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