beautiful Jane Kenyon

After an Illness, Walking the Dog
by Jane Kenyon

Wet things smell stronger,
and I suppose his main regret is that
he can sniff just one at a time.
In a frenzy of delight
he runs way up the sandy road—
scored by freshets after five days
of rain. Every pebble gleams, every leaf.

When I whistle he halts abruptly
and steps in a circle,
swings his extravagant tail.
The he rolls and rubs his muzzle
in a particular place, while the drizzle
falls without cease, and Queen Anne’s lace
and Goldenrod bend low.

The top of the logging road stands open
and light. Another day, before
hunting starts, we’ll see how far it goes,
leaving word first at home.
The footing is ambiguous.

Soaked and muddy, the dog drops,
panting, and looks up with what amounts
to a grin. It’s so good to be uphill with him,
nicely winded, and looking down on the pond.

A sound commences in my left ear
like the sound of the sea in a shell;
a downward, vertiginous drag comes with it.
Time to head home. I wait
until we’re nearly out to the main road
to put him back on the leash, and he
—the designated optimist—
imagines to the end that he is free.

borrowed from today's Gwarlingo: http://www.gwarlingo.com/2012/the-sunday-poem-jane-kenyon/

(such a lovely blog post dedicated to Jane Kenyon today. and i dedicate this reposting of it to Barb Bald. xo)

another one you might like: http://astherabbithole.blogspot.com/2011/07/100-times-beginner-status-thoughts-on.html

My best news all year!

See Scott's post...

Love, Ally

Consider yourself invited!

Don't forget to visit Rock, Water and Light from time to time, to see what we're up to. I've been trying to write again, and Scott has been posting the most fantastic photos of the most beautiful children. I'm thinking he should go into child portraiture...but he does love the quiet solitude of those hours traipsing the wilderness and beaches. Come visit! Be inspired.

~Al

Sweetness and light

These are two sweet pictures I want to share from my good friend Marie's blog - two that cheered me up today. Her blog is always good for a cheering.

~Ally

Great things I did on my summer "vacation"...

...and it's not even half over yet!

1) Went on a 3,008-mile road trip with Scott to visit friends, family, grandkids, and an old college buddy.

2) Had dinner in Andover with Kel.

3) Talked on the phone regularly with Robin in Canada.

4) Helped Laurel and Conrado (and Bumbers) move into their first new home!

5) Went surfing with Scottie and Mattie in Hull at the wonderful (and missed) Nantasket Beach...followed up by dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant, Punjab Cafe in Quincy.

6) Went kayaking on a beautiful mountain lake with Barb and Ted.

7) Planted flowers on Dad's pretend grave for Father's Day and introduced Scott to the Concord Beef & Seafood store. (And later, the quirky, strange and delicious Gas Lighter Restaurant, which has a Ms. Pac Man machine!!!...I am in heaven.)

8) Hiked up to the Canterbury Water Tower with Izzy and Tammy.

9) Doggie-sat for Dufus, our favorite canine neighbor.

10) Went to Beech Hill Farm (to visit our favorite goats and their new goat-lings, donkey, and ice cream barn), and to Dimond Hill Farm for incredibly fresh and delicious produce.

11) Started going weekly to the Concord Farmers' Market, and sometimes the Art Market and other local farm stands.

12) Went to the wonderful hidden treasure, the Mill Brook Gallery and Sculpture Garden.

13) Took photographic adventures with Scott, including Merrill Pond and Bear Brook State Park, to name a few.

14) Saw the hysterical musical, "A Year with Frog and Toad," and yes, I said Frog and Toad.

15) Had a great Fourth of July with Mom, Laurel and family, and Scott, including swimming at the pool AND Lake Winnisquam, and fireworks in downtown Laconia.

16) Swam in the Merrimack River with Mom and Scott on a lazy hot afternoon.

17) Went to warm and inviting gatherings with White Mountain Sangha.

18) Enjoyed backyard-neighbor barbecues and fellowshipping.

19) SWAM IN OUR NEW POOL!!!!

20) Just enjoyed a wonderful and too-fast weekend at Grape Island in Maine with Laurel & Co. and Laurel's family, including old summertime friends and Conrado's sister Shanti (whom we just love).

What am I missing? I'm sure I'll remember some other fun soon.

I am blessed and grateful.

~ Ally

(photo by Scott Snyder)

Well, kitties, I wrote something. You can hear about our road trip to the deep south on Rock, Water, and Light, and for those of you following the baby saga on Yahoo, you can hear a bit about that too. Sign in, check in, and tell me all about you.

Writing has been an elusive little monkey of late - no time or energy - but it feels good to be back in the saddle again.

Am reading "Julie & Julia" for all you readers and resident foodees. I highly recommend it. Even better than the wonderfully fun and inspiring movie.

Au revoir for now!

~Ally

This Simple Woman's Day Book

The Simple Woman's Day Book . . .


FOR TODAY, March 26, 2010

Outside My Window... it has turned to night. The sun stays out longer now and the air has been quite warm, though today, evening brought a chill with it. New Hampshire is officially in Springtime, as the snow and ice have melted, buds have begun on the bravest of trees, and the ticks, bees, geese, and even one sly black fly have returned. Don't they know it's only March? Ripe time for a blizzard. But our pool house opened today and we have forgotten our mittens and shovels altogether.

I am thinking... how amazing it is that a song, a scent, or the words of a stranger can evoke the strongest heart pulls toward an old friend. Last night, I heard a Little Song by Sarah Jarosz that made me long in my heart for my friend Molly, whom I have not seen in years. Today, the scented oil at the massage therapist reminded me of Amy - and now that sweet smell is on my skin, continuing to bring me back to my dear sister-like friend. Some moments in life never fade on the inside, and we are blessed by the unexpected reminders.

I am thankful for... the wonderful women with whom I work - who are kind, generous, and able to laugh at themselves. Today at work we celebrated Social Workers' Month. In Hospice, this is a particularly hard job, not for the weak of heart. I used to know a woman who worked with Aids patients. I wondered how she could endure such pain and suffering on a daily basis. Now I know that it is in helping people through their most vulnerable, frightening, and fragile times that our hearts are strengthened to love more fully, listen more deeply, and relax into the ever-present changes of a life.

From the kitchen... Scott and I will soon be enjoying the L&A Sausage Quiche, which I made again last night. Delicious! Will make some blueberry muffins - good ol' 50 cent Jiffys are still the simplest and best in my opinion - and maybe a salad to accompany the eggy pie.

I am wearing... jammies, since I am a) off work, b) home, and c) ready to enjoy a relaxing weekend! It's movie night here at Snyderville tonight - we are deciding between a scary one (Sixth Sense), a silly one (Boat Trip), and an interesting one (The Real Dirt on Farmer John).

I am creating... new habits of relaxation and de-stressing my body. Each day I work on stretching, sleeping, and bringing down my crazy by deep breathing, meditating, reading on my lunch hour, or taking in the natural world around me.

I am going... to a moving party tomorrow. Sarge, my 84-yr old friend is finally moving out of the big family house and into some more affordable apartment housing. It will be a big relief for those of us who do his finances and help with his complicated old man life. But it will probably be hard for him to leave that old house. He loves his yard projects, his gardening, his "home improvement" ventures, and most of all, his independence. How will we convince him that living in an apartment does not mean he isn't independent? And he will be right downtown, able to do all the walking and visiting he loves, shopping in his daily haunts and running up his tab at Madeleine's. All good things. His wife died in that house, and he has put in 50 years of love, sweat, and toil. I hope tomorrow he will be buoyed by friendship and laughter, and not too sad.

And FOR TODAY, March 29, 2010

I am reading...
The Elegant Gathering of White Snows, by Kris Radish

This is an amazing book that tells the stories of eight women who decide one night to take off from their lives and begin walking through the night, and then many following days. They are on a pilgrimage of sorts to think about and evaluate their lives, sharing sorrows and unraveling the tales of how they experienced life. I don't know how to put it in graceful words, but this book is very powerful and moving. Each woman's life is part of the universal story of women everywhere. It is definitely worth reading. I have been enjoying it bit by bit on my lunch hours, falling into the prose and not wanting to stop reading.

I am hoping... I have so many hopes right now I don't know where to begin. But I am also thinking on a principle from Donna Q. about how the combination of our longings and self loathing thoughts form a constant circle of frustration. Our attachments to wants and "shoulds" bind rather than free us. But meanwhile, a few of my hopes are: that Sarge can accept and delight in his new life in the apartment; that Caralee can have a break from her cancer pain and suffering and enjoy the many last days of her life; that Lauren will find a close woman friend in Mexico to share her joys, thoughts, and burdens; that my grandmas will feel loved and well taken care of in Indiana and Minnesota; that Kenda's wedding plans will bring her joy and turn into a wonderful day she will love remembering; that Laurel's new job will be a blessing to her; that my father and Grandpa C. will know they are loved and remembered, wherever they are; and that Dad will send a special blessing to Mom for their anniversary this weekend.

I am hearing... the hum of the noisy but comforting refrigerator. It is time for bed and I am avoiding the start of a new and exhausting week. But I am grateful to not be experiencing The Sunday Night Dread, as I have been lucky enough to find a job I like.

Around the house... are piles of tasks waiting to be accomplished - laundry, financial papers, my new pine cone project (from beautiful branches I gathered on our walk at the Pine Barrens on Saturday), library books to return, movies to watch and return, Pete's birthday present to mail and Easter goodies to be stuffed in baskets...the list goes on and on...

One of my favorite things... is cooking for someone else. Tonight I enjoyed making an Aztec Casserole for a dear friend and nurse with whom I work. I bribed her with Mexican food so she'd work an extra on-call shift tomorrow. I happily prepared her meal tonight, while listening to traditional mariachi love songs and cooking up a storm. I also made homemade cornbread for the first time, and it was yummy! Scott and I thoroughly enjoyed our Mexican treats before K. gets the rest tomorrow. I love cooking for my husband too.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week... I did a lot of my errands and appointments last week. So this week I will spend time with Scott, work on finances and budgeting, clean up the house, and get ready for Easter with Mom on Saturday and Sunday. I bought the eggs to be colored and the goodies to fill Easter baskets, and gathered some special pine cone twigs for decorating. What am I, Martha Stewart? I also desperately need a haircut, so maybe I can make that happen this week. Do the world a favor, right??

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


And there you have it, my Simple Woman's Day Book. View other entries at Simple Woman's Day Book. Try writing one yourself! It makes a lovely snapshot of your life, as it is - perfect in all its beautiful imperfection - today.

~Ally

Daily Dose from Shoeboxblog

All credits of hilarity go to Shoeboxblog

More New Academy Awards Categories

* Best Soundtrack Song by Gloomy Indie Band that nobody will ever hear from again
* Best Boy (What is that anyway?)
* Dog that most reminded everyone of that one dog, from that one movie with the dog
* Creepiest Creepy Kid
* Best Tolerance of Nicolas Cage
* Best telephone conversation when no one’s really on the line
* Best Boobs in 3-D
* Best Scene That makes you yell, “He would have so died from that!”
* Best Movie Poster that over promised laughter…by, like, a LOT
* Most Scientologistical

Even More New Academy Award Categories

March 5, 2010 3:53 pm

* Most critically lauded film that you saw and were like “What?”
* Best Movie directed by Gary Marshall (never presented)
* Best Performance by a hot actress playing a frump
* Best application of Duane ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s body make-up
* The Ed Begley Jr. Award for most self-righteous Prius driver
* Most bullets fired by a single character
* The “Ooh! It’s Indie!” for most pretentious piece of yuppie-bait
* Best Craft Table Hummus
* Best Performance by restaurant background couple

For your reading enjoyment and visual enrichment

Just wanted to invite you to continue following the Rock, Water, and Light blog that I write, with my husband's incredible nature and art photography. I wrote a piece tonight on formative memories, life paths, and looking at the stars. If you're into stars and all.

Scott is also doing a year-long photographic exploration of Shaker Village, nearby in Canterbury, NH. His blog for this project is called Hands to Work, Hearts to God. The name is taken from a Shaker concept of living fully in the moment, with your heart dedicated to worship in all mundane tasks. Beautiful thought, really.

We want you to be part of our lives.

~Ally

A very insightful post which reminds me of the office today...

from Cheerio Road

http://mommazen.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-sayi-mean.html

Tootsie is so funny

Her hysterical anti-V-Day-hype post...

http://vintagethirty.blogspot.com/2010/02/are-we-only-couple-waiting-for-their.html

Possibilitarian

Marie, at A Year From Oak Cottage, encourages us all to be Possibilitarians!
Here's a short excerpt from her post...

"Well, the word possibilitarian was invented by a man called Norman Vincent Peale, who I am sure most of you will have heard of. This wonderful man rose from poverty to become one of the world's most loved and best selling authors, and this word means . . . A person, who, no matter how dark things are . . . raises his sights."

Read on...

~Ally

I love my phone but seriously, yes!

Chile Chews tells it like it is in her post "Hang Up Your Phone Already!"

Yes, yes, yes.

Worst sin of all: taking unnecessary calls and texts while we are talking, eating together, or supposed to be catching up. NOT OKAY people.

~Ally

This is so true

TEN THINGS YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN IN THE FIRST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE:
by Stephen (of Shoeboxblog)

• Beer before liquor, never sicker.
• Guidance counselors don’t care if you graduate in four years.
• R.A.’s are pointless authority figures.
• Those 7:30 classes totally blow.
• That the government lies about everything, man.
• The really friendly people in the student union are part of a Christian group.
• The star basketball player didn’t pay for his $50,000 SUV.
• Ramen noodles + stolen cafeteria silverware = Dinner Party!
• The Human Sexuality course has a long waiting list, and so does the class on the Lord of The Rings trilogy.
• All the music you liked in high school actually sucks.
• That it’s never, ever too late to change majors.

-~-~-~-~
Make sure to read down Shoeboxblog and catch "Links That Amuse Us" from September 2 - tightie whities...Handerpants! ha ha ha Hysterical stuff!

~Al

heh heh

Need a Lift?

A little visit from our friends at Shoeboxblog (god love 'em):


Quote of the Day:

“You’d think ‘because it comes from goats’ would be a good enough reason for not liking goat cheese.” – Mark



(An August) Quote of the Day:

“Save electricity! Bake biscuits in your car!” - Scott

~~~~
And one tasteless [sic] joke passed along by Scott:

"If God wanted us all to be vegetarians, why did He make animals out of meat?"

Sick. Wrong. Delightful. Relaxxxx, they're jokes!
~Ally

Gratitude

...for being given a sweet award by someone I respect and admire - Donna at DQ's Windmill. Donna is a Yoga teacher, philosophy teacher, and Zen practitioner who is wise beyond her years and yet down to earth. What a joy to get an award from such a great person!


I will pass this award on to:

Michele at The Squawkery, a mom who is working on conceiving her second baby. With truthfulness and courage to ask all the tough questions, she has written a blog in which I love to get lost.

Tascha at Time With Tascha, an artist who posts the most delightful videos of making art, painting, and following the paths of her endless creativity.

Denise from Eat, Play, Love, who always has something interesting to say about family, life, or modern culture, and who has also bravely started vlogging.

Kelly from Kelly Johnson Photography, who has recently come back into my life (we used to be Chicago neighbors!) and inspired me with her keen sense of kindness and the way she captures humanity on film. Check out Kelly Johnson Photography on Facebook too.

And if she hadn't already received the award herself, I would definitely give it to Donna. She invigorates my life with her honest writing and spiritual clarity.

Good company. Get to know them too!

~Ally

Take a Vacation From To-Do-ing

says Karen at Cheerio Road. You really must read her profound thoughts...

Loving Tascha's videos!

Watch and enjoy...the artist at work.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=timewithtascha

Great WW2 Posters

Two great pics I swiped from the most interesting post about a WW2-themed ladies' event, written by my dear friend Marie at A Year From Oak Cottage.

I love these.

And that's just divine. May become my new motto.

Check out Marie's hysterical chicken picture, and her beautiful quiche with recipe attached. Yumm.

Thanks, Marie!

~Ally