Wildland

Head on over to "The House in the Roses" for some wildland nature adventures. So beautiful and inspiring!

Photo from "THE HOUSE IN THE ROSES" website

A Dog-ear For Emily

 dog-ear

[dawg-eer, dog-] 

noun

1.

(in a book) a corner of a page folded over like a dog's ear, as by careless use, or to mark a place.

Dog-eared books are a sign of affection for something you have read, a reminder to go back and visit it again, something you want to remember.

Take for instance page 605 from the Emily Dickinson biography,

 "My Wars Are Laid Away in Books."

It talks about Emily D's affection for Emily B's writing. 

It shows how similar they were,

and as 'kindred spirits' to me, I cannot help but mark these words.

Here is a close up if you want to read it. I found it fascinating to read.

It is definitely a page I want to remember from this book, and noting it here is a good place to 'hold' it so I won't forget the words. 

Do you ever dog-ear your physical copy books and/or your Kindle books? I just can't give up the physical book and I hope I won't ever. I continually weed through my stacks and try to only keep the dearest ones. 

It is a work in progress, but I am getting there.

I'd love to hear what you have dog-eared.

Those Who Fly

Wind is God's gift for those of us who fly

 ~ Copyright Bookishkind, 2013

photo is from whitepaintedwoman blog

Anne - Summer

“I wonder what it would be like to 

live in a world where it was always June …”

Something New

There are a few new books in the shop.

 

I hope you see something you like.

 

Kingston Lacey

Trees near Kingston Lacey, Dorset
Source: Photograph © Mark Durk, 2008, www.oursouthwest.com

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."

   

~Robert Louis Stevenson

The Last Days of Anne Boleyn

BBC2 is showing a documentary called, "The Last Days of Anne Boleyn." While the US will have to wait for this to air on television or to buy the DVD, the lucky Brits can watch it now.

The Tudors are my favorite favorite history to read, watch, and see, so this is one I'll be looking forward to buying. You can never have too much of the Tudors.

THE LAST DAYS OF ANNE BOLEYN, airing on BBC2

Click to see clips and the BBC2 website on the documentary.

Little Adventures - Backyard and Otherwise

The backyard lilacs have already begun fading. Their lifespan is so short yet so perfect with their lush perfume and bright lavender flowers. Before they faded, I was able to get some pictures of their simple and timeless beauty.

This time next year, I will watch for them before they go quietly into the sunset of another spring.

Happily, other things in the yard are not as short lived. But you still have to step outdoors or you'll miss them.  For instance, lately we have received an early morning visit from a kitty called Dewey (after the Dewey Decimal System). One of his humans is a librarian which explains the name. He is still a little bit shy and not ready to come down from his fence perch when we are outside, but I am hoping he will eventually.

The winds also carry on as if by cue, and today pigeons were seen flying overhead in the wild skies, which is a first time occurrence around here, at least for me. 

As much as I love the backyard though, I am itching to venture out a little when June gets here. So hopefully I'll have a little adventure to share about sometime soon. Keep in mind that I said little adventure, ...it won't be the Redwood Forest or anything like that, unfortunately. But it's time to seek out some different skies for a little while. Who knows what it will be, even I don't right now. I will find something perfect and share when I can.

A Fortnight of Spring Winds

Give me spring and give me wind.
A few days ago was a perfect spring wind, almost warm in the sunshine.

This spring wind brought out two hawks from the tall trees just like they always do, hawks that like to play in the windy currents, ... and one calls to the other to say they have found the prime spot to ride the wind, the other answers by calling and joining his partner, ...all just over my head and so close that I can see their feathered patterns and hear each call they make, ...ten shrill calls to each other, five each back and forth sounding exactly the same as the one before, and lovely to my listening ears. I wish I could join both of them in their thrilling dives and soaring dances that they leave their nests for each time the wind blows hard.

Spring winds bring me out of the house too, there is no way to resist them. The tall trees seem to join hands in dancing to the windy display...

...like those cut out paper people who hold paper hands..., 

...still trees, but in a different form of paper trees, 

...holding hands in a dance for the sheer joy.

My breath is caught up with the gusts that are impossible to walk away from, and I find myself glued to the backyard watching the sky like a movie, eyes drawn to each new scene that plays before me. This spring wind display happens off and on for a good fortnight falling somewhere in the days of May and June, and there is nothing like it.

The currents await me. Joy.

What Would Jane Do?

Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books and the family of Elizabeth Bennet is so true to life. Jane Austen knew people and how they work and she knew how to spin a yarn very well, indeed.

Today I was thinking of the Bennet sisters -- Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia, and Kitty -- and how different they are. Jane and Elizabeth use their time wisely and learn well, they make themselves "handsome women" in the sense of what they accomplish and become. Mary strives to be like her elder sisters, well accomplished and informed, but she misses the mark because she has no room to be sensible and thoughtful in the moment. Lydia is hopeless and has not become who she could be, while Kitty aimlessly follows Lydia around and copies her behavior.

I wonder which sister would be my model were I to look at this carefully and objectively. I have bits of them all if I am to be honest, and I am not sure how I feel about it. I know I can do better with my time, of course we all can. It is far too easy to sit at the computer and stay idle when there are a million other things you could be doing, things that are far more valuable.

Where have all of the accomplished arts gone to in this fast paced world that finds us rarely having time like the ladies of old did, ...devouring a book for hours, baking something from scratch, needlepoint, drawing, art, taking walks and thinking long and thoughtfully with your head, about life and its meaning.

It can be a crazy time to live in, and it's not going to be simple or accomplished unless we make it so for us, ...we live in a time that doesn't demand for us to bake a cake from scratch or draw sketches of family to remember them. We don't have to whip up tea and scones for company dropping by for a chat, or write long letters to relatives who are far away. There are not dresses to be made by hand or needlework sitting at the wayside begging to be worked on. But we can use our time to become really really great at something and maybe even two or three somethings, rather than being idle like Lydia and Kitty.

Which sister am I destined to become, whether Kitty, Lydia, Mary, Elizabeth, or Jane is entirely up to me - that is the beauty of it.
What would Jane do? Indeed, we already know the answer to that question.

May 6, 1862

A beautiful resting spot for Thoreau. 

Under the earth and trees he loved so dearly.

Grateful for the wisdom he left us in his mere 44 years.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Live the life you've imagined. 

As you simplify your life, 

the laws of the universe will be simpler.

Henry David Thoreau

Bloom Your Heart Out

Well, hello spring.

Glad you finally made it to my backdoor.

I love every single blossom you brought with you.

 Up close or far away, you are as lovely as ever.

 

Bloom your little heart out.

My Bronte Pen

My Bronte pen came this week and I am thrilled with it. I chose the Emily Bronte Pen and here it is in its black presentation case, along with a certificate of authentication from Haworth Church.

It also comes with a pamphlet that tells a little bit about the pen and the wood it was made from. Mine was made from wood taken from the old schoolroom and also Haworth Church.

It reads, "the lid of this pen is made from wood sourced from the old schoolroom, the teaching place of the Bronte's. The body of the pen is made from wood sourced from Haworth Church, the resting place of Emily and Charlotte Bronte."

There is also a short history included of Emily, the old schoolroom, and Haworth Church.

Here is what my pen looks like. I decided on the light wood since I liked the look of it the best. I love that a little piece of Haworth, Haworth Church, Emily, and the Bronte's in general, is safely tucked away in my home where I can take it out and touch it anytime I want to. It is a connection to the Brontes that is unique and memorable. The wood from the pen surrounded the sisters as they worshipped or taught, and now a very small piece of that is here with me. It's a connection I will cherish for a long time.

Photo by York and Beyond

you might...

Art by Mose Bianchi

you might wander quiet streets at night
you might pray to a sky full of stars
you might learn something from the hard times
you might smile through pain
you might fall and get back up
you might choose one path or another
you might be a hero
you might wonder the meaning of life
you might already know
you might stand tall and strong
you might be on your knees
you might cry in your pillow at night
you might wonder if goodness is gone
you might think that it has
you might forget for a moment that goodness abounds
you might be reminded it's here
whatever you might do, don't forget to remember to...,

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding."
                 
  Proverbs 3:5,6

A Thorn With Roses

Do you ever hold,

What is holding you back,

Tightly to yourself?

You want to let go, but cannot.

It hurts to hold it close,

It hurts to let it go.

It seemed to be what you wanted,

When you reached for it,

And brought it into your heart,

But now it's a thorn in your side,

Even in it's beauty.

'A thorn with roses'

And that's what you feel you are.

Sometimes the rose,

Sometimes the thorn.

The beauty and the beast in one. 

But never only one without the other.

You realize it is yourself,

Holding yourself back.

Only you can let it go,

But you can't or don't want to. 

Fear takes over for you.

You don't know how to begin.

It only takes one step,

No matter how small.

It only takes practice,

And soon you will see,

It hurts to hold it close,

But you gain freedom,

When you can finally let it go.