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

Three of my favorite guys

(can't remember who took these pics...)

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

Grace-full Day

Had many moments of grace fall upon me today. Am grateful for:
1) Call early this morning to walk the two enormous and sweet dogs of our neighbor.
2) Good talk with co-worker.
3) Opportunity to work on and move forward a bankruptcy case I'd like to finish in the next week or so.
4) Good visit with OB/GYN and no new problems.
5) Dr.'s office being cool about me not paying my copay today.
6) Pharmacy coupon and the wonderful woman who let me pay for my prescription with a sad little baggie of rolled pennies and coins, even though what I had wasn't quite enough.
7) Good visit with Dad's "grave" at the cemetery.
8) Energetic and fun walk with the dogs, accompanied by another kind neighbor and two friendly dogs she had with her.
9) An email finally from my sister!
10) Wonderful husband who brought home much-needed groceries unexpectedly!!
11) Relieving talk with NH Unemployment who will probably process my claim without much delay.
12) Time to nap.
13) Free coffee from White Mountain Coffee (thank you TD Banknorth).
14) Beautiful full moon.
15) Sweet, loving family that will not change even as the trials of life continue to appear.

Good life and I am thankful for it.
~Ally

Thanks and Dreams

Tip: Check out the great new painting "Woofstock" at Time with Tascha.

Hello friends~

Thought I'd do a brief gratefulness list:

1. Scott's daughter Hillary and her husband Dustie are doing well with the kids. But say a prayer for them, as they are grieving the loss of Dustie's brother who passed unexpectedly.

2. My friendship with the little old man is coming together nicely, and I think of the time spent as "volunteer work." Doing nice things for him is helping me as much as it helps him.

3. Mom and I plowed through two weeks of old moldy boxes - remnants of several previous cross country moves - and pitched about 80% of all of that stuff. Don't worry, Lauren, we kept all the memorabilia and great children's books. We cleaned and repacked everything to keep and we will be mold free very soon!

4. No hives from the mold. Yeehaw!

5. Despite uncovering MAJOR political and idealistic differences between me and my old friends reclaimed on Facebook, I have rekindled some old friendships. Bringing Past Allison and Present Allison together must be good for self-development. Right?

And a few dreams:

1. I would love to have a little curly-haired daughter with big green eyes someday; we will walk hand in hand through Autumn leaves in the park, chasing the dogs and kicking leaves wherever we go. We will tell secrets at night and sing every song we know in the dark, with a candle burning (just like Lauren and I did with our mom). She will probably be too smart for her own good and emotional like me (and Scott), but she will be irresistible because of those qualities.

2. We hope to find a big farm house with a mother-in-law cottage, on a few acres in NH or Vermont. Mom will live with us part of the year, and have enough money to go back and forth to Mexico and stay with Lauren and Co. We will have some dogs and maybe a llama or three, a few rascally goats, and a brown-eyed cow.

3. I want to have a burial plot for Dad at the Blossom Hill Cemetery (also called Calvary Cemetery) in Concord. I want to be able to stop there on the way home from work and say a few words to him, tend the flowers, and rest.

What's on your heart these days?

~Ally

A friend emailed me this today

with the question: How bad is the economy?

(photo from Web)

and the caption: Cats are soooo dramatic!

heh heh

I'm sorry - how could I not?

Beware, you will possibly get sucked into multiple YouTube singing dog videos if you have nothing to do...especially if you are supposed to be going to the post office. (Ahem.)

Good Things

1. There is a beautiful cemetery nearby where I hope we can have Dad's ashes placed, in a family plot, so I have somewhere to visit him. I went there the other night to talk with him, even though his remains are not there yet. The place feels right and it is comforting.

2. My grief group has been so encouraging and I really appreciate getting to know those people.

3. Facebook has been fun for reconnecting with old friends and finding out what they're up to.

4. Hillary and baby are doing well and we are glad baby is still in the "oven" for the time being. Though an uncomfortable Hillary might disagree.

5. The crazy cat, O'Reilly, tried hard to burn his tail but putting it right over a burning candle - for about 20 seconds! - but his tail, despite singed hair, is no worse for the wear. Silly kitty!

6. Scott and I are doing well on the baby-making plans, and enjoying the, uh, process. ;)

7. I have a part-time job now and though it's not a lot of money, it gives me a schedule and regular time in an office to keep my skills up. It also gives me a chance for social interactions, which are very helpful to me.

8. Mom is taking me to visit Grandma Dorothy in about a week and I am very much looking forward to visiting her. It's been way too long and I've missed her. I will also get a chance to visit our old neighbors and go to Mom's writing group in Fargo.

9. Scott has found a beautiful dog for us and it's the kind I have been hoping for: an English Setter!

10. Chocolate. Brownies. 'Nuff said.

11. We are working on a trip to include visiting Hillary once her baby arrives, and seeing Scott's Mom and Dad in Alabama. Spring is for visiting Snyders this year.

12. Lauren and Benjamin bought the house they have been wanting for years! They are well into renovation projects already.

13. My women's group starts on Saturday and I am very excited!

14. Judy the Cat has become my snuggly bunny and she just loves her mama. Meow.

How are you?
~Ally

A ha ha ha

from Shoeboxblog

A New Friend

You may have seen this go around the email turnstyle. Scott sent it to me this morning and I love it. Not sure who took the pictures.
~

GUESS WHO CAME HOME FOR DINNER?

This fawn followed this beagle home ---- right through the doggie door ---- in the Bittinger, MD. area recently. The owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home.

Movie Matinee!

Saw Hotel For Dogs this afternoon with Mom and absolutely loved it! Super fun and amusing and dear. Safe for kids. And inspiring for dog-lovers and misfits everywhere. A must see, no matter if it's a blockbuster or not!

~Ally

Best Friends

Bella and Tara, 2gether 4ever

I'm Grateful For...

1. A warm kitty sprawled out beside me, in her red rhinestoned collar. I trimmed the cats' nails for the second time last night. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it can be done.

2. "Everybody Loves Raymond," 11:30 pm. Even though they are yelling at each other all the time, I find it relaxing to watch.

3. My new fuzzy brown sweater. Mmm, cozy.

4. Scott is still employed and though things are tense at his workplace, with everyone wondering who is about to be laid off, he has made himself doubly useful to his employer by doing several jobs in one. We love him for that.

5. Harvest Stuffing, as modified by Allison. Who ever heard of carrots in stuffing? I am practicing and narrowing down a stuffing choice, the only variable for Thanksgiving. If it turns out well, I'll share my recipe.

6. Not having to get up at a specified time in the morning. I am working freelance from home right now. Will probably spend a few days sorting out the delicate balance of how to ignore the laundry and clutter and focus on work. Once I get into the work, I lose myself in it and suddenly, it's 5:00. But the getting started - aye, there's the rub. Especially when the house is a mess. I find it almost impossible to work (or clear my head) when there's stuff all over the place. I'm sure this is a skill - segmenting? Any advice?

7. My cacti are growing new tendrils, even though they aren't getting much light indoors.

8. Mom is coming over for dinner on Wednesday. I really like having her around and especially need her company right now. She is bringing the movie Wall-e.

9. I am tossing around thoughts for the Christmas letter. This is the cooking part, the marination of ideas.

10. Tip had his 16th birthday today! I bought him some duck jerky (what?) to celebrate. Unfortunately, it was too hard for him to chew since his teeth have gone soft. So he gummed it for a while and that seemed to make him happy.

How are you?
~Allison

Tippy

photo by Scott Snyder

Gave my baby a bath tonight. Snuggly fuzz bug. I'm so glad he's still alive.

This pic is of us last summer, 2007.

~Ally