


oh
no i'm 
not

no.
i'm.
not!


followed by 
a changing of
hands


or the pressing
of more 
buttons


the turning 
of dials


to reclaim 
my hour

plenty of time

for a cafe latte

a quick post
to share my
joy...
at which point i look
at the time
and see
that i have somehow
managed 
to be late

regardless.

but oh
how rested i do feel!

What did you do with your hour?