James Taylor Got it Right!

“What will you do with your time?” someone asked.

I’ll watch the chipmunks, and the squirrels, and the rabbits, and the bees, and the spiders as they come, and the spiders as they go, and the woodpeckers, and the dogs, and the walking happy people, and flowers as they bloom, and blooms as they fade, and wildflower blooms with swarms of flying things, and leaves become green, and leaves become brown, and stinkbugs in the winter, and cicadas when it’s hot, and butterflies!! And winter stray kitty as she moves with the sun. And oh!! Ants with piles of earth, I can’t forget them!! You know, stuff like that.

And then, I remember the line from a song, “the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.”

 

An Ode to Responsible Stewardship

I sit and "stream" and watch the "NASA Channel" as NASA (through "SpaceX") propels two human beings into outer space.

I wonder why we do this when we yet do not have peace on earth.

How shall we steward the resources of our planet?

Sometimes seemingly for projectiles of death and discovery.

An Ode To Autumn

Every day I find pieces of myself falling to the wayside.
Dreams, habits, friends, accomplishments, failures, successes, sorrows, joys, family, importances, memories, and a little bit of everything of which I thought I was made.
Only the next day to arise anew with more pieces that eventually will fall.
And so, I fancy myself as a tree in the fall, with leaves that will fall, arising anew in the spring.

An Ode to Imagination

My imagination leads me to various places.

Sometimes thoughts, constructs, images, music, plans, visions, imaginations, and all the others, seemingly crystallize before my eyes.

Other times I see catastrophes and perseverate.

Nasty imagination, what a curious friend you are!!

An Ode to Webs

I sit and watch tall plants spread snowflake seeds.

Falling leaves.

Squirrels and chipmunks gathering treats from trees.

Glass threads of spider webs.

Butterflies and hummingbirds.

Ducks gliding to a river rest.

Herons and hawks soaring.

Resting places for flying things rising from garden volunteers.

And I think to myself, what a wonderful web.

And I realize I'm nothing at all.

My To Do List:

Kindness

Justice

Humility

Patience

Forgiveness

Butterflies!

What guides a butterfly in its flight and am I not similarly guided?

Answering a friend's question.

How are you? If I were to complain, then I think I might have an incomplete understanding of the world.

Bubbles?

I perhaps have misguided confidence in the validity of the thoughts in which I encapsulate myself. On the other hand, I wonder if others in their bubbles have reached any better conclusions.

I Failed!

Home alone! I enjoy peace and quiet. I thought I might see the number of days I silently could pass without a word. Zero! Critters in my home seemingly demand conversation. 

Home!

What do you do when you find your home the most peaceful place on earth and don't want to leave?

Human Waves.

Human generations are waves lapping upon the shore in a never-ending cycle of impact and insignificance.

Little kitty vs. the spider.

Little kitty is a bit more interactive than the spider that used to be a
housemate. The spider lived forever up in a corner of my kitchen. I noticed
when it was gone. I enjoyed watching it when it was alive. It was the
tiniest of a speck that would go out and about on a network of threads and hunt and acquire meals. I wish I had those skills!!

This is my home.

Spider nests in household corners. Winter holiday for little bugs. Little
bean kitty asleep in the chair until she is an alarm clock. This is my home
on this winter day.

Food and media.

I sometimes carelessly eat food and meals without appreciating the gift
that presents itself. One mindless sporkful after another. I sometimes
spend days the same way, mindlessly consuming media in all the ways it
presents itself. I feel lucky when I notice my mindlessness and return to
mindfulness. I wish I did that more often.

Bucket List!

Be just. Be humble. Love mercy.

Simple modernity.

Bands of grey clouds streak the sky. A hawk flies past trees with no
leaves the breeze makes murmur. An indoor bed cuddles a stray cat. An
ancient dryer hums mechanical sounds. These things make my day.

Watching each other.

A kind kitty watches me as I wake in the morning. I watch the kind kitty as
she sleeps in the afternoon.

I miss the spider.

A spider once lived in a corner of my house. The spider's residence lasted
for some time. I enjoyed watching the spider and all of its spiderly
activities. I have not seen the spider for some time. I miss the spider.

What to do on a rainy day?

Sit. Think. Look. Thank. Wonder. Ponder. Awe.

Enough!

What more diversion do we need than our thoughts? What more activity do we need than time's passing? How much more richness do we need than solitude?

The time of the year.

Chipmunks eat silver maple seeds and carry acorns to their burrows.

Water from the sky!

So nourishing!!

Time.

I love days when I'm not aware of time's passing.

What if this is as good as it gets?

I love quiet days surrounded by flowers and bees and birds and butterflies
... chipmunks, squirrels, neighbors and kitty ... gentle sunshine and
breeze ... and when I say to myself, "well, it couldn't get much better."

Possibility?

I wonder how might feel a creative and helpful life.

Wondering ...

Who will ponder with me the nature of infinity and whether my will is free?

Paths ...

I must come to believe and feel my path, as are all others, is holy and
gracious.

Vittles (??!!)

I love grey, quiet days with vittles simmering on the stove top and their
pleasant smells permeating my home.

I do by being

I'm often plagued by the notion that I must do something. I am, and that is
something in itself.

Bittersweet

Life feels bittersweet and sometimes I feel too tender. I wish for peace on earth everyday.

The vapors

The vapors rolled in ~

The fever climbed high ~ 

Stray little kitty ~

Asleep by my side.

Springtime

A stand of silver maple trees shades a fern garden that surrounds a bed of straw upon which sits a concrete bench.

Hominy casserole

Just a cheesy, rich recipe for wholly wholesome hominy ~

Ingredients:

2 (14 ounce) cans yellow hominy, drained

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained

1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream

1 small onion, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients except the cheese.

Pour into 8 or 9" baking dish.

Sprinkle grated cheddar cheese on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until done.

Play

Play nourishes my soul. I enjoy the laughter of games. I enjoy the communion of making and playing music together. I don't leave the home often, but when I do, it's for music and play ...

Grey winter days

I love winter. Cold grey days compel inside activities. Drums, piano, writing and drawing provide creative outlets. Clementines appear like little balls of sunshine. Beans in the crock pot keep me full, healthy and warm. A homebody's delight!

Snowy day

Barley, hops, liquor, wine.
Snowy day.
I feel fine.

Forest stand

River. Levee.
Forest stand.
House.
Stray cat.
Home.