Driftwood ...Haiku Wednesday...

Haiku Wednesday

 Heart turned to driftwood

closed to another's soft touch

Could this be the time?

Could this be the time

for the drifter to appear?

Hat hung by the door

Hat hung by the door

frozen shut by drifts of snow

unlike summer's balm

Unlike summers' balm

 when boats drift simmering shores

Fireworks burst at dusk

Fireworks burst at dusk

Do stay, if you get my drift

Heart turned to driftwood


by klr

"Frog"... and... "Magnolia"..Haiku links

Linking with "Tackle it Tuesday"

 Frogs in unison 

serenade me through the night

Fine tranquilizers

by klr

                                            

                                Magnolia bluff ~ Seattle 

Proud magnolias
grandly carpet the steep bluff
meeting hazy peaks


Native sentinels
glory in sensuous tableau
anchor the framed bay


by klr

POEtry... linking with haiku my heart...

Linking with haiku my heart

POEtry

The old raven boasts

quothing all his new POEms

he's CAWling no more

by klr

Fire....word prompt for haiku..

Linking with..  sensational-haiku-wednesday                                                                   

                                                                 by Angiezpics

Charred melting sandwich

Bonfire roasted marshmallows

Please toast me S'mores


by klr

The Mountain...

Sharing with Ana's Earth Wonders where the theme all month is Nature...

By zooming in on the space at the end of the cul de sac where I live I can see Mt. Rainier, barely.  

Usually she is highlighted in pastel colors in morning or evening, but many a day there is a circle of clouds crowning her brow.  In this photo the sun is shining on her northeast side.  She comes out many times a day, no matter the weather unless it particularly is a dismal period.  Very few days go by when one doesn't see her from one angle or another at many intersections, hillsides, or while driving on the freeway.  It is amazing how many people have a personal view of her from their back yards or upstairs windows.  At times, she appears as clear as a bell, magnified and oh, so close; other times she seems much farther 
away in the distance than she really is.  


Everyone agrees she is beautiful in the 
spring for her meadows of wildflowers, in autumn for her multicolored treeline, and for her 

showy snow whiteness in winter, when her entire face if covered.  All year hikers traverse her.  Lately the earth has shaken beneath her as she is close to one of the major fault lines in Washington State, but she has been dormant for many, many years.

I feel privileged to have this peek at her from my mailbox, however the wires stringing across the photo take away from the scene.  Anyway, I decided to blend in the profile of  the famous Suquamish Indian,  Chief Sealth,  as his people believe mountains have spirits and he does look quite handsome looking over his kingdom from the sky, I think.  I left the sepia tones on purpose and added a little smoky blue texture.  Thousands of photos of Mt. Rainier abound so this will win no prize, but it's nice to
 have a peek-a boo view.Earth Wonders at Ana's Wonderland web-site...http://anasofiaeugenio.com/

Horizon....linked with Photo Art Friday

Photo Art Friday

Experimented today with Pixlr and a photo taken from a train window on the way across the U. S. in 

2008.  You see the beginnings of fall and an almost dry Whitefish River in Montana (tried to cover up the smudged, dirty train car window ;)

Landscape of My Mind..Haiku Wednesday

Haiku Wednesday

Bathed by honeyed sun 
mountain wildflowers fill the
 landscape of my mind

Woodland  trillium
won't surrender to the rain
unlike one's heart ache

Saffron felt petals

blow against the weathered shed

seeking sacred ground

Shades of indigo

brushed with rustic green terrain 
willows wave goodbye


Nothing here but hope
and mother's love enduring
not for earth's taking


by klr

The Pelican Brief...PAF..

Not too  late.....and there are more interesting entries if you go to:  Photo Art Friday

For this week's texture art photo we were asked to create and submit an art photo using 

what we have learned about layering and use the theme of one of our favorite books..any book.  Well, I 

chose a series of law and order type books which were made into movies.   Aaron Sorkin wrote A Few Good Men and John Grisham was the author of both The Firm and The Pelican Brief.  I went with the latter, using a photo of my late father's Appellate Court law books, a photo of the scales he had in his chambers 
as a judge.  Using texture of antique lettering and a stock photo of a pelican, I put them all 
together.  I'm not used to the Pixlr site yet, but this is what I came up with today; it is 
a bit 'off' because I was used to picnik and don't have photoshop;

the editing and blending could be much better and I thought the tutorial was poor,
but...it was fun to put together;)

Haiku Wednesday ...Spring...

Haiku Wednesday

Sixties' coiled icon

My springy Slinky slithered

taking buoyant steps


by klr

Spring flowers and stained glass...

I found Tones on Tuesday -     

I've been busy...missing Macro Monday, Texture Tuesday, but maybe these will work for 
Wordless Wednesday  (that's out) or one of the other fun sites where everyone shows a sample of their photography.  Mine is still considered "beginning"  photography because one needs time at the computer to "play" and there hasn't been much of that leftover recently.   I found it interesting today , but not surprising, that the three stained glass butterflies that belonged to my mother match perfectly the colors displaying in my garden right now.  The lilac is slow this year but it certainly would fit in with the purples..and the orange geum and yellow coriopsis would fit right in here, too, but they are not blooming quite yet..then again I guess most any flower would find it's shade in them.


Here, you see bluebells, early snapdragons, bleeding heart, tulips, and pansies..and
the cornflower.  Also the very wonderful red amaryllis!
Enlarge for better view..

Conversation... Haiku Wednesday

The Round Table

Celebrated daily discussions held at the Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan between 1919 and 1930 - including literaries Edna Ferber, Dorothy Parker, Charles Mac Aurthur, Harpo Marx and many others..

Library of minds
gathered at the round table
Cunning lunch affairs


Pool of keen scribblers
learned sagacious players

Mulling world problems

Fireside conversations 
begotten by jesters' wit
pungent semantics


Imagine there were
profound sentiments expressed

some borne of great pain


by klr

Haiku Wednesday

Oh, Dem Bones...and Haiku Wednesday..

Haiku Wednesday
Annoyance


 One ought not complain
Many lose extremities
or are disabled


But my new pet peeves
are quite exasperating;
Splints, casts and air boot


What an annoyance 
so awkward and cumbersome
Dems my lucky breaks


by klr









You may not be old enough to remember the original song "Dem Bones..", written 

in 1945 by James Waldon Johnson and then copied by many an artist since.  However many are familiar with the popular ditty in learning how 'them bones' are connected. Since I have been dealing with a few bone issues recently, I thought I would elaborate a little bit... 

The biblical source for this phrase comes from Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, with history 
all its own; it includes three other pious men, Shadrack, Meeshack, and Abednigo,  for whom another spiritual song was written.

I loved studying physiology!  Recently though, I've learned first hand more about the human
 skeleton and how it is repaired.  The ankle bone is connected to the foot bone - the foot bone is where bone spurs can grow on the heel and eventually tear the Achilles tendon, causing great pain!  For this to (heal), one must immobilize said foot in an air cushioned boot for up to 5 weeks; one must follow doctors orders by sticking with a physical therapy program for a month or so, icing and exercising all the muscles that have anything to do with the support of the tendon.  Lastly one needs to have special orthotics made from molds of the soles of the patients feet .  Then one can begin to walk short distances with little or no pain at all.    Amazing!! This also gives one the opportunity to catch up on one's reading as one is limited by 
not being able to drive while wearing the boot.

            Achilles tendon

                            Heel spur

The arm bones (ulna and radius) are connected to the wrist bones - the metacarpal bones of the hand 

are connected to the phalanges (this I knew) and the thumb metacarpal joint is connected to the trapezium.  When degenerative arthritis destroys the base thumb joint and one then falls on it, further damaging it, an orthopedic doctor must perform an angioplasty to re-establish the joint.  Without going into  more detail, assorted tools are used for this, including pins and a drill.  Amazingly, again, the continuous aching pain of arthritis of the thumb is gone..relief!!!  There is only the pain of the incision.  Now again, one needs time to elevate and rest the entire arm in a splint for 4 weeks and a cast for 5 more weeks.  Again, plenty 
of  time to find other things to do like write, read, and paint using the good hand.  Of course, 
there are months of therapy ahead.

    In 2004 I fell, in the dark, stepping where there was no step...as you know the arm bones, the ulna and radius, are connected by the elbow joint to the humerus bone. Again, amazingly, if the elbow is fractured, it can be replaced with a titanium prosthetic!!!  If you are right handed and it happens to that arm, you will have to let all housework go unattended, as well as painting, but you still will have time to read.  After 6 months of physical therapy it will be as good as new with full range of motion!!  The time recuperating is advantageous for reading, writing, and watching old movies.

Of course, pain is managed with pills the first 3-4 days post surgery, although you are expected to 
be able to withstand up to a level 7-8 on a 1-10 pain scale at times.  It is most tolerable at the 5-6 range, 
as anyone who has had any kind of surgery can attest to. These procedures are innovative and incredibly proven to help many an athlete or person in need of joint replacement. Tools of the trade include hammers and knives, saws, rods and bolts and pins.  Amazingly, hips, knees, backbones,  wrists and ankles can be made to work again quite easily these days.  Miraculously, one can return to the lifestyle one was living before the injuries or incidents occurred, except for heavy duty work.  I have every confidence in the 
                world that one can survive even horrible accidents by turning one self over 
to the care of the bone doctors and their nursing staff.   

                                         
Bones can be lovely, aged and brittle, can hide 
secret evidence of homicidal nature, or bear genetic clues, (CSI). Medicine has become bionic in nature.
The medical profession has come a long way in all fields, it is true. I read fewer books and watched more movies during these times - 
Unless one is isolated, no longer does one have to suffer the excruciating pain of having 
a leg amputated as a result of an infected injury or snakebite with only a jug of whisky to anaesthetise the 
patient, an unsanitary bed, and whoever might be at hand to perform the deed - with the proverbial 
soap and water boiled on the stove, if lucky!   Perhaps you saw 
Robert Duvall perform the same scene in the movie " Lonesome Dove"?!

Ode to Molly...

Photo Art Friday

I had put this together not realizing it could be used for today's entry, so it lacks having the poem or part of it in the actual photo; instead there you will find faint words from one of Bonnie's textures...I could have altered it more, but thought this would suffice for now;)

Molly was fearful when I adopted her

I wonder what was the cause of her trauma

At first she'd hide in the fireplace,

her coat, soot, with highlights of gold and auburn

She resembled Lauren Bacall

And had the tortie attitude to match

We bonded gradually as I brushed her;

declawed paws kneaded me but didn't scratch.


Birds and critters entertained her from outside

And while she slept she softly snored 

She liked to nestle on my hip as I lay on my side
until she was not sleepy or became bored

She had collected some balls and feathered toys
 under my bed for wee hour melee

I can still hear the faint bell she wore
I couldn't save her and she did not run away

We  were each other's gifts for awhile

she didn't go outside except to sun bathe

I'll never know just what happened;
would she return from her adventure unscathed?
I called for her and searched online, everywhere
My fault the door that day was ajar
After days away in the cold,
had fright of crashing branches sent her far?


Weeks later she was found 
just four doors down,  unable to walk 
She had suffered a stroke the veterinarian said 
and  was deliriously in shock
Her instinct to land on both feet was gone 
I wanted to take her home to heal
What a blessing to see each other again
Her grateful green eyes didn't see me,
but she knew I was there,
and purred tranquilly as I held her head 
in  prayer




by klr

Photo Art Friday

Haiku Wednesday.. and a Room With a View Slide Show......& 52 Photo Project..

Haiku Wednesday ..Happiness

Peacock shards of light

pierce lacy stretching branches

nature's fibrous frame

Let your soul capture

the blue bird of happiness

alighting therein

Winter passed just days ago and I find myself with fresh views from my bedroom which 

faces Clover Creek.  Before, an ice storm snapped tree branches, my sweet cat, Molly, could not 
find her way back home to me, and then the loss of a dear neighbor and friend.  The visages of age are made apparent with a red fiberglass cast on my left arm (more about that in  my next post). How did 65 years go by so quickly?  March 31, 1947.  Like thousands of feet of mini dreams spliced together on a flickering 
reel of old film, it continues like the slow locomotive flow of the creek.  

I pretend I'm sitting on a cloud, like a child imagining, and ask:  Were there still fairies that 

disappear in a half wink among the trees?  Will there be bands of gold when I reach the sea?  And will the heirloom seeds I planted yesterday grow?  How to control the fluttering at my collarbone as I see moonbeams reflect on the creek, so different from the phosphorescent  light tripping at night. 
 Sought after dreams are still dreams.

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

But I take heed of the trees' whispers, as more color spills from the garden by day, new lilacs
 and honeysuckle budding, waiting for monarchs and hummingbirds to arrive.  The fluffy yolk of the sun  forms a bridge to my front door where I will hang a springtime wreath.  Quilted jelly jars on the shelf, waiting to be filled with blueberry jam.  I hope the hollyhocks bloom a regal red.  Spring breathes eternally and faith is restored with buttercream frosting on my cake.  Family and friends mark the date with cards and forever smiles.  As the creek flows into a lake, it becomes a river which flows to the sea.  The mosaiced ocean 

calls for me.  A misty morning on the boardwalk, pink clouds shaped like ponies on the horizon, gulls 
write an opus in the breeze. The eye follows till it reaches the blue midnight air. A new- found, 
heightened state of joy and peace is at the heart of me.

52photosproject

Outside my door

Breathless in Washington...

Breathe of Spring

by klr

Sun, rain, storms and hail

scent of spring everywhere

 Glum is not the word

Fair days are ahead

Engage in every sense

 her regalia

* Just this morning, I typed the 100th post of this blog!!  
It is about the World's Fair in 1962 in Seattle. 
Amazing to me... 
* Also, it was last July when I stepped out of my comfort zone and became a blogger.  
In the blog description it says I am 64, but that is about to change as I turn 65 at the end of the month.  And beginning tomorrow, March 21, I will be taking a brief hiatus, a breather, from blogging, and will return right after Easter.  In the interim I will have minor surgery and read, photograph, write,  and observe as spring indeed arrives in her splendor.  It is a pleasure meeting, exchanging, and having each one of you visit The Eyrie Road and I look forward to more visits in the future..

My, time does fly, doesn't it?

A 1957 Pink Buick Station Wagon and A Kid's View...Seattle's Worlds Fair 50th Anniversary 1962-2012

Soon this summer we here will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the 1962 World's Fair held in Seattle.  Never did we imagine it possible we would ever go to one.  But Seattle was chosen that year and we lived in a small town just hours southeast of it.....and we were going!!!  How Exciting!!  How futuristic!!

Gee, we were going to see the touted Space Needle!  Our parents packed all four of us into the 
back of the 1957 Buick station wagon.  We had one minor hindrance and that was that our sister, Paula, was in a cast with crutches from a broken leg (fell off a horse).  She was 11 and I was the oldest at 15.  My other sister, Shelley, was 9 and my, brother, Alan, 13.  The speed limit was 50 mph so it was a long restless road trip for all.  With pit stops we made it in 6 hours.  Elvis was going to be there!!!

Two short slide shows will give you highlights of the fair.  You will see the old and the new, 
the Bubbleator, the restaurant on the top of the space needle that rotates slowly while one eats (in the slide show it look as if it's very speedy, but it is not).  You will see some of the sights and hopefully get a feel for the era and huge event, as people came from all over the world.

                                               

We were enthralled with everything and loved the trip to the big City, and we had lots of memories
 to keep.  It deserves a big write up and it began with a pictorial last weekend in The Seattle Times Sunday newspaper, with more about upcoming events all year. I still love to go there.  I lived most of my adult life in Seattle and the Seattle Center, as it is now called, provides acres of entertainment all year long.  Labor Day weekend is the Bumbershoot Festival, in the summer is the food extravaganza, The Bite of Seattle, with every type of food found in the area, representing many fine restaurants.  There is opera, theater, the Pacific Science Center, rides, art and animal shows, concerts, a
mime or two, dancing, cultural fairs and seminars. 
If you go don't forget your umbrella!!