Isabella Bird Miscellany

Santa...frazzled and frizzed   I love this little frayed and frazzled Santa.  He perfectly depicts how we are feeling right about now, on this Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve.  (Remember Thanksgiving Eve, Eve?)  The 12 days of Christmas are ticking off and like the White Rabbit, we are late, late for a very important date; all is definitely not calm. My list of “to-be-done” is getting checked off, my shopping is finished and things are wrapped, but oh, what about…and then I add another note to self, while I hear the words “…all is calm, all is bright…” playing in the background.  Ah, dude, burl, whatever you want to say, being calm now needs to be added to the to-dos! Here’s an idea; could it be that the only thing we really need to accomplish is being calm?  We have recently taken to the idea of “peaceful stress.”  There are many things scrambling for our attention – the stress; but how we acknowledge the clamoring – that’s the peaceful.  This is not a simple task.  It takes a co

Hey, look at me!  Pay attention, see me!  That’s really what the little word, “italics” is saying.  We use it for emphasis, to highlight an idea, thought or title – like a book’s name. What would our lives look like if we lived them in an italicized form?  What type of show-stopping headliners would our souls present on the marquee of life’s theater? For some the story would be a very sad tragedy that brings others to tears, but requires no action – just sobs.  Other sagas would resemble Barnum and Bailey’s Circus or an episode of the Three Stooges.  People would be belly laughing, but that is the extent of the impact.   i.tal.ics Contemplate the narrative of ordinary times; living, laughing, caring, being touched by the good, the not so good and the just plain ugly.  This book of being has it all – adventure, romance and tragedy.  What is the difference with this biography?  It includes action and response.  Advent is a time to watch with great anticipation – emph

Collection of Vintage Ornaments Oh, noblest of trees you sit as yet unadorned, save the pretty faceted white lights  nestled in your branches My confession:  our tree has been up for a couple of days, but only has lights … and just got moved from one spot to another.  I was having a hard time deciding where it should reside for the next few weeks.  With that task settled, the little Noble desperately needs ornaments hanging from its bushy, fragrantly green branches. Down in the basement, Christmas tubs have been opened and pawed through for the pre-tree decorating, you know angels, Santas and my Grandma’s nativity set.  However, the ornament boxes were yet untouched, until this morning. As I opened each box I thought about my collection of ornaments, the story behind each; where they came from and when, as well as where they are placed in the tree.  On our first Christmas together, Lonny and I received a little glass bird.  This tiny bird is always placed high in our

Since it is now officially December – Christmas month – I can begin to think all things Christmas! Yesterday, was Boxing Day of a different nature, meaning the packing up of the brown, ginger and golden fall décor; including dumping the uncarved pumpkins into the yard debris bin for composting.  Christmas music now plays in my house, except when I need a little Joss Stone, John Mayer or even Led Zeppelin to clear my muddled thinking. Our house isn’t decked and adorned…yet, but my heart is ready to celebrate the Advent Season…watching and waiting for the arrival. Man vs Tree While watching, I’m seeing snippets to tuck away.  A just right instance happened Sunday evening while taking Isabella for a walk.  It was almost dark and there was sea must in the air. Heading down the sidewalk we saw a family walking in front of us; nothing terribly unusual about that, except that they had an enormous, bushy Christmas tree tied to a Red Flyer Wagon.  We chatted with them at the st

Thankful for this man Just in case you didn’t know, today is Thanksgiving Eve-Eve.  Now you’re thinking, what?  Here’s how it is:  Thanksgiving is Thursday, so Wednesday would be Thanksgiving Eve and since this is Tuesday, it’s Eve-Eve.  Confused yet? Since it is Eve-Eve most of us have our minds and selves working overtime in preparation for the gathering feast.  A trip to the market, and then another  to pick up more eggs…baking pies, cutting up sourdough for stuffing, cleaning the house, or at least running the vacuum…oh yeah, wrapping early presents that you want to send home with people to avoid shipping or trying to pack into your Mini Coop.  Frantic mania!  Maybe I’m only describing my life, but I have no doubt your story sounds just like mine – it’s called life. I climbed out of bed around 5:30am – again.  (Side note:  I don’t get up at that time of day, ever!)  My coffee and devo time was quiet and peaceful, but as soon as that was done, my inner spring started wi

Where the red leaf fell I’ve been at the computer all day.  My mind is now working on thinking-overload; then you add the fact that Thanksgiving is next week and, well, burl, dude! Right smack in the crush of to-do’s, I needed to write for my class.  It was one of those, “I have no inspiring, muse-filled thoughts.”  Not a good thing for a writer.  As I rummaged through different concepts in my overloaded mind, I started imagining what Thanksgiving Day was going to be like this year.  The kids and grandkids are coming.  They now became my muse…thankful. mindful noise thanksgiving snapshot hand-print turkeys on the wall browning, curly leaves strewn across the floor half-empty glasses of milk, lots of sticky cookie crumbles... and noise bedecked parade floats and high-flying comic book characters slip along, a Macy's tradition spirited, uniformed teams take the field, coins tossed, whistles blown, touchdowns made... more noise in the background se

Thanksgiving prep: The bird

“That’s burl, dude, just saying,” has to be said with a slight upward head nod and a lot of cool attitude. Now, I must admit that I had not heard the word “burl” used like that until a few nights ago.  We were with some friends who are from Colorado, and it was a phrase they used, kind of like “gnarly, dude.”  As we talked, we all agreed that a burl on a tree is really what life sometimes feels like. gnarly, exquisite burl burls are lumps, knots and warty looking growths probably caused by injury or a fungal disease Wow, that’s a lovely image to float around in your head, like an annoying song that gets stuck in your brain for days and days.  Eventually, though you embrace the tune as your fave. Life is full of unexpected rough, ragged junk, but not all junk needs to be carted off to the nearest dumpster; which is kind of the case with burls.  Because of the disfiguration, strong, intricate, mind-boggling patterns grow in the wood.  Burls are appreciated and crafte

Thanksgiving prep: Ignite the palate starters

A couple of weeks ago, I signed up for a daily writing prompt.   I figured it was a good way to make sure that I wrote every day and was challenged to look at different subjects. Earlier this week the prompt was to write about something that is minced.  Since cooking is a life-giving passion, I immediately thought about garlic, but took it in a different direction:  from the point of view of the garlic.  The short ditty turned out somewhat mischievous and playful. After talking with several people recently, it appears that there are several of us who could use some laughter, mirth and merriment. lighthearted and cheeky There are three key ingredients to most savory dishes in this household – salt pepper and garlic.  It’s like the Holy Grail to cooking. Here’s my take on the subject: Sure, I’m not quite round, sometimes a bit bulbous and my skin is rather papery, thin and fragile.  I peel rather easily, especially if I’ve taken a good smack on the board.  Why do

Love those bike tires... We’ve all done it.  You are walking along and all of a sudden you find yourself on the ground; wondering how it happened, and desperately hoping that no one saw you, but of course someone did.  They’re probably chuckling to themselves, well, because they too have taken that awkward tumble.  This is my recent version of that trip, spill, splat, whatever you want to call it.  Last week I heard Lonny come home and enter through the garage.  Curious, I opened the door to see what was going on.  Usually, it means he has picked up some gleaned treasure that needs to be tucked away until its project time…faucets, springs, you never quite know.  In theory, just stepping out to have a look, I abruptly found myself on the concrete pretty much face to face with my bicycle tires.  Not exactly a graceful move. I’m not the clumsy type; I can walk quite nicely in stilettos, but not that day.  I’m still not sure what happened; whether I caught my heel, misse

Writing and daydreaming ... I stared out the window this morning Three Crows...and a Squirrel  It happens to be what I consider a very “fall” day.  Most of the leaves have fallen from the grape vines that hang over our patio, revealing the gnarly, twisted vines.  The big cedar tree has left a carpet of bronze foliage which contrasts so magnificently against the iconic grass-green grass.  There was a light shower so everything appears moist and glistening in the rays of sun that peak through the overcast sky, and it is relatively mild temp wise.  It just seems like you should be walking through an apple orchard pulling a wagon full of pumpkins...or you can be caught up in the amusing scene set before you; which is what happened to me. Squirrel ran up the tree as Crow swept in Right in the middle of this bucolic-ness, I see our backyard covered in a flock of crows.  Do crows move in flocks?  Actually, no; a group of crows is called a murder.  Go figure that I would discov

What do squirrels, PBJs and a few friends and relatives (I won’t mention names) have in common?   Ah nuts! It’s National Nut Day Who knew?  There is a holiday of some obscure sort every day.  October 24 th celebrates bologna.  I guess that means we break out the white, squishy bread and a jar of Miracle Whip to slather on slabs of chopped seasoned-meat goodness.  Lumpy Rug Day occurs on May 3 rd .  Take time to reminisce about old, worn out lumpy-bumpy floor coverings while searching out a new cozy rug to lounge on while you continue to wax on about its predecessor. Those thoughts have their place; today’s attention is reveling in nuts.  The way I see it, you can take this a couple of directions; be very squirrel-like and nibble away on the likes of toasted Levian smeared with almond butter and apricot jam, or crack open handfuls of hazelnuts and pop them into your mouth.   Delicious and nutritious; maybe those wacky squirrels aren’t as “nuts” as we think.. This b

Fall apple crop

Leaves tumbling down a tiny stream   Today is one of those most gorgeous of fall days; sunny, the air slightly warm with more than a hint of crispness and the colors in the trees are simply amazing!   Did I mention this is my favorite time of year? I remember as a child we lived on a small farm that had some really big trees - at least that was my perception, I was little.  We would rake all of the leaves into a pile and my sister and I would get to jump into the mound of vegetation hued in russet and crimson and gold.  Eventually, they would be burned, a fragrance both earthy and pungent.  The aroma still evokes pleasant memories. Gilded Maple Leaves If there is a blanket of leaves on a path or sidewalk, I’m somehow forced to walk and crunch through them, while stopping to collect a few to carry along and press.  These gilded treasures are kept for a while, and then added to the compost.  Fleeting possessions. Words of great inspiration?  No … just happy childh

I’ve been walking in the desert, literally and figuratively.  Having lived in the Southwest several years ago, I used to view the landscape as void, arid; a desolate, lonely place.  Since then, my viewpoint has changed, having unearthed a few things about the scorched region. Craggy rocks and spine-filled cactus The desert is a parched place, which causes us to seek quenching nourishment.  Life-sustaining water is essential and found in the most unusual places; the tiny crevice of a rock which has collected morning dew, or hidden in the innermost part of a barrel cactus. Ambling on, I’ve found exquisite, subtle, rough beauty; catching a glimpse of a hummingbird gleaning nectar from a cactus bloom or the cloud play on the ground as fair weather cumulus float overhead; rock outcroppings and elusive wildflowers after a cloud burst.  With a close look you discover the desert is teeming with wild life such as burros, mountain goats, scaly lizards and gossamer butterflies, not t

Isabella Bird on her fourth birthday This is a short story about how Isabella became part of our lives ... and the namesake for my blog... Let me tell you a little story.  It all started on an especially chilly December day, almost four years ago.  Two months earlier, we had lost our old, chocolate girl.  She had been troubled with bad hips and as time passed, developed arthritis making movement a difficult and painful process.  At last, it was Awbrey’s time to leave this life, having tracked all over our hearts. Quiet rainy days of October and November set in, echoing the sentiment of our hearts, empty.  Oh, we knew we would find a new Labby that would thrill and delight us, but we were coming into the Holidays…not the ideal time to get a new puppy.  Logic and reason spoke “wait until after Christmas when the whirl settles down.”  Still, we watched the paper, assorted internet sites and even visited a few kennels to merely "look" at puppies.  But, none of them g

Some things just speak for themselves Portland is home to many reclaim, re-utilize and refurbish, up-cycle, recycle shops.   One in particular has become a favorite haunt.  I’m always amazed at the creativity of people; taking what would have been thrown into the landfill and turned into pieces of art and function, totally repurposed. One particular rainy day we were scouring our way through one such urban establishment and came across this “Pole Cat” sign.  With just a few well-chosen words, the cranky codger has passed on some sage advice.  (I may be stretching a few things, so with tongue in cheek, here goes….) If you must chew snuff, ( side note: nasty habit ) have the common courtesy to not spit it in the drinking fountain.  Others use it and they really don’t want to see your unsophisticated practice floating around.  Next, don’t you know that stuff will clog the drain?  “Where has commonsense gone?” which is the essence of what this old guy is stating.  pole-ca

Being a person travelling through life, you find the way is not always filled with straight paths and clearly marked road signs.  Usually, there winding roads, a few valleys and mountain passes, even a detour or two to negotiate before you reach just one of the dots on the map. This past spring, I registered for a creative writing class.  And then re-registered for the summer term and now signed up once again for fall; following a path to…?  Our instructor encourages us to write, be imaginative and think outside the norm.  She also suggested we submit pieces of our work to Oasis Journal; a publication for writers over 50.  Yes, I do have to publicly admit that I am over the half century mark, but that’s okay.  I’m one of the youngest in the class, yet find myself being tremendously inspired by the others.  They have gleaned so much for their years of living and traversing through life.  To get back on track…I submitted a couple of stories and a handful of poems to Oasis. 

  A place or religious community regarded as sacredly devoted to God Free On-Line Dictionary I love wandering around our city; finding the most interesting things in somewhat random places. A few Saturdays ago we were in search of a particular food cart that specializes in grown-up grilled cheese sammies, cheese plates and well, a lot of things “cheese.”  The cart is located on Northeast Alberta, an area we often frequent.  We dined al fresco on melted goodness – mine was layers of roasted golden beets with habanero cheese – delightful!   Lonny’s choice was pickled egg with dill cheddar – more toasty gooeyness. Deciding to walk around the neighborhood, we discovered an adjacent vacant lot with graffiti on the wall.  No big deal, right?  After all, we do live in a city; you see the scrawls all the time.  However, as we approached the side of the building the word “Zion” had been sprayed over the multiple layers of writings.  Lon snapped a quick picture with his phone.  Fascin

My oasis isn't far away I don't have to journey miles to enjoy stillness and quiet solitude I step into the backyard I'm greeted by flowering shrubs and trickling water Birds singing nature's melodious songs Stillness and quiet solitude are at hand; a retreat for spirit's contemplation And soul's refreshing Enjoying waning summer days ~ Missy

Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in a Vase pose gallantly on a backdrop awash in the colors of the sea Smattering, palette coatings of paints, mixed and smeared creating the portrait of my seed For my hand holds a beginning… Dried, weathered-grey and mottled, plucked from the sun star encompassing the potager’s border Face upturned to capture the intense rays bursting to meet earth and soil The rendering of my seed vibrantly expresses the emotions of life… Bright and full of promise, as well as burnt and arid … wilting, waiting to be cast into the ground, yes But…pushing against the earth heaped upon it, my seed labors to sprout and flourish Emerging with a deeper understanding of life’s spectrum Until then, the portrait remains as a reminder of the potential stored within us Sunflowers are tall and strong; always facing the sun, yet bowing their heads in humbleness  ~ Missy