Death of a Sunflower

 

She bows her head down to the earth

As if in prayer and submissive stance

She lowers her head down to the ground

From which she sprung, but a short time ago

Her life is short but leaves behind

Memories of her beauty and her grace

And reminds us all of the sacred and sublime

That lays within utter humility

She hangs her head, but not in shame

‘Tis only the lateness of the hour

Her stalk, once strong, that held her high

Lowers her gently now back to the soil

She will lie fallow through harsh autumn winds

And willingly gives herself to winter’s icy grip

Knowing that the seed she carries

Deep within her flower

Will arise anew when the sun once again warms the earth

In the great cycle of death and birth

Yellow Eye

 

Yellow eye

Peeking out of lush leaves

Tell me,

What do you see?

Do you watch as people walk past unaware?

Yellow eye

Like a chameleon you are well hidden

There among the green foliage

Do you seek to know

The mysteries of this world?

What would you say, I wonder?

To the human inhabitants of the earth

What wisdom have you gleaned?

On your patch of green

Do you have insight to impart

To all us two-legged creatures

Who pass you by without a thought

Tell me please

Yellow eye

The Tragedy

On brightest day

Or hours of dreary rain

The robin sits and croons its song

The sweetest trill

Or darkest hue

Adds color to

The common theme

Of life anew

What blessing did I miss?

While trudging through

The days

With head so full

Of what to do

And noticed not

The miracle

Unfolding

With head bent down

I could not see

The wondrous sight

Hidden in plain view

I did not bother

Did not see

Life unfolding

Constantly

The kiss of spring

Before me lay

And bid me witness

the magic scene

a melodrama

Played out again

Yet I did not see

And therein lay

The tragedy

The American Robin – such a trusting little bird

 

Last spring a friend of mine showed me the nest a robin had built under the corner of the deck in her backyard. This year a neighbor told us about a robin that has made a nest in a flower box hanging off the rail on her front doorstep. How amazing is that? Obviously, they do not have much fear of predators, or perhaps they are just young birds that don’t know better. Having said that I distinctly remember my friend telling me that their robins come back to the nest under their deck every year. I love birds, but I confess I don’t know a lot about the nesting habits of this particular breed – or any other winged creature come to think about it. At any rate I snapped off a few photos of the robin in the flower box. I hope you will enjoy these.

Blessings of Nature

When we moved to our new home I was initially disappointed. although the house itself is beautiful I missed the nature trail across the road from our former home and all the mature trees in the yard where a variety of birds were constant visitors. This morning my hubby and I went for a little walk to a park nearby. It is a beautiful spot with lots of ducks and birds who make their home in the bulrushes that surround the pond there. I had taken my camera along and captured photographs, which I hope you will enjoy. It was a lovely stroll around the park watching the water fowl and listening to birdsong. The blessings of nature are food for the soul.  I am so grateful we live so close to a green space in the city.

 

Winter walk

 

Today is the first day of the Alberta Winter Games 2018, with each community planning their own activities to celebrate winter play.  It is a perfect day. The sun is shining. It is relatively mild with just a touch of a breeze – perfect weather to get out and enjoy winter sports. I am not much of a sports fan, but I do enjoy a walk in the woods. I am posting a few photos I took this morning – nothing spectacular, but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.

Winter in Fort Mac: not as cold as you think

 

Before my son and brother convinced me to move to Fort McMurray I was wary. I was wary of the frigid temperature that can dip to -40 Celsius.  It took a lot of persuading on their parts to sway me. Eventually they succeeded and this is my third winter in the ‘frozen north’.  On a positive note, the cold temperatures mean there is far less snow to shovel, and seriously, there are not that many days when the thermometer dips to such lows.

For the most part I enjoy living here – cold weather aside.  I am blessed to live across from one of the many Birchwood Trails that crisscross the city. I have had the good fortune to see deer, coyotes, rabbits, and a variety of birds. There are also bears, foxes, and assorted mammals that inhabit the area – though I have not seen any of these. Being a nature lover this is as close to heaven as I can get whilst living in a small city.

Every place I have lived in this fair country has offered its share of pros and cons and while it is very cold here at times, the kindness of its people and the joy of having the opportunity to explore the trails more than compensates.  I count myself most fortunate to live here and call it home.

Business and Bliss

Busy, busy, busy…it seems to me that life is just one big rush from one thing to another for most people. What is the big hurry? I could do with less of that. I would love to sit in silence and just be. I need solitude the way some people need activity. To each their own; live and let live and all that. I cannot speak to the needs of others. Bliss, for me, is to listen to the sounds of birds singing; to watch lazy clouds float across the sky; to breathe deeply the fresh air; to touch the velvet silkiness of my cat’s fur and to be completely and utterly present in the moment – preferably near the ocean or walking along a nature trail amidst the trees. Life is more than work and drudgery. There must be time for play; for time alone with one’s thoughts and feelings; to escape the constant chatter and noise; the never-ending doings; the mind numbing prattle and constant harassment of clocks and expectations. Quiet and solitude, to me that is bliss.

FALLEN

I have fallen

Do not try to lift me up

Let me lay here gazing at the sky

What wondrous shades of blue it is

So few the clouds that scuttle by

The sun warms my face

All is well

Ah yes, all is well

And if I never stand again

I will be content

For the scent of the grass and flowers sweet

Waft by

And I may lay in endless slumber

I have fallen

Ordinary, Everyday, Common Birds

“The more often we see things around us – even the beautiful and wonderful things – the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: The flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds – even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less.”  – Joseph B. Wirthlin

There is nothing that satisfies me more than a walk in the woods, listening to birdsong and hoping to catch a glimpse of a feathered beauty. It is true we often take them for granted, but oh how they can foster cheer and good feelings. These are a few photographs I have taken that bring back memories of warm days and a warm heart (after photographing these little fellows sitting patiently above me).  There is nothing particularly special about these photographs, but I hope you will enjoy them nonetheless.