Enough, I Say!

Inspired by a fellow blogger, Britt-Arnhild, I've decided to declare, "Enough!" I'm done coloring my hair. Oh, you thought this was natural? You would be wrong. I began having it colored about 15 years ago, not to color the gray, but rather to perk it up a bit, try something different. Over the years, it's become all about covering the increasing gray. Now that I'm not working, it's the perfect time to grow it out. I don't have to worry about looking scary while it transitions to...whatever it is. I can tell it's mostly gray around my face. Jerry, my hair guy, tells me there are some places it's white...now that's scary! But the back looks to be still brown. It's inevitable that the time would come to stop the madness of hair dye. After all, I intend to live to at least 105; nobody has brown hair at that age!

So, be prepared. You may not recognize me the next time you see me!

Gobsmacked!

I went to France in September last year with only a few expectations. I did that intentionally because I wanted to be open to whatever manifested during my month in the Lot. I expected to see some beautiful art and see historic places. I expected to have an adventure. Those expectations were certainly met, but as my Brit friends would say, I was totally 'gobsmacked' by the two things that were the highlights of my trip: people and pilgrimage.
I've dedicated several blog posts to pilgrimage...I feel very drawn to walking at least part of the pilgrimage path in France and I absolutely fell in love with Conques, a pilgrimage village in the Aveyron. I think it's safe to say I was 'gobsmacked' by Conques!

The people who became friends during my magical month truly were a gift. My cyber-friend, Laury became a true friend for life. I knew we were kindred souls from our blogs and our emails, but getting to know her has definitely melange'd some real magic in my life. Through Laury I became friends with Jean, Greg, Jean-Luc & Odile, Christiane & Jean-Paul, Josie & Patrick. If someone had told me that I was going to France to make friends, I would have scoffed...'no way...you don't go to France to make friends!" But make friends I did...GOBSMACKED! Laury and I continue to be in contact regularly by email and by phone. She and these others continue to melange magic in my life. It's too soon to share that magic, but let me tease just a bit...if everything falls into place, there is change in the wind.

GOBSMACKED again!

More Green

As promised more greens today. Starting with lawn green, oak tree green, cottonwood green, weeping willow green and weed green...

Moving on to clover green sprinkled with lawn green and punctuated with 'tree by the backdoor' green....

Here we have mint green...why do we think it's this color? These leaves are catalpa green....

Ranging further afield we find 'across the fallow field' green..... and then see this 'thank goodness it's not in my yard illegal thistle' green!

I'm not even going there with this green!

Green

Continuing on the theme of the colors of summer in Iowa, I have to share GREEN with you. When I first moved to this state in 1982, I was absolutely amazed by how green it was. Green in ways I had never seen before. I had lived in California and in Colorado; both have lots of places that are green...forests, meadows, gardens, but never had I seen the variety of greens that paint the Iowa countryside in summer! I was so impressed that I wrote a poem about it; if I can find it, I'll share in another blog post. This green is right by my front door...hostas, daylilies and some kind of vine-y weed. More green coming up in the future.

Colors of Summer

As I think of my favorite things about summer in Iowa, color comes immediately to mind. Even though the 'red sky in the morning' brought the predicted 'sailors take warning' thunderstorms later in the day, this blazing Iowa sunrise took my breath away. There is something positive to be said for waking up at 5am! Mother Nature paints both grand canvases and smaller, more subtle ones this time of year. Iris petals and violet hearts show exquisitely beautiful detail in both vibrant and soft colors...

After a long winter of snow, ice and frozen dull brown earth, I feel blessed by the bounty of beautiful color right in my own front yard.

Ode to Chickens

On Behalf of Chickens

It has come to my attention recently
That there are many folks

Who have trouble treating chickens decently—

They give them kicks, they give them pokes

And are generally hateful.

Chickens, I feel, are magnificent creatures,

They greet the dawn with cackle and crow;

Winged and feathered, they have delicate features

And lay eggs hidden both high and low.

We actually should be grateful.

Think of all those eggs,

Farm-fresh, over-easy, and free.

Think of golden friend chicken legs

Smothered in chicken-y gravy.

That’s a real plateful.

So, next time you’re tempted to badmouth this bird,

Stop and think of your dinners.

Chicken-hating is really absurd,

Chickens are big time winners.

Don’t be hateful; be grateful for your plateful!

Written sometime in the recent past by Moi. To be read with this blog post.

In Honor of Barns

Today I honor barns. Not this barn, though.

Nor this one.....

This is the barn that sits in the place of honor today. Because this barn, as of today, is now part of Laury's 'family' in the Lot. She signs the papers officially making it hers this afternoon...in fact, probably already has as I write this! This beautiful piece of Lotois history seemed destined to belong to the Chatette, and Laury has brought that destiny to reality. It's a magical, almost mystical place; the inside is dusty and dim, but you can feel its stories lurking under the dirt and between its ancient stones. You know the saying...'if only these walls could talk'? If only these stones could speak.... I know that Laury will hear their stories and uncover their secrets! If you want to know more of the barn story, click over to Soar-Dream-France....you won't be disappointed.