Shiver

Definitely not snow covered ~

roads splash under tires while

cold ~ not really cold ~ 

rain avoids a snowflakes life 

drip dropping rain puddles 

and pooling into dirty ponds

draining over cement curbs

of sidewalks and onto asphalt

grassed boulevards and parks

mush and slush while

cold water drizzles and drops

from slate grey flat skies 

through moss patched trees awaiting 

the warmth of tomorrow’s sun

snow drops and crocus shiver,

close up in the cold and damp

Brightly coloured rain gear for Eva and I 

hung up to drip dry behind closed doors.

“Into each life some rain must fall.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Canine Communication

Brown eyes fixed me

with an insistent stare

with a little dance 

toward the door.

Brown eyes fix me

with a sweet look

my dinner was

delicious

Brown eyes

watch me closely

when I put on my coat

and tied my shoes.

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.”

~ Martin Buber

Taking a Break ~ 2

There’s a funny thing about the routines we have at home. They only seem to exist at home. Sticky little things that tag along in our suitcases and in our minds. When we go away, even if we take our ideas and ordinary things on a trip ~ long or short ~ they are out of place. Their place has been left behind in the structure we’ve created for ourselves within our own four walls. I can hear many voices, including my own, saying: “You’re on kind of a holiday. Leave home at home.” I do have trouble with that to a degree. First of all I take medication. That is one routine that should not be sidelined, whatever the holiday or vacation or 'away from home' time is. Being away from any health care team, besides not being able to enjoy a new environment, can create another set of problems that have nothing to do with fun.

Medication aside, some of our routines, rituals or habits can be integral to what we enjoy doing. I have learned to allow the timing to be flexible. Make the time used shorter. In regards to my blog entries, I find new topics for writing. That would be true for any artistic endeavour. And of course there is getting some created in advance so a quick click of my finger will post the prepared written work. There are many solutions individual to each person and situation. But there can be some guidelines:

1. Be flexible. 
2. Enjoy wherever you are.
3. Eat different food
4. Don’t have too many guidelines ~ or any at all

Today I’ve watched talk shows, the news and taken my grand-dog, Eva, for two walks. The second one was pretty short! Neither of us was happy about the cold rain soaking us. We squeaked inside the door, and towelled off before the wet and mud could get through the house. Paws wiped, raincoats (Eva’s and mine) hung to dry, my shoes left at the door we settled once more. Eva to her bed on the floor and me on the couch with the TV remote close at hand. When one is retired, there is seldom an official ‘vacation’ time, so any time……….Excuse me, lunch time……..

An hour (or maybe more) later ~ Pardon me. I took a break for some hot soup, a sandwich, texting with my son. I have to get back to the TV or a nap or both. 

“Almost everything will work again if you 

unplug it for a few minutes…..including you.”

~ Ann Lamott

Tripping

It’s a trip!

A short one for

Unconditional love

from my very

huggable sons,

striding out with

my grand-dogs,

cuddling with

my grand-kitty!

“Unconditional love is hard to compete with.”

~ Abbi Gline, Because of Low

Not Today, Thanks

A tiny black spot 

of gloom and doom

hovered

on the horizon

near my heart

bouncing and bobbing

waiting

for me to catch it.

With a deep breath

I said ‘No.’

Saddened ~

that gloomy black spot

slowed,

stopped, then

was caught up in

the drift of the sun.

“Saying no to something is actually much more powerful than saying yes.”

~ Tom Hanks

Selfie

Life is ever

imbued in lines

written about

birds and bees

flowers and trees

with no deadline

to meet 

save the one

I create for myself.

“A deadline is negative inspiration. 

Still, it’s better than no inspiration at all.”

~ Rita Mae Brown

Downriver

words

slipping and sliding

from a storied float

bunch up against

the shores of wanton

Word Flow

like a logjam waiting

to be broken with 

an inky cant hook

opening the flowing river 

to creativity once more.

“…writing about a writer’s block is better than not writing at all.”
~ Charles Bukowski,  The Last Night of Earth Poems