The birds have it

Good mid-morning to you, it's too hot to mow, too hot to weed, too hot to even think about too much...ooooh boys, it's hot!!! Ah heck, you probably figured that one out already if you're a Midwesterner...we've had alot of moisture as of late along with the glorious sunshine mixing it up and creating the ever loving weather phenomena that we call humidity- see how close the word resembles humility?? Hmmmm, both are humbling...perhaps bringing you down upon your knees, I suppose I look at words more these days as Lily has decided to study Linguistics...very interesting, yes indeed. She's got the brains and patience for learning the many languages and roots of words...hopefully she'll share all that knowledge with me so that I may actually back up a bit and give more depth to my sentences ( with mucho less words...I am a bit of an enthusiastic express-er of too many, ummm...words....but, you knew that, and still you follow, out of curiosity or madness, either way- I will give you your fill of words and their quirky meanings according to my untamed expression of them.)



Well, much like the rain these days- quite the overflow above there, that last paragraph, hmmmm...perhaps I ought to go mow anyhow. Thanks for listening, I sure have been fatigued lately, dead dog tired as they say. Is it just the heat do you suppose, or the massive undertaking going on right now in selling a farm and relocating, or hormones or is it all of the above?!



Well, whatever it is, I hope it goes away in time that I might actually enjoy the look and feel of a farm at it's very pretty best. Perhaps it is the lack of chaos recently that has left me feeling as if I'm too tired to relax, too taxed to really rest. Aren't we a funny race, when things go well we wonder what's up? And when things get rocky we wonder how long do we have to endure this tortuous trail??!!



But then, I get to noticing the little birds all about, the Catbird with it's really pathetic "mew" calls, and yet it seems perfectly smitten with it's surroundings and self. And the little wren that sits on the cedar right off the porch, this beauty of a little thing that warbles the loudest little melody, I can't help but wonder how such a tiny bird could muster up such a big song! And then I peered through my binoculars yesterday and spied the oddest little sparrow-like bird with black beak and beard and white ring around it's neck, couldn't identify this particular bird in my book, wondering if it could be perhaps European Sparrow? If any of you birders out there might help me, I'd appreciate it. Brown thrushes in the hedge, beautiful creatures quite acrobatic. The birds have it. My gaze, my wonder my utmost thanks for all who gather here and call this little humble abode home. More words...less mowing, now is the moment to get it in gear and tackle the lawn care. Take care-


And please if you will, follow the link below- my friend Kristine is a writer/blogger/gardener and she said some very kind things and filled me straight up with all the good stuff.



Beauregard Farm

refuge

You know you know something...when your heart will not be still, when your sleep is disturbed by the grinding of your own teeth...when your fear is shattered, even when your hands shake, and again- your heart that won't be still, pounds little extra beats into a rhythm that you fear might bring about breathlessness.
Every time I'm fearful about something, I become aware of the signals my body is sending...the trembling, the awkwardness of the rhythm out of time, out of context, out of the blue...I feel weakened. But it is truly at these precise moments, these scary, scary times...that I stop whatever I'm doing...take refuge out under the cherry tree, or next to the chickens, sometimes out on the swing...and I say "Father, thank you-increase my faith." And then I wait. And wonder. And become aware of the signs, the signals...the cool breeze against my face, unsettling the longer pieces of bangs that fell right over my eyes so that I cannot see, allowing me to feel the breeze against my skin-even more intimately, a caress of assurance. And my nose picks up a scent that I did not realize a moment ago...it filters through my memory and elicits sweet joy...roses. My hands stop their shake, my heart slows it's pace...I breathe...in...peace.
Perhaps this is faith, or maybe just a fine moment in time that I discovered to be truly, truly holy...
Sharing these thoughts does not make me any more or any less than any other soul on this earth...it just makes me keenly aware of the goodness, the sublime...the count your blessings and be grateful for all you have and all you know...you are alive. Intact.

Sitting out in the little orchard yesterday, under the sky- bruised and swollen with yet again more rain...I realized, perhaps for the first time in my life-I am intact. Blew me away...sat down and wrote a blue streak yesterday...don't know where it all came from, the words- but they left their mark on me and on the page. All because I started to fret and shake about something I have no control over...no steering...no holding on...no handle...as the breeze from??? blew it all away.

Be well, take care.

Essentially, a story....

"You've got to dance like there's nobody watching, and love like it is never gonna hurt."

A friend sent me the pic above...just like him to share such things... that matter. I think I'll declare this the official Quote Blog today. Some favorites of mine, perhaps mixed in with some you all comment with. Totally interactive today- Hey! We might even learn something or two, and turn around and share it with the folks around us. Except the teens- they don't listen, I usually copy things and leave it in the bathroom- if I want them to absorb a wisdom- best place I know to get their attention. It works...rarely. There is a sign in the bathroom: NOTICE: Changing the toilet paper roll WILL NOT cause brain damage!
That sign only reaffirms their belief that they must rebel- they now leave a toilet paper roll right above the sign. Precious angels.

The acid of bitterness eats the container that holds it.

Long enough have you timidly waded, holding a plank by the shore,
Now I will you to be a bold swimmer...from song of myself-Walt Whitman

"Look with the eyes of your soul and engage the essential," teaching of the Q'ero

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Dr. seuss

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down."

"...Child of our time -haven't you found the right shell for your soul?" Edith Sodergran

"Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, 'This is the real me,' and when you have found that attitude, follow it." -- James Truslow Adams

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." -- Rachel Louise Carson

"I do believe love is blind....sometimes I think it has to be." truewonder

There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton

"Some tension is necessary for the soul to grow, and we can put that tension to good use. We can look for every opportunity to give and receive love, to appreciate nature, to heal our wounds and the wounds of others, to forgive, and to serve." -- Joan Borysenko

Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness. Kahlil Gibran

"...And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should..." Desiderata Max Ehrrman

"Remember, thou canst be brought into no condition, be it ever so severe, where Love has not been before thee and where its tender lesson is not awaiting thee." Mary Baker Eddy

“I’m really advertising to the public how easy it is to be good without an attitude; it’s just as easy to show decency as it is to hate today.”The Pigeon Man, Mr. Zeman

Essentially, a story expresses how and why life changes. --Robert McKee

Harvey and I sit in the bars... have a drink or two... play the juke box. And soon the faces of all the other people they turn toward mine and they smile. And they're saying, "We don't know your name, mister, but you're a very nice fella." Harvey and I warm ourselves in all these golden moments. We've entered as strangers - soon we have friends. And they come over... and they sit with us... and they drink with us... and they talk to us. They tell about the big terrible things they've done and the big wonderful things they'll do. Their hopes, and their regrets, and their loves, and their hates. All very large, because nobody ever brings anything small into a bar. And then I introduce them to Harvey... and he's bigger and grander than anything they offer me. And when they leave, they leave impressed. The same people seldom come back; but that's envy, my dear. There's a little bit of envy in the best of us.

and also...
"Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this world, Elwood, you must be" - she always called me Elwood - "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant." Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me." Elwood P. Dowd/Jimmy Stewart in Harvey

"Love many trust few and always paddle your own canoe." Not sure who said this, but it sure speaks well to me.

Thanks for sticking around-hope you will enlighten too...with some of your own favorite quotes. Take care-

(Oh my favorite...can't leave it out, wear it around my wrist..from beyond...)
...If you give up the time, your soul will play the song..."
Beau G. Robbins-USMC-Corporal-Wonderous son-(found in his journal, after...)