snippet of life

December 14, 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

December 14, 2013

snowed in

Whether or not we get a bunch of snow and ice tonight, I’m declaring us, “snowed in” for the weekend. Enjoying the first fire in the fireplace in a really long time. Stacked dry wood in the garage before the flurries hit. We have cheese, bacon, and chocolate…oh, all right, we have the more traditional bread, eggs and milk too. Home feels good. Today had lots of happy in it.

December 13, 2013

December 13, 2013

freedom

I’m inside from the sidewalk now. Have a quick sec to write, before leaving home again. A coyote ran past where Blue and I stood by Luna’s fence. Streaking fast down the opposite sidewalk in front of my house. A freaking coyote! I have no doubt that’s what it was. Blue pulled on the leash and woofed. Luna woofed barely, unlike her, she usually bellows. I think it was out of respect as if to say, “Damn, Wild Thing, you can run FAST! Go! Run for us all!” I love the street where I live. ~Janean

December 13, 2013

December 8, 2013 Image

I’m standing with one foot on the ledge between the kitchen sinks, and one foot on the adjacent kitchen counter, twisting a hook into the window moulding to hang a birthday treasure. My youngest boy just says, “Hi, Mom” as he ducks into the half bath off the kitchen. Blasé. No big deal. Curiosity not piqued at all. Even though, for the record, I am not often found counter climbing. In other news, both of my feet are back on ground now, even if my heart is soaring a bit, as I daydream and smile at the blue crescent moon made of glass now dangling over my head. On sunny days the faceted clear crystals will add colorful rainbows to my kitchen walls. I can hardly wait! Until then, I’ll smile at la lune and dream about the kind of moments that happen just once in a blue moon. Smiling crooked crescents are my favorite moon phase, other than half, three quarter and ginormous full. I sort of love them all!

December 8, 2013

December 8, 2013 Image

My youngest son slept in this morning. Sweet ten year old boy needed those extra zzzzz’s. The sound of his door creaking open from the top floor drifted down to where I stood in the kitchen. I smiled in anticipation even before I heard his joyful exclamation, “IT’S SNOWING!!!!!” He spied those tiny white flakes through the big picture window. I met him in the front door hallway. He hugged me. We stand nearly eye to eye. A few hours later, on the phone with my father, he told me my mother met the snowy morning in much the same way. Joy is all around us, especially in the simple things, those quiet moments, like a prolonged good morning hug that says, “I love you” without the actual words. Snowflakes are no longer dancing on the wind. My youngest boy has been window gazing periodically, still hopeful for a blizzard and no school snow days. Patience. Winter is just begun.

December 8, 2013

November 14, 2013

bedtime

sent my boys to bed hours ago
stayed up for quiet time
love seat dozed
lulled by ticking clock
soothed by wind chimes
chiming from back deck
woke up enough
to decide to go to bed
took Blue out fast
wore my fuzzy slippers
the night sky is clear
the moon and stars are bright
saw Orion
smiled
hustled back inside
the wind is blowing
like it’s going to storm
I haven’t checked radar
just an intuition forecast
that, and I saw a sundog in the sky today
driving my oldest boy home from school
a rainbow in a cloud
I love those
I never think they are saying, “rain is coming”
I think they are a gift from God saying, “My promises are real. My covenants, like the rainbow I gave Noah, to say I’ll never destroy the Earth by water, ever again. Trust Me. I got this.”
fanciful perhaps
but it works for me
even if rain follows too
I love rain
it soothes me
as does being cozy, warm inside my home, listening to the blowing, gust of the wind, not worrying over rain, sleet or snow one bit, because there is a new roof now, in gorgeous burnt sienna shingles
win-win
no matter what
happy thoughts
as I finally tuck into bed
a l’il after 1:00am

November 14, 2013

September 27, 2013 Image

pink clouds and a half moon
sit atop a pale blue sky
I look heavenward
from the sidewalk
just outside my front door
Blue dog standing next to me
walking is our daily routine
it is the sky above
that changes
surprising us
with hints of glory

September 27, 2013
photo taken at 6:40am
words began as first two lines
and a snippet of thought
wrote a little more just now
at 9:40am
while standing in the kitchen
as the aroma
of just brewed coffee
beckons

September 26, 2013 Image

Loving my backyard hangout spot, with my jean-clad butt plopped on a corner of the patio, not in a chair. My bare feet are in the grass and my toes are tapping and I am singing along to the Praise songs playing from my ipad mini. I’m posting this via mobile of course! My silver laptop, with letters long ago worn off the keys, awaits. The luxury of a full keyboard is a new one, after writing so much tapping via a tiny touch screen. That Birthday Dog is eating grass. Ugh. Best of all, the oven timer just went off, which means later today there will be a delectable chocolate cake. Maybe it seems silly to you to make all this fuss over a dog’s birthday, thinking, “Two years old, big whoop. He’s a dog.” It’s so much more than that though, as most things in life are. There are many layers and undertones. We bought Blue seven months into my husband’s two years and three month long cancer fight. That dog saved me. Blue got me out of the house and under the sky, at all hours of the day and night, walking, moving, and helped me take off the stress induced, comfort food eating, weight. A month ago my husband’s soul went to Heaven. He is no longer in pain. It was four weeks ago on Monday, but it is a calendar month today. Since I was a young girl being outside made it better. Whatever “it” was in my life, being outdoors soothed me from the inside out. I need the grass between my toes, the sun on my face and the breeze blowing my dark brown hair. Blue knows Outside Makes It Better too. He’s a really smart pup, my Blue. I love him more than I should, but that’s the beauty of love, you don’t divide it, you multiply it. A lesson from my mother. She’s really smart too!
~ Janean

September 26, 2013