Wednesday, March 16, 2011

A soul in bloom


As I write this, I can hear the wind howling outside. And although the walls here at the manor house on the hill are several feet thick, I can still hear it. Walking today with my creaky knees, I wished I were 20 pounds lighter and then maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much. Wouldn’t it be lovely to wish your weight away . . . well, maybe not so much. You always have to be careful what you wish for.

I ate junk food at school today. It’s so tempting because we keep reward treats in the office and those Famous Amos chocolate chip bags are all too easy to grab when I feel stressed. And I’d already eaten my celery sticks and my navel orange . . .

I’m thankful though, that I have food to eat. And I cried again watching the news tonight. I just feel so damn helpless seeing the damage and the suffering in Japan.


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These little snowdrops were taken last year. Over the weekend, I noticed our snowdrops had begun to bloom, however there are only two of them. Last year, we had a bumper crop. I don’t understand this.


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Perhaps I am supposed to dig them up and divide them. Or buy some little bulbs and plant them next fall.

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It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.  ~Charles Dickens


Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.  ~Doug Larson



In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.  ~Mark Twain


If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom.  ~Terri Guillemets





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Play with me.
~George the dog


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Thank you for coming by, my friends. Until tomorrow, then?

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37 comments:

Cloudia said...

Oh George!






Warm Aloha & Gratitude from Honolulu!


Comfort Spiral

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TexWisGirl said...

The last quote is a classic!

I too could stand to lose 20 lbs. and wish my knees didn't creak as much. I'm thinking old age is really gonna s**k...

Nancy Grossi ~ Churned In Cali ~ The Wife of a Dairyman said...

Oh my gosh! I love George's photo! I like the focal point:)
And yes, I feel so helpless with the entire Japan disaster....

Anonymous said...

Sweetie Pie, George..... Our Handsome looks up at me like that too. Soulful eyes that just melt the heart.

Di

Low Tide High Style said...

Your snowdrop pictures are gorgeous. I wonder if the squirrels feasted on your bulbs now that your husband has taken away their steady supply of bird seed?

Japan is heartbreaking, I simply can't watch too much of it, which also makes me feel guilty! Looking at George helps me feel better!

Kat :)

Unknown said...

gorgeous, gorgeous.
words and photos and your heart.

Verde Farm said...

George is absolutely adorable! What a face :) I love the snow drops-they are so pretty and dainty. I need to plant some of those bulbs :)

Caroline said...

Oh my God Kate...these photos are Ah-mazing!!! I love Georges's nose. BTW, is he still getting up at night, or has that phase passed? I hope so!

Flea said...

I adore your quotes today. :) The daffodilies are blooming here.

Donna S. said...

Until tomorrow....

mrs mediocrity said...

yes, to absolutely everything you said. i am having big probs with my knee, also wishing i were 20 lbs. lighter, also being careful what i wish for, also shedding tears for japan.
no snowdrops here yet, so thank you for that, and for george.:)

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Those snowdrops are exquisite.

I sat in that howling wind tonight at a soccer game. Truly awful.

Was nice to come home, get warm, and see these pictures.

Char said...

lovely shots, even george

i've been so depressed that i can barely turn on the news. i haven't felt this bad since katrina. so heartbreaking. haiti, new zealand, japan...i worry where next.

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

Every time I log in I find that the news is even worse than the last time...it seems we need to just evacuate all the Japanese people and send a cadre of superheroes over there to clean things up...*heavy sigh*

GailO said...

I just may have to stop watching the news on tv...it is all too overwhelming for me...

Your snowdrop photos are wonderful Kate...they do give me some sense of peace and joy in spite of all that is going on in the world...

Ellen said...

Oh George, that face and those eyes get me every time.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

I'm horrified too... what a devastating mess. And I have been thinking "what can I do"...have not come up with one single thing. And not only do they have the horror of loss in so many ways - now the radiation!...

Can't sleep tonight because of the images..

Anonymous said...

Sigh - such gorgeous photos!

Annie said...

Beautiful post - I too wish I didn't grab food when I was stressed.

D.K. Wall said...

George has the best quote of them all!

Kerri Farley said...

The snow drops are WONDERFUL Kate! They really WOW me!
But George ...... He makes my heart skip a beat :) What a SWEEEET PUP!

My Mind's Eye said...

Oh Mom loves Famous Amos Chocolate Chip cookies too. She justifies eating 'several' because they are small!! MOL


I, too, am heartbroken over the devastation in Japan.
Madi and Mom

Daryl said...

Ask Annie about the snowdrops ...did you hear that they pulled Hereafter out of the Japanese movie theaters because of the opening sequence?

Gail Dixon said...

I can so relate to the weight issue! Last year I vowed to lose 40 lbs. I had never been that heavy in my life. Anyway, I joined Jenny Craig last May, followed the plan rigidly for 8 weeks, and lost 20 lbs. I remained on the calorie plan, cheating maybe one day a week. I'm now down 34 lbs. Only 7 to go. It can be done, but it takes a lot of focus and discipline. I'm now using myfitnessplan.com on my iphone and it really helps!

I saw an article yesterday on how there is no looting in Japan, then started reading about their culture; we could learn a lot from them. Made me so ashamed for what happened after Katrina. To see the Japanese working together and helping each other through this horrible devastation is nothing short of amazing.

Country Gal said...

I am in the same boat with everything you said, the weight my knees and the poor people in Japan. Miggy looks at me like that and I am mush. Wonderful quotes and photos.
Have a good day !

sharon said...

I so hear you on your weight. Those dang chocolate chip cookies taste sooooo good, and someone has to eat them!!
I watch the news as well and wish I could build a new house for the people of Japan. they are so kind hearted people.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Spring is in the air here although the temperature is close to freezing and there is thick fog - you can smell it and almost feel it in the ground.

Mary said...

Oh, I know how you feel... there is so much sadness in the world right now... but coming here and seeing your beautiful snowdrop images brings a smile to my face. And that photo of George? Well that brought a chuckle, too. :)
xoxo

The JR said...

I have that same 20 lbs that I need to lose.....

I want to play with you George!

abb said...

That George! Love him! xo

Anonymous said...

If the snowdrops didn't come back, the deer might have gotten into them as well. They certainly eat everything else! Our neighbors in Omaha had to put chicken wire around all the flower beds. Every tree was trimmed to the same height - what a deer could reach standing on its back legs.

Nancy
http://dogear.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Geez - I finally get a blog going and I either forget to put in the address or I do it wrong. Sorry about that.

http://dogear6.wordpress.com

Hilary said...

Love the pictures. Love George, as always.

twbcountrygirl said...

I've got to plant some snow drops. As far as why they didn't come up this year like the last.....I have no idea. I'm gardening challenged.
the wanna be country girl - Caroline

Lili said...

Your snowdrops are exquisite Kate and so is that George. I cannot even imagine how life must be right now for anyone living in Japan. xo ~Lili

Mental P Mama said...

Say when, George. Say when....

Carolynn Anctil said...

The cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom here. A sure sign of spring!