July and Blackberries

When I was a kid our entire back fence in Mill Valley was covered with blackberries. My Dad and I would pick every summer and Mom would turn them into jams, jellies and pies.

Our Back Fence Bonanza

I haven't made jam for years, but the extended rains this spring have created a bumper crop of huge berries. I pick every couple of days, lay the berries out on trays in the freezer until they are hard and then slip them into gallon baggies until I have enough for an afternoon jamathon. This July has been really cold and foggy, what do you want to bet the day I decide to spend working over the stove it will be hot? No matter, the middle of this winter I'll have homemade jam for toast, waffles, presents and pancakes. It doesn't get much better than that!

Conversations

I picked up one of my old journals this afternoon and decided I'd share whatever was on the page it opened to. The entry was from October 31, 1975. This is a song I wrote during one of those stages in a relationship when you're questioning why you aren't moving on. A friend put it to music and it was amazing to hear my words brought to life. Because of his sweet gesture I've harbored a lifelong fantasy of hearing it sung by Bonnie Raitt. But, hey a girl can dream!

Conversation

Baby do you ever disagree with what I'm sayin'

Are your thoughts different than mine

Do you know me so well that you're not tryin'

Or can we share more than just the time

I sometimes wonder what you're thinkin'

Questions I have never asked

Are there things being left unspoken

Should I speak or let it pass

Just don't start feeling guilty

For what it is you're thinkin'

If love can't listen to what's inside

Then love's only a ship that's sinkin'

Man is but a mirror

To what it is he feels

He can live his life in fantasy

Or share the thoughts that keep it real

Tuesday's Discovery

I was exploring Etsy Forums this morning and stumbled upon a thumbnail that intrigued me. I clicked on the link and discovered the amazing work of Carole Andreen-Harris.

I found laughter

contemplation

and the HEART of the matter

This print is from an original painting of a horse rescued by HEART of Tucson, an equine rescue based in Tucson, Arizona (www.heartoftucson.org). HEART takes in and cares for horses at risk, the abandoned, abused, neglected and unwanted. With proper nutrition, medical care, shoeing and interaction these horses are true Cinderella stories! A portion of proceeds from sales of these prints goes to HEART. This is Bella, an older Arabian mare who was found abandoned in the desert very thin, without food, water or shelter. Check out Carole's work at http://www.etsy.com/shop/andreenharrisart

Down Time

Today is July 3rd. My husband, the chef, left for work at 5am and when his day was done he headed to Santa Rosa to watch his friend Michael’s grandsons play baseball this afternoon. I went to work out this morning, came home and tossed a load of laundry in the washer that could be hung out to dry. It's about 80 degrees and breezy. I’ve decided this is a no promises to keep day: time out, game over, no shouldas, just stop and smell the roses, or in our case honeysuckle.

The Cherry Plums are Ready

I’m out in the back yard flopped in a camp chair with my laptop, lunch, water, and a book of poetry and prose given to me this morning by a fellow gym mate. The breeze is whispering through the Redwoods and Monterey pines. The neighbors’ terrier, Ruby, is stalking gophers over the back fence. Two red squirrels are playing tag in our oak tree and I’m watching a hawk ride thermal currents looking for meal. Closing my eyes I can hear a dozen different songbirds commenting on the day.
 

How often do we let the petty of our every days overshadow the beauty in our lives? Stop what you are doing, back away from the computer, put down the dust rag and go outside for an hour or two; find a place in the shade and just observe and listen, I guarantee you’ll be glad you did. Have a safe and happy 4th of July. I am posting this and doing as ordered!