Storm Clouds

The other evening, as I sat at my dining table and worked on my jigsaw puzzle, I noticed storm clouds gathering around the mountains to the east. 

Since we so seldom get rain here, it felt both unusual and so very good to sit at peace and watch the clouds.

After a while, I went outside and took a few more pictures. I know it rains most other places in this country and some of you get way too much of it. But I miss rain so much, we got a lot more of it the first ten years we lived here. These days, next to nothing. We're just coming toward the end of a very dry rainy season. 

Faith came with me and she too watched. 

But soon her pretty eyes were fixed on me again. I don't know what to do with this dog, she just loves me so much and is so attached to me. As I am to her. I tell her she's my support dog and she looks appropriately concerned and caring. Or turns over and goes to sleep. As dogs are wont to do. 

She probably would be quite annoyed if she knew I'm working on a kitty jigsaw puzzle.

This is the second puzzle I'm trying. The first one took me a while, but was for 9 years old and up so I felt a lot of pressure to finish it. This is another one of only 300 pieces, so I guess I will be able to get it done. 

Monday was the day after I watched the clouds roll in. Not much rain fell. Since I've lived here the last snow day was May 23rd. So we may get some more wet days. I certainly hope so. 

Earth Day

Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed... We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in.

~ Wallace Stegner

Conversations With Faith

Me: So Faith, I just read about the president's dog Major Biden.

Faith: What about the president's dog? Is he in the army? 

Me: No, Major is his name. And he nipped someone. Again!

Faith: Imagine that! Will he be in trouble? 

Me: I don't know, but I think he will have to go back to school, again.  

Faith: Why do you think he keeps up this bad behavior? 

Me: I guess he's upset he has to live in the White House, not in his own home. There are probably too many strangers there that make him feel insecure. What do you think? And what can be done to help him so he won't nip again?

Faith: I think he was spoiled by his daddy before his daddy became president. Now his daddy has less time to play with him. 

Then he had to move from the only home he's ever known. 

Then he has to put up with a bunch of SECRET people. Did you know they all wear dark suits and dark glasses? That alone would scare a dog. 

You do know most dogs that nip or bite do it when they're insecure or scared, don't you? 

Me: Oh, Faith, that sounds so true to me. What a smart dog you are. 

Faith: I know, but this nipping problem is kind of easy for a dog to understand. 

Me: What would you recommend they do to make Major feel more secure.

Faith: First, his people should spend more time with him and be his major walkers, not use some hired dog walker. 

Second, they should pet him and give him lots of treats. Maybe he could sleep in their bed. Unless it's too fancy a bed in this White House. 

Third, those SECRET people should look less INTIMIDATING. Dress in lighter suits, maybe. And they should most definitely take off their dark glasses when they're around Major Biden. 

Finally, this is not the time to bring a cat into the White House. Cats and their claws have a way to make even the bravest dog feel a bit insecure. Until we get used to them and allow them to  become part of our pack.

Me: I'm sure President and Dr. Biden pet Major a lot and give him treats, but great advice about cats and the Secret Service people. Do you want to write a letter to the president and tell him?

Faith: No, I think the president will have to figure this one out for himself. I mean, he must be at least as smart as me if he's the president of all of us. 

Me: You're right, I'm sure he will figure it out. 

Sunday Morning Reflections

Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.

~ Kahlil Gibran

 

Life ~ The Early Years

If I look half asleep here. Is it a sign that I would never become interested in fashion? 

This picture ends my earliest years. According to my dad's note in the photo album with my name on it, I was 17 months here. So November 1942. 

My brother would arrive in March 1943 and after that we were two in most pictures. 

After his birth we moved to our house. 

These were good and peaceful years, when I didn't know anything about the world outside of our home. This world where grownups were fighting a second world war; where mean kids and bullies would soon make me miserable; where polio, the horrific illness that so often affected children, would cause so much fear and would hit so very close to home. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I think I want to write about my life until the end of my early  teenage years, fifteen maybe. Watching my great-nieces growing up, the difference between their lives and mine are astonishing. 

Wordless Wednesday

Spring In Our Mountain Town

 

These pictures are old but since it looks just like this in our town right now, I'm posting them again. 

Looking at them, I feel inspired to drive around looking for signs of spring. Maybe when the lilacs and poppies bloom, I will explore again and take some new pictures. 

I know where to find them now. 

Sunday Morning Reflections

 

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

~ Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Continued From Last Week

 

Last week, only Carmen's tail appeard.

Here's the rest of her with neighbor Bob. 

An almost worldless post.

Conversations With Faith

 

Faith: You know what?

Me: What?

Faith: I was thinking of the people who were hugging cows. People would want to hug Samson. He's so furry and fluffy, they would love it and maybe he could make them feel better if they are sad. 

Me: I would love to make people who are sad feel better, but Samson isn't the way to go. He's not very clean right now. And I wouldn't like a lot of people coming here.

Faith: But you could make some money to pay for all his expenses. I heard his breed is the most expensive dog breed of all. 

Me: I read that too, and he is very, very expensive to keep. But as long as I'm not broke, we'll be OK.

Faith: You would have to brush him good first, and maybe give him a bath. But there may be money to be made here.

Me: No, Faith. I said no. 

Faith: $75.00 a hug?

Me: How about having people come and hug you?

Faith: I don't think so.

Me: See, that's just what I mean.

A clean and huggable Samson.

Easter Sunday

 

Happy Easter

from 

Samson, Faith, Inger and the Easter Bunny

Life ~ The Early Years

 

This made me smile: 

It looks like I'm demonstrating how to cook something. Or serve some pretend tea, perhaps. 

Look at that big spoon in my hand. 

I also look like I'm in charge, like I know what I'm doing. 

And my little friend is so good, paying attention to what I'm showing her.

And those bows! I guess they were practical in that they kept our hair out of our eyes, but still...