Ruins

it is in the ruins~

where sorrow overtakes joy,
flaws become exposed,

learning replaces ignorance,
lessons are learned,

forgiveness stands,

walls are rebuilt,

and finally you can flee the broken remains
when the light shines through.

A Bird in the Tree

Today the wind picked up as there is a storm coming overnight. The leaves on this tree that had been holding out on letting go, were swept up, blowing every which way. You couldn't tell if they were birds or leaves. Then in an unexpected moment, I caught this bird in the tree and for a moment you couldn't tell if it were bird or leaf.

A bird in a tree...

With this as my inspiration, I am determined to obtain a bird watching book to learn about the winter birds who keep my company all the winter through. Here he is again moments after he left the rest of the tree branch.

Meanwhile, the neighbors got to flying a kite in the strong March-like winds.

With all the winged creatures about, I fully expected the faeries to show up next. But I had to be happy with what I got. I was.

Bless Your Thanksgiving

Call Me Old Fashioned

In celebration of Thanksgiving, here is a movie version of Louisa May Alcott's, "Old Fashioned Thanksgiving." Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Prayer

I raise my cup to fall, to blessings given one and all.
The harvest bounty laid, before eyes and hands bent in Grace.
~Bookish Kind

London Fog

Do not adjust your computer screen, just enjoy the view.

Pie in the Sky

 

No pie in the sky tonight, just velvet. 

At least that's what it looked like..., 

A big velvet carpet spread out on a section of sky as the sun set.

My oh my, how lovely the sky.

Bronte Weather Blog

Bronte geeks, take note - this Bronte weather project blog just started here this fall. The Yorkshire weather is all over their writings and in their blood, it's just a part of them, ...almost it's own character in each of their respective books. I am so enamored of the Yorkshire wilderness and environment this will almost see me through not being there in person, at least for now. Link up, readers!

Photo by Rebecca Chesney

The Winter Birds Have Arrived

It's one of the best things about fall/winter, the changing of the guard in the bird world that happens each year. There are always little rare beauties that take over the bleak duty of midwinter. You never see their variety any other time of the year, and why they choose to spend the winter in such circumstances I will never know. But I am so glad, so grateful they do. Their frames grace the sky with much needed company as the season wanes on. Welcome one and all.

Edited to add this, which I came across several days after writing this post:

"The Snow Birds" by Ben Burroughs, from Sketches, 1965

"I watched a flock of snow birds engaged in finding food,
And I must here and now admit they had great fortitude,
They perched upon the frozen earth as though it were velvet plush,
And when one spied a crust of bread, they all joined in the rush.
High flying are these feathered friends, they come with winter's cold,
And fill the air with lusty song, each time their wings unfold.
Where they hide out when storms invade, is really beyond me,
For there is little shelter in a bony, leafless tree.
They love the freezing temperatures, this no one can deny,
They're migratory Eskimos that love a hazy sky,
But when the springtime comes again, snow birds will fly away,
To head for lands where icy frost, is ready to display."

Judge a Book By Its Cover

Judge a book by its cover.

These for example are gorgeous, and I'd probably buy them just for the covers, 

even though, "Wuthering Heights," is not my favorite read. 

They bookend the words so warmly and agreeably you think of them,

not as dust jackets or covers, but as cosys.
If teapots can have cosys, surely books can.