late morning
on the tiny deck
behind my tiny cottage
surrounded by a tiny garden
sharing this tiny space
with a
delicate spider
perched upon
champagne dreams roses
petals flying
orange cat
stretched out
on
weathered deck
under a cloudy sky
sipping
warm coffee
with
coconut cream
reading
listening
taking it all in
happy to share this space
all of us knowing
life is good.
—-
exclusiveness in a garden is a mistake as great as it is in society.
– alfred austin
and so it began
another summer
had arrived
and
it was kicked off
in a larger than life way
with
martha reeves and the vandellas
giving a free concert
outisde on the street
and
it brought people of all kinds together
to
dance in the streets
and
sing
and
remember
and
celebrate
the season
and later
i had the chance to see
my co-worker from school
in a very different role
acting in a
powerful production
of one of my favorites
‘rent’
held in a beautiful old theater
with voices booming and tears flowing
and i couldn’t have asked for a better way
to be welcomed into summer
but with music and passion.
and for now a word
of summer’s day in winter
gold and welcoming.
—
image credit: earthporn
—
Image: “Summer,” Thomas Wilmer Dewing, 1893, oil on canvas
climbing the apple trees
flying kites
chasing fireflies
sending messages in a bottle
wandering through the library
playing big games
losing shoes
baking cupcakes
reading books
so many surprises
walking everywhere
finding clues
making costumes
singing made-up songs
talking into the sewer to invite the ninja turtles to a party
meeting the people all around
making up and telling stories
robots and legos
dancing like centipedes
playing in and out and around the water
sand in your pants
tunnels and giant ants
making a palace for the fairies to move into
big, big messes
cardboard forts
cousins, cats, dogs, goats, bunnies, lobsters, frogs, fish
and more family of all kinds
and becoming part of the art
you are six shooting stars on a shining summer’s day.
—
yeah we all shine on, like the moon, and the stars, and the sun. –
john lennon
—
dedicated with love to all of the little stars who make my life so big
and all of my seasons so bright –
peaches
how many minnows are in there?
what’s that thing?
is that place far away?
how many different colors are in there?
where did the sun go?
why is that bigger than my head?
who’s turn is it?
—
sittin’ on a dock on a bay…..
address:
on glen lake up north in michigan
a windy day
at empire beach
on lake michigan
by sleeping bear dunes
It was a splendid summer morning and it seemed as if nothing could go wrong.
John Cheever
—
image credit: hypersloth.me
with yet another day of below zero temps and flying snow, i have warm memories of baby v and lewis the cat, as they crossed paths last summer at my favorite garden store, just a beautiful walk away from the cottage.
i’m just going to stop over for a minute and tell lewis something.
okay, we are good.
lewis is a well-respected and incredibly tolerant employee. and a very good listener.
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness. ~John Steinbeck
I didn't have my glasses on.... 