Robin Politics

Daily Haiku

on a cloudy day

the smell of democracy

juniper berries

The photo above is Robin poop. The last few years we have been attacked by flocks of American Robins - about fifteen of them in a flock. They come to feed on the cedar berries around the house, and this year there are plenty; perch on the trees and defecate all over the patio and rock path into the house.

Robin poop gets into the cleats of shoes and boots and tracks indoors. Messy. So once a day I sweep robin poop from the walkway, the only joy from doing this comes from the wonderful juniper smell when they are moved around - very fresh and very aromatic.

It struck me today that the USA is kinda like that. We descend on a country, with good reason or without, partake of it's substances and then poop all over everything that's left and track it around in our footprints. This is called giving them democracy. I suppose it must smell fresh and aromatic to the inhabitants but at what cost?

Risks

In late August I cleaned all the patios. Even though it was almost time for frost, I decided to plant some petunias in containers to provide a spot of color outside. Despite first frost on 9/7 they have survived, grown, and are providing me with a little happiness whenever I see them. The purple ones have little "eyes" in the middle and it is almost like they smile back to me.

Sometimes despite the odds against us we have to take risks small or large; do the thing that doesn't seem sensible to others, just be our own self and do what makes us happy.

daily haiku

beauty of purple

greets my eyes anew each day

heart sings a new song

haiku

colors of autumn

creeping into the landscape

rouge on the cheeks of fall

haiku

I talk to chickens

they cluck and look through the wire

my language is strange

I suppose we can say when we rake leaves that we are removing the excess so that new sprouts can grow next year without being smothered by the old foliage. So it is in life. We often have to let go of the old connections to let the new ones grow. Letting go does not mean denying the past but embracing it and beginning to grow towards the future.

Letting go is one of the most fearful things we do in life, at least it is for me. I don't want my life to change; I want to hold it, love it, wrap it in my arms and not let go. But change it will and changed it has. I don't hold the reigns of control, I've known this for years but every day now I am faced with the decision to move in a new direction. Some days it is a lot easier than others, sometimes I go backwards more than forwards, but I have no control over the new sprouting process.

Daily Haiku

to find tomorrow

we have to let today die

moon sets sun rises

In my youth (...ahem) I sewed a lot, mastered Vogue Designer patterns and used all kinds of fabrics. Daughter Sarah is now following in my footsteps and I am so happy that she is having fun making her own clothes.

In the fall garden there are spider webs that use the zig-zag stitch to sew across the circular filaments of their web - it is very distinctive with the yellow garden spider. The purpose of the zig zag is unclear; here is a comment from wikipedia:

The web of the yellow garden spider is distinctive: a circular shape up to 2 feet in diameter, with a dense zigzag of silk, known as a stabilimentum, in the center. The purpose of the stabilimentum is disputed. It is possible that it acts as camouflage for the spider lurking in the web's center, but it may also attract insect prey, or even warn birds of the presence of the otherwise difficult-to-see web. Only those spiders that are active during the day construct stabilimenta in their webs.

Daily Haiku

against clear blue sky
afternoon shadows lengthen
mornings are cold now

Yesterday at 34 degrees

Daily Haiku

thirty four degrees

cat still in her summer coat

dreams of winter frost