The last poem for April but not the LAST

Dossier's editorial page brought back an old friend from the 70's .

"There are those who love to get dirty and fix things.
They drink coffee at dawn, beer after work.
And those who stay clean, just appreciate things.
At breakfast they have milk and juice at night.
There are those who do both, they drink tea."

- Gary Snyder

Guess I just get dirty and appreciate!

Day After Easter

(not about anyone in particular - just rhyming!)

Basho and ME

Old Pond
frogs jumping in
water sounds

- by BASHO




one rribbitt
croaking thunderously
now silence

- by mama llama

POETRY MONTH

A challenge to all you contributors- April is poetry month so let's see what you have. Share a poem you love or one you just found today or best of all one you heard in your heart. Share a poem with me this month.

Spring came and left

Kingston saw Spring this week and became so excited that Spring became frightened and ran away! Fortunately I was able to enjoy 2 of the lovely warm days out in the garden. The rabbits all have haircuts and are ready for summer. New babies are growing quickly and are now eating bites out of mama's feeder so soon they will be one their own and the goats are all well, enjoying nibbles on the green grass.

Most exciting, things are beginning to grow and flower as though summer will come our way some day. My little peas are poking out of the ground with the hope that no bird will find them before they are really up and growing. I have spinach starting, arugula and even some radishes. Oh, the hope of Spring when we see in our imagination where the beginnings will lead. I love that each year I am able to block the realities out of my mind until June shows up with its continued rain and slugs then is followed by July mildew. For now the apricot tree is blooming and there are swollen buds on the other fruit trees. If the bees find us before the rain does, hope survives. The advantage we have this year is the beehive cluster living on the five acres behind us. While there is no house there quite yet, the owners have installed a small garden with rain water collection and a colony of bees. What great new neighbors for the garden.

With the vegetable garden ready to grow, Spring begins in Kingston. Sunday is Easter, which will pass with little excitement since the family gathered recently and everyone is ready to hide out enjoying their own spaces. Maybe we will gather for a glass of wine just to toast the time of new beginnings. Easter is a season of rebirth for a very ancient reason- after the winter of survival it is the best time to leap into new lives and new adventures with hope and excitment.
Happy leaping to us all.

Love,
Mamallama

Snow and more snow

Just a quick to from the land of white. I made a fast drive over to Spokane this week to check on Anita. She came down with a bad case of the Shingles (adult stage chicken pox) and reacted badly to the pain medication. She is on track now. I left her to head to the library (here now) and she was thinking of cloroxing the bathroom! We awoke this morning to 4 inches of snow on the ground!!! So much fun for starting the April gardening. I am sorry I didn't remember my camera for a picture of Anita in her yellow robe (the same one Dad use to wear). We are all thinking - "Maybe THAT would be a good Christmas gift"but you know she won't wear a NEW robe. So, all is well and I will head back to Kingston by Saturday to see if there is any chance to garden but am doubtful. Be well and be happy. Today is worth a smile!

Love,
Mamallama

Do you speak Bunny?

I am home from 10 days gallivanting around the East Coast and having nothing but fun. Note that I forgot to use my blog to share my travel adventures in real time. Not to worry! I intend to catch up with remembering and sharing as the weeks of April unfold...I hope into sunshine.

This is who I found waiting at home, with a little brother or sister. Momma Pearl had 8 babies but only 2 made it and since they are now 4 weeks old I am announcing them into the world. Names are not yet chosen so I am open to suggestions. Both bunnies are brown and gray in color with their short little faces and baby ears. They look pretty cute and are very soft.

Aside from the new babies, little has changed on Tulin Road in the last 10 days. There are a few more flowers blooming. Daffodils and forsythia are hopeful signs of coming sunshine. Pink rhododendrons and purple crocus show that we are headed in the right direction. I threw some spinach and arugula seeds in before I left and they seems to have come up. I would say about two thirds of the starts made it through my absence so only a few to restart, which is more than I could have hoped for. And there is my reminder to us all for this Spring- take a chance and expect the best.

It is obvious that this Spring and this year hold for us all more than the usual number of opportunities for decision and direction. Remembering the half full/ half empty epitaph, we are challenged to see the fullness of our lives and opportunities. There is no more reality in the half empty glass, just the decision to expect the worst and inevitably help it to happen.

The challenge that pays off in better returns is seeing the fullness of each challenge. Acknowledge and celebrate your successes big and small. Where frustration lurks, see the opportunities for new learning and new direction. See the gifts and the special qualities in those that share your work (then whack them upside their head).

Life is note easy and won't be no matter what you do, right or wrong. Don't make it harder by seeing problems and unhappiness in the present or the future. Expect success and see it even when things aren't perfect. Small successes are the best way to accomplish big rewards. It is an old story not needing to be belabored but still the best story. Believe in tomorrow and in today's opportunities to make it greater. When you trip, stand up and start skipping. You will be part of the many successes of this year- personal and professional. Know it now and make your days happier. Look forward to the adventure even when you know there will be trade offs and hard work. It all makes life the best show in town.

Brooklyn Style

Don't get me wrong, Fashion Weeks (now thankfully over) are great, but this look is divine---in more ways than one!

attitude Attitude ATTITUDE

Attitude
(a haiku)

ASH
Norma Jean - Elle Wood
Kyrsa - Erin - Susan

In Like a Lion...

March has been true to it's nature. The lion roared March in with rain and wind in the Northwest and with freezing snow storms on the East coast. But it is March and not January. For the coming month winter will sprint into life, only to be chased away after a day by the warm rains of Spring. We might as well enjoy it all...a lion is just as remarkable and wonderful as a lamb.

Along with enjoying the last drama of winter, we are challenged to spend time and energy exploring and enjoying life. The winter wears us down into the doldrums. Now it is time to realize that life is here for us to enjoy, not to bemoan. Make fun a priority today. Tomorrow is no different than yesterday, but today we can make a difference. Take excursions, have a glass of wine out on the town, invite friends over to share a meal or cuddle while you watch a movie at home. Decide that now is the rest of your life and make the time to enjoy it. Don't wait any longer and smile when you can't make things change as quickly as you wish.

Today Anita and I walked the beach at Point No Point, enjoying the sun that stayed longer than expected between rain showers. It was beautiful to see the blue water and hear the crashing waves from the barges zooming past. I am certainly glad we did not wait for a better time- it was a great touch of Spring unexpected in an otherwise wintery day.

Make time to create fun moments and memories. You won't have any better time than today.
Happy times marching with the lions and the lambs.
Love you,
Mamallama