December 23rd-31st, 2013

December 23rd, 2013

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MM

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Mackerel sky ~Venus winks 

December 24th, 2013
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O Holy Night
Season of light
celebration of life
for peace we must strife
~
O Holy Night
enriching our life
bringing blessings our way
adding joy to each day
~
O Holy Night
may your lives be calm and bright
may your eve be filled with joy
as you celebrate this night

December 25th, 2013
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Sunny Christmas Day~bees are flying
visiting the rosemary~sipping and diving deep
into pale blue blossoms~though flowers are few
they offer their gratitude~humming in the key of honey
thankful for this sunny day~away from the dark hive
we too are outside~basking in the sun~watering the garden
though enjoying the balmy weather~it's rain that we need

December 26th, 2013
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Angry scolding in the shadows above
emerald jewel defiantly dives in
ignoring the strident voice raining down
he sips~contend~insolently taking his time
~
All day the battles rage against a brilliant blue sky
winter's sparse offering of nature's nectar
brings squadrons of hummers~urgent buzzing fills the air
as they dive and turn~their aerial displays a thing of wonder
~
Jeweled fighter pilots~each determined to refuel
the resident hummer stakes out his claim
sitting in branches above~guarding his space
his outraged squeaking falls on deaf ears~still they come

********

December 27th, 2013
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Sitting motionless~willing herself to be invisible
shiny bright eye regards me~alert to any threat
not a whisker twitches~tail forms a question mark
as if to say~are you safe or do you mean harm
she waits until I leave~then resumes the harvest
gathering the last black walnuts 

December 28th, 2013
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SWS
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Bamboo welcomes sunrise with open arms

***

December 29th, 2013
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Seven for Sunday
~
Mindfulness Bell chimes ~I pause and breathe
***
Chiming of the bell
redirects my busy mind
returning me for a moment
to perfect mindfulness
breathing...in....out
breathing in.......PEACE

December 30th, 2013
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Golden delicate flowers of Mentzelia Pumila~long gone 
merely elegant skeletons remain~fragile cups holding the promise 
of seasons to come~ripe seeds will spill onto the creek's bank
when the time is right~once again they'll thrive~growing tall
ready to provide nectar for bees and exquisite delight for our eyes
 we appreciate what remains~a thing of beauty~even in death

December 31st, 2013
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Year's end~already Nature readies herself
for new beginnings~Alder catkins dangle
~
Delicate
muted colors
dangling down cheerfully
dead branches coming alive
Catkins

December 16th-22nd, 2013

December 16th

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Early morning stars

Luna slips away 

beneath silver wings

TINY
~
1997~2013
~
Basking in warming rays
soothing tired old bones
last sunbath savored
~
We head to town ~hearts heavy
it's the last trip for our girl, Tiny
today she'll cross the rainbow bridge
~
Nearly 17~a long life fully lived
though often solitary in nature
her quiet affection will be missed
~
Held safe in loving arms
last words murmured
rewarded by raspy purrs
she's gone............

December 17th, 2013
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Waking to a magical world
where flocks of fluffy sheep
cuddle with the moon

December 18th, 2013
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Luna caught in the embrace of branches 
held tight~she still spills her light
nights of yearning~tossing and turning
sleepless nights~up long before dawn
woken by restless dogs~aching to go out
we go wandering in the silvery light
not a cloud in sight tonight~just velvet skies
in the distance rooster crows at the moon

December 19th, 2013
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Despite the creek's still icy rim
intrepid Petey plunged right in
Tess soon behind in hot pursuit
their joy could lift the darkest mood
we breathe in deep the morning air
wishing you too could have been there

December 20th, 2013
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The ridge is ablaze
setting sun's last rays
create a firestorm

December 21st, 2013
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SWS
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Season's wheel turns again~bringing light

December 22nd, 2013
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Up in the Hawthorn tree~Praying Mantis ensured the future
a cocoon~hidden in plain sight~ holds treasure of a special kind
next year's young~safely tucked away in their tree branch nursery
only chance allowed me to find her intricate handiwork up high
my eyes drawn up to a leaf~trembling in the wind ever so slightly
and there it was~rustic woven cradle of  life~snug for the winter

December 9th-15th, 2013

December 9th, 2013

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MM

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Third day~Snow day

#2 MM
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Gust of wind~leaf ice skates

#3 MM
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Looking on the sunny side....of life

December 10th, 2013
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Cold fingers on the keyboard pause~looking outside
makes me feel colder yet~words seem frozen in my brain
for days now our morning world is coated in layers of ice
birds huddle in feeders~pecking at seeds~trying to stay warm
maybe I pined for snow and winter with too much enthusiasm
which just goes to show~be careful what you wish for
even in  sunny California ~icy dreams come true!!

December 11th, 2013
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Burnished red gold
brightens and warms
cold night ahead

December 12th, 2013
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Milky Luna~slowly adding girth
her once maidenly crescent shape
gently bulging~pregnant with promise
full moon~coming soon

December 13th, 2013
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On the way home~heavy gray clouds draped the winter sky
thick roman shades~layer upon layer to horizon's edge
suddenly shades are pulled up~ revealing sky once more
tangerine streaks with periwinkle blue~vibrant ripples of color
replace the somber hues which saw us home not long ago
what treasure our Universe holds~so infinite and wondrous
reminding us how minuscule we truly are~just specks in time
blessed  to experience such moments of amazing grace

December 14th, 2013
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SWS
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Herself the Elf~so very endearing

December 15th, 2013
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Christmas is near~ trimmed tree
glows in golden splendor
warming hearts on cold nights

December 1st-8th, 2013

December 1st, 2013

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Advent

~

Thus begins another Christmas season~the first candle of Advent lit

starting the final journey toward the shortest day of the year

I light it in memory of a childhood long gone~years filled with seasonal magic

leading up to the big day when the Christkindl came

~

As the candle flickers delicately~throwing shadows on the wall

I drift back to a childhood filled with the singing of songs 

earnestly playing my wooden recorder~eyes following the musical notes

eating Lebkuchen~ the taste and smell of the season ~so well remembered

~

Nose pressed against icy windows filled with delicate frosty vines and flowers

breathing to make a small round peephole~watching the snowflakes fall

neighborhoods slowly changing as all is enveloped in a blanket of snow

sledding and snowman building~laughter all around~the sheer  joy of it

~

Simple pleasures that filled the hearts and nourished the soul

not this new rush with everyone pushing and shoving~frantic to shop

fighting in lines~running from sale to sale~ the season filled with stress

I am starting to understand the old ones~ as they look back wistfully 

~

Looking back to simpler times~hardships forgotten

just the remembrance of hearts filled with joy so long ago

dark memories pushed aside as we focus the light 

which glowed so brightly back then~ when we were small

~

May your hearts be filled with gladness and light

may your days glow~illuminating  these shorter days

simple pleasures can still be found~even now~slow down

this morning's lighting of a single candle led me back to peace

December 2nd, 2013
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MM
~
Trusting eyes~depending on us to make things right

***

December 3rd, 2013
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Broad stripes of clouds race across a pale blue sky
briefly embracing the morning sun~hiding her face
moments later they hurry on~eager to make their way south
oak branches shudder~releasing flurries of small coppery leaves
the year's first hard freeze will settle tonight~icy breath of  winter

***

December 4th, 2013
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Cold December morning~warmed by happiness
our new girls are settling in~Petey, Tess and Poppy
race in wild panting circles~ around and around
snouts wide open~laughing~not feeling the cold
we watch from the window~sedate Sally by our side
they return with lolling tongues~taking turns~noisily drinking
collapsing into their beds they rest~toes twitching~recharging
it's early yet~stiff cold North wind rattles nearly bare branches
we sip hot tea~ savoring the warmth~courage will come soon enough
then we'll  bundle up and  head out~harnessing our team of four
leaning into the wind~striding out................but not yet!!

December 5th, 2013
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Nearly midday~ yet at the creek Jack Frost still holds court
frozen pieces of art~ a tableau of his creative work on display
we admire the exhibition~rosy cheeked~moving from piece to piece
puffs of breath escaping into the chilly air~we linger briefly
then move on~eager to return home to another cup of hot tea

December 6th, 2013
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Perched above the frozen fountain
two ducks huddle
birds fly in and out sipping ice water

December 7th, 2013
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SWS
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Snowy morning
color splash
Robin feasts

#2

Winter Wonderland
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Just after dark~first whispers of snow
the gentle rustling of tiny flakes
as they drift through bare branches
and onto the carpet of fallen oak leaves
~
Early morning sun reveals a winter wonderland
boughs heavy with snow~glittering in golden rays
icing sugar everywhere~gentle sifting to the ground below
excited bird chatter sounds from every tree and shrub
~
We celebrate this rare event~snow in the valley
not on distant peaks~but right here~in our garden
dogs skeptical at first~cautiously tip toeing~sniffing
but soon they play like children~barking~whirling
~
Nearly a white Christmas~certainly close enough for us
this morning's splendor will see us through for many a day
the crunch of snow underfoot~bright blue skies above
gilded branches~ baroque palette of color~feast for the eyes

December 8th, 2013
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Seven Word Sunday
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Creek's edge~Icosaurus Rex hatched last night

November 25th-30th, 2013

November 25th, 2013

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Yellow

delicious island

delightful fragrances rises 

on a sea of tea

Lemon

~

On a sea of tea

fragrant yellow island floats

Meyer lemon harvest

***

November 26th, 2013

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Dog walk along the creek

collars jingle merrily

excited snuffles accompany as they explore

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Trio of buzzards

above our heads in the blue sky

follow us home

~

Morning ritual complete

dogs curled in their beds

our day moves on

***

November 27th, 2013

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Early morning

twinkling stars in velvet sky

owl hoots softly

***
November 28th, 2013
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Coyotes sing
under a setting crescent moon
Orion's Belt sparkles

November 29th, 2013
~ 
Once again our little creek sings it's sweet song
as it makes it's way toward the Sacramento
~
Across the creek cattle dot the hills
their lowing blending with creek's song
~
Last leaves quiver on nearly bare branches
brilliant sunshine spills unseasonal warmth 
~
Our morning walk after Thanksgiving
so much to be thankful for each and every day

November 30th, 2013
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SWS
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Cold and clear
yet still tempting
***
Creek is running cold and clear
Petey doesn't mind~cheerfully taking the plunge
racing in and out~exuberant in his joy
the girls stand and watch~no doubt fueling his bravado
but then again~his big grin tells another story
crazed wild abandon shines on his face
as he comes tearing out~one more time
exhilarated he shakes~eager to share his joy
arcs of sparkling diamonds radiate around him
then fall~finding their mark~soaking us all
infected by his happiness we head home smiling

November 18th-24th, 2013

November 18th, 2013

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CCN

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A gliding of buzzards

November 19th, 2013

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Rainy morning~ fine delicate shrouds of moisture

spill from pale silver skies~saturating the earth

last colored leaves glow brightly~lit from within it seems

delicate droplets hang suspended on jeweled Hawthorne

Nature drapes herself in simple elegant splendor

November 20th, 2013

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Outside the window

eagerly scratching and pecking

Rufous-sided Towhee

~

Towhee pauses~tilts head

red eye looks up at me

such a charmer~out in the rain

***

A brief offering brought about by a challenge on SS to write about someone we secretly admire
~
I secretly admire those who in a few words
can bring across a sense of peace and comfort
a sense of being seen and heard
~
Those who can see past negatives 
and bring the good out in most everyone
thus spreading a sense of rightness and joy
~
The ones who can make us feel cherished
who can soothe and hold us in their hearts
giving us hope in a sometimes unkind world
~
Those are the ones I secretly admire
because they not only make our world a better place
they infect and inspire us all to be our very best

***

November 21st, 2013
~
Nearly empty trees dance wildly in the howling gale
flinging off the last of their colorful autumn attire
exotic dancers~they gyrate and twist~baring all

November 22, 2013
~
A bowl of conkers
not quite the deep mahogany 
of the horse chestnuts of my youth
yet the fat brown fruit of California Buckeye
take me instantly back to my childhood
all that's needed are toothpick legs and acorn heads
for a herd of deer to appear

November 23, 2013
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SWS Trio
~
Big changes today~new dogs arrived
~
Rescue Remedy will ease their hearts
~
Venturing forward bravely and with love

November 24th, 2013
~
The adventure begins~our pack has grown
this morning's walk~ enjoyed by all
each blade of grass eagerly sniffed 
trails of night wanderers explored
alert they listen and look
senses alive~ ready to go
but leashes keep them safe by our side
two can be trusted to run free and return
but the newcomers have much to learn
for now the leashes represent safety
returning home~dog beds are found and sorted
then gentle snuffles and snores fill the air 
NAPTIME!!