If

From my writing blog  A small Stone Gathering 
WE WRITE POEMS prompt -153-changing-the-impossible


If

If birds could swim and fish could fly
Words would flow like tears I cry.

Winter scars behind this heart
My leaves unfurl with springs fresh start.

A Blessed Balance

I Heart Macro-March 4-14-2012 Studio Water Stone

 Key West Botanical Gardens, Key West, Fl- April 4,  2012

This a blending of light and dark, in a lovey overlapping. 
It consumes me with contentment.
It is love that blends these impossible contrasts,
The cosmic balance--
Gods grace in every turn.

Spring Time Pause

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA, April 11, 2012

Laying in the dirt

to catch the last of the evening light

My dog snuggles close -

 her head resting on my foot.

I type this on my three year old laptop. Duct tape holds the connection cord into the computer. It has lost its sheen, where my base of my palm rests on the keyboard. There is a folder, named 2012 Hoover.  This years, non-client photos, live there. All 1,567 of them.(And yes they are backed up on two external hard drives, and copied onto CD's-) Each photo, a pausing to see.  I pause a lot.  It has been such a lovely beginning of 2012.

Spring Up

Three Muses Challenge- Spring Theme March 28, 2012  
Writing Our Way Home- Sharing Thursday- "Pause"
Wordless Wednesday- but with words 

Backyard garden, Blacksburg VA- March 26, 2012

Purple Hyacinths in my the garden out back. 

I had to lay on the ground to get a nice close image of  them

 SPRINGING UP

 

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA- March 26, 2012

And later,  after the sun went down outside my kitchen window- I began to play in Photoshop. The colors of purple and green blending together.

Spring has come in with the feel of summer- I even had to cut the grass.  Although I could not start the lawn mower myself-I had to ask my next door neighbor for help. My shoulder just laughed at me when I tried.  Besides cutting the lawn, I have finished the quilt I started back in December- maybe tomorrow I put up a photo. Come to think of it - I do believe the quilt is the same colors as the photos above. Tomorrow - yes tomorrow I will put up a photo. 

For now I pause, feeling the day roll over into night.And am glad for just this moment-

Lots of walks and blessings. Including the blessing of a friend who gave me Room Enough  to find joy. Thank you Linda. Hugs all 'round.  

Reaching

March 12, 2012-Take a Word Challenge- The word is green

March 14, 2012- Sharing Joy Thursday

Nashville, TN -April 2009

Holding onto that which we love-

while reaching for the fresh, green, leaves of spring.

Here, just down the path you will catch a glimpse of me. Not writing much. But still seeing. A bit weighed down, but moving. My friends know I walk everyday and have always said,"I would love to walk with you sometime." So in January this year, I started sending out a daily group email, saying the time I am walking that day. No obligation to reply - except when they can join me. It has been a delightful little practice. I am thrilled seeing my friends now and then. It is good to share a path. 

In the image above, my son and daughter-in-law, walk with a simple joy, that I was blessed to witness. It was taken somewhere near Nashville, TN.  Unfortunately, it is too late to call up my son to ask where we were. Sometimes, even when we think we know where we are, we can be surprised to see things we have missed. I bring this up because there are things I am seeing about myself,  for the first time.  Making me wonder, in curiosity, where I have been for so long.  Life is a journey- I seem to be able to walk the same path - and continue to find something new. In keeping with my word this year... I pause, and instead of saying critically- "Why in the world haven't you noticed that before?" I am learning to simply say, "Wow! Look what you noticed today."  This is a very good step in the right direction.

Sunshine in the Garden

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA- May 20, 2011

It was sunny in the garden today and that is enough.

Heartfelt Gratitude

 

with heartfelt gratitude 

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, VA April 30, 2011
(click the photo for my small stone)

You will see 
the heart  
of 
the matter

Along the Edges

On a cold dismal day this past  January 11th I wrote a small stone called Along the Edges. Today's photo does have that same "low to the ground" feel- just with lots of green instead of snow- thank goodness.

Today I am grateful for the warmth of spring to begin a new blog with my sister - Our Wild Hearts.  This simple blog will serve as a collection site for the  "hearts in the wild"  images my sister and I share most everyday via cell phone. 

I was featured on Random Hearts by Clytie for her Guest Heart Thursday.  I am quite honored because Clytie has quite the eye for finding hearts! WOW- thank you!

Speaking of honors I've been awarded a blogging award by Annette over at Hoofprints in my Garden for my small stones blog A small stone Gathering Thank you Annette- this is my first blogging award- 

Versatile yet balanced--- that is my intention - so thank you very much!.

I have tremendous respect for Annette who just completed a month long poetry challenge!  She is a fellow Writing Our Way Home member and her blog is a great place to sit back and enjoy life from someone who loves the outdoors and horses.  Check it out-

So I researched this award and it appears I should list 7 things about myself and share the award with others.

1.  My dog Pepper takes me for a  2 miles walk nearly everyday.

2.  I like to make chili

3.  I started taking photographs in 6th grade so I would have something to draw.

4.  My 9th grade English teacher said I needed a good editor.

5.  I am the oldest of 6 siblings

6.  I have a husband, two grown children, and am blessed beyond measure. 

7.  The heart of the matter usually is looking right at you . 

And please check out these great blogs:

One Woman's Life in Maine

Random Hearts 

News From Aspen Meadows 

The Paradox Syndrome 

Swimming Lines of Haiku
My Poetry Blog
Random Daily Thoughts

Safe Passage

 Green on green to soothe the hungry heart.

 

Remembering the road blocks-

how could one forget!!

`

Finding safe passage back to balance.

`

 Remembering all I need will find me `

If I am patient and walk with God and not run on ahead.

grace falls on me like a breath.

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, Va- April 8, 2011

The two mile circle was kind to this wanderer today- thank you for lifting me up in your hearts.  Here is the heart that was laid before me as I approached my home. blessings- teri  


the small observation -

- new-
The saturated green of a  rainy day
brought my heart back from the perfectly round hole
of yesterdays loss.
`

Lighting Your Way

Blackcreek, NY-July 27, 2009

Moving aside impossibilities,

the path has became wide.

And for a brief moment, a bit of light.

A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation  

 

I am walking along my path, set with a direction for my energy. A lovely path of connection, allowing my heart a safe place to be.  Unwanted ambivalence steps onto the path.  The sources are too many to name.  My heart retracts, my breath restricted- there is an ominous darkness ahead. I have learned to  turn directly to God, who takes my hand and carries my fear - so I can breathe. He laughs and says, be here with me, I will light your way. 

A Path of Light

Bandelier National Monument-NM- June 13, 2010

For the heart to follow-

Blessings of life and light in the New Year.

 

Unresolved

Heritage Park, Blacksburg, VA - Aug. 7, 2010

Queen Anne's Lace?

Tick Weed?

Let's hear it for tolerance with the diversity 

                                                            of our vexing contradictions.

Be patient with yourself and others.

Simultaneous

Hilton Head Island, SC- June 30, 2010

Despite a failed attempt at art school-

We both continue to see.

Last Years Path

Black Creek NY- July 27, 2009  

I was walking

toward

the 

saddest 

oversight

 I have 

ever

made.

I tell myself I could not have known.

I tell myself my love was true.

 We held your hand,

We touched your face.

I kissed your forehead.

My heart is filled  with tears-

We should have stayed. 

July 17, 2009-

Black Creek NY- July 17, 2009

I could not find a path out 

So I immersed myself  instead.

Following

My garden, Blacksburg, VA-May 4, 2010

In the orderly succession of lines-

I am the one that curves in at the bottom.

Manhattan Island

Manhattan Island, NY - Oct. 5, 2009

Central Park, NYC-Oct. 6, 2009

   

Avenue of the Americas,NYC- Oct 6, 2009

There are places I visit that are like seeing an old friend- an old friend you don't see often enough.  New York is one of those places for me.  Unlike my friends, she almost begrudgingly says,"ok you're here, big deal- get a move on there is stuff to see".  Thankfully the weather made it easy.  Even though she seems aloof, at first, I love New York. She always finally warms up to me.