A Prayer

A Prayer

By Max Ehrmann

Let me do my work each day; and if the darkened hours of despair overcome me,

may I not forget the strength that comforted me

in the desolation of other times.

May I still remember the bright hours that found me walking over

the silent hills of my childhood, or dreaming on the margin of

a quiet river, when a light glowed within me and

I promised my early God to have courage

amidst the tempests of the

changing years.

Spare me from bitterness and from sharp passions of unguarded moments.

May I not forget that poverty and riches are of the spirit.

Though the world knows me not, may my thoughts and actions be such

as shall keep me friendly with myself.

Lift up my eyes from the earth, and let me not forget the uses of the stars.

Forbid that I should judge others lest I condemn myself.

Let me not follow the clamor of the world,

but walk calmly in my path.

Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am; and keep ever

burning before my vagrant steps the kindly light of hope.

And though age and infirmity overtake me, and I come not within sight

of the castle of my dreams, teach me still to be thankful for life,

and for time's olden memories that are good and sweet;

and may the evening's twilight find me gentle still.

This beautiful passage by Max Erhmann, was shared with me by a precious friend. Though we've never met in person, Julie, my pen pal of the past five years who lives "across the pond" in the United Kingdom, has touched my soul with her most generous, giving spirit. This timeless prayer seemed to me to be perfect to post at this time of year ~ may it lift your spirits and be a gentle reminder to keep hope, faith, goodwill, and love alive within your soul.

Season of Warmth and Light

Jasper enjoys the tree

It may be cold and gray outdoors, and the winter solstice, our shortest day of the year, is just around the corner ... but this time of year is one of warmth and light, comfort and brightness. It's a time to think of loved ones, those who share our daily lives and those who have passed, but live on in memory. It's a time to cozy up near the fire with a warm cup of tea or hot cider and cuddle under quilts and blankets. It's a time of candlelight and glittery decorations that lift our spirits no matter how hard the winds blow and how chill the air. It's a time for giving thanks for the gift of life itself.

Since I was a child, the holiday season has been such a special time ... a magical time of excitement and joy. As an adult, I feel more grounded at Christmastime and now experience it as a gentler, more spiritual time, but it's ever still as magical. A quote of Vincent Van Gogh's comes to mind that he wrote about love and how over time its aspect may change, but not it's essence. As the years pass and we age, the holidays take on new and different meanings, but the season will always carry us through the darkest days of winter with its warm glow.

Wishing you a warm and wonderful holiday season.

Peace to All.

Tulips in November

More accurately, this blog title should read, "Planting Tulips in November." I was thrilled that the weather has stayed warm enough that I could get outside today and plant the Darwin Hybrid tulip bulbs I purchased over two months ago.

Opportunities to plant my tulip garden had come and gone, and many days that would have been good for planting were not good for me. The immunosuppressants I need to take to keep my body from rejecting my new kidney also make me a target for the germs going around in this cold and flu season. I've already succumbed to three colds and had many a day when my body rebelled the idea of digging a garden.

Luckily, today was not such a day! The weather was in the low 60s and perfect for planting. With trowel in hand, I put about 30 tulip bulbs into the ground, watered them and covered them with nutrient rich organic soil, followed by a layer of leaves.

Come springtime, I hope strong and healthy tulip shoots will push their way up through the soil, grow tall and bloom in the vibrant mix of colors promised. They'll be a welcome sight, especially after the stark, gray days of wintertime...a lovely gift for this day spent planting.

Nine Months and Flying Onward

Today is nine months to the day I had my kidney transplant. On the morning of February 8, the day of the operation, I got a last call from a nurse coordinator at Johns Hopkins making sure that we would all be able to make it to the hospital. We were facing the infamous blizzards of 2010 and already over a foot of snow had fallen in Maryland. Kevin and Desirae's boyfriend had shoveled the drive and the local roads were in drivable shape, so I told her we were ready to take the long drive to Baltimore and would be on time for our surgeries - Desirae my donor and me the grateful recipient.

At the news that we'd be able to make it in, the nurse coordinator suddenly became very emotional. She told me I would be like a butterfly after receiving my new kidney, that it would be like coming out of a long sleep and springing back to life again. I appreciated her sentiment, but could not fully comprehend the meaning of her kind, colorful words. I did find them very encouraging though, and the imagery stuck in my mind.

Immediately after surgery, I was indeed happy all went well for both my daughter and me, but I felt the furthest thing from a graceful butterfly. I was in horrible pain, couldn't move around well, and it took quite some time to even approach feeling human again. All the medicines I now had to take to prevent my body from rejecting the kindest gift of all, it's new kidney, initially made me feel sick, unsteady, and bloated. What was this about being like a butterfly???

Well, after nine months, I finally get it...

The gift of continued life and the chance of a long life of relatively good health is like being given a pair of wings to fly. It is enchanting and beautiful - a feeling of grace and light. Before the surgery, life was fraught with dread and fear and limitations. Now, I look forward to new opportunities and new ways to express my gratitude for this "second chance." Life after transplant surgery truly can be viewed as emerging from dormancy to a new perspective on life - a life where the only thing stopping you from doing what you want to do or becoming who you want to be is yourself - illness no longer impedes you or troubles your thought processes as it did before. It's very liberating! And, like a butterfly, you are free.

Life is Like a Dream

The fall colors in this streamside scene are almost surreal. The oranges, yellows, and greens are all bright neon shades.

Living Up to its Name

This tiny red maple tree...

stands out among all others.

Wearing the brightest, crimson red leaves...

it's truly living up to its name!

A Sample of Autumn Scenes from New England

Stream flowing through the Adirondacks, New York

Beautiful Vermont Green Mountains Countryside

Quechee Gorge, Vermont

Poet Robert Frost's Homestead in Shaftsbury, Vermont

Kevin and I were very fortunate to be able to take a trip to New England earlier this month when the region was bursting forth with fall color. We stayed at a lodge in the Adirondack's in New York for the first leg of our trip and visited Vermont for the second part. The countryside was a never-ending trail of beauty.

Left click on the photographs above to see a full-sized version...enjoy!!!

Real Love

A love that's real, a love that's true, a love that lasts for all time ~ there are true believers and those who scoff at the very notion of eternal love. I, for one, am in the first category. I believe that all of us find true love by having it within ourselves, nurturing it, and being ready to give and receive it.

Even if we are presently without life partners, we all have ways to grow our own capacities to love and be loved. Caring for family, friends, and neighbors, working for and giving to those who are less fortunate, adopting and nurturing the love of animals, the simple daily gives and takes of life approached with kindness and appreciation for others are all ways we nurture our own capacity to be givers and lovers. Love involves great patience and kindness and a willingness to live in ways that elevate others instead of bringing them down. Love is an action word - and, yes, it does involve work - a constant steady flow of consideration for others and for the earth we share as our home. To respect differences without compromising our own principles, to live simply and with gratitude...to honor all...these are the building blocks to living a life of love.

Loving your partner brings out the desire to put his or her happiness above your own simply because that's what you want to do. You want to be the best possible version of yourself that you can be, not only for yourself, but to share with your love. And, don't believe Hollywood movie lines - love does mean saying you're sorry when you say or do the wrong thing. Let's face it, none of us are perfect, we all slip up from time to time and say or do something hurtful. That simple sentence, "I'm sorry," spoken with sincerity goes a long way.

Love involves passion, but it isn't defined by it. Love encompasses every emotion in all their expressions. Not only can love endure all things, it is all things...and all things are made better with love. Love keeps us hoping, dreaming, creating, believing.

My life long friend is getting married this Friday. I wish her and her husband a life of dreams come true built on a solid foundation of real love.

Woolly Weather

Startled and all curled up, the larval form of the Isabella Tiger Moth, Pyrrharctia isabella.

This adorably fuzzy caterpillar is more commonly known as the Woolly Bear, or, further south, the Woolly Worm. According to folklore, the woolly bear is a winter weather predictor. The wider the middle reddish-brown band (the more brown colored segments there are), the milder the winter supposedly will be. Even though there is no scientific proof for the caterpillars ability to portend our weather conditions, over the years they've been observed, their color predictors have been surprisingly accurate.

Camera shy Woolly Bear on the run...

From the width of his brown middle band of 7 or 8 segments, it looks like we won't be faring too badly this winter! Earlier this season, I also came across some woolly bears that were entirely reddish-brown in color.

Moving up!

In this last photograph above, you can definitely see the wooliness of the Woolly Bear and see how it got it's name. The caterpillar's actually a little more fuzzy feeling than he is woolly...but woolly bear sounds as cute as this little guy is - a favorite fall mascot!

Take Time

"Even if something is left undone, everyone must take time to sit
still and watch the leaves turn." ~ Elizabeth Lawrence

After the rain stopped this morning, I got out for a short walk. To the side of the cabin, I noticed the first tree showing any significant color change, a black gum, one of the earliest to turn. Its bright green leaves were morphing to crimson red, in stark contrast to the greens surrounding it. The red maples are beginning to be splotched with dots of red, too.

As I continued deeper into the woods, a vocal pileated woodpecker flew overhead sounding much like his cartoon cousin Woody Woodpecker. It is so comical to hear these over-sized birds' laughing calls. They're so loud that they drown out all the other woodland sounds. They're quite a funny sight to see, too. As they scoot up the old snags, their red tufted crests bob back and forth. They furiously hammer away at the dead trees seeking the insects and grubs burrowed inside to feed on, and their crests become frenzied blurs. The woodpeckers huge size and loud call make them the lions of their daytime forest canopy realm...that is until a hawk swoops through!

Flecks of Fall

Even though most of the leaves on the trees in our vicinity are still green, there are flecks of fall color all around. The fallen chestnut oak acorns are bright green and yellow and various shades of tan and brown. Some are jet black. The combination of colors makes a very striking mix. Some of the nuts are touched with patches of rose, too.

I never noticed that stilt grass, which is such a pesky invasive, also turns color in fall. The tips of its leaves turn various shades of pink, red, and magenta, and it almost looks like someone came along with a paintbrush and decorated them.

Nature is always full of surprises, and each day brings something new!

Garden Harvest

The seasons are turning. Today is the last day of summer, as the autumnal equinox arrives tomorrow. Day and night share equal time at this time of year. Temperatures are in flux. For the last week, we've enjoyed bright, sunny days with moderate temperatures in the high sixties and seventies. We're due for temps back up in the eighties later this week. It will waver back and forth this way until cool autumn days stand their ground and remain steady. As the seasons turn again, the chill of winter will return, but, first, the beauty and color of fall and its invitingly crisp days will lift our spirits.

We are enjoying a bountiful, colorful crop of peppers. Of the vegetables I planted in our small kitchen garden this year, the peppers reigned supreme. Whereas the beans, in particular, couldn't withstand the dry, intense summer, the peppers flourished. We've never had such a fine and colorful crop of peppers - bright reds, greens, oranges, and combinations. Not only are they pretty to look at, they're tasty too. We add them to salads, omelets, fajitas, homemade pizza and countless other dishes. It's so nice to have homegrown veggies to savor and enjoy!

This year has already brought a bumper crop of acorns - especially the very large, bright green and yellow fruits of the chestnut oak. They tumble from the trees by the handful, thudding on the cabin roof with such a racket. The squirrels are having a hard time keeping up ... they're certainly not facing a lean time for food.

We've also been inundated by stink bugs. They've been everywhere and are quite a nuisance. They congregate on our screen doors and sneak indoors every opportunity they get. I've found them crawling amongst my houseplants and flying around the lamps. They've invaded our attic as well. Stink bugs are quite harmless, but they live up to their name. I've captured quite a few in my cupped hand to toss back outside, and they leave behind an acrid, musty odor that doesn't easily wash off.

Stick bugs have been everywhere, too! These walking stick insects are such neat creatures, and so very gentle. They also like to rest on the screen door. As I cart them away, to avoid crushing them when we open and close the door, they quietly rest on my outstretched palm, offering no resistance as I transport them to safer spots in the woods.

Our trees are just starting to turn color. The process that begins ever so slowly, with just hints of color change here and there, will soon take off until we are surrounded by an autumn kaleidoscope in shades of red, gold, orange, and brown.

Happy Autumn!!!

Two that are New

Above is my latest watercolor painting. It was a challenge to paint this momma robin bringing a grasshopper to feed her hungry babies...but it was fun to try to capture a realistic look and feel of this gentle scene. With Spring long past and Autumn just around the corner now, baby robins have grown and flown the nest. The cycle will continue with those young robins returning next year to build nests of their own. They'll lay their light blue eggs that will hatch into wide mouthed babies begging for all the worms, grubs, and other insects these new mothers can provide.



And...a new butterfly sighting! A Red Spotted Purple arrived yesterday to catch some rays on our patio. It's underside had brick-red colored spots and the blue on it's wings was brilliantly iridescent. After warming itself in the sunshine, it fluttered off and away towards the cool shade of the woods.

Survivors

Despite the hot, dry conditions, the zinnias I planted from seed are thriving. Their colorful blooms add a bright touch to the garden, and the butterflies seem to like them almost as much as they do the coneflowers.

This blog is as good a time as any to report I've made it to the six month mark post transplant surgery. I wish I could also report rave reviews, I am hanging in there!, but right now I have a very bad cold, the first time I've been sick at all since the surgery. Other than that, I think I've been doing well....still progress to be made....but humming along!

Aquinnah Cliffs

The first inhabitants of Martha's Vineyard, then known as "Noepe," were the Wampanoag, the"people of the first light." For the Wampanoag, the cliffs of Aquinnah were a sacred site. Today, these cliffs are designated as a National Natural Landmark by the Department of the Interior. The cross-section of the cliffs displays the geological history of the island. The cliffs are composed of many layers of sediment left over from six glaciers. Red and white clays, green sands, white quartz, black organic soil and lignite combine to create the variety of colors that make the cliffs so striking. The Aquinnah Cliffs site was my favorite place on the island. The cliffs and beaches there are breathtakingly beautiful.

Vignette of Martha's Vineyard

We took far too many photographs on our vacation to Massachusetts to post, but I wanted to share some taken on our final day at Martha's Vineyard. A highlight of our trip was taking a cruise on the "Alabama," an old sailing ship with a young, spirited crew. We were on board the ship for 3 hours enjoying the tranquillity of the open water. The photograph above was taken right before sunset - a dramatic sky over calm water.

I fell in love with the ship mascots - two lopey black labs, very sleepy by the time I took their picture! The name of the company providing our cruise was "Black Dog."

Here Kevin is scanning the horizon, the tall masts of the ship looming above him. It was amazing to watch the crew at work hoisting the sails and coiling the heavy ropes. They were full of energy, nimble, and strong.

Here's a look at the Alabama at rest, docked at the Vineyard Haven marina from where we started our cruise through Nantucket Sound.

After disembarking the ship, we dined at the Black Dog tavern, and we both had, what else? ... fish! Kevin chose wasabi crusted salmon and I had the catch of the day, island bluefish ... a first time experience for me ... and it was delicious.

The sailing cruise and dinner at the tavern were our last activities before heading home early the next morning ~ the perfect conclusion to a most memorable stay.

The Simple Things

Isn't it nice to take the time in our busy days to appreciate little bits of beauty here and there?

Yesterday, when I was working in the garden, I found a lone Black-Eyed-Susan flower that had bent and snapped from the plant, so I took it inside and placed it in an amber colored, crackle glass vase. The way the afternoon sun lit up the flower and created a soft glow as it streamed through the vase was so pretty.

Today, when I was feeding the goldfish in our pond, two metallic blue bodied dragonflies skimmed over the water and hovered just long enough for me to get a close look at their intricate, lacy wings - beautiful! I also discovered we now have five more mouths to feed.
The goldfish had babies!

Summer Sightings

Our summer mornings this year have been graced with white morning glories that sprung up amongst the fern bed. Last summer season, we had morning glories in pinks, blues, and lavender shades - this season pure whites that vividly contrast with the deep greens around them. By late afternoon, the beautiful blooms start to close for the day, and, by evening, they look more trumpet shaped than full and round.




Our summer night times are punctuated with the low hums and chirps from locusts and katy-dids. Their chorus rises to quite a din at times, but mostly it's a steady, lush purr that soothes and lulls us to sleep. The lone katy-did in the photograph above chose to spend the night on our front porch and was still there by early morning when I snapped this picture. Next to the light gray wood of the porch railing , the katy-did stands out, but in the trees, his leaf like color and form offers great camouflage.



Some of the leaves on the trees are already starting to turn, due to the hot dry conditions we're experiencing in our area this summer season, but the ferns are still lush and green.

Beautiful Butterfly

The coneflowers continue to attract new butterflies everyday. Today, this very regal swallowtail came to sip the sweet nectar. He wasn't shy, but did play hard to get with me for quite a while. As I would come close with my camera, he would vere away then fly upwards and next fly around the cabin hoping I would be gone by the time he returned to the flower bed. Finding me still there, but with the draw of the coneflower ever strong, he'd come in for another landing and flit from flower head to flowerhead and then repeat the whole cycle again.

After performing this routine several times, he must have come to the conclusion that I just wasn't going to leave and conceded with an "if you can't beat 'em join 'em" attitude, letting me get close enough for shot after shot. At one point he was so close to my camera that he bumped into it, but that still didn't deter him from going about his own business.

I love the striking pattern and vibrant colors of the swallowtail. In the second photograph, you can get a glimpse of the probocis (especially if you left click on the image to enlarge it for greater detail).

Butterfly Magnet

My coneflowers are in full bloom. These native flowers stand sturdy and tall. Despite the hot, dry summer we are experiencing, they are flourishing. Coneflowers are a particular favorite, and not just of mine. Butterflies almost magically appear when their showy blooms open. Yesterday, I witnessed at least four different varieties of butterfly alight upon the flower heads. Unless disturbed, the butterflies linger on and on, drawn by the flower pollen. On close inspection, you can see their long probocises probing the dense seed heads for the nourishing nectar which must be especially tasty to the butterflies. The sight of these brightly colored, delicate winged creatures inspired my latest attempt at a water color painting.

Still a work in progress, this painting shows an Aphrodite Fritillary butterfly sucking up the pollen from a large, pale pink petaled coneflower, seeking to get it's fill of the sweet, energy providing nectar. The pattern of this butterfly was so detailed and was a fun one to paint. I hope to "capture" some of the other kinds of butterflies that frequent the coneflowers and paint their portraits, too.

Happy Summer!

Today marks the summer solstice, longest day of the year and the first official day of summer! All around us are the signs of summer, too. The wild blackberries are full and ripening, the hummingbirds buzz back and forth hungrily sipping at the feeders, fireflies are twinkling brightly at night, and, in this part of the country, the temps and humidity are sweltering. It's definitely t-shirt and shorts season!

The return of the perennial day lilies is such a beautiful sight this time of the year. I love seeing these stately flowers growing en mass along the roadsides here in the country. The woodland trails in the woods I played in as a child were lined with day lilies. Just the sight of these bright orange blossoms brings back treasured memories of those long-ago summer days spent enjoying and exploring those woods.

The first poem I ever published was an ode to summer and I'll share it here.

Happy summer to all!!!

SUMMERS DAY AGAIN

Shining eyes on sparkling morn,

Jewels of daisies fields adorn.

Sprinkles and drops of morning dew,

Rainbow bright, so full of hue.

Fields abound with life a buzz,

Toads, mulberries, moth wings fuzz.

Sky so deep and stars so bright,

Dancing fireflies now in flight.

Quiet the field, cool the earth,

Dawn will bring new rebirth.

Our Wedding Anniversary

On June 14, Kevin and I celebrated our first Wedding Anniversary. We've been together about five years now, but our days of wedded bliss number just a few over the one year mark. Even though our first year was full of health challenges, we faced them together and came out all the stronger as a couple because of them. What an incredble gift to be sharing life with your soulmate, your true love, someone who inspires you to want to be your very best! We both were so happy to find each other and combine our solo journeys into one shared by two.

Kevin gave me a beautiful vase to mark the special occasion of our first anniversary, which you can see in the photograph above. The blues in it match the cornflower blue color of my wedding dress. I gave Kevin a hand tooled leather journal with the Tree of Life on the cover. We were tickled to find we both chose gifts with tree motifs for one another. We both love trees and our cabin is surrounded by them. Both of us are also dedicated members of a group that aims to help preserve our local forests.

It seems only fitting that I end this blog with a photograph of a tree...a lovely pink magnolia tree in full bloom. It could very well be the type of tree that inspired the artist who hand painted the design on my beautiful anniversary vase.

Calvert Cliffs

Over the Memorial Day Weekend, Kevin and I took a day trip to Calvert Cliffs State Park, noted for its towering red-colored cliffs that run along a portion of the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The stretch of beach in front of the cliffs is an excellent place to search for fossils and sharks teeth among whatever mix rolls in with the bay surf. The cliffs themselves are now off limits to the public, in an effort to prevent erosion.

To access the beach area, park visitors follow a windy trail through the woods for approximately two miles. Despite the heat of the day, the trail was shaded by tree cover, so it was comfortable walking. A narrow stream paralleled the hiking path, its tiny waterfalls adding sparkle.

On route, we passed a large pond where we saw a crusty, old snapping turtle eager to catch a small blue gill for lunch. A school of blue gills, as well as a lone, larger-sized bass, glided through the murky shallows. Further on down the path, we spied a tiny, metallic colored skink that scooted out of our view into the understory. We also got a glimpse of a young black snake as it lazily essed across the trail.

The woods were a mix of hardwoods and pine...and some of those pines were huge! In the photograph above, you can see evidence of the feeding habits of the yellow-bellied sapsucker in the rows of holes left behind after its excavation efforts for insects within this sap-laden pine tree. We didn't see the sapsucker, but we were very fortunate to catch sight of an uncommon red-headed woodpecker atop an old snag, so named because its entire head is covered with bright red feathers.

Before reaching the beach destination, we passed a series of swamps, vast areas of lily pad covered still waters alive with the chorus of chirping frogs. Brightly colored tiger swallowtail butterflies criss-crossed the water, fluttering in between the old tree stumps and new greenery.

Finally, a glimpse of the beach and the cliffs beyond. A group of boys search for sharks teeth among the surf. When we arrived at the shore, it was high tide and the beach area seemed very small. It was such a nice holiday weekend, so what beach there was was packed with people all eager for an early taste of summer mixed with a bit of adventure.

Scenes from Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg is a fascinating place to visit, steeped in history and with so much to see and do. Kevin and I traveled to Virginia in the early part of the week and toured the historical town. One of our first stops was a folk art museum that housed colonial period furniture and furnishings as well as many other objects of folk art. In the photograph above, Kevin curiously scans a carousel with two horses, a goat and a giraffe.

Old-time taverns are the place to go for a good, hearty meal in Williamsburg. I liked the ambiance created by the light streaming in the window of this simply furnished tavern. Tavern staff dress in period clothing and offer tidbits from the past. Our waitress informed us that the salt on our table would cost more than the meal in colonial times. Ordering an open bowl of salt to be placed on your dining table was considered to be a sign of wealth and social standing.

The main corridor of the colonial town is lined with a mix of period homes, shops, and tradesmen demonstrating their particular crafts. Above, a woman in colonial style dress demonstrates basket making using white oak splints. She explains that now that her basket is woven, she will attach a handle. Baskets were a common means of carrying and storing goods in colonial times.

One of my favorite features of the colonial town are the many gardens interspersed here and there. The bright orange blossom above is a pomegranate flower. The fruits of the pomegranate are dried and make a popular winter holiday decoration.

This final photograph gives you a look at a lovely cottage garden with foxglove flowers standing tall in shades of pink, lavender, and white. The A-frame home in the background is typical of those that line the streets of town. In addition to the various gardens, there are many mature trees lining the streets and adding to the beauty of the historic town. My favorite of these is the tall southern magnolia with its saucer-sized, fragrant, vanilla white flowers.