...and the band plays

Luther and his road dog Pete on the Rocks

just a thought

Fruits of our labor

Really this is the fruit of dear Kevins labor. I find gardening a tedious chore. Nothing relaxing about getting dirty and wet. And the BUGS.

But now that beautiful little squash looks so lovely on my cutting board nestled between some of the many flowers I recieved to brighten my day when Girly Girl died. A shrine to my dog.

I really do adore house plants. A much tuffer chore in Arizona than in Oregon. Some of my old Oregon plants just couldn't deal .... but some did and the crew I have now are a cheery bunch and seem to thrive in spite of my neglect.

Far from words

Its said that fire is good for the forest. It cleans up the brush, smaller trees and some types of pine only release their seeds at a certain forest fire hot temperature. Some fires out in places far from human habitation are just left alone and eventually burn out. I watched in awe from this perch a few years ago as Sycamore Canyon burned and at night the red flames looked like they were going to start licking my doorstep at any moment. Fear/thrill ... fear/Thrill "Fire is good for the forest."

but whatabout the animals
they don't think about how bad it is for their chuck hole or nest they live in. They just move on FAST. On to another whatever. No .."oh its good for the forest" or "Do I have enough insurance? "

but from this perch today I wonder about those 300 families in their million dollar dwellings that were evacuated? And I wonder how I might feel if I lived in their moccasins right now. From my little nole I see the beauty of the the sky as it flashes across my camera screen. The red rocks take on a hole new sort of reddness. I think of the BIG picture.... not from any altruistic point, but more from a place of dust to dust....

and then I feel reviled in my lust for the picture; the big picture on my computer screen as I switch to raw mode. Frenzy for the right f-stop. I'm glad I am alone, in my own little self centered way of veiwing the world. To pass judgement as I see fit. No one elses standards accept the ones that life as banged into my brain and I have spent years trying to bang out.

i used to tell my mother if they were so starved in Ethiopia then they could have this shit she called meatloaf. What about the poor cow? And if she wanted to send them all those damn lameass clothes she bought me she certainly was welcome to. And again I feel the shame of my bad behavior as only a motherless child can on fathers day. No "I'm so sorry Mommy for all those things I did that made you soooo unhappy".... as she drifted away in her alzhiemers fog.

I called my Dad today because I new he'd like that. For twenty years we didn't talk. I'm really not sure why accept we had different points of veiw about life. Today its as if we have both had an epiphany about our relationship and maybe about life in general. Its really short, I speak for my self. And its so in the moment now. What a relief getting old can be. Its just not really all that damned inportant. Just dust in the wind.

layermask

we are what we sing

Searchin' For A Rainbow

I rode in to town today and in my heart I said "Lord I'ld love to stay" But somethin' in me said "Girl move along" Don't know what it is The good Lord bred it in my bones. (chorus) And I'm searchin' for a rainbow And if the wind only shows me where to go You'll be waitin' at the end, and I'll know I'll say "To Hell with that pot of gold" This mare I'm ridin', yeah, she's gettin' kind of tired But in my heart she knows my one desire She's gonna take me to the end of that road, She lay down and die, I'll say "God rest her soul!" And I'm searchin'...(chorus) The Marshall Tucker Band

The Visiter

don't eat the yellow snow











Travelin down that vast
Highway

My dear friend and ever faithful dog moved on to her next adventure. Hopfully there are many bunnies to chase, cats to annoy and dog biscuits to savor. We just spent a few nights in Phoenix at the Embassy Suites. One of her favorite haunts as they let her hang out in the bar for happy hour. Also those midnight potty runs on the golf course next door. Many, many bunnies and even a passed out drunk guy to startle with a cursory woff or two.
Oh boy am I gonna miss her. She was thirteen and spent all but the first six weeks of her life with me. I can't really write the deal of the tragedy. At least not now. I'm working on banning the what ifs from my brain. The other two dogs seem quietly attentive, little nose kisses on thighs. Kev is a rock and dispenser of flowers but really only time will level out the bumps.

Rodeo Fans

There's a young man that I know who's age is twenty one
Comes from down in southern Colorado
Just out of the service he's looking for his fun
Someday soon goin' with him someday soon
My parents cannot stand him cause he rides the rodeo
My father says that he will leave me crying
I would follow him right down the roughest road I know
Someday soon goin' with him someday soon
But when he comes to call my pa ain't got a good word to say
Guess it's cause he's just as wild in his younger days
So blow you ol' blue northern blow my love to me
He's ridin' in tonight from California
He loves his damned old rodeo as much as he loves me
Someday soon goin' with him someday soon
When he comes to call my pa..
Someday soon goin' with him someday soon
Judy Collins