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.

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. 

birthdays and cousins

In a few days, Pearl and True with their parents will be flying to Ethiopia; a trip which includes visits to True's and to Pearl's areas of birth and a donkey ride. I am slow to realize the end of summer is upon us - so much of me wanting it not to be. After a delightful two week visit with Ezra and Sofia, I ended up with Lyme's - i suspect recurrent incident. So I am on doxy and a herbal brew. Ah, so I have been remiss about completing many summer projects (not yet moving the mulch Baldwin brought for my birthday!). 

Oh, April Gone

April was lovely spring, especially magnificent red bud bloom, and Baldwin's birthday found us at river to see a dramatic fly over of hawk and eagle. Baldwin gave me a wildlife motion detection camera that we have set up at a creek crossing, capturing footage of deer and turkey as expected, and large coyote!  

Small Incident with Hawk

Should be photo of hawk, but I have not had a good opportunity to take one. Today Mr Li and I surprised hawk as we neared the last creek crossing before the open field by river. I didn't hear hawk but caught his/her flight as it disturbed the corner of my sight. It left a headless squirrel on the path - reminding of the headless chicken abandoned in the front yard. A serial killer's mark! Hopefully the hawk will return to the kill; if not, coyote or other animal will most probably have a treat.

Preparing for the return of family from their winter in the DR. I even scored a papaya at Aldi's - of course, silly of me, as they have been eating fresh ones almost daily. 

The photo is of the swimming hole, a new addition to the blue slate outcrop by the beach beside the swimming hole. The beach is under water or was when this picture was taken a few days ago. Yesterday I discovered the blood root - profuse colonies on the mountain below the cliffs near the hammock. The spring beauties are out in the sandy soil by the river. 

Last days of March

So, so so - I haven't been sick; I've no excuse for not venturing here. Has the river run my thoughts off? Three chickens have been stolen and murdered; I am down to two, red and black. One death I blame on the hawk, whose swoop I caught right off my deck in mid afternoon. Another bird's abduction was interrupted by Mr Li, the chicken's body left in the front yard. Red feathers still mingle with the grass, the body I disposed of on a low pyre up Red Bud. Most recently in the dusk, a black hen who was prone to escaping the yard, was taken - no sign left. I think a coyote. 

Otherwise, a good month, more sun than gray (the winter has been a dark one). And no heavy snow as last year that was so destructive. I do have a continuing skin cancer saga: a squamous cell just above my right ankle (on inside) - first detected around Thanksgiving! Biopsied, than tumor dug out, than when new squamous cell tumor popped up in January, cut out - now pathology report says still cells in area of wound. I am scheduled for MOHS surgery in May and plastic surgery to close wound. Wish it might be sooner, but the doctors are busy. I may have lived too long in this skin suit.

I did complete early a 40 day lent challenge to dispose of 40 items in house. But I am behind in my effort to write a poem a day. Seems my priorities have become domesticated? My paper-mache piece I began in September is as it was in November when once I worked on it. Am I uninspired and dispassionate, or just old and dull? Or despairing of the world?

Mary Oliver died today

Oh, what a poet, voice to our spirit, to our deep connection with this world -- Mary Oliver. Her poems, her presence, invite us to see as she sees in commune with the outside, the pond, the wild geese, the song bird. Oh, what a joy to read her words. Thank you, Mary Oliver. 

I woke this morning in a dream of Van, sharing poems - and I stretched in my warm cocoon of a bed with cat to my right and small white dog to my left and smiled. As if a parallel life that might have been, I seemed to have shifted into this possible story in the night - familiar (as if I have been there before). When I learned of Mary Oliver's death, I wondered if the dream was prescience.

Snow this afternoon.

2019 Here

Months hiatus. Have taken up paper journals - poor excuse. Why not both? Following the forecast for snow beginning tomorrow night; not as heavy a snow this time as in December when we had 14" here in the hollow.

Was lovely light snow. I left soon after for Houston to visit Ez and all before Christmas.

This time we may have some mix and ice accumulation; preparing for possible outage - tho certainly hoping power will stay. Nevertheless, Mr. Li and Katrina and I are ready as can be. Have 3 suet cages filled to hang tomorrow; raccoons have stolen two cages which I left out at night. Now I am retrieving them when I go to close the chickens. 

Pictures from Trinidad where Ez and family spent Christmas - lots of cousin-time, beautiful trio!

And beautiful pictures keep coming from Dominican Republic   where Baldwin and family have a kitten. Kitten they are convinced has soul of Alaska - they may bring him back to Virginia.

Have bundled through some pretty cold days, two days ago the high was 23 degrees. When Mr. Li and I walked down to river today through areas of heaved crunchy ground, I took pictures of ice covered puddles. But before the 20 degree high, there was a 60 degree blue sky joy of a day! Good puzzle time, good books. 

Nursing a wound, which I am focusing healing intention upon - have ticket to Dominican Republic towards end of January - and can't go with wound! Had a squamous cell carcinoma removed from just above ankle on right leg before Christmas. It looks good, was size of quarter and now more like nickel. Didn't realize that wounds below knee take twice as long to heal.

Happily still holding qigong classes twice a week; yet to renew habit of attending Robin's class in Blacksburg. Wonderful group of women, a delight. My week takes form from the two mornings assigned to class - then going into town for groceries and working at library for the children books sale. NAACP monthly meeting and MCDC meeting I attend - wanting to do more, but moving slow into a greater commitment. How did it become 2019??!! 

September Upon Me

We have had 3 and 3/4 of an inch of rain since Thursday, hard tropical down pours with fierce bursts of wind. Reminding me of squalls on Lake Pontchartrain in our sail boat the Cap'n Flint. The river went from clear, perfect to mud tumultuous. Power was out for 20 hours. Not what anyone would have wished for Labor Day. But the rain is good. Tho my garden has gone to weeds with small stands of okra, seed balls of elephant garlic amidst the tall seedy lambs quarters and other not so delicious invasive species. I do manage to find greens and clover flowers for green smoothies. Watching US Open when rain doesn't disrupt. Picture of True, now 6; a delight, full of talk and dear devotion to his sis. 

Been too long

Not sure where my impulse to be here has been - not found in my present mind. As if it hasn't been so long, but the date proves me wrong. Nothing to add to the state of the world. It is late summer and the wasps and yellow jackets are seeking home in my old house. The continent out here in farm land has been rolled. Big bales everywhere. The river is perfect.
In fact I am waiting another hour before heading down the creek - waiting for the sun to lessen in intensity. My forearm is still swollen from the third yellow jacket sting, on Sunday morning. I seem to have patched another tiny entrance last night. The buggers have made using my upstairs porch a dangerous situation unless at night. I have become agile with flyswatter and swifter (which works well killing the jackets buzzing at skylights). Somehow the jackets have found an exit from the upstairs nest into my downstairs kitchen. I have killed scores. I hated to kill them at first. I rescue wasps from the house. But there are too many of these small mean-stingers to rescue. This is war. 
Today after qigong class, I stopped by Fran's to pick up my stack of Flaccavento Town Hall in Riner postcards and chatted with Fran. Would love to see her at class, but I won't count on it! The first place I tried to coax into keeping a few cards, refused. But i lucked out at the second stop, Brugh Coffee on Roanoke rd! Delicious home roasted coffee - Kirk was there. They took a stack. Carol at the Toy store took some and Krogers will put a few on their staff bulletin board. I'm almost out. Bon! 

New Wheels

It was auspicious that I had the Prius towed to Toyota dealership as it is next door to a very large used car lot. As it happened when I went to clean out my Prius, a young British saleswoman came to help me and to see the damage. We began to talk about cars and she happened to drive a Crosstrek. So before I left the dealership I had toured the lot and found two Crosstreks and put a deposit down to hold one! I showed my son pictures of the cars and asked him to join me on Monday to see the cars and to help me choose. I settled on buying the 2015 blue one which turned out to have white interior with leather seats like my Prius - only this vehicle has heated seats! And Bluetooth. It is an easy transition so far and I don't have to worry about scraping bottom driving up my road AND I can drive up to my son's house. Ah. I have to relinquish my righteous demeanor wrapped around driving a hybrid.

an angle in

The second day of living in snow world saw melting, even what was  my sled run. I'm relieved that the snow is passing; 50 cents urged his hens out; I drove up and down the road with Mr. Lee in the truck - the road good for Subaru, not yet for Prius. Perhaps the road will clear before the bitter cold due on Tuesday with possibility of more snow. A very cold forecast for mid-week, but 50's are back by the weekend! Ann has organized dinner at Palisades Wednesday night to celebrate birthday. 
I've almost completed a puzzle of cows (cow sculptures painted by artists, from sudo-Picasso to sudo-vanGogh). Mr. Lee and I walked up to the blue house, looking for deer to run - or Mr. Lee was. I can imagine a puzzle business which would for a reasonable price transform your own pictures into puzzles - it seems like it could be done cheaply. Though this picture would not be fun to puzzle. 
Behind my daily routine runs an inner dialogue, trying to figure a way to stop the Republican methodical dismantling of the federal government. It is excruciating to watch. And for the last week Los Angeles burns - to horrid to watch. And all the while I am in my snow globe with books and puzzle and my dear dog and cat, 10 chickens and art.

I have no excuse

I do think about being here. Obviously I have failed to follow through on that thought. I did double up on grandma time in October in preparation for the annual departure of son and family for the DR. And I did spend time scheduling poll greeters for the 5 precincts in District D which I oversee for the Democrats. The good news is that we won the governors race and succeeded in winning 13 or more house seats (recounts in process). Very big cause for celebration. But summer is over, and I have a new coat and several pairs of LuLaRoe tights to keep me warm this winter. I need to get a ticket to DR for January and maybe a ticket to Houston in December for a long weekend. I have some puzzles. I have books. I can feel myself moving into a low toleration gear. Endurance. 

Figs 2017

There were seven this year, beautiful. 
Like the figs, many delicious days this summer.
I will remember
all winter.

Last of the Day Lilies

I climbed over the chicken yard fence to see if perchance there was a nest of eggs as I've been getting only 3 eggs a day. No nest. The diminished numbers must be due to heat and one broody hen. Chance of rain today, however I don't see any evidence yet. And the last of my day lilies are blooming. Mid summer, dog days, and I am anxious to get into the river as much as I can. Lucky me, I can fan my ire at Frump reading articles posted on FB and then go soak in the river until mellow. Attempting to stock pile energy to fight for the Environment in this dangerous time. 

Grumbling in the sky, hen on the nest panting

and I was just on my way to the river, now hesitating. My dog delighted with a surprise frozen rib from a past cook out. It is hot out. Hot enough that the blooms on the gardenia, in spite of frequent watering, seem to faint. 
I don't know how my broody hen manages the warm coop most all day (tho I toss her out whenever I visit). A few days ago I surprised her pecking at a snake in the adjoining nest box! I have still not turned on my a/c as the nights cool down and fans are quite sufficient. And unlike the hen house, my house has insulation. 
The possible cloud burst has past with but a meager spit. I'm going to check for an egg and then take my bones to a spot on a rock in the river.

The river a slake, giving me cool bones for this most warm day of the summer of 2017. Now breeze thru the house from squalls which brought us no rain. Maybe tomorrow a rain, but I've just finished watering the garden. A few of my cucumber plants have "the wilt" it appears - they have stopped producing. I blame the heat. They were so promising. The squash also looks poorly. Ah. 

sitting with eyes closed on the small pebbly beach at swimming hole

It is fast into the warm warm of summer, everyday seemingly Saturday at the river. The gardenia blooms on the deck and the late afternoon is lazy delight. I'm harvesting cucumbers and zucchini and beans from the garden, now having to water in the evenings as the heat floats towards 90. Pearl and True are strong fish in the river and becoming accomplished kayakers. Sofia will need to work to keep up with them. I look forward to all the cousins together. 

glossing over

I'm tired of what I tend to write here - neglecting to touch on any unsavory subject. It is partially explained by a fairly idillic life. Low stress, exacerbated by my own perusal of too many articles on FB about Herr Frumph and his minions. I can get pretty worked up by one article on global warming. Let alone the assaults on Planned Parenthood. So I make a call to my shut down, shut off, useless Tea-tard Representative, Morgan the Missing. I even call my two Democratic Senators, just to grow the head count. And today I called Lt. Gov. Northam asking him to reject two planned huge pipe lines in Southwestern Va. I wasn't able to say that I wouldn't vote for him, because I know I will do anything to stop Ed Gillespie from becoming Gov. But I did say how upset I am that he is not coming out against the pipe lines. 
I guess I fail to spend much time on my blog because I feel impotent. I feel tired of resisting. I'm glad that there are young ones becoming active! I drove all the way into Bissett Park yesterday afternoon to participate in the Chain, Chain, chain event thrown by Indivisible NRV protesting the latest Senate Health Care (not-care) Bill. I had a cow head in the car along with a new sign (Health Care is a Sacred Cow). But I turned around and came home when I failed to connect with family and I just felt suddenly alone and sad. I don't know why. Not really like me. I was glad to hear that my son and family did go and that it was well attended and fun. I felt silly. I think I have missed my vitamin D! I don't know. 
So I delight in my garden, in a walk to the river in spite of this still irksome plantar fasciitis, in playing with my super fine grandkids. I'm so lucky. I've got to get out of my comfort zone and do more for the environment, women, etc etc...YES.
right now I'll go close my chickens..