Happy 100th birthday in Heaven, Grr. I can hear your fiddle music playing at your birthday square dance and see Grandma smiling. Have fun calling, “chase the rabbit, chase the squirrel, chase the girl around the world.” You did. Thinking of you. Wearing my cowgirl boots for the first time this fall. Tell Copper and Santas I said hi too. Scratch their ears in the spots they liked. I am hoping that an unadvertised good thing about Heaven is: No Horseflies. Love you. Thinking of you extra today. Smiling, not crying. Just a little misty around the corners, like you when you’d hear music playing in your mind as you told a story from long ago. Love, Janean
boots
marching on
It was a quiet morning walk, early on this Saturday. Boot falls. Mine. Dog tags. Blue’s. Subdued birdsong. Weather is coming. Crunch of grass when we sidestepped from sidewalk to avoid ice. I didn’t bother to put clothes on over my long underwear, just added my coat, hat, gloves and cowgirl boots. It is a long coat. Will add a big sweatshirt in a sec and go deal with dishes I haven’t quite gotten to yet. I hear those annoying crows now. Go roost somewhere else. You are too loud!
March 1, 2014
love seat thoughts
I walked my Blue dog this morning, just like every morning since we got him as a three month old pup. I wore my favorite new zebra rain boots to keep my feet dry, my black winter coat with a turquoise hat and gloves for warmth, and carried a red and white umbrella too. It felt a little bit mixed up. Thankfully the dog did his business quickly and we turned around for home instead of circling the big block like we usually do. Will wake the still zzzz’ing boys soon. I love sleeping during thunderstorms. This morning’s was a doozy and made me want to stay in bed. It is calmer outside now. I hear some birds chirping through the outer walls, over the din of the ticking clock. That signals it is calm inside because in midst of commotion the sound of the clock is drowned out. I will wake the boys soon. Sitting still a moment longer. Tick tock. Tick tock. Chirp. Surprisingly the wind chimes are silent, though not for long. The wind is predicted to pick up speed this afternoon and gust throughout the night. I’ll look forward to hearing their melody later, when the day is wrapping up, and I have another moment to sit still and woolgather, in this, my favorite love seat spot. Rain is pouring again. Thunder resumes. Boys getting out of bed will be the next sound. The day has officially begun here.
February 20, 2014
quiet stillness
in the quiet stillness
of a moonlit
morning walk
there was
a woman smiling
alongside her dog
the moon just full
now waning
lighting up the sky
translucent clouds
crowd alongside
without obscuring
la lune’s glowing
yesterday’s snowfall
blankets the ground
glistening
sparkling
moonlight reflecting
temperatures shivering
she is bundled up
walking in booted feet
only her eyes showing
behind her scarf smiling
woman’s heart pondering
dog’s nose to the ground
as they walk
in the quiet stillness
of a moonlit morn
January 19, 2014
Blue and I just went around the block
about twenty minutes altogether
6:00-6:20am
per usual I didn’t check the temperature before we stepped outside
I just peeked now…
13*F, feels like -4*F
or like I usually say, “It’s a little cold.”
I’m half dressed and half in pajamas
breakfast is next for me
Blue is couch zzzz’ing
my children are bed zzzz’ing
thankfully
it is what it is
Dear GFF BFFs,
You know who you are. 2014. It’s going to be a glitterf*ckingfabulous year, isn’t it?! Don’t answer. No jinxing. We’ll take it day by day. I need to get moving and work on better eating, make art and write “for real.” I want lots of laughing and hugging and legal hell raising fun – you in?! 🙂 I hope so! I’m all in, and all heart, like a racehorse, galloping toward it. Hello 2014, The Year of the Horse!
Have you bought your sass and kickass cowgirl boots yet?! If not, the time is here! You f’ing NEED them!
Love,
*sparkly heart kind*
Janean
December 31, 2013
Cheers
Last day of 2013 today.
It all happened.
You saw me through.
Faith, and the prayers of many.
Thankful for unconditional love of family and friends who know me best, better than I know myself.
Joy, Peace and Love are ahead.
In abundance!
Hope is the Light that doesn’t extinguish even in the darkest Dark.
Here’s to making art and writing for real in 2014.
I’m walking toward it, in cowgirl boots!
Happy New Year!
LOVE,
*sparkly heart kind*
Janean
December 31, 2013
barefoot in boots
this morning
grabbed ‘em fast
cowgirl kind
my pair for courage
I’ve worn ‘em
for the past two years
dog’s been gnawing
on my snow boots
snow is melting
rain is falling today
leather cowgirl boots
were fine for driving
both my boys to school
my newest pair o’boots
are sporting zebra stripes
they are made of plastic
perfect for puddles
and walking in the rain
it’ll be rain boots
for the rest of today
December 20, 2013
paws and boots
Blue and I had fun making fresh tracks in the still falling snow just now. When we walked back indoors, after our outside time, I called for my youngest son to come see us. He was indisposed. Oh. I shouted back, “Never mind then. I just look like A Snow Mom.” That two year old pup and I didn’t exactly walk while we were out there. Blue leaped ahead of me, straining at the end of his six foot leash, and alternately circling me, running really fast. Crazy. I say my big, sweet pup is crazy all the time. Just right, made perfect for me kind of crazy. Now we’re happily back inside. My teenage son (13 1/2) is talking his grandparents ears off, using the old-fashioned house phone with the stretchy cord located upstairs. The fire in the fireplace is burning down. This time I’m going to let it. I’m tired. Will tuck in soon, because in the morning, it’ll be time for Blue dog and I to make fresh tracks, paws and boots walking side by side.
December 13, 2013
Dog Walkin’ Story For Today
As I think, “What’s that? Looks like a stick.”
Blue pokes it with his nose and then suddenly jerks back.
I laugh and say aloud, “A wiggly worm.”
We timed our walk just right, for between rain storms.
Peacock covered rain boots on my two feet.
Blue rockin’ four furry paws.
The early birds are feastin’ this mornin’ ‘cause the wiggly worms are right out in the open.
Monday again.
Have a good one.
April 8, 2013
snow boots…again
I awoke and looked out the window. That is something I usually do. Today I needed to verify that I’d be back in my snow boots to walk Blue. Sure enough. We got enough snow overnight to nearly cover the grass. That big ol’ dog and I set out on our usual path, sorta mosey-walkin’-strollin’-tuggin’ as we circle ‘round the block and through the park. Blue had fun snow walkin’, with his nose poked through the white stuff, to sniff all o’er the ground. I’m not sure if there is more snow on the way… I’ll just watch out the window to get my answer. Just wanted to let you know the latest in Bloomington, Illinois Weather…’cause if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Hope you have a great Sunday, Palm Sunday at that!
March 24, 2013
Turquoise Tangles 