Enya Says

Enya Says:

Well sports fans, I've been in Arizona for three weeks now, give or take a week. As I've aged my personal calendar has a fudge factor. Even clark with that weighty calendar he trucks around everywhere gets confused about what day it is. We are staying at the casita owned by Heinz and Gisela. I have stayed here before and it suits me well. Heinz and Gisela like me and I like them. The only thing I am disappointed about is the lack of lizards. I do not like them and and they feel the same about me. I have searched and scoured their usual hiding spots but they are still holed up. I heard Annie say to clark that this Wednesday is supposed to be 80. I've read that lizards like it hot so I am saving all of my energy for Wednesday when I hope to give them pursuit. I don't know what I will do if I snag one but I'll figure that out on Wednesday. 

On Friday a squadron of humming birds arrived in the casita backyard. I heard Heinz say they come from South America, a place I don't know anything about. Heinz is well read so I take his word about a number of things. I think humans call it "faith." You have to be wary of humming birds as they are pugilistic and will strafe you and try to boss you around and make you do things you don't want to do.  Do not underestimate them especially if you are slow moving. I never wear my bright colored clothes outside once they show up. I am having fun and I see that Annie and clark are feeling the same. I do not miss the snow in Montana and sometimes I feel bad for my friends to have to deal with a bucket of snow every day. Thanks to my Mom, Annie for letting me pen this and saving room in her blog for my thoughts. Good pooping and positive thoughts to all you dogs. 

To Memories To Grandchildren..

"Leaning into the Wind" is a collaboration of love and spirit put together (edited) by Linda Hasselstrom, Gaydell Collier, & Nancy Curtis. I discovered this treasure years ago while wondering through a small bookstore letting my hands drift over books, viewing titles, picking up on the energy that floats from the surface and words. It is a book written by women, some professional and some hard-working with select words that resonate with all of us who love the land and those who toil on the land. These women are from the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska & Colorado.
I could include so many special short stories, poems, etc. but I chose this one below for today. The discussions have been long and deep on our travels through Arizona. Where do people hail from, how long do they stay in the southwest, how difficult is it to leave grandkids, what about two homes... etc, etc....
No simple answer exists and of course the riddle is as fun to consider as it is to roll around in the back of your mind (or mouth if you insist). I know if and when we decide to be south for more than a few months the children and grandchildren will visit!
My grandchildren (as it is for many of you) are dreams come true. Now this is not to say that they are my children to raise but what delights that they have followed my genetic trail and bare resemblance to who, what, how and what we think about. This is an age of reflection that finds delight in the antics of small hands and playful endeavors. So to Jae bird, Triston, Layla, Klea, Ridge, Ava & Tegann... great love and anticipation of future joy.


For the Grandchildren, Coming to the Ranch. By Elizabeth Canfield

Soon summer, returning, will bring you here again,
And during these sweet days of early spring
Coming after winter's stringent pause,
I hurry to make ready for you,
To gather gifts that will bring my own renewal
As I watch your days of childhood move along.

You'll kneel to see each flower,
Hear the songs of birds and frogs and crickets,
Find excitement in the rivulets
That follow thunderstorms,
Not pick up baby kittens until
Their eyes come open, and transfer
Tiny tadpoles from the dwindling puddles
Into the larger pond, so they may live.
You'll care about the little horse
Who carries you so cheerfully,
And leave horsehair from the currycomb
Where birds can find it to build nests.

You'll learn that wild things must be free,
Yet know your lot is to be tamed
By such small things as making beds
And brushing teeth and cleaning bathrooms
And finding hampers for the dirty clothes.

With sorrow you will see
There's no happy ending for the hawk
Who hit the highline,
Or the little lamb who couldn't nurse-
That the race is not always to the swift
Nor the battle to the strong.
I hope you learn that only under truth
Do we find solid ground.

I'll strive to guard you from
The permanent self-pitying adolescence
Where so many grown-ups stay,
And help you keep a measure of innocence-
Not enough to make you gullible, but sufficient
To guarantee you hope,
And a sense of wonder
As you step out to find your way.

Textural Feelings

Textural 

                   

Feelings

Thoughts

Shaken in Grey

As Hand Reaches for Shapes

Confirmation of Life 

Arises

Sun 

Filters Through

Reminding 

Confirming

All Will Go On. 

Live Life To Fullest 

Measure. 

Sharp As A Tack

The Bend in the Road 

Calling

Imploring

A Hint of Color

Awaits.

New moon Illumination

Well, the new moon shined down last night as the hummingbird moths floated among the flowers. Wise words were spilled as we sipped the earth's nectars. Perspective on life floats lighter when we are able to escape past our own arena, box, atmosphere. We begin to let others reality spill in. Deborah O'Connor's deep words from her blog touched my hearthstone in the middle of my heart. Her website is www.lovedogdesign.com. Her blog is always illuminating. Respect and nurturance of the natural world, providing kindness for each other, and staying aware for our world needs (NEEDS) us. Period!
This phrase from Deb's writings really touched me: We would all do well to follow suit, to honor what is not flashy nor noisy but is steadily and humbly nourishing us... and then do our best to return something of ourselves, offering our time to what has been forgotten by the thrusting, lumbering, unconscious Zeitgeist. It won't matter if anyone notices your kind gesture. You'll know."
This, this is what I can offer, Saving the world, you say, overwhelming at best. 
Daily reminders of severe cases of cancer, illness, suicide and depression surround us. We are needed in our small neck of the woods. 
Continue to lift one another, laugh together and (for goodness sake) notice the birds, notice the trees, notice the life that surrounds us! You are such a joyous part of this world. I'm honored to know each and everyone of you. Our blogs (Enya and I) will be written weekly, our love will be sent daily and our care will be dispensed always. 
Love 
Annie, Trace & Enya.