almost end of February of no snow

Thursday evening a breath of snow, a shaker on leaves and branches. The forecast is for very cold first week of March, which will be change from this mostly warm February. I have, however, begun the slow deliberate cleaning out of papers in my library - an activity I usually hold for snow days. I have filled two woods stoves full which warmed a couple of mornings.
I wanted to include an amazing lucky photo from the motion camera: hawk caught in flight.
I traveled with Tara to Roanoke bus station to meet the 1508,  carrying one family of four asylum seekers from Mexico. Two tiny beautiful children, a six year old girl (about the size of a 3 yr old) and a 2 year old boy (also petit) hugging his small lovely mom and a father. There have been only 4 bus runs so far this February. A stark contrast to last year. Criminal what Trump has caused. And today the results of the Nevada caucuses are trickling in, Sanders is doing great. I would like to see a Sanders/Stacey Abrams ticket in November. 

02-02-2020

Yesterday I joined several friends from qigong class at the Riner Fire Department's oyster and turkey dinner. We had wine and appetizers at Jill B's first, in her wonderful newly renovated open kitchen. But as good as the fried oysters were (not nearly as tasty as Gulf oysters), Ezra's photo posts from Vietnam of the delicious meals he is enjoying, unintentionally mock my taste of seafood here in the winter mountains! Do wish there was a good Vietnamese restaurant here, I would love some Pho. I think I need to try to make some (buy some pasture raised beef and/or buffalo bones). 

Had to post an ocean photograph, tide out. The shadow of the palms striking; the clouds handsome - and my grands making a perfect scene. Miss them! True has survived the first week of the cast on his left arm; he fell at school from a jungle gym. Doctor said no soccer - and, of course, no swimming/ surfing. 

Had a very delicious dinner at Ann's, her Christmas gift to Web+. We began with a gin and grapefruit/lime juice cocktail (probably another ingredient i am forgetting) and cheese, seated in front of a fire in her great room. Diane and Susan had picked up Pat (they had given her a message first!). What energetic conversations at the table, recounting tales of our children, eating an appetizer of stuffed portobello. A main course of deliciously tender roast beef with a spinach sauce, roasted potatoes and Kathy's brussels sprouts. Ann even made a flourless chocolate cake and we shared gifts. Although Pat is using a walker, she is driving and looks very good. She does have to have surgery soon to remove the metal rod in her leg - she is not looking forward to that. Oh a dear wonderful evening. 

As I move into a second month in this futuristic 2020

The coyotes were in several slides of the motion camera's memory. Do they notice a change in the weather that arouses threat? What of the bears that come thru on their circuits? Are they sleeping less in the winter? Winters 40 years ago were strikingly more severe. I can remember several snow storms with 2 1/2 to 3 feet of snow. And hardly a winter passed without electrical outages of days. Broken water pipes. Excellent sledding! What I notice most clearly is the loss of bird life. Less song in the woods on my walks.  Ah, here a bobcat.

After Playa Bonita and Mi familia

It was a wonderful Christmas, beginning in Houston with an exceptional sushi dinner and time with Fia and Jen and Ez before we left for DR. The condo we rented fronted Playa Bonita, the end of the curve by the river which empties into the Atlantic. Baldwin, Mindy, Pearl and True played every day of the almost two weeks; we fixed delicious dinners or went out. Only one mostly rainy day. The day after Christmas we went out on Brycie and Kenny's boat.  A beautiful day, we took turns kayaking to a river on the island we anchored by, visiting a cave and visiting another small island. I could hardly stop smiling with family all together - my heart full full full. Baldwin had a brilliant idea of flipping the puzzle we'd finished (Santa Express) and then he drew a wonderful picture which we all helped to color. When completed we dismantled the puzzle and reassembled it - now it is in my puzzle closet.

The 2019 Christmas Puzzle:

December shrinking light

Have enjoyed some blue sky days walking with Mr Li and even lying in hammock at the camp site. Two big albeit rotten trees have fallen across the logging road to swimming hole, i crawl under one and climb over the other. Preparing for trip to Dominican Republic over Christmas with sons and their families - beach mind. Time to heal my cold cold fingers, wound from another skin cancer procedure, and generally sooth these old bones. Ah. I am a most lucky one.

no hens

No Hens

almost nightly as the evening descends

i stop myself from heading to the chicken lot

no hens there

the yard is a cloud of white

tall wild asters

summoning the ghosts of my hens

to a wild reckoning

Mary North

from the motion sensitive camera in the woods

Like a Woman

if I find the words

will I change, will I

not panic at the small

will I not jump

at surprise

if I can speak the lesson

of my life

beating

can I open up enough

to read the hieroglyphs 

on my inner screen

can I wake from

this heavy handed

voice

zen master

with a stick?

Mary North

title is odd, but trying to make suitable for a theme in a journal which i hope doesn't know i have a blog....it is a soaking kind of scene outside, an excellent day to seek discipline and work on some scraps of poems.