A MERMAID'S TALE

(I wrote this, 6 Aug 2011, on the closing of a beautiful warm summer day, with cooling breezes softly caressing the tender leaves in my Dry World—no rain today!)


*** A MERMAID'S TALE ***

IF I were a Mermaid, I would sit on a coral perch
and tend my garden of waterweeds.

Perceptions of the Dry World above  -- Mute,
as the serene waters enclose me in my liquid cocoon.

My Cousins flashing silver among the coral,
as they dance a water ballet to the trumpeting music of seashells.

IF I were a Mermaid -- Safe and Happy
and Content in my Watery World.

[dht-2011]


[PHOTO SOURCE: GOOGLE online images]

Frolic and Tittering Waif-Flies

(I wrote this, 4 Aug 2011, as the close of a beautiful day drew neigh, thinking of all the butterflies in the garden that were done with their busy day, and were seeking their rest and maybe some storytelling with their neighbors -- purely fantasy of course.  ‎"... as falling leaves absent tree boughs ... "; this is a poet's way of saying leaves are falling. Takes a bit more thought and attention to "wordsmithing".  With that phrase, I FIRST wrote it in plain English -- "as the leaves fell off the tree branches". THEN, I wordsmith'd it so it would sound more FEY and OLD ENGLISH! (chuckles) Hope you liked it!  IT WAS FUN -- like doing SCRABBLE!   By the way, "WAIF-FLIES" is a name I made up, because I thought "butterflys" JUST DID NOT DO IT for the tale.)



*** FROLIC AND TITTERING WAIF-FLIES ***

There was a certain warm lavender peace
in the Dawn shadows,
from whence a Fey Dreamer watched unobserved,
as Waif-Flies frolicked
on soft breezes.

Time's gentle hands,  pause Future's Passage for the nonce,
while the Fey Dreamer eavesdrops
on Their discreet Titterings
in an Auburn Wonderland
enshrined in Autumn's embrace.

Reality's illusions drop away
as falling leaves absent tree boughs,
as secrets are revealed
to Whimsey's delight.

[dht-2011]

[PHOTO SOURCE: Google online images]

JUST DAY DREAMING

The skyline is a Mocking reflection
of my Day Dreamer's Passage.

My thoughts wander
chasing butterflies
in the Garden of my mind.

Graceful waves of ferns
emote a welcome greeting
on my Sojourn.

Glimmers of blue and green
sparkle at the edges of my Dream
off the cool waters
catching the sunlight.

My Day Dreamer's thoughts
feather to nothing,
burdens of the day,
easing the Signs of worry
from my brow.

A brilliant smile lit from within,
hints of the whimsical fancies
that dance to a tune
only this Day Dreamer hears.

Mysterious thoughts
challenge and inspire
and excite my Day Dreamer's Nature.

Lack of coherent order
releases the Bonds
that shroud the Boundary
of my senses.

Reflections of a secret romantic,
flicker as patterns of mist and fog,
smoke and shadow,
sun and moonbeams,
and fall across
my Day Dreamer's imaginary Landscape.

Warmth, laughter, and LOVE --
all welcome ingredients
for Today's Illusions
and Tomorrows Hopes.

And, the polly wogs in the Pond
all turn into Princes,
as the Day Dreamer's interludes
slip by-the-by.

The drab sparrow drops its cloak,
revealing beneath its brightly feathered finery
in a Peacock's plumage; 
But, Beware
the hidden heart of a Hawk!

A profusion of flowers
array in drooping sleepy splendor
along the Day Dreamer's Path.

Candle flames dance merrily
into the evensong of the Sunset.

Flickers of moonlight
beckon the Day Dreamer
to witness its play
on the garden Steps.

Overhead the stars in the night lit heavens,
shine as celestial beacons,
softly guiding this Nocturnal Traveler.

Whispers of a soft summer evening
drift on a gentle breeze,
ruffling the rhythms of my Flight.

Such are the Meanderings of my mind.

I am – A DAY DREAMING TRAVELER!

[~dht-2011]

***************

(Just being and writing on 11 Jul 2011, for some days are just easy and made for lazy-ing around and JUST DAY DREAMING about your Life, Yesterday, Today, and pondering Tomorrow!   My life is a river that flows, I know not where, With eddies for reflecting, and swift currents gone too quick, Past the 'Shores' of my life. Yesterday's youthful dreams, Today's hopeful goals, Float on the water without anchor, Toward Tomorrow's Destiny.) [~dht-2011]


[PHOTO SOURCE: GOOGLE online images]

DANCING DANDELIONS

(As I was walking, 6 Jul 2011, on the 'Beaver Pond Walk' in the Senior Community where I live, there was the softest breeze that teased the wild grasses and and swayed the blooms of the yellow Dandelions that bordered the walking trail. It was a magical moment that I enjoyed and captured in several photos.  I could almost hear the 'Waltz' in the air that the blooms were dancing to.)

Yellow Dandelions border the trail,
their blossoms dancing merrily
to a tune only Nature plays. 

Suddenly Day's Passage changes the blooms
to white seeded spheres. 

Be QUICK to make a WISH
and use your BREATH
as the feathery seeds fill the air. 

Watch in wonder
as the seeds take flight
and drift far and wide
on a summer breeze.

[~dht-2011]

***************
A few WEB SITES for DANDELION info:
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Dandelion.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/dandelion/



***************

               [PHOTO SOURCE:  My photo, My Camera, 2011 on 'Beaver Pond Walk']

[AND, here is a short video of the DANCING DANDELIONS

 that I took with my camera on this walk. ~ dht-2011]

BLESSINGS of a new day

(I wrote this tribute to a beautiful dawn, 5 Jul 2011, viewed from my backyard.)

SOME OF MY WORDS

My heart is weightless like a cloud

floating in a bright blue summer sky,
drifting in a warm breeze.

The sounds of the (bird's) Dawn Chorus
fill my hearing. 
The scent of flowers
perfumes the air. 

I'm BLESSED to be alive

to share this morning
as the SUNRISE anoints the day
with promise and hope. 

It's good to 'count our BLESSINGS'

each day and at every meal!  

The New Dawn a reminder

that Our Blessings
should not be taken for granted!

[~ DOROTHY HAZEL TARR dht-2011]

[PHOTO SOURCE: My camera, My backyard at NEW DAWN]

Hummingbird -- Visit

[PHOTO SOURCE: A color plate illustration from Ernst Haeckel's Kunstformen der Natur (1899), showing a variety of hummingbirds.]
**********

This morning I was watering the backyard with my garden hose by hand (the sprinklers still need repair) and enjoying the early morning sunrise, breeze, and pretty clouds. There were robins, doves, and quail in the yard with me foraging for nesting supplies and breakfast. Quietly a hummingbird came within two feet of my "NOSE" (really my nose), attracted by the fine spray of water from the hose. It took a drink or bath, and I held my breath and did NOT move!! This moment in time lasted about a whole minute. Then it flew away. The hummingbird makes a distinctive sound with the 'beating' of its wings, and I can usually 'hear' them before I see them. This was the FIRST time a hummingbird has come so CLOSE to me and a FIRST time one has come to drink and/or bath in my garden hose spray (that was in my HAND).

This whole experience was an early morning BLESSING that gave me joy and peace! I was so MOVED spiritually that I wanted to share this experience with you.

OUR DAYS ARE TRULY MADE UP OF THESE SMALL AND PRECIOUS MOMENTS!!! 
I am so glad there are flowers in the yard so that these small creatures feel safe to visit and find food!

HERE are a few PIXs of Hummingbirds that I found on the internet that looked nice (I did NOT have my camera to take my little visitor's PIX!)


THE HUMMINGBIRD:

HERE is a LINK to a description of the Hummingbird from WIKIPEDIA.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummingbird

[PHOTO SOURCE:  GOOGLE online images --  Green Violetear Hummingbird at a flower.]

GARLIC -- in my garden

                      [PHOTO SOURCE: Garlic painting from GOOGLE online images]

**********

Today I planted 50 garlic plants. I'll finish up with 50 more tomorrow. They are SO-O easy to grow in the garden or in a pot. The leaves are edible and can be cut and used like chives. The garlic plants that I planted today will mature and produce bulbs later in the season; and these I will dehydrate and store in garlic flakes and powder. I LOVE garlic in recipes, roasted, on garlic bread and in garlic mashed potatoes. I eat garlic every day in some form and it is a staple in my pantry. Garlic can also be braided into various shaped wreaths.


Just for fun, I have attached some GARLIC PIXs.

GARLIC info from wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garlic

HEALTH BENEFITS
http://www.garlic-central.com/garlic-health.html
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/garlic-000245.htm

HOW TO ROAST A HEAD OF GARLIC
USE GOOGLE to search for lots of "HOW TOs" for roasting Garlic.

Roasting your own garlic is very easy and worth every iota of what little effort, it requires because the aroma is intoxicating and the flavor smoky and mellow. In just 30 minutes, you will have a delicious appetizer ready to go. Serve with sliced crusty bread and olive oil.

TYPES OF GARLIC
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5591398_types-garlic-plants.html

Basic Types: Garlic plants are divided into two basic sub-species: softneck and hardneck. Softneck garlic is much more common and is the kind that you would buy at the grocery store. Hardneck are much less cultivated and more often found wild.

Softneck Garlics: There are two basic types of softneck garlic: silverskin garlic and artichoke garlic. Silverskin, as its name suggests, has shiny, whitish parchment covering the numerous cloves. Artichoke garlic has fewer, larger cloves with tougher coverings.

                     [PHOTO SOURCE: Above GOOGLE online images-garlic growing in soil]

                         [Above PIX from GOOGLE online images-garlic wreath.]

Your comments are welcome, especially recipes or hints on how you use garlic.

SPRINGTIME in my Garden

                     [PHOTOS SOURCE: my camera—my garden, a "Brandy Rose"]

(I wrote this , 21 Feb 2011, and took some photos, just awed and inspired by the wonders happening in my garden with the arrival of Spring in California!)

***************

I hear the remembered sounds of a spring

dawn in my garden
 

Bird song tempts me closer to my window—

camera at the ready
 

I thrust back the draperies

to reveal the restoration of my garden in full progress
 

Spring has arrived!

Flower blossoms greet the welcome blessings of sunlight

 

Butterflies flirt on petals

 

Bees conduct honeyed business

 

Hummingbirds anoint and twitter

 

Robins forage and primp

 A WALTZ is played –

the tune, the lyrics, and
the rites of SPRING!

[dht-2011]

***************

                               [PHOTOS SOURCE: my camera—my garden, "Canna"]

                  [PHOTOS SOURCE: my camera—my garden, "Iris and Petter Pan"]