Oh Lord, Kumbaya ...

and when you arrive
let's just Peace Out, ok ?
Thanks ...

Love Thy Neighbor ...

as thyself ...

I'll Buy That Dream Sky Watch ...

I am developing a strong love of things antique. What can that mean ?

Through the night my Bose is always on low and set to an AM Station here in town called KWAT 950. They do an amazing job alternating between Contemporary Soft Rock and The Olden Days.

Occasionally they play the duet by Helen Forest and Dick Haymes from 1946. It's one of the one most visual songs I know of. It describes their life and love over the years.

So today's photo is "a sky full of moon" ... but not really. "It doesn't sound bad, and if it can be had, I'll buy that dream".

The dreams of other skies at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas ...

And may you be blessed in the year to come ... xoxo.

Heavens Gain Is Our Loss ...

My Aunt Cecelia passed away on Sunday after a long illness. I was told yesterday that on that morning, after months of pain and suffering and not much communication, she sat up in bed and said, "Isn't it beautiful"?

Hearing her exclamation, I was taken back to summer trips I made home after moving to Houston. I visited Aunt Celie often, and it was always with the intent of seeing her Garden as well as her. They were united. I would go in mid day, after what she called her "Stories". She would have been working outside all that morning, her sleeveless blouse exposing her firm tan arms. Always barefoot, she had what I call Garden Feet, dusty on top with dirt in between each and every toe ... a great pleasure known to those of us who really understand gardening.

We would eventually make our trip outdoors to take it all in, my preview always being the large picture window in the dining room, that framed this masterpiece beautifully ... the tied back, white sheer lace curtains.

The walk into her garden always began from the door of her garage and included my needing to pause so that I could take it all in from right there. Then we would walk down the slope of the yard and out into the middle, where we would stop to be surrounded by color ... a giant box of Crayons kind of color. And when you looked down and around it was never dirt or mulch that you saw. Every square inch contained life in the form of tiny succulents and mosses that she kept manicured into thriving green texture with pattern and shades. We would then do our walk through, the questions fired rapidly, the answers right behind. It was like that between us ... we always had so much to cover. And I feel that my own garden is a reflection of her tastes in color. It's also a reflection of the perfection I know she strived for and achieved.

There are other memories too ... her love of cats and how she showed it in every room, the shelves containing hundreds of miniatures in every shape, breed and color ... the hamburgers in the electric skillet with the buns laid on top after turning, to crisp the edges ... her home made donuts lightly dusted with sugar ... and her glider on the front porch.

I believe Aunt Celie was talking about heaven Sunday morning. And I believe too, that she was talking about her garden. For aren't they one in the same? And isn't that beautiful?

Red Barn ...

We decided to retire on The Prairie shortly after my sister Wendy died. I desperately needed to be near her daughter as well as my own Mother. We were ready to do sometime totally different ... and it turned out to be the perfect plan. It's just so crazy that it came about from such tragedy.

My heart wasn't always broken. The barn wasn't always red. But around here, things are both looking and feeling damn near perfect. I love it when that happens.

Wear Your Love Like Heaven Sky Watch ...

Today my sky is a Donovan Psychedelic Pop Song.

Color and sky brush and blue
Scarlet fleece changes you
Crimson ball sinks from view.
Lord kiss me once more
Fill me with song
So I may
Wear my love like heaven.

See Heaven around the World
http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

The Lost In Space Cactus ...

Every year I pick a unique plant to pot cuttings from for Girlfriend Christmas Presents. I was never able to locate the botanical name for this little wierdo so I named it the Lost In Space Cactus ... it reminds me of something Will Robinson would run up against while wandering too far from his Jupiter 2 Space Ship. And then it would come to life and tangle him up while that no good Doctor Smith runs to save his own neck.

See the dimples on two of it's stems ? Don't let them reach out and get you. You never know when it's Lost In Space ... and the B9 Robot might not be around to rescue you.

Wendy ...

Last night we took Mom to a worldwide candle lighting ceremony at Immaculate Conception, our home church. The Compassionate Friends organization puts this on for parents who have lost a child. People around the world lit candles at 7:00 pm for one hour, totalling 24 hours of thought and prayer for our loved ones.

We all took Wendy's photo to the Alter ... Mom lit the candle and said Wendy's name. Hearing it and seeing it in this way was so painful. My grief came out in the form of a sob that I was unable to repress. Everyone came forward with their photographs. Everyone cried deeply.

I dreamed of Wendy all night. I still can not believe it is true that she has passed away.

Joni Mitchell Sky Watch Friday ...

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
from up and down and still somehow
it's clouds illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all.

http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Snow Cloud Sky Watch ...

I'm no Meteorologist ... but look up Little House. The forecast is snow ... in one minute. See the world's weather at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

All God's Creatures ...

great and small ...
long and lean and nice and tall.

A retired Greyhound named Sugar, waiting for her adoptive parents. I loved her madly, but I'm missing me some Ruby Thursday.

Get Off Of My Cloud Sky Watch ...

Sometimes just a nice blue sky is perfect. Taken from Valerie's ... a unique and special place ... a unique and special friend.
http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Jean Leon Farris' Thanksgiving ... And Mine ...

I am particularly fond of this painting. It's one of the better early representations of the Holiday. I like that the focus is our Pilgrim Hostess serving the seated Indian Chief ... it's about both giving and receiving. No one is shooing the dog away. The Indian Princess is already getting an ear full of Colony gossip. And the snoozing Elder in his White Man's hat, customized with a feather ... he's comfy. Our cultures are blending beautifully.

When we sit down to dinner later this afternoon, here at the Smith's in Franklin, Tennessee, we will pray. There is uncertainty affecting all of us in one way or another, but there are things to be appreciated ... like each other ... and the sausage stuffing ... Thank you, Jimmy Dean.

Bank It ...

Clear Lake Architecture ... a Cornucopia of coins with $'s.

Sock It To Me Sky Watch ...

http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Swan Song Sky Watch ...

Sky Watch Friday ... it's in there.

Stars and Stripes ...

I took this photo of our Grainery, Horse Barn and Hen House, from a Neighbor's field. But it's not all about my life today. You get the picture.

I Love Stuff Around Here ...

at rest, as much as I do when it's awake.

I think.

Sleeping Clematis ...

Under blue sky, puffy clouds, and in 60 degrees.

If you walk up to it and call it's name softly, it jerks awake and scares the shit out of you ... all shook up and frazzled. Just like my Mom.

It Is What It Is Sky Watch ...

Crazy clouds shooting up out of a beautiful field of corn. People around the world are looking up ... and you should too http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

30 Days, Has November ...

These trees line the path that runs through town along the Sioux River. We usually walk out here, down along Lake Pelican, but lately we've been taking the Hike & Bike trails. November is turning out to be a good month for exploring ... my hometown is known for it's long scenic trails, and the "hefty" budget to maintain and expand them. Today it's the route through the Bird Sanctuary ... retirement is not for Sissies.

Sioux River Sasquatch ...

From Space Sky Watch Friday ...

MY Space, that is ...
Check out Other's Space at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

The Giving Tree ...

Thanks for checking out my Blog. I'm honored to host this week's Sky Watch Friday.

I watch the Sky. That's my job. And I share this very important position with people around the entire world. How cool is that ? http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

The Leaf Whisperer ...

Walking the trail from Riverside Park to the Zoo.
Enlarge this ... and feel free to jump right in.

Under The Yum Yum Tree ...

Brotherly Love ...

The wheel used to belong to my Uncle Lee Goodman. The truck used to belong to my Uncle Ellis Goodman. I have them both because neither of them are Here ... not really. But we were all together yesterday.
I love it when that happens.

Sky Watch White Bird ...

is out of her Cage.

To see other's identified flying objects
http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Once Upon My Life ...

We used to own this tree, along with it's Twin. We paid taxes on them. We took care of them. It was money well spent. Now they belong to another Family. I hope they appreciate them like we did ... back when they were the first thing you saw when you opened the Front Door.

Husband In Tree ...

Up On The Roof ...

it's peaceful as can be ...
it's where the clouds
put on a show
for free.

Sky Watch Friday Rationalization ...

Every other Friday morning, in rain, sleet, hail, or snow, I drive 44 miles to Brookings, SD for my 8:30 appointment at Cali Nails.

That may sound crazy ... but do I really need to defend myself when I can come back with a Sunrise photo like this ?

See other crazy, defended or not skies at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Love Is Blue ...

Moving potted plants from West U Houston to The Prairie involved a U Haul ... their very own. All 95 of them. Shelving was installed along each side of the truck to secure the smaller ones. The large taller ones were lined up in several rows down the middle. I gave away 10, and maintain partial ownership with my Girlfriend, Marilyn Green, of an ancient huge Staghorn Fern.

These days it's the Blue Butterfly that takes my breath away. Blooming on the Sun Porch, it's blossoms are delicate and erotic ... like me. Well, maybe the delicate part not so much.

Disco Dog ...

I planned this.
Not.
Ruby Thursday.

Still A Farm Wife ... Always A Girl ...

It's always beautiful here ... except when it's not.

But I do love, and deeply appreciate, the refreshing spin that those first few inches of snow put on things.

It gets old along the way ... like when there is 18 feet of it on the north side of your property, but it's still beautiful.

And today has an energy that yesterday did not. I get to break out my Scarf and Glove Colletion. Love from The Prairie. xoxo.

Have Your Trees ...

call my trees.

A Girl Like You Sky Watch ...

and i don't know what it's all about ...
Find your Inner Rascal at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Dakota Sioux Winter ...

It's late fall and the Indians on a remote reservation in South Dakota asked their new chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild.

Since he was a modern chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the winter was going to be like.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.

But, being a practical leader, after several days, he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, 'Is the coming winter going to be cold?'

‘It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold,' the meteorologist at the weather service responded.

So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared.

A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. 'Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?'

‘Yes,’ the man at National Weather Service again replied, ‘it’s going to be a very cold winter.'

The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.

Two weeks later, the chief called the National Weather Service again. 'Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?'

‘Absolutely,’ the man replied. 'It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters we've ever seen.'

‘How can you be so sure?' the chief asked.

The weatherman replied, 'Because the Indians are collecting firewood like crazy.'

Photo From http://www.firstpeople.us/ Story from Roxy : )

Season Ticket Sky Watch ...

The Sky is a moving picture here on The Prairie. I am forever on Cloud and Color Alert, ready to bolt. And one beautiful photo Season just leads to yet another, always worthy of my attention and devotion. I'm a Fan.

See other Fan's skies at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

Thirty One ... Cong Gone ...

With Winter approaching, I have to make at least a few plans for the time indoors. A project or two takes the guilt out of watching 5 movies a day and still having time to blow through one book after another. Maybe I will learn to be a Water Color Artist ... another story for another time. Or I could study French. I should learn Photo Shop. Or I could rehearse for The Guitar Hero Showdown of The Beatles Song Book ... so I'll be ready when Yoko, Paul, Olivia and Ringo decide to hold one.

Aside from these plans, which may or may not come to fruition, Winter on The Prairie means cards ...and they can only be Bicycle Playing Cards. My Family has been playing "Thirty One" for a hundred years. If you want to learn it, see "Details of Play" at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty-one_(game)

If you don't want to learn it, your aren't going to leave here without learning something. File this away for future reference:

The Ace of Spades served a famous "Psychological Warfare" purpose in the war in Vietnam. In 1966, two lieutenants wrote The United States Playing Card Company and requested decks containing nothing but the Bicycle® Ace of Spades. The Viet Cong were very superstitious and highly frightened by this Ace because The French had occupied Indo-China, and in French fortunetelling with cards, the Spades predicted death and suffering.

Thousands of these decks were shipped to our troops, at no cost, in plain white tuckcases (card boxes), inscribed "Bicycle® Secret Weapon." The cards were scattered in the jungle and hostile villages during raids, with the very sight of the Bicycle® Ace causing Viet Cong to flee.

I Hear A Symphony Sky Watch Friday ...

In the Mid 60's I had my head in my AM Radio, stark white with a huge dial. Many many nights, just as soon as I could pick it up, I tuned in to KOMA 1520 Oklahoma City.

I was mesmerized by both The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and the Eric Burton "It's My Life And I'll Do What I Want" attitude of it all. I was angry, I was emotional, I was raw. I was maturing at a speeding pace. The all male Music of those days fed those emotions in me. And that's not to say it was bad.

But it was The Supremes who were telling it Girl to Girl. It tore my Ittie Bittie Heart to pieces the way those Black Girls were hurtin' ... I couldn't wait to be hurt like that. And I had hoped I could do some of my own heart breaking along the way.

When I saw this photo come together I thought of musical notes. And then I thought about that Symphony. And I was relieved I hadn't hurt anyone too bad along the way. It was an epic moment for me, Baby Baby. A thousand violins filled the air ...

Sky Stories around The World at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com

A Summer Masterpiece ...

These Sun Flower photos enlarge wonderfully. Each one of the tiny white bumps, underneath all of the "fluff" in the centers, is the bottom tip of a Seed.

I transferred 30 Little Darlings that I sprouted to my 6 tall black West U pots that surround our garage. Those pots used to line our driveway in Houston, behind our slotted iron security gate, that we don't need here ... I'm just saying. Nearly all of the plants grew to be 6/7" tall. That's the garage roof ... do you see the Sun Dog above the roof line? My Sister Wendy's Spirit rides that Sun Dog around here.

I bought those pots at Nelson Water Gardens in Katy, Texas, at a time when I had no knowledge of where, exactly, I would be with them right now. And while there are no Slotted Iron Security Gate places here on The Prairie ... there aren't any Water Garden Nurseries either.

Fitting In ...

We are having a dark rainy day, perfectly setting the mood for cooler weather.

The Annual Pelican Township Hay Ride and Dinner was Saturday evening. While winding through the Nature Preserve I thought back to our first, and how it was on that ride I realized the lack of history with our new neighbors was the most difficult aspect of our move.

We truly love it here, and as it turned out, the transition didn't take long. When the Hay Ride took an unexpected turn through our property it was a nice touch to the level of comfort I had when we first took off ... I felt that I fit.

I'm a little older. I'm a little better. And I like living a life that revolves around my Family, my Animals, my Friends ... and God and Nature in partnership ... the distinct change of extreme seasons under their control.

I am looking up, down and all around these days, even more so than usual. So here is my West U pond over the weekend ... filling with fallen Maple leaves. I believe it, too, has made the transition nicely.