Month: July 2013

  • Visit to Atlanta

    Visited the National Historic Site in Atlanta, photo of MLK’s boyhood home.

    http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm

    We also spent some time at this center.

    http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html

    If you ever get a chance to visit these sites please do so.  The Martin Luther King National Park is free and the Carter Center has a reduced admission for seniors.  

  • Butterfly

    Tiger Swallowtail on butterfly bush in bloom. 

    Serving It’s Intended Purpose 

    Wonderful to see

    Swallowtail drinking nectar

    From butterfly bush

  • Photo of Busy Bee

    Shiny wings 

    Immersed in fragrant blossoms

    Busy bee

  • Positive Illusions and Lasting Love

    Positive Illusions* 

    His voice echoes loud across the porch.

    She sits attentive to her morning gmail and Facebook. 

    He scans Huffington Post his source 

    of news and education since retirement.

    My god, he says, this research article

    details the source of a lasting, loving relationship.

    Couples who still love after many years

    maintain “positive illusions!”

    They think their partner is hot

    even though they have added 

    30 pounds since marriage. 

      

    Sorry dear, I was listening until 

    this gmail from Echo arrived 

    saying shoes are 30 per cent off

    plus free shipping!

     

    Obviously, at some point in life

    shoes become more important

    than lasting love. 

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/lasting-love-long-term-relationships_n_3530293.html

  • Gladiolus

    http://www.almanac.com/plant/gladiolus#

    Nothing much to post except this new visitor to the garden. 

  • Lifetime Premium Membership –My Lifetime or Xanga’s life

    Random thoughts about Xanga

    1) Since I have a lifetime membership does that mean I should be dead by now.  

    2) Or does it mean I will die this month?

    Note:1 I still think Xanga’s Premium has been a bargain.

    Note: 2 I was hoping to some day soon learn about all of the features of Xanga but I guess I had better focus on WordPress

    PS – random thought…..if I do die today or sometime soon how would Xanga know?

    I enjoyed part of Tuesday on Market Square in Knoxville, TN.  Seems there is a movement to keep Knoxville scruffy.

    http://www.wbir.com/news/article/204681/2/keep-knoxville-scruffy-stirs-new-pride-with-old-nickname

    The news link gives you information about the idea and the movement.  I guess it is similar to “Keep Portland Weird.” 

     

  • Not a Jiffy Man

    Not a Jiffy Man*

    From behind her desk

    over gold rimmed glasses

    her voice crackled an announcement.

     

    You will have your ham hocks

    next time you come in.

     

    His smile spread on his bearded face

    from below a crooked nose.

     

    Then I must bring you something in return,

    perhaps one of my desserts.

     

    He ambled into her office and

    placed a savory pie atop her desk.

     

    Here is one made with fresh strawberries.

    I hope you like it.

     

    His step had more bounce 

    his gait quicker from injections

    into his withered spine.

     

    A gigantic ham hock 

    peaked through the glass cover

    of the ceramic casserole dish.  

    Its shear size startled him

    and activated his seldom wet salivary glands.

     

    I brought some cornbread too.

    I figured you liked corn bread

    but your not a “Jiffy Man.”

    No sir, you look like a man 

    who likes it from scratch.

     

    His smile was wide as a flooded river.

    Ham hocks in one hand, cornbread in the other

    he pranced out the door

    proud not to be a  “Jiffy Man.”

     

    * Jiffy is the name of a popular corn muffin mix.

    Note:  This poem is NOT about a personal experience — I did not get ham hocks and cornbread. 

  • Blue Plate Special, one more time

    Alison Self played at the Blue Plate Special, July 2nd.  iphone photo

    http://www.wdvx.com/live-shows/blue-plate-special/schedule/

    Hear some of her music here.  https://myspace.com/alison/music/songs

    https://myspace.com/alison/music/song/busted-knees-broken-hearts-44506967-47505501

    She writes a lot of her own music. 

  • House Finch (female)

    http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Finch/id

    Despoiler

    Before the squirrel,

    pulled by the scent 

    of nut and berry suet, 

    you flew onto 

    wrought iron perch and

    devoured a mid-day buffet. 

    Before the baffle

    thundered downward

    to freshly cut fescue,

    dismantled by pesky rodent,

    the scene was serene.

    Now replaced by squeaks 

    of squirrel and friend

    and greedy gobbles

    the tasty morsels disappear. 

    Your heavenly banquet  

    depleted.

  • Mindfulness Moment of the Day

    This morning my daughter, who is visiting, said that her mindfulness e-mail of the day was to “look closely at a flower.” 

    I went with her as we looked first at the fresh blooms of the butterfly bush. http://www.garden.org/plantguide/?q=show&id=2091

    The butterfly bush is one of my favorites because it is easy to grow, cheap to purchase, and comes in a variety of colors.

    Delicate in white

    Succulent to bee and bird

    Queen of the garden


    Cleome was another bloom of interest.  These volunteers captured our attention. http://www.gardenguides.com/77-cleome-spider-flower-garden-basics-flower-annual-cleome-hasslerana.html

    Also known as the spider flower they come in a variety of colors also.  Some are all white, all lavender or two-tones like those in the photo. 

    Queen Anne’s Lace is a plant my wife has been wanting for years.  They grow wild in meadows and ditches, at least in TN and KY.

    http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=daca6

    Also called wild carrot it is considered an invasive weed in many states and grows in every state in the union except Alaska. 

    This is the Crape Myrtle (yes that is considered the correct spelling!). These lovely bushes did not grow where I grew up and I have come to love them.

    They are a southern plant and come in a variety of types and colors.  We have four in our yard. http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/crapemyrtlefaq2.html

    If you didn’t get a chance to be mindful as you looked at a flower today I hope you will pick your favorite from these four photos and appreciate the beauty it can present to you.