Cat's Eyes

 

Eyes of sea foam green

    Or softly clouded seaglass

        Smoldering jade stare.

Imaginary Beach

 

This humpy and sunny snowscape makes me think of beach sand. Wishful thinking?

 

Nostalgic Poem

I remember reading this poem to my kids when they were small, and we had so much fun with the playfulness. We soon knew it by heart; it just sort of rolled off the tongue. Not only can I still recite it, but I could find it on my bookshelf too.

from Knock at a Star: A Child’s Introduction to Poetry (1982)

X.J.  and D.M. Kennedy (editors).

There is an embarrassing story behind my acquiring this book. I bought it second hand, at the Chelmsford library book sale, and gave it to Linus. I crossed out the text that was on the inside page, and wrote Linus' name there instead. We read through it often, until one day Dale browsed through it and remarked that the names I'd crossed out were the author's signatures and dedication to a friend! I had an autographed, signed copy and had scribbled through it, assuming it to be the name of the previous owner. I am still pretty mortified, and the shame I feel still haunts me! What an idiot!

Is there a market for defiled autographed books on eBay? A new collector's item? 

Small Things

As darkness falls from my window, it's amazing to note what a difference a few minutes makes and how cumulatively small, subtle changes add up to make a big difference ... 

4:35pm

 

4:35 pm

4:41pm

This idea applies to living one's life too, IMO ...  that "one person can make a difference and everyone should try” (Robert Kennedy) because it will cumulatively make a difference.

Fleur de Lis

On a lovely hushed walk through uninhabited woods, I found these fleur de lis shaped seeds, and was quite intrigued. They also look a little like tiny birds.  

They were scattered across my path in a line from one side of the road to the other, like this

I wonder if the grader that plowed this route scraped the branches above it, loosening the seeds?

My investigations online seem to indicate they are yellow birch seeds, described in The Berkshire Edge as looking like soaring birds or tiny airplanes.

Burn Savers

Look at these awesome burn savers!

Such a great idea and product. A very simple silicone fix for people like me, who reach in and get their hands, wrists and forearms caught on the metal oven racks. I no longer have to answer probing questions about 'life at home' when I have a medical check-up! 😄

And, we found a use for the off-cuts, that now seem custom designed!

Winter Gear

 

COVID 19 mask -

Protects from icy cold winds

Great gear for winter!

Black Beauty

I've been finding it hard to get good portraits of this all black kitty. She's sleek and glossy, as well as being very sweet and talkative, and hopelessly devoted to her 'serf,' but I kept finding that the photos I took didn't do her beauty justice.

I've been practicing, and kept trying, and have started feeling better now about capturing some of her allure.

This cute little panther is not so jet black when you get up close and personal, though it's hard to believe. This is her deer-caught-in-the-headlights look:

The darkness of her fur hides her form and details in the wrong light, and makes her look blank-faced and expressionless.

She's very playful, and has taken to thinking this basket is a good hiding place from which to launch mock attacks!

Baking High

I was thrilled with the outcome of my latest bread-making attempt - a rosemary parmesan artisan loaf, to accompany my potato soup.

In fact, without realizing it until it was brought to my attention, I was positively giddy with the result, chatting and giggling like I was half-baked myself!

What a lovely thing to happen from such a simple activity! Who would ever have foreseen that bread making could be so rewarding?

The outer crust! Oh man, to die for! I could happily overeat on this simple staple. I think I'm going to have to sue The Great British Baking Show for my weight gain!

Turkey Tracks

"Arrows" in the snow

Turkey tracks that make a trail

Of reverse pointers

Definition

 

I love how well defined the edges of the brook become when the water at the sides freezes. It's so clear cut and sharp, like jagged teeth.

Cat Yoga

For all her yoga-flow followers, Pollyanna shares three of her favorite poses.


Here she is demonstrating the supine version of Twisted Chair pose (Parivrtta Utkatasana)

She advises following this up with her advanced version of Turtle (Kurmasana) to realign the spine after the previous arching. Hold this stretch.

From here, roll over into the all-important Corpse pose (Shavasana) to relax fully and learn how to lie in stillness. Enjoy BEING catatonic!

Winter Ache

 

Aching eye sockets

- A frigid blast from winter -

Nat'ral oils can't flow.

So watery tears

Run down my ruddy scorched cheeks

That sting in the wind

Houseguest

 

This is Pollyanna, our houseguest

She's photogenic,

a great supervisor

and loves a good library

"Soft kitty, warm kitty

Little ball of fur

Happy kitty, sleepy kitty

Purr, purr, purr" 

- The Big Bang Theory Soft Kitty Song

Empathic Life

“One day we will learn that the heart can never be totally right if the head is totally wrong. Only through the bringing together of head and heart- intelligence and goodness – shall man rise to a fulfillment of his true nature.”

"Forgiveness is not an occasional act. It is a constant attitude."

-Martin Luther King

Product Plug

 

I am so pleased I that found this product, and ordered one for myself, so thought it was worth sharing.

It comes with a small plastic insert that fits between your phone and case, and has a small metal loop dangling off it, to which one can fasten the wrist or neck strap that comes with it.

It is so useful, and also comforting, now that I'm less likely to drop my phone from my hand when I'm taking pics around water, or from cliffs, kayaks, couches, cars, ... providing I have the loop around my wrist, that is!

Synchronicity Scrapings

What an absolute delight this bottle of bourbon whiskey has been! It appears to be a collector's piece, having been bottled between 1961 and 1977 (no bar code in sight).

                 

Now for the synchronicity scrapings - I was born in '61, recently turned 61 and drank whiskey that could possibly also be 61! 

It's weird thinking that a 61 year old alcoholic drink has aged perfectly, whilst a human of the same age definitely has a different trajectory.

 

Floral Ice

 

Look at these gorgeous ice crystal formations at my front entrance!

Curmudgeonly Label

I quite liked this find at the grocery store - I bought it for my own curmudgeon, who seemed to be accurately rendered on this label!

 

Moment in Time

Such beautiful ice patterns! The differential freezing lines recorded in time are exquisite.

 

Intelligence Having Fun?

 

Creativity is intelligence having fun!

- Albert Einstein

I recently came up with a new word for a documentary that seemingly goes on a rant:

DOCU-RANTERY!

And then Linus had the idea for a TV show called:

"Britain's Next Top Monarch"

And here's a some pics grouped together - just to show how both words and pictures can be re-assembled to give different insights!

Woodland Streams

 

I don't have to wander far to see this beautiful little stream in the woods. Seeing as it's by the side of the road called Stony Brook Drive, I guess this must be THE stony brook it's named after.

And here's one even closer to my home

Angle of the Dangle

Walking through snow-covered landscapes is eye opening. Fallen limbs and trunks, being off-vertical, collect and keep an outline of snow, making them distinct and eye-catching. Fascinating, and also, yes, so obvious!

4 Season Treehouse

 

My room with a view

An elevated treehouse

All round protection

Raccoon Stars

 

I liked the shape of these raccoon prints - they look like stars to me, or maybe a lovely miniature sunburst, or halo, crown. 

But then the dreaded word corona springs up, as in "spike proteins sticking out," which is unfortunate, but obviously on all our minds.

Amazing what you can see just walking outside to empty the house compost bin.

Shifting Plates

 

Whenever I see plates of snow crumpled up like this on the roads, I think of tectonic forces, mountain building and the shifting of the earth's tectonic plates (in miniature, of course):

Unfortunate Past

 

Wow! I found my Mom's discharge papers from the South African hospital in which I was born - it distinctly says 'For Europeans' on the front cover, no ifs and or buts. This was a hospital run by the Salvation Army, too! Their current statement on racism reads "The Salvation Army believes that racism is fundamentally incompatible with Christianity" - perhaps back in South Africa in the sixties, apartheid wasn't about racism? Or they had no choice if they wanted to operate in S.A.? Or they've changed their stance over the years? Curious ...

I know that the Catholic school I attended, run by nuns, taught equality, compassion, love and acceptance, but their buildings and grounds were maintained and run by black servants, who lived in separate, austere and inferior quarters attached to an outbuilding, with basic utilities only. Something was “... rotten in the state of Denmark,” for sure - how do you preach one philosophy and yet live another?

Was their reasoning that they could work from within to help make non-European lives better?

Color Swap

 

When the sky is more colorful than the landscape ... impressive flip, nature.