tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57234461946135371822024-03-13T02:20:16.540-07:00Book EndingsMy writing place... Adding a little order to the chaos.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-72998164842244604012015-10-21T15:14:00.000-07:002015-10-21T15:14:09.666-07:00A Drowning in Reverse<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
A
Drowning in Reverse<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
by Yvonne Horton</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
(Note to the reader: My neighbor
told this story one night as we sat around our neighborhood campfire. I have only embellished it with description
for writing purposes. He swears it really happened. I will let you decide.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
It was one of
those unbearable hot August days with temperatures in the nineties and the air
so thick with humidity that it was a chore just to get a good breath. On Jamie’s suggestion we decided to take a
walk around sunset along the three-quarter mile strip of Lake Ontario’s shore
that bordered our small community. A group of five or six teenagers, who had the
same idea as we did, walked along the shore a few feet behind us. Their pace was as sluggish as ours.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
The light of
day was fading fast. The sky over the lake was taking on the color of grey as a
fog settled atop the water. Without a breeze to stir it, the water was still
and smooth like glass. There was an
unusual lack of sound, no birds chirping or insects buzzing, only a gentle
intermittent watery lap as the water floated to shore.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“It’s so
quiet,” Jamie said, as if reading my mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I was thinking
the same thing,” I said. “It’s strange,
isn’t it?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
As if noticing
our comments, the lake began to stir.
Slowly, at first, the water rolled small waves to the shore, breaking
the silence. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Must be a
speed boat out on the lake,” l said, looking out across the water. However, the fog was so dense now that I
could not see too far. There still was no breeze, yet the waves were increasing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Or maybe there’s
a storm coming in,” Jamie said. She sounded worried.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Well, let’s
head back to the house, just in case,” I said.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
We quickened
our pace and the teenagers were now closer behind us. They must have had the same idea. As we moved faster, the lake began to churn
sending white capped waves crashing to the shore. The sound was deafening. Yet still there was
no wind. Ahead of us, about 20 feet
away, I could see a good sized piece of drift wood rocking in the waves. It was
floating half in and half out of the water. But, as we got closer I realized,
and a chill went through me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
Jamie stopped
walking. I was a few steps ahead of her and I stopped and turned to her. The teenagers were caught up to us now, and
they stopped, too. They were all staring straight ahead, all with the same
shocked frightened look on their faces.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Bob, is that
a...?” Jamie started her tone tremulous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yeah, I think
it is,” I said. “Let’s go. Maybe we can help.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
We all reached
the body at the same time. We could tell
that it was a man even though he was lying face down. He was dressed in plaid shorts and a dark tee
shirt. The bottom half of his body was
in the water while his upper body was on the shore, and his face was embedded
in the sand to his hairline. The waves,
still crashing to shore, moved to enclose him to the shoulders. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Maybe we
should turn him over,” one of the teens yelled above the cacophony of the
lake’s turmoil. They all had their phones out now and were snapping
pictures. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“No, this might
be a crime scene,” I yelled back. “Stay
here! I’m going to go call the police!” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
I knew I had to
walk back a few feet away from the shore or I wouldn’t be able to hear while on
the phone. I prayed my phone would have reception. It did, and I made the call.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“There’s a body
on the beach!” I yelled into the phone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
“Did someone drown?” the
dispatcher asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I don’t
know! We just found him!” I continued.
The phone was crackling in and out. I
knew the connection was going to break. I yelled our location into the phone,
hoping the dispatcher could hear me. As
soon as I finished speaking the phone went dead. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
I looked back
to the shore. Jamie was looking in my
direction waving her arms in the air.
She was yelling something, but I couldn’t make out her words. The teenagers were yelling, too, and pointing
out towards the water. I ran to shore.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“We’re losing
him!” Jamie was shouting. I looked
toward the water.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“He’s getting
away!” One of the teens yelled, as if the body were an escaped prisoner or
something.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
They were right. The man’s body was moving quickly against the
tide of waves. We could see it clearly
as it was now encased in a sickly green colored cloud that glowed bright within
the grey fog. It was at least twenty
feet from the shore. I looked around and
found what I needed. I picked up the
long fallen tree branch and headed into the water.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“Bob, what are
you doing?” Jamie yelled. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I’m going to
try and snag it,” I yelled back. “Stay
there! The police should be here soon!”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
I started
moving. I knew I could wade quite a ways
out before I hit deep water. This was a good
thing as there was no way that I could not swim against the tide of waves that
crashed against me. Even so, the body
was steadily moving out ahead of me and I kept thinking how unnatural it was. It was all I could do to keep my feet against
the force of the rolling waves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
The water was
getting deeper. The water was up to my
shoulders now, and the waves were splashing into my face. At times, I could feel the sandy bottom
giving way beneath my feet. Soon I would
lose the safety of the sandbar and I would be in deep water. Still, the body surrounded by its green cloud remained
moving ahead of me. I vaguely wondered
if it was luring me to my death.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
Just as this
thought crossed my mind, everything stopped.
The lake was suddenly still and the silence and the dense fog seemed to
enclose me. I felt a sense of claustrophobia
setting into my bones. About ten feet ahead of me the body stopped moving and
lay motionless floating face down in the water.
The green light that enclosed it was gone. It was just a body. I was about to move forward to see if I could
catch hold of it with the tree branch when it sunk beneath the water. I stopped moving and the thought occurred to
me that the body might be near me under the water, getting ready to drag me
down with it. It was then that the
whirlpool started to churn directly above the spot where the body disappeared.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
I stood there
and I watched motionless as the man’s body began to rise slowly out of the
center of the whirlpool. He was in a
standing position now. Again, he was
encased in the light of the green misty cloud.
I thought that maybe he was going to rise into the sky, but then is
assent stopped so that the water swirled at his waist. Only his head and torso were above the
water. It was as though beneath the
water he was standing on some sort of platform.
I could only stare as he raised his arms out from his sides. He turned his head to gaze deep into my eyes
through deep dark sockets where his eyes once were. Then he opened his mouth and spoke.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
“I have to go
back to my friends now,” he said His voice was deep, guttural, an almost liquid
sound, that echoed through the fog over the still black water. Yet in a tone that matter-of-fact yet almost
apologetic. Then, as slowly as he had
risen he descended beneath the water. For
a few seconds, the glowing green mist remained above the spot where he disappeared
and then it began to meld to nothingness into the grey fog.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: .5in;">
I stood there a
moment stunned by what I had seen and heard.
I took a step back and almost fell over.
Then shaken by the thought of sinking beneath the water, I released the
tree branch and turned to half swim, half wade back to shore. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
Jamie and all the teenagers were
clamoring as I reached solid ground.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
“What happened? Are you okay? Thank God your back!” Their questions and comments came in a
jumble.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
“Did you see it? Did you hear it?” I asked anxiously as I
struggled to catch my breath.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
“No, no we couldn’t see you or
anything because of the fog,” Jamie said. “And we couldn’t hear anything above
the noise of the waves.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
“Well, I...it went too far
out. I couldn’t catch it. It just
disappeared,” I explained simply. Jamie looked so stressed that I didn’t want
to freak her out by telling her what I had seen and heard.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
A few minutes later the police
arrived and since there was no physical body to show them, the teenagers pulled
out their phones to show the police the pictures they took. But, every picture only showed a green mist
and as they looked the green mist faded to black until all the pictures were
blank. There was no proof, but, even so,
the police alerted the coast guard. Yet,
no body was ever found. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
A few days later I told Jamie what I saw and
heard while out in the water that night. As I related the story to her I
realized that what I had witnessed was a drowning in reverse. As well, I knew
that I would never forget the drowning man for the rest of my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-35067689179342145162014-10-19T11:26:00.000-07:002014-10-19T11:26:38.866-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
Update 101914</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello Everyone! It is getting cold here on the shores of <st1:place><st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename>Ontario</st1:placename></st1:place>, but no frost yet. I
haven’t posted an update in a while and thought I should let you all in on some
of the goings on. (This may end up a long post and I hope I don’t bore you too
much).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So far this year my life has been a little stressful. As you
may know from an earlier post, Mom was in the hospital with emergency surgery
for gastro-intestinal problems early in the year. Since then her forgetfulness
has blossomed into dementia. I talk to Mom for about a half hour everyday, but
unfortunately, I have not been able to visit her regularly as I’ve been dealing
with some medical/dental problems of my own. It’s nothing life threatening, but
it’s enough to put me out of commission for a few weeks at a time. However, I
am seeing a light at the end of this tunnel and should be back on track soon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mom is still functioning with day-to-day living activities,
but can be stubborn and surly when it comes to other things ranging from going
to doctor’s appointments to arguing about what day it is. She calls me 3-5
times a day (sometimes more). She is obviously lonely and bored, yet she
refuses to attend any of the outings or activities available to her at the
senior living apartment building where she lives. This is unfortunate as I
think she would have a wonderful time and it would give her more structure to
her life. My brother, sister-in-law, and I have been working to find an
amicable solution to these problems that may involve her moving from a senior
living facility to a more assistive-living facility. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t get to as much gardening as I planned this past
summer, although the small amount that I did plant in my herb garden
flourished. The wild flowers I planted last year and the gladiolas came up and
blossomed beautifully as well, so, it wasn’t a complete loss.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
During my recovery times, I had a chance to get to some
serious re-writing/editing of my book. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever finish
it, but I keep plugging along. I am happy with the way the story is turning out
and sometimes it changes in ways I didn’t at first expect. When that happens I
have to review and change small details, but that’s okay as I love getting lost
in the process of writing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My newest feline editions, Cricket and Skipper, are getting
bigger everyday. They settle in for more quiet time with me than they did at
first, but they still enjoy kitten activities such as randomly running through
the house at top speed, attempting to climb the windows, and trying to explore
small spaces where they no longer fit. The last activity is especially true of
Cricket. A few weeks ago I was walking past an antique cupboard in the dining
room and saw Skipper staring at the bottom edge of the cupboard. It was then that
I noticed a grey tail. Cricket had squeegee-d herself under the cupboard and
was teasing her brother. Luckily, she was able to get out on her own, but she
has since discovered she no longer can fit there. Skipper is noticeably bigger
than Cricket and he has a fascination with water. The bathroom is his favorite
room as there is so much water activity. Last week while I was in the shower I
looked up to find him perched above me on the ledge of the shower doors. I was
a little concerned that he might jump in so I shooed him away. He hasn’t done
this again since, but I am always on the lookout. They sometime do things I
don’t appreciate, like dumping over some of my houseplants, but these things
are to be expected with young cats. The other night they stole my glasses off
my nightstand and it took me all day to find them where they hid them behind a
bookcase. I was so happy when I did find them because it’s difficult to read or
write without them, and driving without them isn’t a good idea either. However,
overall Cricket and Skipper are very entertaining and lots of company, and I
love having them as part of my family.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, that’s it for now. I hope I didn’t bore you to death.
Until next time, I wish you all good health and happiness. Peace<span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>
(yh) </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-76745784635620089522014-02-12T07:51:00.001-08:002014-02-12T07:51:06.266-08:00Kelly Darke - Fine Art: 7 reasons saving things is not hoarding<a href="http://kellydarke.blogspot.com/2014/02/7-reasons-saving-things-is-not-hoarding.html?spref=bl">Kelly Darke - Fine Art: 7 reasons saving things is not hoarding</a>: fiber necklace from that recycled sweater yarn I have met many artists who collect materials for their work and end up with an overwhelm...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-51530513094645096962014-01-20T12:09:00.000-08:002014-01-20T12:09:44.596-08:00Looking Forward to a Better Week<div class="MsoNormal">
I can only hope that the coming week is better than last
week. I had the flu last week, complete
with headache, sneezing, chills and a churning tummy ache. I tried to barrel through it for the first
part of the week, but by Thursday, I had to give in and take to my bed. I am feeling better now though not perfect.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sad news last week was that my mom’s Seeing Eye dog,
Ula, had to be retired. Ula is ten years
old and showing signs of aging. Ten is
quite old for a working dog. My mom
generally retired her previous dogs at around eight years old. Upon retirement, most of her other dogs were
adopted by friends or relatives to live out the rest of their years. I adopted her last dog, Crystal, who was my
constant companion for two years until she succumbed to cancer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mom took Ula to the vet for a check-up on Friday at which
time it was discovered that she had a tumor on her spleen and would not any
longer have the ability to be a guide. Mom was, of course, devastated. However, the vet assured her that if Ula
survived surgery and recovered that they would find her a good home. It seems the vet has a client, a woman who
recently lost her dog, who is need of a companion and Ula is the perfect
candidate. My mom agreed to this
arrangement. Hopefully, this will all
turn out for the best.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mom is doing well all things considered. She phoned The Seeing Eye to ask for an
application to begin the process of training for another guide dog. We are hoping she is strong enough to go
through training process, which is quite rigorous. In her late eighties, she is still active
within the community, yet does have days when she tires easily. However, she is a determined woman who will
not back down from a challenge unless it proves undefeatable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the meantime, we will miss Ula’s presence in our lives…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-40843214197785216732014-01-16T09:27:00.003-08:002014-01-16T09:29:33.631-08:00Wait Another Day<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wait
Another Day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
head is throbbing,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
stomach is churning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have too much to do<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
have the flu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
so I get up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
have a cup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
the voice in my head<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Says,
“Go back to bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
you know what they say<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;">Tomorrow‘s
another day.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-38694944404621284792014-01-11T10:16:00.000-08:002014-01-11T10:16:45.339-08:00Photos from the NeighborhoodI am happy to report that the deep freeze is over, well, for now anyway. I took advantage of the warmer temperatures to take a walk around the neighborhood to snap some photos. There is a park behind my house, Durand Eastman Park, packed with forest trails and waterways. Most of these photos are from the park. Enjoy...<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-47732933241862676652014-01-08T07:55:00.000-08:002014-01-08T07:55:32.912-08:00Sometimes, I simply write...<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Because
I’m a writer, I have to write. Writing
is my best form of communication, not just with others, but with me. There are
times when I sit down with paper and pen or pencil, or sit down at the keyboard
with no idea or plan as to what I will write. I simply write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is something magical about the writing of words without thought as to what I am
writing. Random thoughts appear in an endless flow of words filling the once
blank page. Even in abstract, they have meaning. The words might seem gibberish
to someone else, but for me they bring clarity to my world. Once written and
read, I might find answers to a problem I’m facing, or I might discover
something that is bothering me, or I might discover a new idea or line for a
story or poem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
me, writing is a release and a relief from the everyday worries that life can
bring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have to write because I am a writer. And sometimes, I simply write...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-47527916112134858282014-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:002014-01-06T09:13:33.019-08:00A Sleepless Night<div class="MsoNormal">
Good Morning, Everyone, from the shores of <st1:place><st1:placetype>Lake</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename>Ontario</st1:placename></st1:place>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am a little tired today.
As you may know, we had quite a bit of snow last week along with very
cold temperatures. Over the weekend the temperatures
rose to near 40<sup>0 </sup>(F), and yesterday it rained most of the day and
into the night. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, in the middle of the night a very loud buzzing rudely
awakened me. This horrible noise sounded
much like an alarm clock, and since I rarely set an alarm to wake up (and when
I do set one, it’s set to music), I knew it wasn’t a clock making the
noise. After checking the security alarm
and the smoke alarms, it finally dawned on me that the alarm was coming from the
crawl space basement. I knew I would have to descend into the crawl space to find
the cause of the irritating noise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After clearing all the things stored in the closet over the
trap door to the crawl space (a card table, chairs, a ladder, and the
elliptical runner) I opened up the trap door. The alarm was definitely coming
from the dark cavern below and I could smell the musty odor of the basement
seeping up to greet me. Mustering up my
courage, I found the drop light with the long cord and a flashlight for back
up, and climbed down the short distance into the close, black space beneath the
house. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I followed the sound to a back corner to discover that the
sump-pump was over flowing and that it was the float alarm making all the
racket. I reset the alarm, which was
quite a relief to my ears, and checked to make sure nothing was blocking the
water in the basin. Finding nothing, I
proceeded to give the sump-pump a stern lecture about its purpose and explained
that I do not have the money to replace it.
Then I waited. Nothing happened
and I began to realize how eerily quiet it was under the house in the dark
space under the house. I decided to get
out of there and wait in the comfort of the house proper upstairs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I made some coffee and sat down to wait for the sound of the
pump to start working and do its job.
Twenty minutes later, I heard the motor kick in and the rush of water as
the pump regurgitated the contents of the basin. It was a long and loud noise. Finally, it stopped after a good, long minute,
and then ran again in about 30 second intervals. Eventually, it slowed down. I waited another half hour to make sure it
didn’t overflow again and that continued its normal duties. Feeling all was well; I closed the trap door
and replaced all the things in the closet in an organized fashion. The time was now five-thirty, and I was
wide-awake.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now usually, I don’t notice the sound of the sump-pump
running. Actually, it doesn’t run much
except in the spring when there is plenty of rain and the ground frost is
melting. I think I grow used to the
noise. However, I heard it run for the
next hour as I tried to fall back to sleep, which thankfully, I finally did for
a couple of hours. I am thankful it’s
Monday and I don’t have any appointments today as I am not too alert.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not sure why the sump-pump stopped working. Maybe it was over-whelmed, or maybe it had a
bad dream. Or, maybe it just wanted some
reassurance that I appreciate its hard work, much the same as people need to
know the same. I think in the future I
will visit it occasionally to make sure it’s okay and to let it know it’s
needed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have a great week, Everyone!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Peace... <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-51084838495095724822014-01-03T10:41:00.000-08:002014-01-03T10:41:49.938-08:00Journal Entry 010314<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Good Morning,
Everyone, from the freezing shores of </span><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Lake</span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"> </span><st1:placename><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Ontario</span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Courier New";">. The
snowstorm hit us yesterday and dropped about 8 inches of snow here, and the
wind built up some very high drifts. The
current temperature is resting at 1<sup>0</sup> (F). I am not going anywhere, so I will not shovel
today. The forecast promises
temperatures to rise into the mid 30s tomorrow.
I hope to get out over the weekend to snap some photos of the
neighborhood and the woods around us. For those of you who did not see them on my Facebook page, the photos below are of the lake after the the first storm of the season For those of you who did not see them:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aPsA5sOp3Kkv2Po6dJUZ9ST_YZ2mS-_MEKxQ6qv4j6Jm-cAY8oBCWSjwuW6-RaQhvTPLDYgAwhmYkRAPKMYM9zmnGxfi8ZBdH6N5f-EdH7h9SE2NXm9zE5936gebkEgqkMz2rMVOfEo7/s1600/1514563_10200382854053761_19372182_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aPsA5sOp3Kkv2Po6dJUZ9ST_YZ2mS-_MEKxQ6qv4j6Jm-cAY8oBCWSjwuW6-RaQhvTPLDYgAwhmYkRAPKMYM9zmnGxfi8ZBdH6N5f-EdH7h9SE2NXm9zE5936gebkEgqkMz2rMVOfEo7/s320/1514563_10200382854053761_19372182_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Today I am going to
continue reading the “Divergent” series by Veronica Roth. I just started the first book and it is
holding my interest. I will also get
some writing done today. I did some
writing yesterday and I feel the story is going well, but I am not sure where
it will end up. However, that is how it
goes sometimes because characters have minds of their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">I hope you are all
keeping warm wherever you are in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Peace...</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-56617399699279763362014-01-01T17:40:00.000-08:002014-01-01T17:40:52.513-08:002014 Suggestions for Resolutions<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
so a new year begins, 2014. Stepping into a new year is always exciting, for
who knows what lies ahead. Many people resolve to personal accomplishments for
a new year; however I am not one to make resolutions. I have pretended to make
one or two flighty promises to myself in some years past. I say ‘pretend’
because I knew I would never really stick to them. That’s not to say that I
didn’t try, but alas, life has a way of moving in unexpected directions
sometimes, and those unrealistic resolutions tend take a backseat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">However
there is one resolution that I made to myself many years ago, and I did stick
to it. It was more of an oath, really or
you could call it a promise. It was as follows: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Be
who you are, let no one define you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
was the most important resolution I ever made and I believe it is the most
important suggestion I can give to anyone who is looking to make a life-long
resolution. However, before one can make that promise to oneself, one must
realize who one is and what that entails. Finding oneself is the first step,
though not necessarily the most difficult. The most difficult is to stay true
to oneself in the face of any and all adversity. That takes practice and determination.
There may be those who disagree with you, or those who don’t understand you.
There may even be those who decide to walk away from you. But those people
really never knew who you were in the first place and it’s best to leave them
to their own path. It’s truly better to be happy alone than miserable in a
crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My
second suggestion for a life-long resolution is: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Be
kind, be generous.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is not always an easy resolution to stick with either. For we sometimes come
across those people for whom it is difficult to extend kindness towards.
Sometimes we might find that we are being used due to our generosity. Other
times, we might come to realize that our acts of kindness or generosity are not
helping or improving the person we are extending these things towards. We have
to learn to recognize these situations and to kindly walk away without anger or
bad feelings. In that you will find that you are not only extending kindness to
the other person, but you are also being kind to yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
these are my suggestions for New Year’s Resolutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Happy
New Year, Everyone! Peace...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-68757364929317001302013-11-20T10:56:00.000-08:002013-11-20T10:56:50.278-08:00The Tidings of Winter<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The forest floor is covered</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a colorful carpet of leaves,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The North wind whistles its eerie song</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Through the barren branches of trees.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Soft flakes float like feathers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Falling without a sound,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They melt to glisten like morning dew</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once they touch the ground.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the sky, the birds take flight</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To form a ‘V’ shaped formation,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They know that they must travel far</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To reach a warmer location.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The furry critters scurry about</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gathering food for their larder,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For they know the future months ahead</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Will make finding food much harder.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Autumn is giving up her ghost</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the days grow shorter and colder,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And soon the world will have a blanket of white</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For these are the tidings of winter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yvonne Horton <st1:date day="20" month="11" year="2013">November
20, 2013</st1:date></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-39841351983258594532013-11-13T08:09:00.000-08:002013-11-13T08:32:45.596-08:00It's only Snow<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">The snow flies round
in furious flurry,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Though some folks
see it as such a worry,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">But we walk through
it without a hurry,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Because it’s only
snow, it’s only snow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">When it settles, the
world is white,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">So that in the sun,
it shines too bright,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">But we go out and
have a snowball fight,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">Because it’s only
snow, it’s only snow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">It’s so much fun for us
to play,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">And, then one day,
it all melts away,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";">But, we know it will
come back another day,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New';">Because it’s only
snow, it’s only snow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-33989436966284579372013-10-22T07:51:00.000-07:002013-10-22T07:51:39.698-07:00The Tides of Change<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A change is coming…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Slowly,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It disturbs the air,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like a supple breeze</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In early spring</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sifting over a sill </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of an open window. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A change is coming…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quietly,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It advances on tiptoe</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In soft stocking feet </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Barely making a sound</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like a whispered secret</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Delivered in a dream.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A change is coming…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unseen,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It hides in shadow,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Occasionally caught</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Like a flash of light </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the corner of an eye</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It shines bright, then flits away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A change is coming…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Secretly,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But with all its stealth,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am aware that it’s there</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And with that knowledge</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I keep moving forward</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As I begin to prepare.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yvonne Horton</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-25223262631112628352013-07-30T11:46:00.003-07:002013-07-30T11:47:02.111-07:00Along the Shore<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
lake echoes waves that melt to the shore</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
deluge with fine sand, soggy green seaweed, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Slippery
smooth pebbles and the petite shells <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
tiny crustaceans, their edges sharp as glass<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shine
white to glint silver sparkling in the sun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Deadfall,
now long smooth driftwood logs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Scatter,
inland to rest solid in higher sand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like
pews set in nature’s vast holy ground<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
serve as seats for the weary who wander the shore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-37856885423952611842013-07-30T10:22:00.000-07:002013-07-30T10:24:07.802-07:00Willows<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Breezes
drift soft as whispers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Through
the branches of the willows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
send their wispy tresses in motion</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That
mesmerizes observers to stillness</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-49280945876209378582013-07-23T09:11:00.001-07:002013-07-23T16:31:54.588-07:00A Twisted Gap in Time<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
tripped over a wrinkle in the liquid realm of sleep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
fell through the whirlwind within her mind’s eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">She
landed hard in a carnival of a twisted gap in time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Where
the sure fantasy of her naïve adolescent life’s view <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Bled
to the raw horror of a deadly untamed reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For
in this world the Dragons breathed their death breath of fire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So
that where forests once stood tall in their immaculate majesty <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now
stretched nothing but a barren land of ash, a crimson molten pyre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
air swirled to leave a dank dark dust that drowned out the light of day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
hot embers raked the air like rain that fell to burn beneath her feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
all around her wild whispers rose to red ragged screams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;">That tore through the silken sound of her silent
night of dreams. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-60018549261993738492013-05-30T10:52:00.002-07:002013-05-30T10:53:08.828-07:00Summer Visitors<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
inspiration for this poem comes from one of my Mom’s ‘Memory Stories’ and took
place during the late 1920’s to early 1930’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Summer
Visitors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
came during the months of summer, arriving in a caravan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
wooden wagons laden with canvas, furniture, and pots, and pans<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
clanged the song of their arrival as they moved up the dirt road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Horses
of black, and brown and spotted grey pulled the wagons <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While
the new ponies of spring followed behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Papa
always let them camp on our land and supplied food for their stay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
turn, they helped to work the farm and gave Papa ponies in trade;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
our neighbors would come from miles around to have their fortunes told.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
not relations, Mama insisted we gave them proper honor, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
spoke with respect, calling them Uncle Barney, Aunt Mary and Uncle Jim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the evenings, while we sat in a circle around their campfires,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
sang songs from their home country, so many miles away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Accompanied
by mandolins, guitars, fiddles, and tambourines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
as the red and orange flames danced and crackled<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
told stories of ghosts, and shift-changers, and apparitions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
the second big war came, Papa sold the farm,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
I went away to another city for school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">From
that time on, our summer visitors ceased to come,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
there were times I wondered where they’d gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But,
to this day I can still see them in my mind’s eye coming along our road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;">And
I will always remember the songs they sang and the stories they told.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-80785076983113879132013-05-26T13:28:00.001-07:002013-05-26T13:29:04.371-07:00Nightmares<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Down
the dry walls of a hollow grave</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A
phantom speaks in solemn whispers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cracking
the stones of nevermore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
seek out the lives once lost to save.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Long,
dark shadows rise to roam the ruins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
merge with memories of long dead corpses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Forming
to fashion forgotten gossamer ghosts <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
clear the cobwebs from cluttered coffins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Demons
dance in circles, their red eyes ablaze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ghouls
scream their threats that split the night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
summon the vampires, werewolves, and trolls<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
emerge in mist to drown the moon in haze.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Then
all at once, monsters shrink back in fear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They
cringe as an angelic song surrounds them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
from the sky shimmering faerie dust falls,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Quelling
the nightmare to let the dawn shine clear. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-15894266787363388522013-05-26T08:59:00.000-07:002013-05-26T09:00:09.769-07:00Deer Tales, This Week's HighlightIt was an unusual week. First, I am dog sitting, which completely changed my usual schedule. I am awake a couple of hours earlier in the morning and fall asleep earlier in the evening, but I adjusted well to this change. Massey (the dog) is a four year-old Standard Poodle (see pic below) who loves to go for walks, play ball, and keep watch over the neighborhood from the front door. I set a chair in front of the door so that she can keep watch comfortably.<br />
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The big excitement this week came on Friday. I let Massey out in the backyard first thing in the morning while I prepared her breakfast. Massey soon discovered she was not alone in the yard when a deer stood up in the tall grass. When I saw the deer, I went to the front gate, both to make sure it was closed (which it was) and to call Massey to the front yard so that she didn't have to pass the deer to come back into the house. The deer must have jumped the gate to get in the yard and I knew she was there to have her baby as she visited last year with the same intention. She must feel safe and secure there as it is completely fenced in and there is tall grass to make a nice bed. I got a couple of good pics of her early in the day...</div>
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I checked on the deer throughout the morning. She would stand for a bit, and then lay down for awhile in the tall grass. Finally, there was a fawn. I could not get close enough to get a clear picture as, of course Mama Deer was very protective. Then, about an hour after the new arrival, I went out to check and there was another fawn. Yes, twins! Again, I took a couple of pictures, but nothing too clear. </div>
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Around 5 pm, Mama deer decided to relocate. I opened the gate earlier so that she could leave when she was ready. Before she left with her new babies, I got a couple of picks of one of the fawns...</div>
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Apparently, this deer finds my yard the best place to birth her young. Next spring I will keep the gate open for her and keep watch for her return visit. I am looking forward to seeing the little family around the neighborhood. I might even get some more pictures!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-18047368170614732902013-05-25T09:34:00.000-07:002013-05-25T09:34:55.216-07:00The Life of Spirits<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are spirits that hide<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Within
the mists<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
days gone by<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Forever
dwelling in the past<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Never
seeking the days to come<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are spirits that writhe <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Drowning
in the pain <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
suffering, the wrath<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
their life’s worst experiences<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Never
seeking to escape<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There
are spirits that rejoice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Swelling
in the joy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
elation, the bliss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Content
in their existence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Never
seeking for more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
then there are those spirits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
encompass it all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Embracing
each occurrence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Both
the delightful and the dire<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And
even the mundane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
an adventure in their journey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Always
seeking the abundance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">That
only living can bring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-21890103754888443342013-05-18T16:16:00.001-07:002013-05-18T16:17:59.414-07:00Ula<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoh-rxk682SWn9-Ly4D4z2zhh_tr1rCNQ8RzJz1Ea4zsTfBaiApmZTgf7QUMrZYdaJIBc3ALII6RbdL-lrIp9jHTRCOwOnNhFh5xgUqLJ4tC00DF0Xv2oLTsaogxfxo2Qz0S0pHM-3gA5J/s1600/0430131556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoh-rxk682SWn9-Ly4D4z2zhh_tr1rCNQ8RzJz1Ea4zsTfBaiApmZTgf7QUMrZYdaJIBc3ALII6RbdL-lrIp9jHTRCOwOnNhFh5xgUqLJ4tC00DF0Xv2oLTsaogxfxo2Qz0S0pHM-3gA5J/s320/0430131556.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is Ula, my mom's Seeing Eye Dog. Ula is also trained as a therapy dog and travels with my mom to visit residents of nursing homes twice a week. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Plantagenet Cherokee', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ula</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Ula
is a gentle soul <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Who
is always there<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">To
say hello<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">To
anyone she feels<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Might
need <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
comfort <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Of
a friend.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-75318109807339256402013-05-17T08:15:00.000-07:002013-05-17T08:15:52.963-07:00Quake<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
Earth moved this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was a single tiny tremor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lasting
only for a few moments,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But
just the same<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
felt the ground give way <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Deep
beneath my feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-28924830166708837782013-05-09T13:50:00.000-07:002013-05-09T13:50:22.333-07:00As Peaceful Warriors<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On
any average day we see <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Shocking visions of violence <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Carried
out within the World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Human against human, against
nature,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Against
Earth <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> That
startles the serenity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
the calm mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> To
bring flames of anguish <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Searing
deep to permeate <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The stillness of one’s Soul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
peaceful Warriors <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We must stand strong <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Fierce
in solid rigidity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To protect, to preserve, to shield <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
innocent, the defenseless, the fragile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
Peaceful Warriors<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We must expose the intentions <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
those hell bent and driven<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On greed, on power, on control<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Those
who delight in the destruction, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The suffering, the annihilation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
the natural balance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The splendor, the blessings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
all things living<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As
Peaceful Warriors <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We must stand together as one<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">To
defeat with civil defiance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The unconscionable violence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Committed
against our Universe <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Plantagenet Cherokee","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-78052684792477257162013-05-08T16:26:00.000-07:002013-05-08T16:26:51.916-07:00When Struck with a Clumsy Attack Retreat Sometimes, I am extremely clumsy. Today was one of those days. Luckily, my clumsy attack was kept to one room of the house, the kitchen. I should have retreated after I broke the second glass, but no, I had to go on to make oatmeal raisin cookies and spilled flour on the floor. A moment later, an egg joined the flour when it slipped out of my hand. Then after dinner, (which was a gooey but very tasty casserole of ground beef, mushrooms, onions, peas, with a cream of mushroom soup gravy served over mashed potatoes) I separated four additional servings into containers for freezing. Upon opening the freezer door a canister containing brown sugar (that I apparently didn't set back far enough on top op the fridge) fell down and knocked one of the containers of gooey casserole out of my had to splash its contents all over the kitchen floor. Needless to say, my kitchen was now a disaster. I cleaned up the floor, but I decided to leave the dishes until tomorrow. I am now on the sofa and plan only to read this evening.<br />
<br />
And so, my lesson for the day is that when first presented with a clumsy attack Stop! Retreat! Even if it means having a pizza delivered for dinner and staying on the sofa for the rest of the day or evening or both. My home will survive a day of the lazys, but may not survive a day of the clumsys.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07535651531194853680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723446194613537182.post-44234351863698631992013-05-07T15:08:00.001-07:002013-05-07T15:09:18.544-07:00Today's Best Pics from the Front Yard...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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