A Visit From the Librarian

I don't exactly know what brought it on, but she got out her old costume glasses and put her hair up in a beehive.
Ianto was fascinated.

Up to See the Wizard

Was able to run up to Ryan's to spend some time there with him.
Buffalo burgers, good brew (both bean and barley), and splendid walks about town and on the bench.

More Christmastime Action

Christmas

Hoping yours is at least as satisfying and joyful as mine has been, here's an offering I wrote today for whoever might care to read. 

Christmas

A very unlikely series of events brought me here

and it’s equally probable that I know exactly

how this whole cakeshow will turn out-

But I’m grateful that there are skies full of snow right now,

and rain falling from others while the sun blazes down in others

because I’m small and lucky to be here, again,

and small and hopeful to be here again.

I see things as I do, and hope for things I do

and glad I am that I am surrounded by blindingly good people

who make me feel like I’m huge and full of something worthwhile.

And as the wind can blow in all directions at once somewhere

on this blue dot on some edge of this withering cosmos,

my decisions will ripple a wee bit until they disappear

too soon for my hopes and too likely late for my aspirations,

though it’s good to be able to focus on this day.

In the lengthening of sunsets and snowstorms

into the perception of those who see them from where they are,

we can gain from each photon absorbed and neuron fired-

And having grown fond of that place from whence that moment fled,

the inspiration of breath and water and gasses can

potentially course the way between us,

but unless we save a moment for the glass shown darkly

crystalline, transparent and magnifying

though needful of a moment saved and spent in pause between

more than just one.

Within graves strewn across seas, mountains and fertile fields

our own ancestors pray in silence

without breath

without sight

without inspiration of breath or knowledge of ripples

their bodies from which we sprung are nevertheless still fertile

in blessing and consequence

having given each his or her full measure in love or hatred

In war or a sort of peace within,

for they felt as I do, and hoped as I do

and felt large and full of something worthwhile

as the winds blew and light shone through dark glass,

small and hopeful to be here, again.

Christmas Morn

Up at the cabin, new snow on the ground overnight, a good pup and the best damn family ever.
What more could I ask for?
Well... more of the same, more often.

Happy Holidays and Mass of the Christ to you.

Out and 'Bout With the Drie

As often as we can. I love being out and about with the Drie, even if it's just on the roads of town or the trails above.
We don't get out of SpringTown much, but it's just fine as long as I can get out with her.

Happy Solstice and Love to all.

On the Lee Side

From earlier today, a first draft for sharing at The Granary-

On the lee side of the house,

during a twilight that persists at least four months a year for the past 117 years

where ice forms in lumpy, slick, step-thwarting strata,

through storm after storm, night after night, with drop after drop-

part precipitate from the roof and the sky, part condensate of dew and frost native in the air.

I’ve a barrel on the northwest corner of the house that freezes solid early in the fall

most years,

and if I want the flora and fauna nurtured through the spring and summer

to survive,

I put a sturdy cattle trough heater made for frigid, Wyoming winters atop the ice,

and by the next day, it has melted its way through to any water at the center

a means for life and breath aimed at those wee souls within.

It’s just like that most of the time, round here,

on the lee side of the world, this side of the TV realm, the opposite side of

what some imagine to be simple plenty, blessings and just reward for righteousness or right decision-

It’s funny what happens when ice forms on permafrost earth where no direct sun shines

for months at a time;

We’ll see what pops back green and gold, round March, or April, or even May.

Blizzard and slush, frost and rime, the bright of day and sparks of star and moon in the snow for the 

majority,

Look outside the glass, take a walk in the air, these are all there is outside now-

ours is a small space between bricks or sticks for the winter

made warm by flame and the souls of family and those dear.

We might remain or even flourish in that timeless sun that enlivens, even in winter;
a means of life and breath for those wee souls within.

SIgger

We finally found a new pup to keep Moshe's place.
He's sorta named Sigmund, Sigfried or Sigurd, and we call him Sig, Siggy, or Sigger for short.
I don't think he really cares much, he's just glad to have a place to call home even if it is a crazy, busy place like ours.
He's an absolute peach, by the way...

Out and About With the Drie

Though not aways in focus on the camera, she's always in focus in my eye. A pleasure to share my life with, that's my girl.

Frosty Mornings and Long Nights

The winter evenings and more time spent inside brings good in that I get to talk with my kids and hear about what they're up to and what they wish to be up to and what they'd like to work towards.
They're good people with dreams and fantastic sensibilities, and I am amazed to be their Pop.

Yeah, Again.

Too beautiful.

Double Birthday!

There they are, the sequential birthday sharers, Ianto and Miya. They had a good day, so many happy returns to them!

Alas, It Didn't Last

Snow doesn't always last as long as we'd like here in Sanpete. Funny climate, odd expectations.

Christmas Tree Getting

It;'s been warmer than normal for the past week or so, and the little, light snow has pushed back up the mountain.
The good thing is that usually makes getting christmas trees a little easier, although what snow there was brought out the worst in the out-of-towners as they slipped and slid and skidded dangerously close to anyone and anything not in their cars.
Nervewracking.
It was great to see the family, as usual, though! Good, solid out-of-towners, they.

Stunning

Sometimes the beauty around me all the time, that I glimpse from time to time, quite literally paralyses me.

Up to the Cabin For to Use the Snow

Happy Birthday, Rowllend

....and it's Rowl for the win. Sixty years old- wow. And the doctors said he wouldn't make it past eighteen.
That's doctors for you, and the indomitable spirit and will of a  good man.

Snow and Premonitions of Cabin Fever

Normally annoying objects, situations and arrangements can be sort of beautiful if composed right. 

The problem is, though, that when the composition is finished and the photo or painting finished, it just becomes another frustrating mess. 

The snow finally happened. Pretty danged light and airy for a first snow, as well.

Everything'll turn out just fine, no matter what we try to or try not to do. That's what I keep telling myself after time with my kids, at least.

The Air's Account

From The Granary gathering, another attempt at poetry...

Hair thin, eyes dim, skin slack-

constant reminders of time’s insistent metate

Night, day, night, day, and thus

are the bodies of loved ones thrown from howling birth into a furnace of death.

Our constant fever, white-hot;

Much the same when as young life and those whose

feelings are the potency of self are given

to a foreign Christ tiger

who was once trained by mystics and A New Father

and soon dragged asunder by a frightened caste

(Though authority would remain theirs for a few years, only).

Thus the intervening years have served

for all intents

as placemats at authority's table

for their ever more powerful progenitors.

Meanwhile, seeming alone here on this planet, we grow older by the day breathing what air we are allowed.

Our throats are made raw by coughing

and brows moistened by that fever, that oven, and time’s grinder-

we see very little manna from heaven, nor much rain from on high in these days

with God so distant.

(Oh, dear St. Francis, this thirst is slaked only by shallow graves in the womb of our earth!)

Hunger for peace grows every couple of generations

with disgust of rage and battle

as marketing maxims and shredding machines

drive green generations into self-promotional frenzies;

we need much more than groveling prayers and such cathartic supplication-

From whence do these plagues arrive and

To where will we all go?

All things have gone, and so will they go, until

we all dream dreams more full.

So just that is done in a way as genuine as any heavenly ideal

because that is the secret,

and that is the answer.

It is conveyed and practiced complete

with all questions answered and corpses buried,

feet and hands separated to keep them from haunting the living

or perhaps returning for much more

(please know- all secrets told me, I keep close).

And having overflown the steely dews of early mornings,

and having seen the sun rise shedding no real light

to naught but a few pallid, home-grown tomatoes

and high bench grass for ghostly elk,

we hereby freshen with inspiration and communal, deep breaths,

questing deep into night and all other, often far distant lights.

Through a long voyage past some risen Lord

and his disciples,

having brightened the garments of those deprived of

these long emotions

and in compassion for those alone with what is their own,

we cross.

And, so, beneath rivers,

Beyond hills,

Watchful deserts,

Forgotten mountains-

It is more than just mutual cosmos.

With this soul passing from Damocles’ sword,

habitacíon del silencio, estimado riberas , orillas de cobre, cobrado-

Aqui dentro, en el mar de lo nuestro y lo que sera,

Even the air we breathe will rise

To give account of its use and benefit

with perfect proof of faith, dreams and dread.

On a Resupply Run With Diedre

Always quick with an observation, sarcastic and/or profound, here's the Drie at HomeDepot in the midst of one of her pithy idealogical commentaries.
It's an immeasurable blessing to have her at my side. I really like her.

Autumnal Shift

Who really knows if this is a change toward the permanent, but November is like this now. Kinda sloppy, cold and changey, so hopefully it'll be a good change toward winter and good snow.

Halloween

It was an utterly incredible day today; warm, beautifully lit, and ultimately, not a bad day on which to search the neighborhood for treats.
Pretty.