On the Rise

August 2024

Over a year ago, I began

a sourdough starter ~

bubbly and full of life. 

Flattened and lazy,

On the watch for 

mould or a flat taste. 

no mould appeared

taste is sharp and sour! 

What was I doing wrong? 

Too long in the cold

fed once a week! 

No reason to bubble.

    ~~~~~~~

So it is with spirit

Excitement in life 

shrinks in the cold

flattens without life 

stirred and kept warm, 

danced and out of breath

What excites me?

ideas that beg for the written word

story that stirs my soul to laughter or tears

music to tap my toes and sway my hips 

What excites your heart and mind?

“For here I hope begins our lasting joy.”

~ William Shakepeare

(Re: Sourdough restoration: I’m keeping it on the cupboard and feeding it once a day for a while until it’s back to it’s bubbly self. Maybe a week? In this cold weather, I’m not going far from home.A metaphor for life - it I keep my life in the cold)

Out of the Cold

Rolls of summer rest quietly, 

A shelter out of the cold 

for wee beasties of the field.

“If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come.”

~ Dalai Lama

Debating the Cold

Argument is never reasonable, 

especially against the frigid ice air that stings my cheeks and nose. Anger never got me anywhere when the weather is what it is. 

My only defence, besides staying home, is layers. Layers of clothes, red woollen toque pulled low, a fuzzy multicoloured scarf wrapped 

‘round my already layered neck, and a heavy winter coat. Still not heavy enough to thwart the winter wind and temperatures. But giving in to 

argument and frustration, 

would give the weather gods 

the win in this prairie winter argument. 

Like the rest of the stalwarts, I do my shopping, 

spending time looking for just the right head of 

lettuce or another notebook while I perspire under 

my layers. Great pads of ice, whirling winds and 

cabin fever be damned. I have a life to live.

“The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.”

~ Dale Carnegie

The Thing about Ice Cream

Tropical Boba

The thing about ice cream is that it has 

a voice. It’s a very quiet voice. Doesn’t 

want to hear about the angel on the right shoulder, or the little red guy with horns 

on the left. The voice of ice cream just ignores them both, so much so that they almost start talking with each other. But not for long, because with that first cold taste of ice cream, they both turn into mush. With the sticky dribble of melting ice cream that escapes the spoon and runs through your fingers, they don’t worry about right or wrong. The little angel and the little red guy with horns have settled in their corners for a nap. The thing about ice cream is that it is good.

“My love for ice cream emerged at an early age - and has never left!”

~ Ginger Rogers

On an Afternoon Walk ~ Nature's Decor

Bejewelled in ice and snow

 ~ the return of winter’s cold.

“You can’t get too much winter in the winter.”

~ Robert Frost

Out of the Cold

I was just on my patio clearing frost from the vent for my fireplace. An easy fix so it will burn and add an extra bit of  warmth to my home. My big warm coat, toque, and gloves on, I stood on tiptop for this simple task. A light wind scraped across my face. I shivered and recalled the many patients I’d cared for, their only shelter was hospital, jail or a community shelter with limited bed capacity. On Vancouver Island the temperatures don’t drop out of the frigid north like they do here on the prairies. The folks out here have the same needs: shelter out of the cold.

Tonight I am grateful. Grateful for my home and all that it has brought me. Grateful for the people that man the shelters, hospitals and yes, jails. Families, friend and sometimes strangers that take people in out of the cold. No one can move forward when their world freezes.

“Cold is merciless. It shows you where you are. What you are.”

~ Wim Hof, Dutch celebrity

Temperature as I write this at just after 9 p.m.: -33Centigrade

While the City Slept

December 07, 2020
(too cold for a walk today)

Frigid air settled in

while the city slept,

politely changing

busy stop and go.

“Every mile is two in the winter.”

~ George Herbert

On an Afternoon Walk - Going Bananas!

It’s crazy! 

Taking a walk in - 33 degree weather!

But there was no wind,

spectacular sky ~ blue, with a haze of sunset cloud, deep slate grey gnarled trees with stiff arching branches highlighted by brilliant white snow, hints of hoar frost in the lacy tree tops 

One mittened gloved hand exposed to icy air,

my cell phone freed from my purse,

I tried to take a photo of that image

but it just didn’t translate!

Or maybe it’s just me ~

Crazy! Going for bananas in - 33 degree weather!

“The colour of springtime is in the flowers; 

the colour of winter is in the imagination.”

 ~ Terri Guillements

Shop and Run

The mall was packed with shoppers thronging into the mall all the old and young blocked my mission and destination; Santa photo shoots with kids, moms and dads, photographer, director; Christmas music barely heard above the noise.

I was not to be deterred!

Bundled with all things winter,

I dared to stop and regroup

Toque and mitts stashed in my cart

I navigated toward my treasures

for just a few more decorations 

so I followed my list ~ almost ~

then retraced my steps

past the milling crowds,

and Santa posed and posing

til I approached my welcome escape. 

Coat, toques and mitts back on

the noise and bustle of the mall behind me,

the frosty breath of bracing, cold air

revived me for the short bus ride home. 

“Xmas Trivia: Before it became a major shopping holiday, 

Christmas is believed to have had a “religious” meaning.” 

~ Andy Borowitz

In From the Cold

I have loved being outside!

sunshine or rain

windy or calm

when the snow came

I worried

will I be forgotten?

turned into a tiny snow frog?

my green skin all frozen

only a thin scarf to wear

but no!

I was the first

in from the cold

given a seat of honour

right by the fireplace

warm and toasty.

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, 

only inappropriate clothing.”

~ Sir Ranulph Fiennes, explorer

(attribution 2006)

When Words Dry Up

When my words dry up

ready to blow away 

in the slightest breeze

I need to see flowers

growing tall in sun,

wind, rain or cold ~

proof that my words 

will grow again

when it is time.

“When I cannot see words curling like rings of smoke 

round me I am in darkness ~ I am nothing.”

~ Virginia Woolf, The Waves

On an Afternoon Walk - In the Heat

Temptation ~ 

Bus stop steps to the right

No shade in this heat

Ice cream store one block to the left

Shade and delicious ice cream

Bus #10 pulled up!

Sigh…… Ice cream will have to wait.

“Get thee behind me Satan!”

~ P.C.Cast, Marked

Regardless

Climate change?

or

Saskatchewan weather?

or

Both?

“I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is.”

~ Greta Thunberg

February!

White, white snow 

sparkled and crunched

The brilliant sun’s warmth 

only a memory

Blue skies wide, 

streaked with wisping clouds.....

But it was too !@#$% cold ~

so I stayed in the house.

“February is just plain malicious. It knows your defences are down.”

~ Katherine Paterson, author