Category Archives: Seasonal

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).

Butterfly of Happiness

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If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies. ~Author unknown

When

I was

Cleaning up

Some nasty weeds

The yard men ignored,

I saw a fluttering

From the corner of my eye.

Looking closer, I saw it was

A gorgeous butterfly of unknown

Species, resting on the rocks below me.

 

Silly woman, pointing her phone at me!

Has she never seen a butterfly?

Well, then, I’m a Red Admiral —

Quite common really if you

Would keep your eyes open.

Monarchs get all the

Attention but

I deserve

Some praise

Too!

 

Note: Poetic form is Double Etheree.

 

 

 

 

Busy as a Bee

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Take time to smell the roses and eventually you’ll inhale a bee.  ~Author unknown

There once was a bee who did think
From flowers he could steal a long drink.
He chose one and got busy
But left in a tizzy
Without siphoning any of the pink.

Note: This poetic form is Limerick (which I haven’t written in a long time!)

Standing Out

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Knowing who you are is the best defense against who they think you are. ~Dodinsky, author

Zinnias

I

Stand out

Among them

Though I’m a part

Of all the others

Diff’rent — not bad or good

Just trying to be myself

Soaking water, air, and sunshine

Minding my own business as I grow

Conscious I’m the same but very diff’rent.

Note:  Poetic form is Etheree.

Dog Egg Hunt Rehash

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I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday. ~Author unknown

Monkey here.

It’s a challenge when you’ve got a sneaky Mama.

I think she stays up late at night, trying to outsmart me. And you know, sometimes she succeeds — but don’t tell her that.

She’d be impossible to live with.

Take this Easter holiday, for example.

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Happy Easter, Happy Spring

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The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke, American author, educator, and clergyman

I’ve been waiting for a pretty day to capture some of Central Illinois’s Spring beauty, but alas! By the time that rolls around, all the good blooms will be gone and it will be 90 degrees outside!

So I’ve decided a nice walk around town in search of blossoms, Easter/Spring decorations, and such will have to suffice.

Let’s get started.

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Rain Brings Mud

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In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood, Canadian poet, novelist, activist, and teacher

Maybe Ms. Atwood was onto something, but I’ll wager she drew the line between the scent of “dirt” and that of “mud.”

Rainy, muddy mess

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