• Mary Oliver,  Metro Parks,  quotes

    That Slow Seduction

    Blendon Woods – May 2009

    I could not be a poet without the natural world. Someone else could. But not me. For me the door to the woods is the door to the temple.

    Mary Oliver

    I’m rather new to poetry, in both reading and writing. Primarily because I did not understand it, nor did I put the effort into learning what it was about and what it could teach me. It just wasn’t time yet in my life. Now it is. Some of that slow seduction could be spending more quality time in the natural world, or as Mary suggests the temple. I like how Maria Popova says it here. Having said that I want to thank all of you who read and maybe even understand my attempts at writing poetry. But not today!

  • clouds,  Family,  gratitude,  musings,  prayer,  quotes,  writing/reading

    Thanks Mom…

    Perfect does not mean perfect actions in a perfect world, but appropriate actions in an imperfect one.

    R.H. Blyth

    Two years ago today my mother died in her sleep after a couple weeks in hospice. So, of course I’m thinking about her today, as are my sisters and dad. There are moments of sadness but there are those good memories mixed in. I must say I am grateful for the foundation she laid for the person I have become, although I’m far from being perfect. Hopefully I live with appropriate actions and words, seeds she planted. Thanks mom!! I miss you!!

  • Family,  lifestyles

    Saying Goodbye

    I’m in Phoenix. They put my mother in hospice on Wednesday so my sister and I flew down on Thursday. She is hardly eating and drinking. Getting weaker, sleeping a lot. In moments of awareness she tells us she loves us. All four of us kids are with her and dad. This image is my dad holding her hand. We are each saying our goodbyes.

  • Family,  Fujifilm X-E1,  lifestyles,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    Mom Making Cookies
    Mom Making Cookies

    “One bad habit that most people put off giving up is the habit of procrastinating.”

    I took this image of my mother who was not procrastinating but busy making cookies. BOth my parents are pro-active in life. If something needs done they seldom hesitate to do it. So, where did I get it?

  • Family,  People/Portraits

    Happy Birthday Mom

    Mom and Dad – 2012

    We will celebrate my mothers birthday today, We keep telling her it’s 81 years but the number 29 seems to come up once in a while. Heart surgery a couple years ago has slowed her down so we want to be able to spend as much time as possible with her and dad. This was taken this past summer while they were out visiting for a few days. Happy Birthday, Mom!