The Osprey Cry

The ospreys' cries have ceased

their empty platform nest
of twigs, driftwood
and seaweed
rises from the water

in solitude

all that remains
of their Maine
summer

fall seems imminent
as she slowly
steals in
silencing the osprey cry

once again

~ ~ ~

Sound of time

the sound of time

once moved

slowly

toward my future

only to

speed up

as my future

quickly becomes

my past

   : : :

~ sharing with ~

Lisa Gordon's Creative Exchange

Summer's end

why must the August summer
rush

with days that tumble
into long shadows
of afternoons
evening dew
and harvested gardens

oh dear august

i do not want to lift the latch
that releases you
into september’s
embrace

: : :

Summertime ... and the livin' is easy

oh sweet summer

filled with

barefoot freedom

and joy

just to be

alive 

~ ~ ~ ~

It seems we have reached the middle of summer and yet I feel it has only begun.  Today, the heat has left the Northeast and we have been given a glorious summer day.  

It makes me want to kick off my shoes and play!

And drink Margaritas!

Stay safe, my friends!

~sharing with~

Weekend Reflections
Your Sunday Best 

Joy

Royal Terns

Joy

isn't that just a great word

simple, playful, light

not full of itself

but just

sits there

confidently

waiting for me

to own it

: : :

One of my most favorite places is a beach on the northern end of Anna Maria Island.  We visit several times a year and each evening, The Professor and I pack up a bottle of wine and our chairs and stroll to an almost deserted beach for sunset. 

Well ....  we may have to share it with a few of the local inhabitants but I don't really mind.  

They really put on a show for us, swooping and preening and fishing.

I took the above photo this past spring.  

Everytime I look at it ... 

it makes me
smile

And for me,

that is pure

joy

For more Share the Joy Thursday, visit Meri @ Meri's Musings.

If I could talk to the animals ...

Rocky Squirrel: Hey hey hey hey house lady .... somebody has been eating your hostas!

Me:  Oh, no, not again!  

Rocky Squirrel:  Yes sirreeee!   I saw that Bambi hanging out munching away the other night.  But she only got a few ... cause I stormed down from my nest and chased her off!

Darth Vader Squirrel:  He sooooo did not.  I was the one who chased her off.  Cause of my dark complexion, I was able to sneak up on Bambi and bite her foot.  You should have seen her run! 

Me:  Really?  Very brave of you but that wasn't really very nice.

Pope Cardinal:  Shut up you bickering squirrels.  There's a bigger problem here.

Frieda Finch: Yes, yes, listen to the Pope!  Listen to the Pope!

 Red-bellied-Woodpecker Harry: Oh for God's sake, Frieda, shut up!

Me:  Fred and Fannie Finch, what are you whispering about?

Fred Finch:  Well, Bambi took off so fast, Theo Thumper was left in the dust ... or more accurately, in the hostas.

Fannie Finch:  (giggle) Oh Fred, you're so funny. Yes, poor little Theo Thumper was left behind.  He's homeless!

Me:  Oh for heaven's sakes!  Poor Theo Thumper!  Where is he?

 Theo Thumper: Here I am!!!  Here I am!!  I wasn't sure that you would be glad to see me.

Theo Thumper:  I've been sleeping in the bushes over there cause I'm lost and don't know how to get home.

Pidgeon Pearl:  I'll offer you my nest.  I'm going to be out of town for a few days looking for that no good husband of mine who flew the coop!

Theo Thumper:  Well, that's mighty kind of you m'am!

 Fannie Finch:  Does this mean I have to share my bath?

 Charlie Chickadee:  I just left home so I can't help you.

Rocky Squirrel:  I'm not sharing this spot under the feeder.  It's all mine!  Mine!  Mine!  Mine!

 Carmen Chipmunk:  I'm still building my nest.  Anyway, I don't think you'd fit in my door.

Me:  You're all not being very friendly to Theo Thumper!

Theo Thumper:  Oh, that's okay.

Theo Thumper:  There's plenty of food around here though.  This is mighty tasty.  What is it?

Me:  Uh ... it's a Hibiscus which I just bought ... I sure wish you wouldn't eat on it ... 

Theo Thumper:  Oh, I'm sorry ... sometimes I just can't help myself ... I just begin foraging without asking.

Fabio Finch: Hey house lady ... there's a new guy in town!  Look at that tail.  What's up with that?

Me:  Finch, be kind now ....

Fabio Finch:  Wa ha ha ha ha ...

Rocky Squirrel:  Hey man, that's just not right.

Rocky Squirrel:  I'm outa here ... he's got the scurvies!

Theo Thumper:  Well, that was rude.

Me:  Mmmmm..... yes ...... but what about you?  Evening is coming and you have no place to stay.

Theo Thumper:  Oh, that's okay ... there's plenty of places for me to hide and there's that lovely garden in case I get hungry.  I'm sure later tonight, Bambi will be back.

Me:  (sigh) Yes ... that's what I thought.


PS. Names were changed to protect the guilty and photos were taken behind the safety of my windows today.

PSS.  This is the first time I've ever seen a rabbit in our yard!  I'm sure it is because our Travis Beagle is no longer here to patrol. 

Me:  Right Travis McGee? 

Travis:  Ruff ... Ruff... Ruff!

Daydreamin'

Sometimes it's fun to daydream of life in another place and time.   

Not that I'm not happy with my life the way it is ... but sometimes daydreamin' is fun!

Here goes.

By the way, all the pics are from my recent travel in Portugal in the Douro Valley.

 I'll be watching for you as you come by train

waiting here in the coolness of the one room station

We'll stroll down the town's small main street

 And you'll chuckle at the thought of me in this small village

far removed from my once

comfortable life

We'll grab my car, the one you said was not my style

And begin our short journey to my home

 You will be surprised at its modesty

You always figured me for a girl in something like this,

but you had me figured wrong

I'll make us some coffee and we'll walk among my 

young vineyard

And I will tell you of my dreams of how my young grapes

will someday turn into a strong vineyard

and folks will come from around the world

to taste my fine port wine

and from this fine business that I have created

I will expand my small home

so family and friends will come and visit 

like you

And we'll stroll among the olive trees or

 cruise in my boat

But that is all to come

and the day will be drawing late, my friend,

so we will sit and have dinner

 talk and laugh

and sit in wonder 
of the 

beauty that surrounds us

In the morning, I will drive you back to the train station

and bid you goodbye

until the next time

Wasn't that fun!

What's your daydream?

PS.  No Portuguese grapes were injured in this daydream.