How The Garden Grows

The garden seems to grow by the minute!  We have been blessed with a perfect blend of sunshine and rain.  Been enjoying cucumbers, onions and radishes for a while but the tomatoes seem to be taking their sweet time. I guess they want to shine alone.

Happy gardening.

It Ain't Junk

I decided this would be my cool day project after push mowing through the morning. Dad fenced the yard to keep the livestock out.  After many years sections are gone but I like to keep pieces of what was.  

I began to tear it down before my before pictures.  I had to tackle all the honeysuckle and Virginia creeper while I was working on the fence.

Dad and Mom built three rails of split posts.  There were two large gates in other spots and one walk in swinging gate here.

I decided to try and reinforce and straighten the posts while doing only two rails since it is only "decorative" now.

 After a lot of sweating

hammering and bleeding

I'm 

calling

it finished.

Max And The Cat

Midsummer Night's Melancholy by Michael Sowa

The dog watching from across the alley only wanted to play
but the cat, being a cat, kept himself turned away
window to window Max took the leap
safely landing on his feet
but the uppity cat just ran away

A  picture inspired writing prompt

from Magpie Tales

by 

Tess Kincaid

We Can Dream

dVerse~Poets Pub

Time Travel prompt

I tried.

I thought I was a cowboy
as Dad had been
i rode fattening calves
and milk cows
a forbidden adventure

Friends with horses
gave me the worst to ride
horses that laid in water
jumped logs
and dragged you off on tree limbs

My dream turned reality
equine satiated
the smell, touch was enough
i never was a cowboy
but the love of horses remains

Continuance

Bark to ashes

Fire doesn't end all

This is truth

Black, gray

Feeds the worm

To give to Mother Earth

Ye old mother

To hear her needs

Thou will be blessed

Man, woman and beast

We strain to hear

Awake!

Our bounty is not to spit on

But to reverently hold

In our hands and our heart

For what?

Continuance  

Words Count With Mama Zen At Imaginary Garden With Real Toads.

Sixty words exactly from the list Mama Zen provided.

Whew!  It was fun.

Wisdom

in dappled shade the damsels play

avoiding the spear of the midday sun

dogs cool in rolling steams

knowing staying cool is number one

humans toil in hammering sun

thinking it's important 

to get things done

we should mimic the creatures

that have more sense  

work at dawn and dusk

in between 

take care of us

For Poets United

It's The Little Things

that bring the greatest pleasure

like playing in water

barefoot.

Finding a tiny snail

and a green fly on a rock, the wonder is there

if you look.

Here's a crawdad under water

and a spider surrounded by water, my personal favorite.

Mother Nature centers me and makes me grateful for all her gifts.  Town or country, there is always something to marvel about, especially with bare feet and an open heart.

Chilling With Lil

Smart dog!

Summer has arrived.

Naked Bike Parade!!!

I just visited Jo(e)'s blog that witnessed a town celebrate the Solstice that way this year...by watching not participating. Now, my shocked mind went in a spin.  I pretty much tolerate anything but not sure I would want to be a participant nor a viewer of this.

I admit.  I looked.  The art and creativity was amazing.  The desire to duplicate this event did not enter my mind.

Then I thought about the bikes...Don't tell me that's comfortable for male or female!

I used to share my bike!  I would never think twice about loaning it out for a ride.  I'm sorry but I just can't look at bikes the same anymore.  I certainly won't be borrowing a stranger's bike for sure.

Makes me hesitate at purchasing a second hand bike but how do we know for sure the new bikes are not tested for this very event?

I guess I'm old fashioned or prudish.  I stopped and thought a while if there would be any reason I would EVER ride my bike naked.  Only one situation called for it.  If you ride your bike to a private swimming hole, go skinny dipping, and the owner shows with a shotgun full of rock salt...I had to admit I would ride my bike naked.  Like the wind.

**post meant to be humorous, not critical

As Everyone Celebrated

I had a walk and a talk with Dad as I traveled over the farm.  I know he's with me.  He would have reveled at the growth in the valley.  He would have been delighted with this Bull frog peeking out.

Dad would have seen the face in this old coffee pot

and admired the garden.

Dad would have bragged on my progress 

although he could always work circles around me.

He would have stopped to admire the conglomerate rock I found

and discussed why it was conglomerate and not metamorphic.

You are not here with the living, Dad, but we carry you inside our heart. Thank you for serving our country, fathering us, and loving us. Happy Father's Day!  I feel you in the land around me.

The Lilies In Our Valley

are looking good.

Picture This...

Beneath the tranquil waters
Within the reflections
Life
Sometimes hides
A snake or two

Fireblossom Friday

Damsel Fly Exhibition

Damselfly

T'is the season and there is an abundant population.  Along the creek today, they were beautiful flitting here and there and avoiding my camera but I finally cornered one.

Hubby had driven me into the creek just to make me scream, I think.  After I stopped screaming I saw the magic of nature and just sat and enjoyed the beauty.

Then I either witnessed a battle

'cause they look like their facing off

to engage

in deadly warfare 

or foreplay

they danced or battled

It was definitely a contact sport

The reflections were as entertaining

as the actual shots

Maybe it was an airshow of the Blue Damsels 

mid air tricks for our enjoyment

I'm guessing love or war

sometimes they end the same...one goes away.