Old Friend Maple

So sad.  The old maple that stood in front of our house lay down Thursday evening... not an earth-suddering  crash like the oak that fell on the barn last fall, but more delicate, like a chandelier.

She had been ill for some time, as the condition of her base and roots will attest:

Before lying down, though, she prepared by providing an exuberant production of seed for her legacy:

We will honor her legacy by planting and nurturing a few of these.

Today I started tackling the task of disposing of her remains.  Halfway done. Her branches are all taken care of. They, and some of the trunk will provide warmth and a flickering, dancing spirit on our hearth.  We plan to move the main body of her trunk into the field to make a cross-country jump for our horsey friends. We will use branch tips for a bonfire by which we will dance and celebrate her life, remembering the comfort she has given us, and rejoicing in her continuing the Circle of Life.

One Winter Afternoon

My friend, Amy Dixon-Kolar reminded me tomorrow is "Poem in Your Pocket" day. This is the poem I'll be carrying in my back pocket for the day:

one winter afternoon

ee cummings

One winter afternoon (at the magical hour when is becomes if) a bespangled clown standing on eighth street handed me a flower. Nobody,it’s safe to say,observed him but myself;and why?because without any doubt he was whatever(first and last) mostpeople fear most: a mystery for which i’ve no word except alive —that is,completely alert and miraculously whole; with not merely a mind and a heart but unquestionably a soul- by no means funereally hilarious (or otherwise democratic) but essentially poetic or etherally serious: a fine not a coarse clown (no mob, but a person) and while never saying a word who was anything but dumb; since the silence of him self sang like a bird. Most people have been heard screaming for international measures that render hell rational —i thank heaven somebody’s crazy enough to give me a daisy

Autumn's Child Song Scenic Slideshow - Full HD Widescreen

After much time spent struggling with new software and a cpu not quite up to the task, I have finally finished and uploaded a new HD Widescreen version of my Autumn's Child Scenic Song Slideshow. Hope you like it.

Monica Lewinsky Turns 45

A little late on the draw for this one, but such an important historical figure should be properly remembered

Here's A little song to celebrate Monica Lewinsky's 45th birthday 9/2/2011:

A little Easter offering

Happy Easter to all who celebrate Easter -- and Happy Day to those who don't

Here's a little Easter-flavored original song offering:

I'll Love You Always

If the River Could speak

A little belated Earth Day offering:

Poem by Cowpasture Compatriot, Kelly Hamel;
Set to music by yours truly

Happy Groundhog Day!

25 Years Ago...

25 years ago - January 28, 1986

I remember watching Christa McAuliffe's parents, and the loved ones of the other astronauts staring uncomprehendingly at the catastrophe unfolding before their eyes.

And I pictured myself as one of them -- perhaps an alumnus of one of Christa McAuliffe's classes, -- trying in his own way to "reach for the stars"...

Nova
a song for Christa
in memory of the Challenger Seven

Crêpes Normandes

I made my Crêpes Normandes for after-Christmas Brunch.
	Recipe at: Ma Normandie - Crêpes Normandes

Season's Greetings

SEASON'S GREETINGS!

Click to Enjoy!