• gratitude,  landscape,  Mary Oliver,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  poems,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Invitation

    Oh do you have time
    to linger
    for just a little while
    out of your busy

    and very important day
    for the goldfinches
    that have gathered
    in a field of thistles

    for a musical battle,
    to see who can sing
    the highest note,
    or the lowest,

    or the most expressive of mirth,
    or the most tender?
    Their strong, blunt beaks
    drink the air

    as they strive
    melodiously
    not for your sake
    and not for mine

    and not for the sake of winning
    but for sheer delight and gratitude –
    believe us, they say,
    it is a serious thing

    just to be alive
    on this fresh morning
    in the broken world.
    I beg of you,

    do not walk by
    without pausing
    to attend to this
    rather ridiculous performance.

    It could mean something.
    It could mean everything.
    It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:
    You must change your life.

    Mary Oliver, “Invitation,”
  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  poems,  poetry,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Morning at the Reservoir

    quiet morning at the reservoir
    calm water mirrors predawn sky

    as the sun nears the horizon
    the meadow begins to come alive

    song birds fill the nights silence
    crescent moon surrenders to day

    dark shadows give way to light
    cherish this gift of awe and wonder

    ms

    I brought out the blue in this image, which makes it look unreal, so we could see the crescent moon better in the upper right corner. Interesting that I didn’t even see the moon when taking the image. 😁Have a great Sunday!

  • clouds,  haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    I Like to Smile

    cool breeze from the south
    sky filled with cotton ball clouds
    wise kingbird sings

    ms

    This time of year the sun rises early and I seem to follow suit. Made my chai latte and was out the door at roughly 5:06 am. The sky was filled with altocumulus clouds when I arrived at Pineridge Natural Area, where it seems nature had randomly thrown up cotton balls, bringing on a smile. I’m okay with that cuz I like to smile. Sat on the bench with my camera, binoculars, journal, my chai, a vitally needed coat and listened to all the birds singing.

    In case you’re wondering, altocumulus clouds are a middle-altitude cloud genus that belongs mainly to the stratocumuliform physical category characterized by globular masses or rolls in layers or patches, the individual elements being larger and darker than those of cirrocumulus and smaller than those of stratocumulus. (Wikipedia) I think calling them cotton balls is easier and more understandable. 😁

  • haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    After Sunrise

    after sunrise
    dropped by a coffee shop
    morning mocha

    ms

    My parents made the decision to sell their house in Phoenix and move into an assisted living facility. So, my sisters, my brother-in-law and I will help them clear out a 1600 sq ft home and move into a 650 sq ft, 1 bedroom, 1 bath apartment. This is something they have talked about for a while and been a concern with my sisters, my brother-in-law and I for awhile. My parents finally asked my sister, Marcee, if she would check on everything, the facility and the money. She did a wonderful job of presenting them the options of staying in their house or living in an assisted living facility, then letting them make the decision themselves. It seems we all agree it’s a good decision. I fly out tomorrow for Phoenix. Not sure how long I will be gone so my posts may be sporadic or nothing at all. Enjoy your weekend! Oh, and Happy May Day!

  • clouds,  haiku,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Favorite Moments

    courage to persist
    listening for our answer
    robins morning song

    ms

    Watching the first light of this new day, the moon setting in the west while the sun brightens the eastern sky. A gentle wind blows, prompting the meadow grasses to dance. A pelican bobs on the waves of the reservoir. Robins sing their morning song for me. A hawk effortlessly soars on the wind currents high above the reservoir. These are calming moments for my soul to begin the day. We have a chance for rain today, much needed moisture.