Where Did Fall Go?

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One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today. ~ Dale Carnegie, American writer, lecturer, and more.

Shivering beneath this coat of snow
Snow that unexpectedly trickled down
Down to the ground below
Below ground, my root system sleeps
Sleeps while Winter whitens the landscape
Landscape that one day will become green
Green when Spring comes back again
Again my red blooms will brighten the yard
Yard that needs something so brilliant
Brilliant, isn’t it, how cyclical Nature is!

Note: This poetry form is called Chain Verse.

 

Bittersweet Memory

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There is no night without a dawning
No winter without a spring
And beyond the dark horizon
Our hearts will once more sing…
For those who leave us for a while
Have only gone away
Out of a restless, care worn world
Into a brighter day.~ Helen Steiner Rice, American writer, inspirational and Christian poetry

Dallas, September 2016

This would have been Dallas’s 16th birthday (2006-2020). Rest well, my Sheltie angel!

Squirrel Hunt with Monkey

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He that waits upon Fortune, is never sure of a Dinner. ~Benjamin Franklin, American statesman, inventor, writer, etc.

I Monkey here. Before Fall turns into Winter, I want to take you on a squirrel hunt.

What? You’ve never been on a squirrel hunt?

People, that’s crazy! Come with me, and I’ll show you what you’ve been missing!

Suited up and ready to go!

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Thank You, My Friend

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Hold a true friend with both your hands. ~Nigerian proverb

For longer than I care to admit, I’ve been battling technical issues with my WordPress blog.

Every time I wanted to comment on someone’s post, or even reply to comments made on my posts, I was forced to log in.

Every. Single. Time.

This was despite my having asked WordPress to remember me. And despite already being logged in.

And when I keyed in my username and password, I’d be taken to a page with a random photo and a link to the blog I was visiting, forcing me to pull the site up again just to see if my comment had registered.

The whole thing was becoming so complicated — and time-consuming — that I questioned whether I wanted to keep blogging. Or just chuck it all.

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Bunnies Times Two

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I

Stretch up

To the sky

So I can reach

Something good to eat.

This green thing looks okay.

It’s not what I’d like, but it

Will have to do because I am

So very hungry and I don’t see

Anything else the lady has put out.

It’s raining and I have to wonder why

This lady has a camera on me.

Doesn’t she have anything else

To do with her time than click

At me when I’m hiding

Here beneath this bush,

Trying to stay

Oh so dry

In the

Rain?

 

Note: Poetry form is Double Etheree.

Happy Fall 2022

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The leaves, a few weeks ago so green and shiny and sparkling in the sunlight, have turned to yellow, gold, red and brown for the touch of autumn is a magic touch and autumn is in the air. ~Raymond Carlson, “Arizona Highways” magazine

Before Autumn can slip away entirely, I set out to capture some of its beauty. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed snapping them!

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Walktober 2022

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Above all, do not lose your desire to walk: every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness; I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it. ~Søren Kierkegaard, Danish theologian and author, considered the first existentialist philosopher

Once again, it’s time for Walktober, the annual group-walk hosted by Robin over at Breezes at Dawn. Participants each take a walk (or bike, skate, whatever) and write a post about it (with photos); then, Robin does a roundup linking to the participants so we can all “walk” together and share our amazing world.

Today, I’m headed to Monticello, Illinois (near Champaign-Urbana) to the Allerton Park and Retreat Center. There are 14 miles of hiking trails (no, we don’t have to explore ALL of them!), but lace up your sneakers and join me. It’s a gorgeous day — clear and sunny, with morning temps in the 50s, but it will warm up as we go.

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Walking with Monkey

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Ever wonder where you’d end up if you took your dog for a walk and never once pulled back on the leash? ~Robert Brault, American writer

I Monkey here.

Everybody’s taking part in Robin‘s Walktober, and I want to, too. She never said pups can’t walk along — why, I have it on good authority that Princess Katie always got her own special walk! I might not be royalty, but there’s champion blood running through my veins, and by golly, I mean to tackle this walk-thing!

Mama’s taking the pictures, but I’m pointing out what she needs to shoot. The story, of course, is all me. Let’s GOOOO!

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Who Named These Things?

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Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers, where I can walk undisturbed… ~Walt Whitman, American poet and journalist (often called the father of free verse)

As I walked past this house the other day,
I saw a row of flowers tall and pink.
Their lack of leaves seemed no cause to shrink
As in the breezes they did dance and sway.
What are these grand dames, I did say,
And home to research Google’s famous ink.
Amaryllis Belladonna, I think.
Quite a mouthful for such a pretty spray!

Around here they have another name,
One that’s not so long or even grand.
One, in fact, that makes my face grow rosy.
Yes, indeed, these beauties’ claim to fame
(Which probably should be banned across the land)
Is Naked Lilies. Poor pitiful posy!

Note: I tried to write this as an Italian Sonnet, but I’m not at all sure I’ve succeeded. It was way harder than I thought when I started! These are interesting flowers, but I’ve never tried to grow them (they’re toxic to dogs).