The Widow

The Widow

I am a widow
I will wear housedresses
I will mow the lawn in curlers
I will get a poodle named Curly
I’ll eat tuna casserole on Friday
Watch soap operas in the afternoon
When I die they'll say
She grew good lilies

Daily haiku
every memory
is a stab wound to the heart
when you lose your love

Stormy evening

Tonight, just as I arrived home a severe storm blew in with high winds, torrential rain, and, as my friend Midge would say, "lots of crashy bangy." The lightning was fierce and if it was not so lush and green currently it would have started many fires. I notice swaths of grasses are flat, and I saw Mr and Mrs Bluebird being buffeted by the wind and rain; they could not return to the nest under the eaves. They are now sitting on the fence preening and getting their feathers in the right place again. I think I will do the same!

Bluebird

I wish I were a bluebird
I’d fly to the headwaters of the river
Watch as Mayflies flit in the still air
Dive three times to catch dinner
Ride a swift current heavenward
Then glide easily back to the telephone line
Let the breeze ruffle my feathers
While I think about falling suddenly
Blue into blue

Snow in Summer

Much has been happening in my life of late and my walking program went downhill for a few days. This morning I was up at 5.00 a.m so took the opportunity to go for an early morning walk. I had the mosquito spray in my pocket - but it was still cool and they did not bother me.

It felt good to be outdoors again and did wonders for my brain.

I noticed the cotton caught in the grasses by the side of the road - looking like a skift of snow.

The carp are jumping of late and make a big splash. Earlier this spring they were spawning for 2 days and what a wonderful sight - rolling over and over, their gold scales glinting in the sun.

Later I was treated to the sight of a fox crossing the road. He was thin and scrawny, so I called my neighbor with chickens to let her know that old Reynard was about. Reminded me of the french fable "Le Corbeau et Le Reynard" (The Crow and the Fox) that we had to memorize in French class in high school.

Daily Haiku

casually he strolls

tail held like flag at half mast

looking for chickens

Contemplation

Daily Haiku

witches broom aphids
death by slow strangulation
hidden in tree bark

At the end of a hard day

Daily Haiku

we can always find

in unexpected places

the wonder of beauty

Phoebes and Flowers

I have come to the conclusion that Phoebes have very small brains, and those that they do have are excreted all down the window frames! As you can see from the photos above, she chooses to build her nest in the rain-gutter every year; it is a wonder that the nest isn't washed away and the babies drowned - amazing that they survive.

We are experiencing a lot of June storm activity with rain almost every day. Billings had a tornado last night that severely damaged the MetraPark.

About 12 years ago we created a rock garden on the north side of the house, and planted various perennials. Then along came five severely hot summers along with drought, and it became overgrown with grass. The plants died out. This morning I noticed a lone Iris that survived and will soon bloom, so maybe I must think like a Phoebe and realize - no effort is ever wasted.

Daily Haiku

phoebe builds her nest

wild flax hears her plaintive cry

as iris stutters