Misery Loves Company…
Posted: March 21, 2013 Filed under: Be Yourself, Poems, Uncategorized | Tags: Companionship, Company, happiness, Health, Imagination, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, loneliness, Musings, Nursery Rhymes, Personal, Philosophy, Photo, Poem, Poems, Poetry, Reflections, Relationships, Rhymes, Thoughts, Wordplay, Writing 20 Comments.
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Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and ye shall find
When you get to the end of your rope
C’mon over and visit mine.
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Just a silly little ditty, I don’t know where it came from really, it just popped into my head. My mind likes to make rhymes sometimes, so don’t worry, it’s just wordplay. I like the company aspect; think how much happier we could be with the constant availability of perfect company! (… see what I mean? : )
Anyone else with useless and nearly-hidden talents, or silly wishes that will never be but do seem to have some practicality? ( Maybe I should write nursery rhymes. Do you think there are career possibilities there?)
~ Lily
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What do you see in the mirror?
Posted: March 18, 2013 Filed under: Be Yourself, Photography, Poems | Tags: Appreciation, beauty, divorce, Healing, Image, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, Mirror, Musings, Personal, Philosophy, Photo, Poem, Poems, Poetry, Recovery, Reflections, Relationships, Thoughts, Writing 7 Comments.
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Mirror . . .
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Years are not always kind.
One never knows what wrinkle
in mirror will find,
but I have found
my nature
finally,
that I distance
in fear
that I am private
for protection,
and this knowledge
upon reflection
might be used to stand
straight, tall
glad to be standing at all.
So many chances
cast to the wind
it seems,
yet
isn’t it worth it to take a chance
on dreams?
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Valentine Wishes…
Posted: February 14, 2013 Filed under: Be Yourself, Photography, Poems, Uncategorized, Walking | Tags: Appreciation, beauty, Cherish, hope, Inspiration, Life, love, Musings, Personal, Philosophy, Photo, photography, Photos, Poem, Poems, Poetry, Reflections, Relationships, Spirituality, Thoughts, Valentine, Valentine Wishes, Valentine's Day, Writing 12 Comments.
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A single rose, a dinner, a dance,
a poem, a song, a heart, a chance.
A loving missive
a kiss, a glance–
the world is ours
and we are blessed
if even once
perchance
we have Loved.
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Wishing all of you a Lovely day, full of happiness, hearts and flowers as you go your way…
Love you! ~ Lily
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Dreams: New Year’s Revolutions…
Posted: February 10, 2013 Filed under: Be Yourself, Music, Photography, Uncategorized | Tags: Appreciation, Dream, Dreams, Guitar, happiness, hope, Imagination, Inspiration, Life, music, Musings, Personal, Photo, Spirituality, Thoughts, Writing 5 Comments.
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I had a dream last week that I was singing at a coffee house. I have readers and WordPress friends who are real honest-to-goodness musicians, so to them, this dream would be no more than a yawn. But to me–I love music but am Woefully Unmusical–it felt like learning to swim. Freedom, accomplishment. A new form of mobility.
In my dream, it was Open Mike Night and somehow someone Forced me onstage. (Even in my dreamworld, it is well known that there was no way I would go voluntarily.) So I sang a song that I wrote Years and Years and Eons ago. Yes, I used to write songs–lyrics–like I write poetry now; I think in poetry sometimes and I used to think in songs. Since I am so woefully unmusical and unable to write the music that I imagined, I used to sing my songs into a tape recorder (Yes I was a mere child, you are deducing correctly).
Up on that dream stage, I sang one of my ancient tunes, a cappella.
Since in dreams anything can and does happen, it may not surprise you that the audience members Loved my little tune. There was a moment of silence (they were stunned, as was I) and then they rose to their feet in adulation with raucous applause.
Then I awoke.
Darn.
It would have been nice to dream of my continued rise to fame and my stardom, but instead I awoke thinking: I should get a guitar. I should learn to play the guitar. Huh? Where did that come from? I didn’t even have a guitar in my dream. I can only think that on some level I knew just how off-key atrocious I must have sounded, particularly without any accompaniment.
But it does sound fun to write lyrics, like poetry, and to write music in my mind again.
How much stead do you put in dreams? Ever follow any?
Just wondering. Lala la la.
~ Lily
Sending Cheer to Thomas…
Posted: February 10, 2013 Filed under: Photography, Uncategorized | Tags: Appreciation, Cheer, Encouragement, happiness, Healing, Health, hope, Inspiration, Life, love, Personal, Photo, Relationships, Simplicity, Spirituality, Thoughts, Well Wishes 7 Comments.
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This photo is from my archives; all low-lying vegetation here is currently under feet of snow…
Just sending bright flowery greetings and thoughts out to my WordPress friend Thomas (go to his site, here) who is going into the hospital for surgery on Monday.
I am always happy to see him when he visits here, and often I can be found reading in his interesting and compelling little corner of the world. His blog is full of his artistry and history and his posts never cease to amuse, inform, and fascinate me.
My thoughts are with him, and if I could think of something sparkling and cheery enough to match his dry wit and brilliant mind, I’d send that too!
Meanwhile sending warm wishes and prayers your way, Tom.
May you soon happily return to grace your place, and mine.
~ Lily
A Walk in Winter.
Posted: February 8, 2013 Filed under: Be Yourself, Photography, Walking | Tags: Appreciation, beauty, family, happiness, Healing, Health, hope, Imagination, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Musings, nature, Personal, Philosophy, Photo, Reflections, Relationships, Simplicity, Strolling, Thoughts, Walk, Walking, Walks, Winter 21 Comments.
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A Walk …
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It doesn’t feel cold, though of course it is. I am dressed appropriately. The sun sparkles, happy to see me; there are so few people for it to shine upon outside in this cold. It sparkles on the snow, here and there glittering the grey winter landscape.
At first I choose each step with care, not knowing how slippery the sidewalks may be, then I pick up speed and get up to a hearty jaunt. I try for some cardio so I need to walk at a good fast clip. The cars on the street seem slow, my pace apace with them as they slow for the traffic light.
I cross and head up the hill, past friends’ homes with their well-tended gardens now all withered and snow encrusted. Still, the textures are beautiful: sinewy vines twined on fences of wood and wrought iron with dried grey-brown leaves waving here and there, straight smooth stalks and dried blossoms of hydrangea thrust out of snow, red-hued bayberry all a-prickle. The holly leaves are still deep green and shiny, and periwinkle peeks out from pauses in the snow, ready for Spring anytime.
The first human I meet is familiar, as is his fox-terrier/rotweiler doggie. To myself I smile at the abbreviations that pop into my head: Foxrot (FoxtRot?), Ferrier, Fairweil, Ferrot. I smile and say hello as usual and he does the same. He is younger than I am, most likely, but I look young. (This is not the same as looking stunning, unfortunately). My sister thinks I am aging backwards–does that even make sense? We know what she means– but doesn’t it stand to reason that someone removed from stressful and difficult times and having instead: rest and relaxation, healthy food, fresh air and exercise, might look a tich better? Of course. Stress and sleeplessness alone are aging, it seems to me.
In the chill air it is easy to feel invigorated and able to walk forever. This feeling lasts precisely until the frigid air begins to chill nose, cheeks, then fingers and toes. It is then that one realizes: I have to walk all the way back home!
I am wearing layers of clothing as well as a beautiful hand-knit scarf, boots, a hat, and warm gloves, but the temperature is quite low and the breeze adds a windchill. I duck into a coffee shop for a few minutes of warmth.
I have never been a coffee drinker. More’s the pity, now that coffee is said to have curative or preventative powers. I drink tea. It is the token bit of English in me, perhaps, plus tea lends itself to my creativity. I add fresh herbs, lemon, spices such as ginger, cloves, cinnamon of course, tumeric because it is supposed to ward off some effects of aging (though I don’t like the taste much) and even cumin, which I like very much. It is one of my current fads, along with kale (as in sauteed ’til crisp in olive oil and seasoned, or in a stirfry with fresh ginger and a dash of tamari), and also leeks. Leeks are delicious in soups, this being soup weather as well as tea weather. I am good at soups for some reason and I like to have them on hand, they are so soothing.
After my green tea, I embark upon a different course home. The sun that had shone for me earlier is now on hiatus and the sky is winter-grey with thoughts of snow flurries. Down in front of me flutters… is it a stray snow flake? No, it is a small fluffy feather. So maybe it is actually down in front of me (ha, myself and I can be as punny as we wish when walking). The little feather floats from the sky, slowly this way and that in the bluster of the late afternoon. I see no little birdie. He must have been faster than his falling feather. Perhaps he is flying towards warmth somewhere.
Feathers always bring to mind my grandmother. She dressed well at all times and accessorized in mid-20th-century classic chic, at least so she now appears whenever she comes to mind. She wore hats, hence the feathers, and gloves, fitted suits, simple elegant pumps. Ash-blond hair perfectly coiffed. Lipstick always, and perfume. I used to love to stand at her dressing table as she chose her perfume. It wasn’t that she gave me a spritz of those French scents that most intrigued me, it was the collection of tiny but beautiful glass bottles with their elegant labels that caught my eye. She gave me one, once, when it was empty. Isn’t it strange the things that become our keepsakes?
I nearly keep the feather but in my head I hear my mother saying how germy bird feathers can be and it is flu season and I am careful, or too careful as the case may be. What has a bird feather to do with the flu? West Nile Virus? Is that active in the winter? Who knows.
In my mind, the white fluffy feather joins others on my grandma’s white hat. Feathers, fur… would she even wear those now? I think not. She’d wear other fashionable things, like my hat or my boots or my gloves. This is somehow a very satisfying thought: I have three pence of her fashion sense. However, less of that and I might now be slightly warmer. I might instead have chosen to wear my snow boots. Bulky, heavy. Good for trudging in the snow. I have those for when I am not on a city walk. Those make me think of the children’s book Owl Moon, if you know that story. Bundling, out in the woods, listening for owls under the moon. And mittens. I am wearing gloves not mittens. Mittens… doesn’t the word alone make you think of that wet-wool smell? I wear mittens when walking in the wilderness.
As I head back, I pass a young girl walking with her head down. She does not even look up as I pass and say hello. The cold must have frozen her ears, or she may be deep in thought. Young people are never the first to say hello, in my experience, but they are often the most enthusiastic in their replies, their smiles large and sincere. They are not yet jaded and are reassured by friendliness, or so is my theory. Sometimes older people are friendly too, don’t get me wrong. I try not to take the few compulsory and cool replies personally. How sad is that, to be unable to smile, or, worse, to choose not to smile at friendly passersby? Well you can think about this when next you are out walking. If you are in conversation with someone or on your cell phone, I will not disturb you, don’t worry, but otherwise I’ll likely greet you, so be nice!
A few tangents later and home again, home again, riggety jig. What is that from, anyway? Oh it’s jiggety jig. Mother Goose. To Market to Market… so there is your Random Trivia from my uneventful but refreshing winter walk.
Cheers to you! Stay warm and happy, wherever you may be this weekend!
~ Lily
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Dissolution.
Posted: February 7, 2013 Filed under: Be Yourself, Photography, Poems, Uncategorized | Tags: Advice, Appreciation, beauty, dating, divorce, happiness, hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, love, Musings, Personal, Philosophy, Photo, photography, Photos, Poem, Poems, Poetry, Relationships, Thoughts, Valentine's Day 11 Comments.
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She snuggled close
He was morose
She reclined her head
He stood instead
She only wanted a chance
Not a lover’s dance
He was vacant
when he wasn’t complacent
She finally bid Adieu
To which he said
Wait! Where are you?
By then she was faraway
And he
With pain did pay.
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… and the moral of the story is: Don’t take Your Love for granted! : )
~ Lily
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Phototropism…
Posted: February 6, 2013 Filed under: Be Yourself, or Strolling, Photography, Poems, Uncategorized, Walking | Tags: beauty, Flowers, Healing, Health, Imagination, Inspiration, Life, Light, love, Musings, nature, Personal, Philosophy, Photo, photography, Phototropism, Poem, Poems, Poetry, Reflections, Simplicity, Soul, Spirituality, Spring, Thoughts, Writing 4 Comments.
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Phototropism
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The blanket
becomes too warm and itchy
wrapped tight,
the quiet
sounds loud
at night,
the walls in winter
close in
though framed
and bright–
Your spirit
cannot help but reach
for Light.
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Life: It’s all in the execution…
Posted: February 4, 2013 Filed under: Be Yourself, Dating, or Strolling, Photography, Poems, Uncategorized, Walking | Tags: Appreciation, Couples, divorce, Healing, hope, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle, loneliness, love, Musings, Personal, Philosophy, Photo, Poem, Poems, Poetry, Reflections, Relationships, Simplicity, Spirituality, Thoughts, Valentine's Day 12 Comments.
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Life: It’s All in the Execution…
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Seize the day
with its time to do everything
your way.
But alone is not what you wish,
alone
is not what you crave,
as you sip your organic T
missing the L.C.,
watching couples
in step,
some
lovers an arm’s length apart,
trudging
bickering
with sneers–
how much time
how many years?
A family with
tag-along kids:
mother
shrill, impatient
dad
head down
and you wonder
do they know
do they know what they have?
What they might salvage,
what they can save?
Appreciation
strained,
selfish is a state of mind.
But aloneness
is an execution
stayed.
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This month… may you find love or keep love, cherish love: reap love.
~ Lily
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