They knew.
They always know...
when you're exhausted
...mentally
 ...physically
...emotionally.

This year they caught me wallowing in
...what used to be
...what I rather see
...what wasn't.

Then you catch them peeking
into your darkest corners of
...grief
...regret
...sadness
...loneliness
...and doubt.

That's when they attack
...when you're down
...when you're weakened
when you have resigned.

That's when the local viruses
and bacteria get you,
Invade your vulnerable body...
and your down for the count.

I guess this is the only way I would have stopped
and slowed down
and taken care of myself...
I was forced to.

Pots of tea
and cough meds
Pain relievers
and buttered saltines
...like my Grandma used to make me.
A warm blanket on a comfy couch
...and last night
Project runway all stars

....and sleep came
and it was good
 

 

We're off to Galena!
They just had a blizzard!
whoopie!
Hills and valleys covered in snow
blue skies
ah...life is good
 

I went to a Christmas concert with my mom today
It was a gray sky day and a bit chilly
A few things weighed my spirit down &
I wasn't feeling the magic going in
 

 

We had a wonderful lunch of ham and scalloped potatoes
 And before the music began
I nestled my butt down in a back row chair
and held a printed sheet of song lyrics in my hand
They played and sang all the familiar Carols
and some fun holiday songs
I listened while staring around the room, the great hall
...staring at all the boughs of green
and the enormous Christmas tree covered in pressed
Queen Anne's Lace sprayed in glitter
Large red bows gracing the tips of the branches
...a Nativity set made out of yarn before me on the piano
....and still my sky was gray skied and chilly
What is wrong with me?
Little child within, lead me....
look, look for joy...as only you can
find
And then I heard the lady next to me sing
off key...way off key
but full of vigor
and she flipped her crossed legged foot to the beat
her foot carressed in the gaudiest christmas socks I had ever seen
She saw me looking at them and smiled
like a proud child
and then in front of her was a gray haired woman...
singing... tears running down her face
and a little patch of blue
appeared
 in my sky



 

 

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

 

 

12/12/12
Auspicious
day to turn 62

I honor this child within
she has led the way

I remember flying out to Laguna Beach
to see my son's new house
We met my daughtet-in-law's mom at the restaurant
we brought our housewarming gifts along
but halfway through lunch...our daughter-in-law
pulled out two wrapped boxes
one for each mom
For You...she said
What? We are supposed to give you the gifts..
open she said
We ( her mom and I) screamed out at the same time
got up from the table and danced in the restaurant
We had been handed sonagrams
of this above pictured girl
Today she is 6 years old
Happy Birthday
my little princess wonder

 

Boo went to the vet today
hmm
I just know if I had had a sister
she would be like Boo
perfect...
perfect weight
good fur
nice teeth
bright eyes
adorable

hmmph
I won't tell Miss Kitty
she's miserable
with her 2 ounces of chicken
and a bit of kitty kibble
I won't breath a word
 

 

Miss Kitty O'Shea went to the vet today
They made her get on to the scale
HISSSSSS!
I know Kitty
I too have suffered this indignity
at the hands of my own doctor
......and they said the same thing to me, girl
Lose a few......huh!
easy for a young rail thin doctor to say
.....wait till she's had a litter
...then we'll see...
yeah...then we'll see
and add a few years and life's struggles
onto that ....and then we'll really see

...yes...Miss Kitty O'Shea
that was 2ounces of chicken a day
I had the vet's assistant write it down
hissssss you say

 

 

In the midst of chaos I found
you, many of you jammed
 in a wire bin at Home Depot
I chose you....your stem seeking to obey
finding a crack in the box, a way
fulfilling destiny

On my kitchen counter I freed you from your bondage
sighed at your bent stem
your bare roots...sighed again.....I knew the miracle of you
the ordinary miracle of life
placed you in pot,
 a blanket of soil
placed a pillow of peat
 gave you
water and light
and every morning as I stumbled to make coffee
you greeted me with overnight growth
and I smiled
tried to share this miracle with visiting grandchildren
but they heard not a word
but went on to play their games
drink their strawberry milk
but you are still a miracle to me
this morning
sun shining through your petals
I think I hear the hallelujah choir

 

joy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poor Handsome...
competition
for HIS food

The little ones are coming tonight from California
I wished that they had seen these critters
but the racoon and possum scattered
when I turned the light on
....Handsome got a fresh bowl of chicken
..don't worry
....I just got to get this kitty in!
 

 

coming soon to Illinois
!!!!

 

When everyone is in the cart

who will be left to pull it?

 

 

 



 

 

 

sacred relationship


photo by
Lisa Kristine

 

 

it takes a herd

 

you takin to me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love seals too