Into this Heart

01-24-1015- Into This Heart by Teri H Hoover©
for my friend Sharmon

The Cascades Trail, Pembroke, VA 1-2015

We stand reaching.

Leaning in

into this heart.

The tentative heart waiting

to arise unshackled

from the detritus. 

We stand reaching 

Even in our sleep

we are reaching.

 For my friend Sharmon

If I Go Straight

01-12-1015-If I Go Straight by Teri H Hoover©
Link to: Sunday Whirl- #195 and Heart Macro #86- Shine the Divine


 

 Cascade Trail, Pembroke, VA

The story is not new.  I write words of wondering every once in a while. I muse along, wandering. I may find a point to share - or I may just be grateful. This will be a place holder for today. If I go straight with intention I will find myself in just this place. It is the intention within the faulty prayer I pray. I am consoled in my moments of awkward searching. My intentions are made straight with Gods grace. My mind wonders, I wander. But in  this intention I go forward with grace. I repeat myself. With so many words. The curves I love, wind around me embracing this heart. It must be winter again.

 Lichen Hearts

Cascade Trail, Pembroke, VA

I do not capitulate myself to an inky channel. Rather I render myself free. I am not listless; appearances deceive. I am only bobbing up and down on the nearly frozen water.  A single leaf  with an invisible anchor.  Smudged into a layer of  lethargy and resigned to the ennui of winter, where the smell of life is remembered. To generate a thought the heart must first hear more than silence. If I go straight there will beginnings after this ends. 

 
A list of words from the Sunday Whirl #195-  

Dormant

 Dormant by Teri H Hoover©

December 13, 2014

 

Lifeless leaf
Skids over a partially frozen pond.
Frantic wind chime
Clangs haphazardly on a rusted chain.
Dormant fish
Sustained by cycles, and the seed of summer. 

 Facebook Small Stones Writing Group

Journey

The SECOND photo is Linking with  Bonnie at Pixel Dust Photo Art, -self portrait

The first photo is linking with: 

Studio Waterstone~ I Heart Macro  the last one. :-(

ABC Wednesday , -J is for Journey  

Our World Tuesday ,Wordless Wednesday NC Sue,, 

And down below a heart  image for Random Heart Thursday.

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, VA- 03-06-2012

Unplanned Journey

This journey started from a point I know longer remember.

How many curves have I slammed straight into?

  To see elegance in this bending and winding

I must find a still space.

Is a trip unplanned if it is just a trip you have avoiding?  The reluctant traveler sagas continue. The night before my trip, I thought I would actually become ill with panic. This was a trip to Buffalo. Time to bite the bullet and get in the car for that 10 hour drive. Of course there were snow squalls before we (my 18 year old nephew on spring break made the trek with me) even hit the West Virginia border. There were at least 10 of these delightful and blinding white outs on the 70 mile per hour curves of West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. By the time we reached the flats of I-90 the snow had pretty much abated. The family was all visited and seen.

I was as always most happy to be home in my own bed on Sunday.

Self Portrait - taken by my dad, edited by me

Coffee Stain Heart on the Counter

Kitchen Counter, Buffalo NY- 03-14-2013 

And just one more thing-

Snow

Draper Rd, Blacksburg, Va- January 18, 2013

Draper Rd. Blacksburg, VA- January 18, 2012

Backyard, Blacksburg, Va- January 18, 2012

For three days it poured and poured. Every ditch flowed with dirty water. We told ourselves we needed the rain. On January 17 it began to snow at three in the afternoon. The world was transformed. Life was transformed. Things flickered, and then we were left in the dark.

In the morning, as if waking from a dream encumbered in sogginess, we blinked blindly, closing our eyes to the white snow and sunshine. Life was moving on. 

Snow

January 25, 2013  - a small Stone 
Snow by  Teri H Hoover


A hush 
of silent transformation.
Gently kissing each transgression 

with pure white forgiveness. 


 

Pausing...

Three Muses Challenge-"Couple" March 7, 2012

Guest Heart Thursday- March 9, 2012

Park City, Utah -March 3, 2012

A couple of clouds in a winter sunset-

leave just enough room for a sunny heart.

Even the clouds pause sometimes.




`

Walk Until You See It

Slalom Run Drive, Park City Utah- Mar 1, 2012

When I walk I always find what I am looking for.



`

Stirring Turquoise and a Little Snow

Blacksburg VA- February 13,2012

This is a photo I took on February 13, 2012.  The turquoise bell sits quietly most days in our garden.

Two days ago, while I was working in the garden, a little breeze sent the bell into a frenzy. It was the harbinger of the winter snow, that finally found us yesterday.

In the image below I blended my image with a pre-made background, from digital artist Alice Popkorn. (her other links are Faceook and  flicker photostream). She is a master of the digital image.

This image is my contribution to Take a Word Challenge  with Marie.  The word for this week is turquoise. 

February 20, 2012 Take a Word Challenge, Small Stones

Stirring Turquoise by Teri H Hoover

Stillness falls between the branches,

just before the wind finds its way.

Stirring the turquoise bell.  

  

And on another note it snowed yesterday~ the first snow of the season. February 19th and it is the first snow.  I suppose there were other little snows... but for a girl from Buffalo, NY this was the first SNOW. And while I am not necessarily a big fan of the white stuff, when God gives something gorgeous my first impulse is to want to run out and photograph it .  So I did.

Dogwood in Snow, Blacksburg VA- February 20, 2012

 

Front Porch, Blacksburg, VA- February 20, 2012

just my imagination

February 9, 2012 

just my imagination by Teri H Hoover

 `

the warm outlines of naked trees in winter

waiting on the pointed hill

I walk on

Airport Rd.,Blacksburg, VA- Feb 9, 2012

On my walk today, sunny and bright.  Almost home and had not even made any attempt to observe the world into words. Then it happened, there on the side of a house, the shadows of trees creating a hilltop scene. Snap goes the cell phone. 

Here's to a quick observation on a long day-

Here is the original image prior to adding a bit- ok a lot of contrast, several photoshop filters and one layer. Time to pause for some sleep. 

Back to the Beginning

Blackcreek NY-July 29, 2009

Continuing  contentment 

in between 

 

 

I sit in bed in  Buffalo, beneath the same white ceiling in the dark.. computer screen glowing. But things are all different now. It was summer then- the tangle in the days as they collided together made me seek solace. One year and three months later I have been escorted back by a caring brother-(who I suspect came to visit me in Virginia only to facilitate my return). My 100 year old grandmother was the card he used... and he was right. I made it through the 10 hour drive, the chicken wings and beer and sleeping in the bedroom of pink. And today I entered my parents home, my childhood home after much careful breathing in the driveway surrounded by quiet snowfall.  A bubble of blessing and all things absurdly calm. Details to follow- I am exhausted but content- the snow that falls outside the window only serves to muffle any discord in my heart.

Almost

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg- VA- Jan 26, 2011 

 With intention the darkness breathed into the clouds.

The inhale was deep sapphire.

The exhale was soft indigo.

A River of Stones- A 30 day challenge in observation

I almost stayed home. 

The rain, the sleet, the snow, the tired Teri-almost  kept me from going out.

I almost did not take this photo with my cell phone, yes my cell phone. Almost is a good place to be.

Like Magic

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg VA- Jan 22, 2011

The rush of frigid January air 
cleared the fuzzy remnants
of an afternoon spent at the stuffy furniture store.


A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation

Well it has turned cold again-my poor migrating robins! 

On another note my dear traveling husband is home this weekend. He had 5 things on his list to get done- we can only remember 4.  The ones we remember are: determine why tire sensor in his car is always on, make my new phone global ready, shop for a couch, buy a new ski boot bag and... we just cannot remember.  I contend that he wanted me to locate my ski gear - but he insists that was an addendum to the list. At any rate I am still not global -but all else was accomplished. Well almost -while checking the tires he may have discovered/caused one of the valves are faulty. Hmmmm

My list consisted of just getting stuff done. (Laundry, residual Christmas decoration removal, ironing -yes I iron, attempting to find when the Australian Open was on-no luck, and looking for a new couch.) 

The most pressing by far was looking for a new couch. We have made several failed attempts over the past 3 years. And today was do or don't come home. 

 

So we lounged, laughed, and  lingered A LOT.  We came home with fabric samples.  We are currently auditioning the samples on the old couch.  Pepper made her choice- somehow  she pulled down one of the samples and used it like a blanket.  I think that is the one we will go with. If we are lucky we may have a new couch by next Thursday.  Here's to all your weekend endeavors - may they all be magical.

Returning to Balance

Blacksburg VA- Jan 20, 2010

Or letting go of not seeing

The abandoned home

was in plain view.

Vagueness sits on a white page.

A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation

I have the return of the traveling husband in the next hour.  It is an odd life this coming and going. The word balance at class today again played a key role. Balance in big bright neon letters. Ironic since I have been staying up way too late. 

Thank goodness

balance

is 

returning. 


  

Undeniable

Backyard, Blacksburg, VA- Jan 19, 2011

The shape of the chittering birds-

in the undeniable shape of a robin.

A RIver of Stones - a 30 day challenge in observation

 

They are back- swirling and swooping and chittering. I have been noticing a few more birds everyday.  As I started out on my walk and saw quite a multitude in the tops of the trees- and that was nice. As I returned home the ruckus was audible from a block away.  My holly trees were filled with robins. My pond was a spa and my birdbath a watering hole. A lovely noise  that pushes away the cold spots in my life. 

Slightly Thawed

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA- Jan 17, 2011

The words in her head were only slightly thawed.

A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation 

I have been busy reading lots of blogs today- my there is so much going on in peoples heads. 

Walking Through Drab

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, VA- Jan 2011

The colorless day did nothing to dampen the song of the birds.

A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation

Light and color- they stayed in bed today.

I tried to dye a hat yesterday- after 2 hours in the deep plum bath- nothing. I used the left over dye on some white note paper and finally met with success. Quite lovely actually. I wonder to myself about my visual addiction to color and light. On my walk today I could hear the birds. They have gone beyond their chittering in the underbrush; there is no denying- they have begun their singsong calls for love. Tonight my backyard is covered  in fresh snow.

Blustering with the Flow

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, VA- Jan 12, 2011

The wind yowled like a lonely cat.

A darn cold cat.

At some point it had blown hard enough to disarm some smaller branches off the ragged trees, but mostly it had just littered the trail with vines; delicate as the curls on the forehead of a blond haired child.

A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation

So today I am like a wind that only blew hard enough to move some of the tiny tasks  off my to-do list.   And I am quite satisfied with that. 

On the flip side I might not have been as strongly supportive to my  husband (who is unable to travel due to the weather).  It is interesting to see how people handle the non-planned things in their lives. His answer is to plan some more.  And right now that is making me smile.

Along the Edges

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, VA- Jan 11, 2011

A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation

So today was a day for interior work- again. (Except for my walk)

 

Things like going through the Christmas cards to cull address- SO you can organize your contact list -SO you can get the needed peoples addresses to your daughter for the wedding invitee list. 

A day to get the soy sauce out of your new jeans by doing some laundry.

A day when you ponder if you should go out and by the next size down in those very jeans cuz you are feeling lighter. (the thought of a store kills that idea).

A day where you turn on Pandora Radio but forget to turn on the speakers for two hours. 

A day when you are organizing your two calendars and realize you missed a get together on Sunday.  

A day where you try to figure out how to work your new phone - so it does not keep turning off when you are trying to take photos during your walk.

A day when you get your blog post done before dinner. 

That is a good day. 

Imaginary Mountains

Far

A mind wanders-

When my eyes are allowed to see 

 

A River of Stones - A 30 day challenge in observation

 

   

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, VA - Jan 8, 2011

My imagination takes a ride-to the sky above a mountain range 

 

 

My Imagination

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-Jan 7,2011

My Imagination

Showed up on a White Horse

As winter stretched out before her, she knew she needed to relinquished her disdain for the season.  She had weathered the Buffalo winters of her childhood by taking quiet pleasure in the comfort of her room- spending her free moments drawing and dreaming.  But make no mistake she held no enthusiasm for snowflakes and icicles but there was not the dread or sense of oppression.

Recalling this resourceful contented child she half heartedly willed this child to return. 

As she watched the little white horse walk unfettered by the cold she began to feel she could too.

A River of Stones- a 30 day challenge in observation

So ok that might be me. 

I am not sure- but I think I have reached a truce with winter.Pinpointing the turning point is tricky because I want so much to dislike winter.  My nearly everyday  2 mile afternoon walk has gone from a chore to a chance to fill my curiosity. What will I see today? Suddenly I am finding my scalp tingling in delight as the cold air rushes through the hair on my hatless head.  I am looking for what the clouds will say today.  I hear birds chittering and laughing completely oblivious to the winters drab cloak. And I am making my best effort.