Magpie #79: Day at the Beach...

Undated photo, found in a Missouri antique shop

Photo presented by Tess Kincaid

Hostessed and challenge by Magpie Tales

sardines are we,

six siblings 

one by one

giggling, packing ourselves

into the family car...

mom counting so

none are left behind

dad revving us up

with enthusiasm

for a day

at the beach

keeping the windows down

was our air conditioning

the hour ride seemed

longer as the heat

of the day fills in

any extra space

fighting, boredom, frustration

was solved as

dad drove slowly 

up and down

the street in front

of the ocean

searching for a parking spot

united,

 we begged

and pleaded

for any spot...

"just let us out"

"drop us off"

"pleeeeaaaase dad...."

satisfied we were ready

and grateful

he parked as we

peeled our bare legs

off seats

extricating ourselves

and ran gleefully,

deliriously

onto the warm sand

for a memorable day

of family fun...

~dkb~

Tree Swing...

Photo from Google.com 

pic posted by Nell Hartz on Pinterest

Who can resist

a tree swing?

A simple time machine

back to one's youth...

~dkb~

Please Stand By...

Magpie #78: Her Life...

Photo prompt by Tess Kincaid

Hostesses and challenge by Magpie Tales

like old used 

brushes and rollers

in a closet,

her life

lies waiting

without purpose

 unpainted

a project started

 and pushed aside

lacking motivation

to make it all it could be...

her creativity stifled

in what needs to be painted, 

longing for brighter colors, 

better days, 

her mind drifts back 

 when her life had aspirations...

 bittersweet memories

of raising her children

alone in her strength

having worked most

of her life

"it felt right"

occasionally complaining

like everyone else,

but it always 

shot her out of bed each morning

recharged

 keeping her organized, on task

and happy...

was the marriage 

after  the kids moved out,

a mistake?

her doubts began

when he wanted to move away

away from her family and children

knowing they were her everything...

retired now, they both feel regret

him knowing her unhappiness

she, feeling stuck...

growing older

less physically capable

further away to ask for help

less income

 depression

less options

less conversation

gas prices soaring

less travel to visit

buyer's market

fragile economy

government turmoil

investments dropping

bleaker future

less in common

fewer phone calls and face time

as young families get on with living

raising children and working...

life goes on

like a raging river

swim or sink

this isn't how

she thought her life would be

some times

getting older

feels like 

waiting to die...

her spirit needs inspiration

her mind needs goals

her heart needs interaction

her soul needs a purpose...

her hope

like her eye sight

is dwindling...

thinking of the difference

between those with an action plan

and those without

should be as easy 

as "just doing it"

unless one is lying down...

procrastination is a rusty, 

tangled wire wrapping tighter

the more her denial

of her reality

overwhelms her...

she'd drink 

if it were her inclination...

instead, naps are her escape hatch

as her hand slams the closet door shut

pushing it from her mind,

"There will be no painting today."

~dkb~

Magpie #77: Her Soft Place to Fall...

Edward Hopper, 1947, Summer Evening

Photograph presented by Tess Kincaid

Hostessed challenge by Magpie Tales

it always was sexual

between them...

it was the magnet

which drew them together...

at first,

she reveled in the headiness

of their chemistry,

feeling the power

in his attraction...

knowing his eyes

were always

upon her body,

wanting her...

every woman

needs to feel

this abandon

at least once...

its good.

very good.

but she wanted more...

not a ring...

not commitment...

she knew they couldn't
stay apart long enough
to get to know
one another

she knew he would hold her back
the way men do when you're all they have
he wasn't curious, ambitious or handy
he was her soft place to fall...

~dkb~

Coyote Walk...

7:45am

ominous clouds over northern mountains

overcast

slight breeze

good walking weather...

eery silence

distant airplane

alternating gait thump

from my walking stick

jingling of Izzy's tags...

peeping of quails

hedge trimmer humming

one street over

clear blue skies boasting

white fleeting clouds

over southern mountains...

complete stillness

breeding strange instincts

as I connect

to the environment...

this Saturday morning

 we walk alone...

hark! a neighbor

and his Burmese,

 dog friendly, cat, Rocky...

the cat greets us

with anticipatory joy

scampering across the street

talking, asking

for attention

Izzy balks, confused,

barks

stands beside me

rigid

with downward tail...

I stroke Rocky's belly

converse and enjoy 

his loud purr...

I inquire 

on coyote sightings...

"none in years"

my neighbor responds...

I share the coyote kill

of almost two months ago

informing also

of the mountain lion kill 

three weeks ago...

just then,

a coyote, with

beautiful large pointed ears

bushy tail

lean body

with camouflage colors

trots in

from the back of my neighbor's yard...

I warn my neighbor

as he scoops up Rocky...

the coyote

sniffs the air

smelling the scent

of Izzy and Rocky

focusing on us

standing its ground

I take my dog whisperer

powerful stance

one arm on my hip

one arm stretched out

gripping my walking stick...

intense

maternal instincts

surge through me,

strengthening me

as I ready for battle...

still,

the coyote stands firm

then moves

closer...

my neighbor remarks

"its not scared is it?"

nope.

flipping my walking stick

I tap noisily on the street...

nothing.

instinctively, we rush forward

stomping our feet

moving toward it...

the coyote

nimbly lopes across the yard

into the back yard

of his next door neighbor

and we watch

as he jumps down

off a block wall

into a back yard neighbors yard

Another neighbor

comes outside

telling us he just saw 

a coyote in his back yard...

we talk

concerned

yet realizing

the reality

living within

and among wild life...

they were, here first...

I call my husband

wanting him to 

regret not walking with us,

 instead

he tells me he

is driving to pick me up...

Izzy and I continue up

the street

a female neighbor comes outside

telling me a coyote

was lying in wait

for her neighbor's three cats

it has happened before

the coyote knows

the cats are there...

I ask my husband

to drive along

while we walk

as another neighbor

walks up with his dog

after telling him

he concludes it is the

same coyote who

killed our neighbor's Yorkie

he said it was a female coyote...

I regret 

not taking a picture

of the coyote

with my cell phone...

yet wonder

if the male neighbor

had not been with me...

outside, the wind now

is whipping about,

dark cloud haze

with stop and start

rain...

perfect weather

for hunting...

~dkb~ 

What's Been Goin' On...

Hello dear blogging friends...just a quick update to check in and let you know what has been going on in our house...

My cell phone died the day before I was to pick up my girlfriend Jan, visiting from Missouri, at the airport.  I had to order a new one, and in my haste to hurry up and order one to get it delivered the next day, I dove deep into BUYER'S REMORSE...

Received the new Samsung Revolution the next day, and turned it back in Saturday, unopened.  Traded it for a special offer on a Samsung Continuum, which is just like the Samsung Fascinate, only skinnier and has a ticker display on the bottom of the screen.  So far, I really like it.  My first "smart phone".

Two days after Jan arrived, my sister Holly, girlfriend Bonnie arrived for another Creative weekend.  They drove straight to Barb's house and Jan and I met them there, after we spent three hours at the Verizon store getting my new phone...

Had a blast with all the girls...we went to the MGM and saw the baby lions.  Holly and I had our picture taken with 60lb "Buddy".  We also went to the Bellagio Conservatory and took pictures of the latest display.  Here are a few pictures below...

Buddy, who was fed ground up meat in a bottle in between pics to keep him happy.

Handlers inside the Lion enclosure...

Handler watching as Lion gnaws on plastic ball... (see all the teeth marks?)

These guys are either crazy or very vulnerable...

Pictures below are from the Bellagio Conservatory...

Made of flowers

Parrots inside the bird sanctuary

Koi fish in a pond

Barbs, me, Jan, my sister Holly and Bonnie

We collaborated on our laptops....(did a lot of admiring on Pinterest)

We took pictures of clouds...(can you see the horse?)

We took pictures of sunsets...

We posed for pictures...to imitate a poster...

We designed cups, baked them, but forgot to seal them...so some of us lost our design when we put it in the dishwasher...

We made apple crisp to go in small jars

We made lanterns with coarse salt and votive candles to hang on fences or tree branches...

We mixed colors and made scented bath salts

My sister and Bonnie left Tuesday the 25th of July and Jan left at the end of the month on the 29th.

My husband's friend arrived the evening of the 29th to stay the weekend to celebrate his 70th birthday.  We had a family BBQ on Saturday night.  He drove home Monday morning.  My husband's son was in town on business, so he stopped by two nights to visit and join in on the birthday celebrations...

My Mom and Dad celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on August 4th.  Dad is in a nursing home and Mom has been down with a sore back since April...Dad will be 91 in November and Mom is 84.

Friday, August 5th, 12 of our family caravaned up to Mammoth Lakes, CA for the weekend.  Eight adults and six teenagers.  We met our friends at the  Mammoth house.  What a great time we had!  The house was incredible!  Being among all the pine trees, sitting out on that deck enjoying nature was a masterful, soulful experience.  Lots of good food and laughter...

View from the front window...

From the back balcony...

Fishing up at Mary's Lake...

Up the hill, looking down on the family fishing...

Several of us looking at our pictures on the kitchen table...

No great weekend is complete, without Smores...cooked on the back balcony

We also went to Twin Lakes, June Lake, Convict Lake (had a nice dinner there too) and Silver Lake.  Everyone except for our friends Ray and Lana, Jerry and I, went to Yosemite on Sunday.  They had a great day except for a controlled brush fire, which make their pictures kind of smokey...

We got home Monday in the early afternoon and picked up Izzy from boarding.  I have been busy doing laundry and getting unpacked.

Yesterday, the nursing home called.  Dad was taken to the hospital for some tests as he had been throwing up.  By 5pm, they determined he was fine...only his potassium was a little elevated.  We think he over ate for breakfast.  Apparently he ate a big breakfast and then asked for a large fruit plate...

This weekend we will relax and take it easy.  Next week, my youngest daughter Jodee, her honey Jeff and son, baby Jacob, will be in town.  She is here on business, so Jeff will come visit with Jacob during the day.  We will meet them at their hotel for dinner a couple of nights...I will watch the baby while they go out for a few hours.  I cannot believe Jacob will be one year old next month!

I hope to attempt to catch up and visit some blogs this weekend...big hugs to you all!