The Peace of Wild Things

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

Reading Reflections: A Book Meme from Noni

On Noni's Peacock Blue blog I found this great meme about books. It is fun to reflect on books I have read or want to read. Since it is an open invitation, give it a go yourself. I'd be interested to know your choices so let me know if you participate. . . I am always looking for new book ideas.

Four Childhood Books I've read:

1. The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
2. The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney
3. White Ruff by Glenn Balch and Dick Priest
4. every Nancy Drew mystery by Carolyn Keene

Four “So-Called Classic” books read and never forgotten.

1. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
2. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
   
3. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
4. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
   

Four personal modern “Classic Novels”

1. Sophie's Choice by William Styron
2. Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
3. Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
   
4. Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
   

Four authors I've read again and again

1. Anna Quindlen
2. Caroline Knapp
3. Jodi Picoult
4. Elizabeth Berg
   

Four authors or books I'll never read again... ever ( for me these were too sad or disturbing)

1. The House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
2. Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule
3. Winter Range by Claire Davis
4. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Four books on my “To-be-read-list"

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
2. The Shack by William P. Young
3. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
4. The Courage to Teach by Parker J. Palmer

Three Non-Fiction Books and One Fiction book I’d take to a desert island (instead of 2 each)

1. The Bible
2. The Sound of Paper by Julia Cameron
3. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
4. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
   

Four Book recommendations I have followed (and loved)

1. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
2. Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg
   
3. In the Wilderness by Kim Barnes
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
   

The last lines of one of my favorite books:
" Spring is unlatching its heavy doors, rousting old dusty hibernators from their sleep, and beginning a quiet fumbling with buttons, knots, and nubbins, and the bolting ribbons of time, light, and gore. As I walk down to the mailbox, enveloped in mist, birds snitch on twitchy feet in the aspens, morning ghosts between the houses, and the air tastes green at last. " - Cultivating Delight, A Natural History of My Garden by Diane Ackerman

Almost Spring: Another Tree Down

• 

Last summer we made a decision to rid ourselves of a number of trees around our property. We were concerned after a windstorm that some were in danger of hitting the house, many removed too much moisture from the soil, some provided too much shade, and all of them were messy! You can only mulch so many pine needles.

We left one big pine tree by our front porch. JEJ had cut branches from time to time, but it was in a spot that falling it could cause damage to other trees and plants. He really wanted that tree out of there. Last Sunday we discussed it again and decided we already had some winter damage. If the tree caused more damage the plants would have time to recover. I just asked him not to fall a tree by himself.
Today he called me at the end of the day at school wondering when I was coming home. He was ready to fall that tree and I said I would be right home. With his chainsaw in hand, my camera ready, and all cats and dogs contained in the house and garage away we went.It was a perfect fall. The giant tree fell between the trees in the wedding garden. It didn't knock out the cherry tree on its way down. A shrub or two under the trunk may need some pruning. The arbor wasn't even touched.
Already we have noticed the difference in the light coming through the kitchen and hall windows.
The wedding garden looks a bit different until slash and firewood is removed.

• 

I think JEJ has found one more talent to add to his resume.

Second Garden Walk: Signs of What Winter Did and What Spring Will Bring

Now I can post pictures again so here is what I discovered Sunday when I did my second garden walk.We can get back to the gazebo and the fire was warm and inviting.Spring is actually coming.... the first sign is this leaf on the Bridal Wreath Spiarea .Fences sometimes need some repair after a long winter.
This weeping birch ,which was planted before I lived here , may not make it with that split down the trunk. It was such a great hiding place for the cats.
The forsythia, usually the first to bloom in the spring, shows promise even with the snow in the background.
This was part of the rock wall by the front garden. The plow guy got a bit too close.This the pond that the dogs may just decide to walk on one day and find the ice won't hold them.Shelby had waited months to fetch this ball and run across the driveway once again.

No Space to Post Pictures... And I Have So Many to Share!

I know it is hard to believe that I used up all my free photo space on Blogger. While waiting for more space to kick in, I can't post pictures. I will tell you that I saw a green leaf on a a shrub Sunday and I have a picture to prove it. I do believe now that spring is coming.

The dogs also found three lost toys that were buried in the snow since December. It is amazing what appears as the snow slowly melts. Some people train their dogs to "do their duty" in one spot in the yard. If our two went in the same spot all winter I am afraid we would have had a pile ready to topple into the neighbors yard. Yes, it is that time of year to walk gingerly around the yard because of their "sign" or should I make that plural?

It looks like some plants took a winter hit, but guess what? When the snow melted there were weeds looking as green and hardy as they did when I should have pulled them in November. The dogs are still having fun running over the icy top of the pond. Will they know the day the ice is too thin not to run out, or will they just get a cold bath? Time will tell. Pictures soon!

Sibling Assignment #92: A One-of-A-Kind Annie

Silver Valley Girl gave the sibling assignment this week. "Write a poem, essay, song, or story about one of your pets, and how having that pet has made your life better." I will connect my siblings' posts when they are done.


A One-of-A-Kind Springer Spaniel (photo by raymond pert)

Annie is a flushing out a mouse from under the deck ‘til it’s found hunter,

With a love and protect you show of loyality,

An obsessed with scraps, squirrels, Lily, and stray cats

One-of- a-kind springer spaniel.

A search until she finds kitty candy bars and rabbit pellets,

Plus springing in the air looking for Shelby until she tires,

And if she hears the sound of the clippers she trembles

kind of springer.

A can’t wait to get a drink of water in the lake while camping ,

With hears the sound of the treat jar from outside kind of ears,

And a listen while she sings morning dog songs

One–of-a-kind springer spaniel.

A needs lots of love and attention springer,

A run through the fields with ears flying in the summer critter,

And wants to ride in the car even if it means just going to the garage kind of springer.

Annie is a hide in the carrier while I yell during a Zags game girl,

A sleep on the bed and snuggle in the afternoon dog,

And a watch in the window for hours for me to come home

One-of-a-kind springer spaniel.

I am a love Annie ‘til I die kind of dog owner,

Enjoying the spirit and silliness of this springer spaniel,

Knowing she is waiting with her body wiggling when I arrive home every day,

Annie is a gift…. a one-of-a-kind springer spaniel.

by inlandempiregirl

(this form was inspired from a poetry workshop I attended last week by Marti Mahalyi)