Keeping the circles

Oh my, what an evening!!! Sunday afternoons around here means food...front porch grinning and always, Bluegrass from 6:00 to 8:00 pm via the local public radio station 91.9. Folks come from near usually, sometimes far (Nicolas from Paris, France...)to participate in one of our Sunday evening suppers. The prerequisite, though- is we must listen to Bluegrass. Because it's my front porch. And I do the cooking. So...they smile and bear my over-bearingness when it comes to musical standards, hey! I'm just trying to inject some culture here...the young people are filled with food and fun and fabulous music. Otherwise they'd be stuck listening to that crap they listen too...OK, not all of it is crap- but some of it is pure, well...you know what I mean. I have a sticker on the back door, "It's not that I'm old...your music really does suck." Now I know that is a crude, rude word- but I think it is used quite well in that statement.

Anyway- back to the porch shenanigans. Always, my favorite, most well loved people come... And last evening, Miss Aud showed up- see we have her hooked on hoopin', and then everybody, even the boys- try it. NO, I did not say hookin'- so get your head out of the gutter buddy...besides, hookin' here would just mean crocheting. We hoop and holler, following Lils lead...she got us hooked on hula hoops. You cannot frown or be miserable when hoopin'...the smile just naturally fixes itself upon your face, and never leaves the whole time the hoop travels around your waist. Lils is a first class hooper, she is just so natural at it. All summer long, she'd park her "Granny mobile" out by the hedge, just out of view from the front porch perch where I generally convene every evening-to the swing. I read and write and reminisce mostly, processing my deep thoughts...OK, my simple mind compositions. One day I found myself a little irate with her new satellite radio blasting just a bit too loud, disturbing my meditative state of oblivion...I slammed my pen down hard on the page I was trying to make come alive, darn kids! Suck-y to high heaven music....but what was that?!! I thought to myself- (as I had fully intended to throw my mama weight around)-what the heck is my neo-hippy child doing? She was hooping. Melodiously, meditatively, beautifully she was jiving under the great Maple out in the front yard. Wow. The sun was setting, the golden glow on that peaceful looking face...melted my heart, many months ago-that was when I first realized that Lils was seriously serendipitous about this hula hooping thing. She probably didn't realize, for many weeks- I'd slip out under the Cedar, tea in hand- and watch her. Her peace brought me peace. Her sunshine smile...made me smile too. And so- there you have it. Hooked on hoopin'. Lils has created a following...we now have weighted hoops. Trying to trim the old waist a bit. Keeping the circles fluid, flowing...until the hoops hits the ground- and then, you just simply laugh at yourself.

I don't suppose this could be done in town...in your front yard. What would people say?! "Look at those fools, how uncivilized- ridiculous!!!" Oh yes...we are ridiculous, really...and it feels so good! Especially the whittle-ing away of my waist...a byproduct of hooping. Who knew- something so fun, bringing forth smiles, meditating, concentrating, focusing- making even crappy music sublimely tolerable- could produce a kind of nirvana...and weight loss! Yep, it's true. Hula hooping is not just for hippies...it's for the hip, hilarious, and hysterical! What fun. Want to try?! Go on, just do it...if you think you can- you can! If you think you can't- you won't.

Work it...work it!

(Should you decide, that yes- you too want to be riduculous! Here is an address for weighted hoops in the USA- canyonhoops.com.)

Take care-

RX:Delight!!!

http://www.karmatube.org/?id=729

Good morning! Today I am requesting you think of me as your doctor, and I am prescribing the above video...it will bring you much peace, joy and...excitement! As you watch it, you will be filled with enthusiasm, so much so that you'll want to prescribe it to others...and then...you must...DANCE! Gather the kids around, don't do this alone...the dog will think you're crazy! Mine kept looking nervously at the door, eye balling all exits- Oh, I can't wait for Lily to get up and watch this. Sure, she'll grumble- partly because it's cold in here. No heat. Service man was suppose to come last week...perhaps he forgot me, but I will not forget the phone call I must make again...I can actually see my breath! BRRRRRR...

Oh, I have started a new job in Williamsville, just two and half miles from home. The BluCat cafe- the owner is a friend and mentor. We wear bandannas, I think I look like Willie Nelson. I suppose I'm kind of vain, every way I try to fix this scarf so it looks becoming...it ends up just looking goofy.
Hey, you should really try a meal there...great hamburgers, amazing Horse Shoes that rival any other Shoe in the area. Soup that's good for the soul...and yes, she will be utilizing my greens. Folks come from near and far, just yesterday off the interstate came some Canadians. They were sure sweet people, and we told them so. The farmers in the area are gearing up for the harvest, no time for cooking- so they're starting to show up in droves. I don't quite know the lay of the land yet, so I'm just plucky relief for now.

Anyway- have yourself a good one, enjoy the day... and do not neglect to watch the video, I'm off now to do the dance...like there's nobody watching!

Take care-

shine and shadow

"Were not shine and shadow blent, As the gracious Master meant?-
Let us temper our content with his own..."
James Whitcomb Riley


Wading by lily pads...creation turned upside down by the waves, stark contrast to the green surface.


The lighthouse, took too many photos...waves crashing along it's rocky shore... navigational light needed most certainly there.

Where I may sit and write some day, near this window- at that table. Cabin of my dreams, the light on that table top...truly illuminating.


Grand Lake Stream and totem. How anyone was able to carry those rocks out there and position them in the rush of that water...and photo of a nameless lake, though the body of water remains unforgettable.



A beautiful though scary looking bug...harmless. And finally- an arbor in the mist of a morning. Sigh......

character building

Character building is the kind of arhitecture I have subscribed to all my life...sometimes, most times- unwillingly.

As the song goes, "I've seen fire and I've seen rain, I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend..."

I write today again of Maine. Of beauty, of spectacular vistas and splendid scenery, of people whom I've only just met, but genuinely feel akin to. I have met my match there in Maine, in more ways than one.

The rooftop up above...those are the character building places I visited, willingly... longing for such simple dimensions, living for each breathtaking moment- capturing all I could within a frame. What I could not carry home with me, I left for new days, possibly in the nearer future.

I have been churning, burning the midnight oil, farming and weeding, marketing and wondering if I could but possibly get one big toe up on the game here in central Illinois. I took the sabattical, the vacation- not so much for want, but for need. I needed a break. My head has been full of too many decisions, my heart aching for solitude, for beauty. There, in Maine- I found it. Or did it find me, calling to me over the years- to a central place of balance in all things? I cannot say for sure, but I do believe in love- and love is what I left there. Love, I hope to return too, live with, live for- some soon sweet day.

Beauregards Farm may just be downsizing, Down East. There, I said it. Many discussions have been flying all over the porch. Many questions, and this time- many answers. My family and I are ready for change. Oh my goodness what a big one! What an eye opener, a day maker- the compass we are now toiling with points East. College, seasides, lakes, rivers, oceans,new farm, breathing...openly embracing all these bold thoughts together.

The plan is developing, will post more on future directions. Take care-

mermaid ribbons

Good morning maties...how is the world outside your window? Mine is drenched in misty morning solitude. Even the sounds do not escape the encampment of September dew. Woke up earlier though to Peacock screaming, guineas sentry calls and a hawk just darn near teasing them all to death. I yelled at the big bird and off he flew. Peacock seemed offended, all puffed up-"Well I never, how uncivilized- why a fellow can't even enjoy his morning stroll!" That bird is a character.

Now for more memories of Maine.

Flew out there, breathed extra sighs of relief as I kayaked along water ways and lakeside rocky shores- the air is clear and fresh, pristine. If I ever need to be on pure oxygen, I'd probably just head out East and breathe again. And the sun shines not only on the rocky cliffs and lighthouse peaks but clear to the bottom of those pristine waters- the ripples reflect in the most wondrous light shows I've ever seen. So clear and bright- mesmerizing. The only sound comes from the dipping of one's oar into the surface of a lake, the water dripping like a percolator back into the swell. The loon's call haunts it's way clear down to your toes- but there is no fear to be found, the goosebumps come from some deep place inside your soul that had needed a wake up call, erupting a blood flow once again to your most inner spiritual muscles. Ahhhhhh, to have glided across that lake as the sea grasses below, like mermaid ribbons- gently caressed my vessel... don't know if I can ever fully awaken from that dream like state...I'm not sure I want to. Heavenly peace.

Take care-