Profil de Bittersweet on-...Bittersweet on the hill.PhotosBlogListesPlus  |  Outils Aide |
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19 juillet Middle of the week day. Well it is Wednesday and I sit here amazed at how routine life does become. I skipped an entry yesterday and felt the need to come back and visit even if for only a minute.
My Goji juice came and I'm real interested in the healing properties that it might have. The Goji juice is made from a Himalayan berry with a long history of healthy life for the villagers that lived on this mountain where the water was infused with the goji berry. So we'll see what it has to offer!
Since it is 2:40 at the moment, I have promised myself that I will get two poems off to Kathryn who has been gracious enough to read them. One is called "The Christmas Tree" which highlights my moter's childhood and her memory of the Kristkindle Mart and the second is "The Apple Tree," about the life of this old apple tree that stands on the hillside. I may have mentioned that I hope to self-publish a chapbook and before I undertake that endeavor, I want a reader to do a quick read and make sure there aren't any glaring mistakes. I'm a notorious speller and I violate tense! What a statement from someone who was trained as a teacher....and an English teacher at that! I guess I've blown my cover.
I's sipping this glass of ice tea and I'm amazed at how refreshing it is. I usually make a gallon at a time. I put about four or five tea bags in a gallon of water, add lots of fresh mint from the mint bed, squeeze a half lemon into the jug with the squeezed lomon, add a little sugar....not much - I only want the hint of sweetness and them let it sit out in the sun for a few hours or until I remember to bring it in. It never fails to make the best ice tea imaginable. Today it tastes of more mint than lemon and every batch is different.
My mint bed has decided to give me a run for my money. Last year I had five little plants that I nurtured all summer. I would admonish everyone who went near the garden - "watch out for the mint!" I fact I wasn't even sure if any had survived from previous years, so when I discovered that some was still trying to sprout, I nurtured what was left, almost to the point of only putting a leaf or two into the jug. Well those five little shoots have grown into a bed that is about 5 feet wide and four feet deep. I started taking a hedge clipper to it since it was at least 4 feet high and of course what remained after I cut the leaves on the top, was just some course stems. So decided best to just leave the mint wild and cut it when the season ends. In fact, I put some mint into a garbanzo bean salad with lemon, tomatoe and garlic with a little oil and it was absolutely delightful. I never realized how refreshing a little diced mint could make a salad.
Anyway, I'm off to my second computer to retrieve some poetry to retype on my lap top. One day I'll figure out how to network between computers!
So until......Bittersweet on the hill.
17 juillet The grackles are still screeching. There is something about summer mornings that draw you out of sleep early. I'm sure some of it has to do with the sun peeking up behind the hills, the fresh air circulating through the house, and just the desire to get an early start on the day, but most is attributable to the grackles and blackbirds screeching at the suet cages and feeders. I actually put the suet out for the woodpeckers but it seems that the blackbirds and grackles have taken it upon themselves to feed their young while perched on the outdoor clothes dryer. The newborns are almost as big as the parents but they sit in clusters of three and four and wait for Mom to grab some suet and shove it down their gullets. One day I decided to just watch what all the fuss and noise was about and was utterly amazed at watching mother bird feeding those big lugs. The difference in size is almost undiscernable. The young were still lighter in color, almost a dirty puter and not really black or as dark as the parent grackles. So every morning the fuss and squawking begins at 5:30 if not early and continues throughout the day. I'll be happy when fall comes and they head to warmer territory. At least the majority do.
Today is brutal! Temperatures will be in the mid-to high 90's and the humidity must be near 70% I think that brings us to the oppressive range. Another day of just trying to stay quiet.
I am thoroughly enjoying reading "They Tell Me of a Home." I am enthralled. The plot is still evolving and as the events take place I'm left with more questions and little resolution. Thomas Lee has found out that his mother is not his biological mother and can now understand why he never felt any love from this woman. It seems that the father brought this child home after the pregnant woman gave birth and expected his wife ( Thomas Lee's assumed mother,) to raise this child. Thomas Lee has returned home to get answers to all the untangibles or things he never quite understood. Finding this out, I began to wonder if the school teacher in Swamp Creek might have been his mother since she did much to encourage his learning and pursuit of an education. Thomas Lee visits her while home since he knows her health is failing and he is confronted with an almost unbearable request by her, to take over her teaching position at the school. She feels he is just what the youth of this rural black community needs, a black role model who will encourage and demand that they learn and use their minds. So we shall continue.
Today I am going to order my Goji berry juice, a juice that was first developed in the Himalayan Mountains. It supposed has many healing properties and I'm currious as to how I will feel after drinking it. It supposedly has a pleasant taste anda bottle should last several weeks since you only drink 1 to 3 ounces of it daily. Some with major health issues drink more but they suggest 2 to 3 ounces.
I also want to send a fellow blogger a poem or two for her to peruse. Sometimes it is just nice to have an outside reader give you some feedback.
Have a good day. Until, Bittersweet on the hill.
16 juillet An Atypical Sunday! Sunday mornings are usually lox/bagel and cream cheese time accompanied by the Sunday papers and lots of coffee. Today it was a sour dough roll with a very sour taste to which I added lots of butter and marmalade. I usual enjoy heating my rolls until when I crack them open, steam just errupts into the air. So the melted butter and marmalade ooze throughout. Delightful!
This morning I decided to read more of the book I started reading last night; "They Tell Me of a Home," by David Black. I believe that this is his first novel and I am riveted. The setting is in poor rural black Arkansas and the time frame is maybe 70's or 80's. We meet TL as he's getting off the grayhound bus at Swamp Creek and making the two mile walk to home after a ten year absence. He left home to go to college and finally finished his Ph'D in black studies. And during this time he has written only once to his younger sister who was the joy of his childhood. As he walks into the yard, he sees the gravestone of his seventeen year old sister in the back yard.It is a family with a history of many haunting events and scares that are etched deeply into the soul. He returns to find out why there was very little emotional connect between family members and each day uncovers more unknown secrets.
What I found interesting was that i was very "weepy" this morning and I'm not a weepy sort of person. Emotions seemed to be resting close to the surface and which the book is very emotional, something else is rummaging in my soul. Yes, the dog is struggling with age, Mom died 11 years ago the 5th of July, summer is almost half over and many of the summer projects haven't been started, I found myself in a tearful state. Interesting!
I did write my friend in Australia a second letter so feel relieved that I made contact twice in the past week. Do you ever have those moments that when you fail to make contact with a friend/soulmate, that somethin gnaws away at your "peacefulness?"
Well - after a few household chores, I shall return to "They Tell Me of a Home." It is oppressive with the heat and humidity and what more pleasant way to survive than read and hope for an errant breeze. Until....Bittersweet on the hill.
15 juillet We're in a heat wave! Saturday morning and the best that anyone can do is sit and be quiet. We're experiencing mid-90 degree days and high humidity and it will last through Tuesday when rain and more intense thunderstorms arrive. Living in the country we never put air conditioning into the house. It is a bit difficult in an old 1850's house where the rooms are small and the air doesn't circulate among the rooms. We're reliant upon the 100 year old maples that surround the house and whatever errant breeze comes our way. So it is definitely means rummaging through my newest paperbacks and pulling a few out that I may start to read. I finished Karen Baar's book - 'and my next act...." and hope to start "1776." That has been beckoning to me for months if not years.
I picked up several new books, "They Tell Me of a Home" by Daniel Black, "The Lighthouse" by PD James and Thomas Friedman's book "The World is Flat." I am appalled by world events, epecially what is happening in Lebanon and Isreal, Iran and North Korea. I was hoping Friedman's book would give me more of a handle in understanding the global struggle - if there is any understanding at all.
On a different note, we are enjoying our locally grown vegetables. The corn is out as is the zucchini etc. We've enjoyed some local beets as wel. I love a good marinated beet salad and I just sent Pete out into the garden to look for some bib lettuce. It won't last in this heat if it ready to eat. And our tomatoes should be ready in the next two weeks. The tomatoes, corn and fresh beans are our greatest joy in the summer as I guess are many other things! Laughing with you here.
I have enjoyed finding some new sites here in bloggersville. I am finding that the best way to find interesting sites is to read the sites that people reference on their sites. People are both creative and talented. It has been a joy to read some sites. So......until......Bittersweet on the hill. 14 juillet And we've made it to Friday. Well we've made it to Friday and the temperatures are beginning to climb. 9:53 am and the mind is already saying...find a quiet place and don't move. Thank God the humidity isn't brutal as yet.
I went outside last night with my youngest brother and we did some weeding in the day lilly bed. The moisquitos were killers but I was pleased with what we got done. The hay from the fields intrudes upon the flower bed and we're always fighting the hay and field grass that wants to settle amongst the flowers. Working amongst the day lillies reminds me that I really need to break up some of the clumps of day lillies since they are really getting quite big. We also found a delightful day lilly, a light salmon pink that always astounds us with it's color. I think I'll try to get a picture of that particular lilly. It truly is unique.
Today I have a little more ownership of my day. I didn't quite finish all I had intended to do yesterday so this morning it is.
Two definites for the morning, writing my friend in Australia and confirming the oil contract for this year. Then perhaps a little reading. Until, Bittersweet on the hill.
13 juillet Lost a lot of my day. I think we all have these days where we loose large blocks of time to thinks we don't like doing but have to get done. So I'm reconciling myself to....yes the morning was lost to scheduled things but perhaps I can find some time for myself this afternoon.The afternnon is moving along and I still have a few things to do like laundry and personal chores. I do have to remember to call both the oil company and the vacuum cleaner place; work out the contract for heating oil and arrange to drop off the vacuum cleaner for repair.And a few checks to write as well. Well maybe the afternoon really isn't mine!
I don't think I've introduced Mr. Woolberg to you. He's our 14 year old mixed shepherd who is beginning to struggle. He was an abused dog from the pound or maybe I should say neglected dog from the pound that we've had a good 12 years. He's a 100 pound dog and with all big dogs they experience a lot of hip problems and arthritis. Add Cushings disease to that and you have an aging dog. I suspect that he won't make it through the summer. His hips will probably go and that will be the end. So for the moment, we live with Mr. Woolberg knowing that any day could be his last.
We did get our rain yesterday and today is hot and humid again. I'm sure we'll get more rain and as I've mentioned the next 4 days are slated to be in the 90's. So I close hoping tomorrow will give me a little more time to ruminate with you. Until, Bittersweet on the hill. "Forgiveness""Forgiveness"
Forgiveness is a retrospective on life's events
as we travel into the twilight.
It is a gray wash that adds softness
to the edges of things
that once seemed so well defined.
It is the retooling of our souls,
the knowing that what once seemed so important
has now faded like the evening sun.
The course of life's decisions defines us
and upon reflection,
we find that some may have been planned,
but many more have been preordained.
Words convey roles are greater than we ever thought.
Who of us could have ever imagined the import of such things as
woman, gender, cultural wounding, steward, underwriter, daughter, European influence;
each adding a new layer
with its own shading to a time and a place.
Unwitting decisions early on.
The compromise of freedom for security
now shackled and indentured.
Soul and spirit snuffed like a candle sinking into itself.
And yet, time and wisdom ignites a flicker of new recognition.
Spirit becomes the bellow for life.
Time dilutes the anger.
The recognition that what is left is deserving of our full attention.
Gentleness, love and care - a new reading of our soul.
************************************************************************** 12 juillet More rain today. Actually I love rain, thunderstorms, wind and snow storms. They have always given me the feeling of protection. I love being home and knowing that for a little while I am cut off from the world; nothing to bother me and protected in my little world. There is a sense of welbeing when I know I won't be disturbed and intruded upon. I have a wood burning stove in my kitchen which probably goes 8 months of the year and even in the worst of storms and power outages, I have a source of heat and a means to cook. Kitchens have always been a source of protection and warmth. When I say protection, I don't always mean a physical protection but an emotionsl protection. My favorite winter day is a snow storm, music, the stove going and a nice stew slowly cooking, and a good book and cup of coffee on the table. Gosh....such thoughts in the middle of summer! And I love summer and warmth as well! Am I a contradiction today.
The rain may turn into a heavy and consistant rain with accumulations of 2 to 3 inches. And I suspect that with the weekend in the nineties, and igh humidity, we'll have a number of thunderstorms in the week ahead. Our spring and summer has had its share of rain.I'm sure there are parts of this country that would give their right arm for even 10 percent of what we've had. Ahh, more of the effects of global warming. We just aren't waking up yet. As I'm sitting here thinking about my oil contract for this coming winter's fuel, I keep saying to myself that there must be something more we can do like solar panels to be more self-sufficient.The house sits on a ridge and is surrounded by about a dozen maple trees that are probably 75 or more years old. I've taken down 4 the past few years because of age and disease but hate to take any tree down for the sake of cutting them down. But I'm really seriously thinking about some solar panels.
I've just discovered that the "add a category" is part of the blog screen. So perhaps I'll add a prose poem called "Forgiveness." It's really a first draft and the line breaks are not quite right but I figured I'd type it out anyway.
For dear reader, do enjoy the day, and may there be much peace in your waking hours. Bittersweet on the hill. 11 juillet "A Summer Thunderstorm" At the moment we are experiencing a severe thunderstorm. I hear the water deluging out of the rain spouts and everything has that dark hue. This is the kind of rain I love at night. I just pull the covers up and nestle deep within myself and just enjoy being lulled by the pouring rain.
I was looking at the bird feeders this morning and didn't one of those big old weeds turn into a sunflower. Actually there is more than one but I was surprised when I saw the round dish of sunflower seeds. I guess now I'll leave it for the birds to enjoy. The rain is letting up and hopefully the humidity will drop. It was making its way up to oppressive so maybe we'll get some relief. In a few days we're supposed to have a four or five day stretch of 90 plus degree weather and if the humidity is up, it will be somewhat brutal.
I'm reading one of the last chapters in "...and for my next act." Baar talks about the importance of friendships as we get older. Women seem to value friendships more so then men and I guess that can be attributable to the ability to trust and share. But as we get older, especially with the loss of a spouse, friendship do play an important part in women's lives. She also talks about the importance of nuturing and taking care of friendships. This past weekend I called a friend in New Mexico. Our friendship goes back to our high school days and has been nurtured for several decades. Although there are some gaps in time between our contacts, everytime we talk, its like we haven't missed a beat.
As an aside, my youngest brother is exploring the possibility of buying an old firehouse! The building has the distinct look of a firehouse and is a two bay firehouse. I'm actually getting quite excited about it myself since I think it would make two wonderful apartments.Apartments are becoming a scarcity but at the same time, homes are also becoming unattainable for many people. I am one of those people that believes that if you do anything, make sure it is of the quality or condition that you would buy or use it yourself. I'm already thinking about how he should landscape it! And he hasn't even bought it yet. Until, Bittersweet
9 juillet Lox and bagels! Sunday morning and dare I say it is lox and bagel time. One of our special treats for Sundays is to start out with lox and bagels. How can you read the NY Times without the appropriate support of lots of coffee, an onion bagel and lots of lox and cream cheese. It's the one morning we don't let the world bother us and if we don't finish until 10 or 11, so be it. At the moment it is pleasantly cool but the humidity is building. I'm chuckling at the mourning doves cooing in the background. It's so quietthat they become intruders to your thoughts.
Despite all the natural seed in the fields, we tend to feed the birds all year long. The suet cages are always up and and while you always hope for certain birds to be visitors, we're inundated with the black birds, the grackles and red-winged blackbirds.The grackles are really in the family of blackbirds but the difference between the two is that a blackbird is all black including the beak. Grackles have some brown spotting in their black coloring and yellow beaks. The red-winged blackbird have just that, red and or yellow stripes in their wings and they are usually one of the first spring birds to come.
Last winter, I counted 20 varieties of birds in one day. The infrequent visitor is the rose- breasted grosbeak that I've only seen once or twice during the past two years. In fact I haven't seen him this year at all. And if I may add, they are related to the cardinal. What did come vising is the scarlet tanger. We're a tad north for them here.
Well I did add two pictures yesterday; the day lilies in weeds and my former cat Schmutze. She was one of four siblings, the Flower sisters, that came from the Human Society. She was the last of the four that finally succumbed to feline leukemia. On top of that she had an infection that rendered her somewhat brain damaged but I loved her dearly despite all the seisures she had the last year of her life.
It's interesting what topics we come up with when we sit down to write in our blog. It's almost like a free-write. Did I expect to be writing about lox and bagels, rose-colored grosbeaks, or Schmutze? I don't think so! Until, Bittersweet on the hill.
8 juillet Saturday routines. Well Saturday morning has come around again and the day is fairly blocked out. Pete is shopping and I sent him to the farmer's market to pick up my cherry pie. Margaret who owns The Orange Gardyn Carte bakes pies for the market during the summer but takes orders for anything you can conceive of during the year. She's a retired vice-president of a local bank and now spends her time nurturing her life-time passion - baking. And I must say that aside from my mother who was an excellent baker, her pies and baked goods have no equal. Last time I talked to her, her 25 baby chicks had just arrived and she was setting up her brooders for the next few weeks of their lives.
And while he's picking up the pie and shopping, I'm cleaning up old paperwork and rearranging the books that are stacked on my kitchen table. Dottie a woman from the village is stopping by tomorrow to chat about the University of Arizona where her son expects to go this coming fall. I'm a graduate of the U. of A., in short a Wildcat and she wanted to know a little more about the University and the city of Tucson.
I have a great fondness for the University and the southwest. The people were most gracious to me and I loved the culture and the Native Americans. And dare I forget the weather! Other than my home state of NY, I love both Maine and Arizona. Maine holds many fond memories from my childhood. While we weren't blessed with great financial means, my mother always found a way for us to spend our summers camping, from Long Island, to Cape Cod, and from Maine to Florida. These early trips led to more adventurous trips across country and later driving the Trans-Canadian from Ontario to Vancouver.My mother set the stage for some basic values; travel,education and home were very important. Money wasn't always in plentiful supply but somethings needed to be priorities in life. She was a remarkably determined woman who came to this country as a 17 year old girl from Germany. She was the heart and soul of this family.
What irony that I should be writing this at this moment. She died on this day 11 years ago. Tomorrow would have been her 95th birthday. She died July 5th.
Today I will definately get out side and hopefully take a few pictures. The weather will be changing and I fear more rain the next few days. Until, Bittersweet on the hill.
7 juillet A classic day! Today is one of those days you remember for it's beauty. Clear, sunny and pleasant. If I get the opportunity, I hope to take the camera and go outside for awhile. The day lilies are in bloom but the weeds have gotten the best of them. Fortunately they are strong enough to surface through the weeds which, if you think of it might make for an interesting picture.I always think that everything has to be perfect, weedless, but then again, a flower amongst the rough might just be the perfect picture....natural and untouched.
I just picked up a new book, "Your Life as Story," by Tristine Rainerand started browsing through it. There is such a fine line between memoir, the new autobiography, diaries, journals etc. Everything becomes story.
I don't think I mentioned it but I hope to publish a chapbook this year. I have been writing poetry for ten years now and what I've written is certainly the story of my life. It has been very therapeutic for me but most importantly it has permitted me to confront issues in my life. I'm really pleased with some of my work although most of my recent writing is more in the form of prose poetry.
So why write a chapbook? For one, I'm sure that when I leave this earth, no one will give a damn about what I wrote. It would end up being one heck of a bonfire and nothing more. So I guess it's a way to keep myself in the "archives of life."
I guess I'll be making my way back this afternoon. I feel I short-changed myself here especially since I was interrupted with a phone call. Until, Bittersweet
6 juillet Moving along! Today is Thursday and the week is moving along. Had internet problems and just connected at 3 p.m. The day is pleasant enough but still lots of disturbances in the air. Tomorrow is supposed to be that classic day, 80's and clear and sunny.
I started to look at some poetry that I worked on for my last class and perused it for corrections. I'll probably use the haibun within some prose as a first entry. I still have some work to do on it, so perhaps tomorrow.
I got a note from Jenn in New Zealand. We're both experiencing some health related issues so it was good to hear from her. And while I think of it, she is one of the most prodigious readers I have ever met! She's always looking for new material to read.
I went visiting other spaces and found that most people start sites and loose interest fast. And most are young kids that really have nothing to say. It is easier for them to load a bunch of pictures than share a thought or idea. I'm also not sure how people find the blogs that they really are interested in reading. But I suspect I'll figure that out with time.
I'm going to try and reach a friend in NM. Making content can be a challenge but since timing is right, I'm going to excuse myself for today. Until, Bittersweet
5 juillet Mid-week.The week feels awkward after the four day weekend. Barbara my home health aide was here at 8 and my therapist came at nine. Requiring assistance with personal care is a very awkward experience. The therapy is short-term but the home health aide may be something I require for the rest of my life. I am a polio survivor and have spent most of my adult life in a wheelchair. Post-polio syndrome has set in which leaves me very fatigued and exhausted. And with these new aspects, I feel less energized and find myself loosing muscle strengthand ultimately the ability to function independently. A vicious cycle in a sense. But we are working to regain some of what I have lost. I think that is why I am enjjoying Karen Baar's book - a book about women having to reshape and redesign their lives due to many circumstances.
I'm hoping to review some of the work I did for my course; poetic prose. Perhaps I can pull a piece and put it on my site this afternoon.
The weather is heavy today and I suspect we'll get some rain during the day. Well, I just wanted to say hello before I read a bit and then finish dressing.
By the way, did you know that bittersweet is a wild vine that grows in the northeast? It's a vine that I enjoy putting on the dining room table at Thanksgiving.The foliage drops off and the flower heds turn orange and yellow as it dries. It truly is very lovely. When most people see the name they immediately think of the bitter and sweet moments that can occur in ones life. I chose the name because it typifies the fall foliage in the northeast. Unfortunately, bittersweet can be very destructive since it grows rampant and when it start's climbing up trees, it will snuff out the life of everything it climbs up on. So much for the background on "bittersweet." Until, Bittersweet
New to the game.Happy 4th to all. I fear we will have a day of rain. The humidity is fierce so I guess it is low profile for the most part. Just one of these days I'd like a clear, sunny northeast day, what I call the classic day. At the moment you almost can't go outside because of all the mosquitos.On occasion I like to go the back and check out the condition of the walks but with all the rain, the weeds have taken over. Thinking back, everything was short-lived this year. The irises got washed out as did the lilac and peonies. I got to enjoy the irises three times I think and never really got to see the peonies because of all the rain.
Today I think I'll try calling my friend in NM. It has been a while and sometimes I get to the point of discomfort when either one or the other of us hasn't made contact. And it has been quite a while. And I will send an email to a friend in New Zealand.
Looking back at how we correspond to people, email has certainly made it easy but I do miss getting that occasional note in the mail. I think we have lost the sentiment that comes with pen and paper. There is something about taking the time to write a friend and sitting down with the pen in hand. I remember reading the book "Always Rachel," the book of letters between Rachel Carson and Dorothy Freeman. The book is basically the correspondence between these two woman over a 15 year period. It was a lovely perspective on two wonderful souls. Today we don't have that history because we end up deleting most of what we write. Which brings me to the fact that in some ways this is a diary and by writing things here, I won't have the hard copy to go back to. So something lost I fear.
I don't think I mentioned that I collect fountain pens. I love the kinesthetic sensation of feeling the flow of a pen across paper.I have found writing to be very therapeutic and just wish I was more conscientious about writing down my feelings. And I certainly should be keeping a journal for writing down thoughts for my writing. I have notes and ideas on envelops and anything I can find to write something down. Not a good idea because they have a habit of getting thrown out.
Well, it is starting to rain and the humidity is hanging! Hopefully, I can find some pictures to put on this site. Until, Bittersweet
3 juillet Part of the holiday weekend.Today is Monday the 3rd. It is starting out hot and humid and I suspect we'll get some thunderstorms this afternoon. The guys are gone for the better part of the day; one golfing and the other working on his house.
Barb was here earlier this morning and within a week or two, I'll probably see her 5 mornings a week. She is an integral part of this new phase in my life that I will start sharing in a few days. I figure its probably better to start out slowly and move into sharing my soul as I feel comfortable.
Well, the golfer is back; no tee times until after 2! That changes the complexity of the day! One thing for certain is that I will enjoy going outside and reading a while. I'll probably read a bit more of "my next act..." and perhaps start on "1776." I've wanted to start that for months so perhaps today is the day.
I have several pictures of the countryside that I'd like to add to my site. I love my homestead and particularly enjoy the fields and hillsides. Perhaps if I'm really energized I'll check and see how I can add a photo to a blog entry. I'd also like to add a few poems as I develop this site so hopefully I'll enrich my site. So folks, enjoy the 3rd and I'll see you in the morning. 2 juillet Sunday morning.Well, I figured out I didn't do that right! Part of todays entry ended up being a comment on my first entry. Feel free to read my own coment on my first entry. I really only talked about the weather and a family of ducks that are enjoying the little pond that has developed from all the rain.
It is almost mid-day, and I spent the morning reading more of "for my next act..." by Karen Baar. It is about women scripting life after 50. I guess that must say something about myself. I may have mentioned I'm shaping the next chapter of my life not quite knowing what I want to do. I guess that is the plight that most of us face as we enter mid-life and beyond. You finish a career and have all the time you've craved for years and find yourself at a loss at what to do.
I think I may have shared with you that I share my time between living in the upper Hudson River Valley and a little home I own on the outskirts of the desert in Tucson. I've rented it out for another year but I can feel my restlessness building. Perhaps it is time to think about a return visit for a year or two. I love the heat and warmth of the desert and I have been blessed with wonderful neighbors. I also love the people and culture of the southwest so it is an easy transition for me. Both spaces are a contradiction to each other. The northeast - wet and fertile and the southwest dry and asphyxiating and yet I feel alive with the beauty of desert life. So I suspect I'll be struggling with the question of will life be here or there.
I hope the afternoon will permit some reading of "The Situation and the Story" by Vivian Gornick. I've been working on some prose poetry and just finished a 10 week on-line course offered by Barbara Henning. I enjoyed iit but also realized how uncomfortable it was for me when I was out of my comfort zone.It is so much easier for young writers today to be more expansive than I am capable of. But that's all part of embracing life. So, I leave you until tomorrow. Bittersweet Talking about Drying Out.
Quote Drying Out. 1 juillet Drying Out.Finally the rain has stopped. The last two months have seen three out of four days of rain. The old farmer who bush hogs our fields couldn't finish the job down my the stream because the tractor started to sink. So he promised to come back in August when things were dry enough to cut the thicket and brush by the stream. I take great joy in seeing the wildlife and birds down by the stream.
I have some beets cooking on the stove. I love augmenting my holiday meals with some salads and later I'll prepare a beet salad for one of the days on this long weekend. Since I'm planning pork chops for this evening, I think I'll stick with the potato salad and a vegetable - although I haven't figured out which vegetable it will be yet.
Have I told you I love reading and writing poetry? I just finished James Galvin's "The Meadow," a study of life in Wyoming in the mid 20th century. The story is told from the same four people's point of view. The beauty of this book is his rich language and his sentence construction. My favorite western writer is Mark Spragg; I especially enjoyed "An Unfinished Life."
I've just started "...for my next act" by Karen Baar about the lives of women in their fifties. Since I'm well into mid-life, I thought it would be interesting to read about what can befall woman as they move into the twilight of life.
I hope you journey with me. This is the beginning of my blog and I think I will enjoy sharing the events in my life. |
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