Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Friday, September 23, 2011

Haiku 29

An Autumnal Equinox Ritual

(Umbra.)

Blue dragonflies skim
The algae green pondwater
Bees bump against glass.

(Penumbra.)

Uncurling at dusk
Darkness enfolds the wake left
By Light’s fleeing heels.

(Antumbra.)

White ribbons of light
Threads rewinding on their spools
An incandescence.

GL, 9/23/2011. Prevail.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Monday, September 12, 2011

September 1, 2011, journal entry, Montgomery, Alabama, and other things that make me feel wickedly wicked happy

Five miles, the Palouse loop.

Though I am in my purple running skirt, I am wearing my purple gloves for the first time this Season. It is 45 degrees chillier this morning compared to the hot, humid Alabama temperatures that had me seriously glistening and to which I have become accustomed, my new black glasses literally sliding down and off my nose. I really do need to get the temples tightened. Anyway, I now shiver and as I start out on this jog, the pungent odor of Autumn-like decaying humus wafts up, although the leaves I smell are decaying from the water of sprinkler systems.

So today, it is all about hills cuz nothin’ warms me up like hills hills hills. After a level warm up, I head down the first steep hill that, when biking, my bicycologist friend Arch tosses behind him several “DON’T BRAKE, LYNNE!” shouts. I then start back up the sharp incline I have always powered through, whether on a bike or in running shoes. Hill running has always been my strength, the ace up my Coolmax sleeve.

It is Fall.

It is Fall. The Wheel of Seasons spins, disinclined to be dilatory this year, and all my senses are keenly aware as the Veil of Summer thins, declining, yielding to Autumn as She offers her harvest. Acorns have begun to pop from oaks, so many that they sound like crackling snap of frying bacon. The wild turkey babies have grown big while ravens soar above, calling in their low and hoarse croaking voices. Coveys of quail burble and gurgle like running brooks, and the clutter of starlings have donned and now pose and posture in their glittery speckled Winter coats. As I run the country road which curves back down the next long decline, I remember that I do love the golden gold of wheat fields that are being harvested by green and red tractors. I look forward to the Autumn harvest that is to come at the farmers’ market (six more weeks of it, too), squashes, pumpkins, tomatoes, raspberries…gold gold gold and even more gold.

As I turn left, north onto the Palouse, I begin the one mile ascent past farm houses, red barns, decrepit sheds with their deteriorating slanted roofs, upturned tree stumps, and harvested golden wheat fields…and I suddenly hear the volleying calls of two red winged blackbirds in one of the cattailed marshes that line the highway. I can’t see them…I crouch and lean, move around and about, this way and that through the tall brown cattails and I hear them. I just can’t see them, except in my mind’s eye, where I can see vividly their red shoulders, red like the leaves of trees after Autumn mornings of crisp cold.

I have at least a mile to go, headed straight up. Straight up, I know this, but after hearing them, I suddenly feel an extra surge of energy…and am wickedly wicked happy, especially as I remember that AWEsome Montgomery, Alabama, trip.

~

Montgomery, Alabama, and other things that make me feel wickedly wicked happy

Montgomery, Alabama, in late August. I know. MONTGOMERY. ALABAMA. IN. LATE. AUGUST. No matter. Montgomery, Alabama, in late August. I {heart} it. Makes me wickedly wicked happy.

My rented Fiat. Perfect for driving the 1 ½ hour drive to and from the Birmingham Airport and Montgomery.

The renowned traditional Southern fried green tomato sandwich and pimento cheese sandwich. Rich and yellow yummy. I remember not liking pimentos as a girl on the Kentucky and Ohio farms where I grew up, but WOWZA! I love this oozing golden yellow with pops of red pimento, cheesy mixture.

And the memory of my Grandma Wright teaching me to like tomatoes on those Kentucky and Ohio farms, convincing me that the “paper” skin of the tomatoes is more than delicious when doused with pepper and salt. I think she would totally approve of the farmers’ market lavender spices I use today.

Egrets and great blue herons in Blount Cultural Park, Montgomery, Alabama, through my BlackBerry viewfinder on binoculars…with ducks and turtles…that make me think of my most favoritist place in Spokane: Manito Park’s duck pond…designed by the same folks who designed New York’s Central Park, my most favorite favoritist park of all.

Montgomery drivers who park in the middle of the street when no parking is available. What a fanTABulous use of space!

Summer bugs on my windshield.

My MHIT Goddess friend Lee. We think that we were related in a previous life…or will be for sure in the next. He is the one I am talking with in the blue shirt in the 10th picture, by the way. I absolutely ADORE him. A true kind kindred and gentle Spirit. (And thank you thank you, Steve Hamerdinger of MHIT.org for the pic!)

The MHIT (Mental Health Interpreting Training) conference every late Summer in Montgomery and being a part of the interpreting team this year. I am a total MHIT groupie..in addition to being a farmers’ market junkie!

Golden yellow meadow ants. I had absolutely no idea that there are YELLOW ants! Makes me wickedly wicked happy!

The sundresses I still wear…

…as I collect acorns and brown duck feathers outside my runs for my Cabinet of Wonders…

…and the black cape that I think I’m now…yeah, I think I am…ready to wear this Fall.

~



















































GL, 9/1/2011. Prevail.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Sunday, September 4, 2011