A Family Outing

Warm spring sunshine ~ 

perfect for a lunch and a nap by the lake

for young ones that grow so quickly ~ still fluffy yellow but becoming skinny scrawny adolescents with barely visible pinfeathers, still chaperoned by dutiful parents. Under the trees by the lakeside is the perfect setting for these feathered families.

“There are no perfect parents and there are no perfect children, 

but there are plenty of perfect moments along the way.”

~ Dave Willis

On an Afternoon Walk - Sunshine in the Leaves

I saw the colour first ~

all along the walk there was

sunshine in the leaves ~

slipping back to the front yard

I was six maybe seven years old plucking a delicate flower from a long branch savouring the nectar from the soft yellow neck just as the busy bees on my afternoon walk.

“Memories were like sunshine. They warmed you up and left a pleasant glow, but you couldn’t hold them.”

~ Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest

Ordering Disorder

Novels, textbooks, and poetry in shelves, on mantles and under lamps. 

Odd gadgets, cutlery and paring knives in kitchen drawers, 

Clothing worn and still tagged, linens and towels in closets and drawers

Knick knacks gifted or purchased at random

All shapes and sizes, needed and someday purposes 

Classy personal computers

Shiny laptops that just come along for the ride

Cell phones in pockets, purses, iPads or tablets

the ultimate junk drawers containing 1000’s of pieces of junk mail, emails from friends and family, old bills, pictures swallowed up like socks the dryer. Emails and essays, bills and documents, photos, schedules and calendars neatly saved in categories and folders, filed and ordered.

So which is easier to declutter?

Books stacked around in loose categories?

1. Keepers,
2. Maybe keepers
3. Donate…..

My computers? 

Signed out and closed up, 

not a file or folder in sight ~

neat and tidy as possible!

“I like  working among ‘creative clutter’. 

It gives me a sense of activity and achievement.”

~ Fennel Hudson, A Meaningful Life - Fennel’s Journal - No. 1

Just So

The dreaded blank page again!

Below the surface there are        delightful poems,

    intriguing stories, 

        brilliant essays, and 

            magical muses

and yet the silvered water just glitters in the sun.

“The blank page gives us the right to dream.”

~ Gaston Bachelard, philosopher

June, 1884 - October, 1962

Chapter Two, Episode Thirty-five - Co-Conspirators - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision , Edit and Update

This episode 'Co-conspirators' did not require any revision. I quite enjoyed writing this piece. Relationship development was the crux of this piece of writing. Jeremy is seldom a real part of the story Situationally Theirs, just because he is a working physician and is seldom around. It would be easy to leave out the importance he has in Emelina's life. It would, however, leave a gap to only mention his name without making visible their relationship. 

Co-Conspirators

“My last day off, Em! What would you like to do? Play some Scrabble, wash the windows, or I could chase you around the track?” Jeremy rested, well fed and in a bright red track suit was bouncing from dining room to living room and up and down the hallway past the bedrooms. Emelina, just finishing her breakfast, looked at him and grinned. Grinning wasn’t her style but she couldn’t help it. Her husband was a bit off his rocker. “You’re in trouble now. I would leave you in my dust.” The last bite of toast between her teeth, she picked up her breakfast dishes and put them in dumbwaiter. Everything cleared away, she sent it down to the kitchen after ringing the little bell on the shaft. “Ok, let’s go. You’d better work out some of that energy before you start knocking furniture around.” Jeremy was out the door into the sunshine, already headed for the track. Emelina, in a matching red jogging outfit, laced up her tennis shoes, closed the door behind her and set out at a run. She passed him easily and turned back only to wave at him.

Except for his first day off, they had not watched any TV, checked any emails or had any interest in the internet. They often took most of their meals outside. There had been some rain. On those days, they were confined to the front porch, but otherwise they took their meals out to the garden or into the orchard. Emelina still hadn’t found the right time to ask her husband about any kind of ‘something’ that would honour her staff - especially Martha, Digby and Cook. She had not heard from Brigitte, her personal secretary for almost a month now. Some illness with her parents. Giles was seldom around although he stopped in regularly to make sure the estate vehicles were in good shape. Emelina did drive the CRV occasionally but otherwise they sat still. 

~~~~~

When they arrived, panting, back at the porch, she thought it was as good a time as any to see what her husband thought of her plans. “I’m going to get the iced tea Cook sent up. Stay right here, I’ll be right back. I’ve got something I want to run by you.” Jeremy followed her into the house despite her directions. “I need a towel and to change my shirt. I’m drenched - I’ll meet you back on the porch.”

On the porch, iced tea in hand, they settled into comfortable wicker porch chairs. Looking out over the back of the estate, they could see Samuel working at the far end of the garden. He never stopped moving. Jeremy broke their silence. “Now what is it you want to run by me? Hope it’s not serious. This weekend has been so wonderful, Em. I really feel like I’m almost ready to get back to work. But first, what is it?” Over the last two days, he had noticed times when his wife had been very thoughtful and quiet. When he asked about it, her only reply was ‘nothing important’. She’d brighten up and change the subject. Resting her glass of tea on the arm of her chair, she said “Well, it’s serious but it’s not heartbreaking.” Looking confused, Jeremy said “What does that mean?” She laughed. “It’s about the staff and what I’d like to do for them. But I want your opinion.”  He leaned back in his chair and sighed with relief. “Wow. I thought I had done something wrong! What do you want to do for the staff?’

Choosing her words carefully, she said “I hope this makes sense. All the staff - Samuel, Brigitte, Giles, but especially Digby, Martha and Cook, have taken care of me and this whole old Estate, whether I was horrible to them or nice to them. And I was horrible for a long time after Michael died. My three stalwarts aren’t getting any younger. I don’t even know what kind of pensions are set up. I don’t want to just give them money, or a big party and worst of all give them each a gold watch. I’ve wracked my brain and decided I should decrease their hours, increase their wages and their benefits. I haven’t talked to anyone yet so what do you think?”

Jeremy face softened as he listened to the sketch his wife drew. The passion she felt for ‘her people’ as she so often put it. Setting his tea down, he leaned forward and took her hand. “Em that is so good of you to think of them all! This is serious business and I think you should go forward with it.” Emelina looked relieved but still hesitated. “I should know what to do next but these are things I’d ordinarily take to Digby. Michael left me with so much and I want to share it with them.” 

“Who’s your accountant? He’d be the best one to advise you. I’d come with you except that my shifts are so unpredictable. Have you talked with your sister, Dez? Surely she could be a co-conspirator?” He sat back in his chair and took a long drink of cold tea. “ ‘Co-conspirator’ makes it sound like I’m planning something evil!” Em gave him a playful slap, making him spill his tea on himself. “But you’re right, I need to talk with Mr. Winston - but after I talk with Dez and get her take on all of this.” She got up from her chair and planted a big kiss on her husband’s forehead. Arms around her, he pulled her onto his lap. She leaned her head on his shoulder and relaxed against him. “That’s cold!” Sitting suddenly upright, she tried to wipe the cold tea off of her. “Serve’s you right for spilling my tea, Em. Now, enough of this serious talk. Is it lunch time yet? I’m hungry.” He stood up, unceremoniously removing Emelina from his lap. “How can you be hungry after that huge breakfast and no, it’s not lunch time yet. But I’ll bet Cook has sent up a mid morning snack for us. See what I mean - we’re always cared for. Now that you’re part of this household that means Cook will feed you till you almost explode.”

~~~~~

Dez Eliot was on her way out to the Estate. After spending time with her orchardist friend, Matt, her interest in the apple orchard had been renewed. In work clothes, books from an earlier orchard workshop on the front seat of her car, she set out to the country. Any tools she needed were in the shed beside Samuel’s garden. She’d stop in the kitchen first and see if her sister and new brother-in-law were home. Dez hadn’t heard from them since before they eloped. It was time she and Em had a visit.

“Trust your instincts, and make judgements on what 

your heart tells you. The heart will not betray you.”

~ David Gemmell, Fall of Kings

On the Water

   

  

      misted sky and air

a breath between raindrops

      a lone grebe floats

“Suddenly a mist of green on the trees, as quiet as thought.”

~ Dorothy Richardson, author

(May 1873 - June 1957)

Lace and Ruffles

Soft breezes are sounds of silk

swirling winds whistle of chaos

Steady winds bend reeds and trees,

sculptures snow into curling waves.

Spray raised by water’s fountain becomes silvered lace and rolling ruffles on the lake.

“Wind is a floating wave of air, whose undulation continually varies.”

~ Vitruvius

On an Evening Walk - Softened

Cool evening air 

embroidered with blossoms, 

the songs of blackbirds,

the sight of soaring geese,

and the whisper of the wind ~

a muted symphony to soften mind, heart and soul.

“Take your feelings and hold them with softness, but also with power. 

And whenever you feel afraid, know you can ask your fear about itself.”

~ Junauda Petrus, The Stars and tbe Blackness Between Them

On an Evening Walk - Survival by the Sidewalk

I’m not certain if this is Gertrude or George. One of them has been sitting on this very scrawny nest by a scrawnier bush, for about three weeks between sidewalk and parking lot. It is said that geese sit on their eggs for 25 to 28 days. I’ve passed it by for at least three weeks. It is also said that the gander stands guard for his mate and can be as far as 100 metres away. He will approach if the goose leaves the nest or if she is threatened. 

Over the past three weeks, I have been concerned about Gertrude’s (or George’s) well being, but walking this evening I realized that she (or he) was quite safe as it is a well lit area, with many vehicles passing by, coming to or going from the businesses in the small mall. 

Tonight was the first time that my presence was noted. As I approached, I was the recipient of ‘a look’. Her (or his) head swivelled on an elegant, graceful neck, following me as I passed by. Respectfully, I turned away, her (or his) head was tucked back under a wing and Gertrude (or George) settled once more.

I’ll be checking on them and will post any new findings.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather the one most adaptable to change.”

~ Clarence Darrow

My Garden Plots - Potted Pansies

When garden plots are far away,

pots filled with soil are best to grow

purple pansies rimmed in white, 

tiny yellow centres all aglow ~

cheerful greetings at the door

sweet faces upturn to say hello.

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”

~ Henry Matisse

My Garden Plots - Hens and Chicks

Only a humble beginning ~

neither flower nor food

my hens and chicks

braved hot and dry ~

today ~ wet and cold,

but to my eye

they are perfection.

“Gardens are not made by singing 

‘Oh, how beautiful!’ and sitting in the shade.”

~ Rudyard Kipling, Complete Verse

Chapter Two, Episode Thirty-four - Sun Warmed - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update

I didn't find this to be a terribly interesting episode. The ending was particularly weak. Jeremy's thought about helping Emelina just kind of popped out of nowhere. Consequently my revision is a filling of that huge gap. The last paragraph was given much more definition. 

Besides that revision, I did improve sentence structure in one or two places earlier in the episode.

Sun Warmed

In the back of her mind stirred a desire to do something for the staff. What that may be, Emelina did not know what it could be. Up early, she slipped quietly out of bed to let her husband sleep. She and Jeremy had spent a very relaxing weekend, but she could tell he was still in need of extra rest. An unspoken rule, they had not spoken of hospitals, Covid or the running of the estate. Cook had already come in and sent up coffee and fresh scones. A lovely morning, Emelina pulled on a sweater over her pyjamas and took her mug of coffee out to the porch. The scones could wait until Jeremy was up. 

Musing quietly to no one in particular, Emelina said “There has to be something we can do. Just this cup of coffee reminds me of how cared for I am - and anyone that comes here. But I’m not going to talk to Jeremy about this after all. He doesn’t need my worries on top of everything else.” Shivering, she took a sip of her rapidly cooling coffee. She turned at the sound of the door opening. “Em….you’re up early. Why didn’t you wake me? Come back in the house.” Jeremy, his hair tousled from sleep, was at the door in his bare feet and pyjamas. “Sweetheart! You’re up! Go get yourself some coffee and there’s fresh scones, butter and jelly. I’ll be right in.”

~~~~~

It started out as a lazy morning, but Jeremy was restless and hungry. The scones vanished quickly, he looked for more to eat and was still unsure about how to get more food. The rattle of the dumbwaiter, along with the aroma of bacon, eggs and fresh toast saved the day. With a sigh of relief, he got out plates and cutlery, calling to Emelina “Breakfast’s here, Em and I’m not going to wait for you.” She had come in from the porch and went straight to the shower. “I’m just getting dressed - make sure you leave some for me!” 

~~~~~

Breakfast finished, plates scraped clean, they put everything back in the dumbwaiter. “Let’s go walking again, Em. You didn’t get me out to the garden yesterday. Do you think Samuel is in yet?” Em was pleased and almost amused. She didn’t remember him ever being concerned about the garden before, but decided to follow his lead. “He should be. Samuel’s usually at work before Cook is even here. I'm sure he gets up with the birds. By the time we get out there, he’ll be ready for a break - not that he ever wants one.” Still cool and a bit misty, they put their jackets and matching Tilley hats on, setting out to the garden. “The orchard is really quite beautiful, Em! Look how the trees are blooming.” Jeremy stopped suddenly and looked around, his voice quavering. “It has been so good to be out and away. Let’s keep going before I start being foolish.” Em put her arm through his “You’re not being foolish, Jer. And it’s wonderful that we can be out here together.” She looked up and pointed. “There’s Samuel over by the fence. Working away at something.” 

The morning slipped by quickly, Jeremy completely involved talking with Samuel about the garden. To his credit, he did try to maintain the correct distance from Samuel. At least outside they didn’t need masks. The two men walked the rows, Samuel talking about what he’d planted, what had come up, how he’d be stringing up the red runner beans, bending over every now and then to pull a weed, or prop up a new shoot with the side of his well worn boot. Em had started out with them but soon just left them be. On her cell, she called up to the kitchen to ask Cook for a coffee break basket for the three of them. By the time Emelina walked up to the back porch, the basket was there - a thermos of coffee, one of tea as well as fresh baking and a couple of hearty ham sandwiches. Returning to the garden with her delicious cargo, she called out to them. “Gentlemen. Time for a break!” Engrossed as they were, they didn’t hear her. A little louder she called again. “Gentlemen! Break time!” They both stopped short. “Miss Em! No one’s called me a gentleman for a long time - maybe never. Sure is good to hear. Let me take that heavy basket from you.” 

~~~~~

Sitting by the shed in old chairs always waiting for company, they were warmed by the mid morning sun. With good food, warm drink and the sound of gulls crying in the distance Jeremy was relaxed and grateful. He glanced at his wife. She and Samuel were laughing and chatting comfortably. He had seen her with the others in her employ, just as comfortable and pleasant. Sitting back in his chair he wondered whether he could help Emelina somehow? 

“After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much 

to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working.”

~ Kenneth Grahame, Wind in the Willows

On a Morning Walk - Water Play

The sound of rushing water 

drew me down a set of metal stairs 

blocked when passed 

earlier in the spring.

  

  It was delightful! 

Not a graceful fountain, 

a cascading water fall nor 

rippling water over slippery rocks but 

a playful metal worked structure featuring 

a salamander at the mouth, 

squirrels atop a metal wave and 

fish flipping below ~

water cascading from the side of the long ‘creature’.

Delicate new greenery added to my delight.

A quick click of my camera and I

resumed my morning walk.

“Delight is indeed born in the heart. 

It sometimes also depends on its surroundings.”

~ Amy I. Reichert, The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

Life Goes On

Little faces turn to the sun

drawing its strength 

into the heart of seed ~

until delicate leaves throw shade and

dainty flowers drift softly to ground.

“Where flowers bloom so does hope.”

~ Lady Bird Johnson