Wordless Wednesday.

Oh, look! He’s coming to see me.

And Mamma said, “No,No, No!”

Be well,

Jess

Friends, Then and Now.

Having and making friends as an adult is different. As a child, it seems to happen naturally, almost organically, wouldn’t you say?  As children we’re thrown together in heap, and left to sort ourselves out.  “You like gymnastics?”  “Me too!” Instant friends.

I have been blessed with a few very good friends over the years, for that I am grateful.  But, I found myself sitting and wondering,  why was I was sitting alone on a beautiful saturday afternoon. I soon came to the conclusion, I only had myself to blame for that one.  I have chosen a life that requires me to be near home all if not most of the time, There are animals to care for, gardens to tend, stories to write and paintings to be painted.

 

These are not things you can do anywhere. Granted, I could slip away from time to time. (I will work on that, maybe)

I still feel the warmth of friendship, though I may not see them as often; lives change and family and responsibility lead us in different directions.  I suppose you could say we have grown apart. Grown separately, maybe. Growing apart doesn’t change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I’m glad for that.

As Jane Austin once said, “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”

My life is full, and I have no complaints, I enjoy my company.

Time and commitment, now…this, this is truly my dilemma.

Be well,

Jess

 

No Words.

Menemsha Sunset, that is all.

 

Be well, and enjoy your day!

Jess

 

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

A friend commented on yesterday’s blog that art sometimes brings music to her thoughts. I smiled a little bit, “cuz as I was downloading these photos, Doris Day started singing, well sort of, I started singing, hoping to sound like Doris.

I thought I sounded wonderful; Diesel started howling, Lexi hid in the bathroom, and Finnegan covered his head.

Richard just asked to be picked up, he thought I must have been in pain or something, I guess.

Here are some of the lyrics in case you want to sing along.

By the light of the silvery moon

I want to spoon

To my honey, I croon love’s tune

Honey moon, keep a-shinin’ in June

Your silvery beams will bring love’s dreams

We’ll be cuddling’ soon (my favorite part)

By the light of the moon.

By the light, not the dark, but the light

Of the silvery moon, not the sun but the moon

I wanna spoon, not croon, but spoon

to my honey I’ll croon love’s tune

Honeymoon, honeymoon, honeymoon

Keep a-shinin’ in June

Your silvery beam will bring love’s dreams

We’ll be cuddling’ soon

By the silvery moon

To be quite honest I only knew about a sentence and a half…I was delighted to hear the cuddling’ part.

Now, back to work I must go; the kale is gathered chopped and frozen, the last of the peas are shucked and frozen, the garden is weeded, a painting is nearly completed, finishing up some of my new obsession, strawberry honey preserves.  I’ll share the recipe with you here: strawberry yumminess.

Be well,

Jess

Away

I love the sea, I love a rural landscape. I love quaint village charm.

Welcomes

Martha’s Vineyard is sprinkled lavishly with the irresistable allure of its seafaring past, interwoven with farmsteads, artists, and unpretentious beauty.

pickets and roses

This island is not trying to be anything more than it is; leaving aside the germane need tourists may have for t-shirts, arcades, and the stipulation to be regaled, this, this island is honest.

The roads (other than the main highways) are  dirt, rutted, and furrowed.

tidal

The fishermen have this north-east island life hardships etched into their face, divulging her secret struggles, with the weather, with time, and changing earth.

Vinyard Haven Harbor

Verdant farms dot the mid-island landscape. Farmer stands, and markets offer a seasonal supply of freshness. Sustainability and a natural approach to life and farming are central.

Lake Tashmoo

Days are slow, they are meant to be. Savor the fresh salty air, the warm ocean breeze. Take a moment, simply feel the suns gentle rays.

I think they’re done.

Stand on her cliffs and wonder.

Gay Head Cliffs

Imagine winter’s lonely nights as light keeper.

Edgartown Light

Be stirred by the wonder of spring’s arrival.

Hydrangea

Contemplate memories of childhood, of sandcastles, starfish, and shells.

Oak Bluffs

It is a place bursting with sustenance for the soul.

J & J

But, home,well home is where I thrive, the hills, the green fields, pastoral scenes, the barns, and the people.

All it takes to appreciate what you have is to be without it for awhile.

Hope you are well,

Jess

The courage of the Life, Delicately Balanced.

It is harder for us to see the hidden pain, the physical disabilities, and ailments are easily noticed.

Personal courage is almost always ambiguous.

Bravery and courage can be seen at every turn, if we are looking.

Courage may be moving on alone, to protect those left behind, and living with the pain of a decision made.

Bravery may be waking up every morning with thrashing reality of love lost.

Courage is stepping away from abuse to persevere.

Bravery is the strength to walk away — not toward anything, no where to go, no one to go to, just away.

Courage is endurance, to live; in the fog of reality.

Bravery is stepping back in to bring love home.

Courage is facing that demon head on.

Bravery is knowing he is just around the corner.

This kind of courage is rarely impulsive. Nor does it emerge from nowhere.

Whether you have survived a trauma or not, the psyche is still a dark forest of scars and tender spots. Each relationship is intricacy piled upon intricacy, fertile ground for misunderstanding, separation, perseverance, reunion and joy.

My life was:  Stay focused on staying busy.

I survive as I always have…I survived by keeping my emotions in check – by maintaining my composure and tucking it all away. I managed to stay under the radar, skating through without anyone truly remembering I was here….oh, to stand out would have been unthinkable. Life in my world, was designed to stay busy, less time to dwell…You can’t control what you, are not responsible for…so you carry on, life carries on. I guess you just don’t pay attention. I think you’re too busy attempting to fade…until one day, you realize; I don’t need to hide, I don’t need to keep my head down. I have survived!

My husband and children are awesome; my life full of hope and love.

A life clearly marked with moments of struggle and overcoming.

Courage, determination, pride…that’s what little girls are made of.

Joy!

Be well,

Jess

‘Merica

Some words can be carry their meaning across hundreds of years and thousands of tears. These are such words. We need to find our pride and resolve. Come together as one. Stop fighting each other. Build on our strength and God given resources, treat all peoples with equality without saying so. Love all not some. What constitutes an American? Not color nor race nor religion. Not the pedigree of his family nor the place of his birth. Not the coincidence of his citizenship. Not his social status nor his bank account. Not his trade nor his profession. An American is one who loves justice and believes in the dignity of man. An American is one who will fight for his freedom and that of his neighbor. An American is one who will sacrifice property, ease and security in order that he and his children may retain the rights of free men. An American is one in whose heart is engraved the immortal second sentence of the Declaration of Independence..

“They tell us, sir, that weareweak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power.”
― Patrick Henry

A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be the ready to surrender their liberties to the first internal or external invader” –

Samuel Adams

“May our land be a land of liberty, the seat of virtue, the asylum of the oppressed a name an d a praise in the whole earth, until the last shock of time shall bury the empires of the whole world in one common undistinguished ruin!”

Joseph Warren

“The American flag doesn’t give her glory on a peaceful, calm day. It’s when the winds pick up and become boisterous, do we see her strength. When she unfolds her hand, and shows her frayed fingers, where we see the stretch of red-blood lines of man that fought for this land. The purity of white stripes that strips our sins, and the stars of Abraham’s covenant, broad in a midnight blue sky. The rights our forefathers established. As it waves high in the currents of freedom, where the Torch of Liberty shines over the sea, does she give meaning to unity. When we strive as one nation, or when it drops half-mast, to a fallen soldier.” Anthony Liccione.

Enjoy America’s Day of Independence.

They warn us to not align ourselves with a patriot view on social media, so as not to bring the attention of evil doers. How can this be? Bravery in the face of adversary is what our country was built on; how can we cower now?

Brave is when you have to do something because you know it is right, but at the same time, you are afraid to do it. Do it anyway.

Best,

Jess

Every bird has their duty.

Today I am sure no one needs to be told that the more birds a yard can support, the fewer insects there will be to trouble the gardener the following year.

And, every gardener knows that every bird destroyed, and every nest robbed, is an unmistakable surge in insects, a struggle we know only too well.

Gardeners and farmers have a personal interest, and a strong one, in the preservation of birds.

The garden is a doorway to other worlds; one of them, of course, is the world of birds.

The garden is their dinner table, bursting with bugs and worms and succulent berries.

But, if you please, could you kindly leave me some radishes.

Be well,

Jess

My Blues Have Gone.

My blues have gone.

 

 

But, now there are Yellows!

 

Never entirely ~ Wordless Wednesday.

“Dare to be naive.”
– Buckminster Fuller

Be well,

Jess

Wishin’

I have dreams, I have hopes, and I have aspirations.

Can I wait around for some fairy Godmother to to tap me with her wand?

Nah, probably not; I’ve got things to do, time is awastin’, and I’m not getting any younger.

Because I don’t speak of these things much, (until I am ready to share); it may appear to others that I just jump into things, willy-nilly. This could not be further from the truth, I research ad-nauseam. Make a plan, then research some more.  (Are you nauseous yet?) I am almost ready!  We’ve spoken to our local LDC and are set for our second meeting.

The Llamas are excited. Really they are.

The goats delirious. Can’t you just see the excitement in their eyes?

Seriously? What?!

No? Look deeper.

I thought we talked about this behavior.

…and the dogs, well, the  dogs could give a hoot.

Don’t worry, Finn; I’ve got your back.

There are no balls, bones, or games involved, so they just choose to ignore the happenings around here.

They pretend they can’t see the yarn wrapped around their paws, in their water dish, and atop their heads. They lie on top of fabric scraps; try to take freshly stitched sweaters for their own, try to wear cowls, and make chew toys of thread spools. 

Try to temper the excitement Finn, really.

It is going to be lots of work, lots of fun!

Diesel, “I swear I never saw anything.”

And the best part; I get to do it all in our freshly(to be) built barn.

I know, I know, Lexi…you slept through it all. Right?

The dogs really do like that part. 

Do I look like I would cause any trouble? Diesel did it.

Alright then, let’s get to work.

Hello…

Hey?!

Uhmm, where are you all going? We’ve got work to do.

Ah, well.  There must be something in self-reliance.

“If you are a dreamer come in If you are a dreamer a wisher a liar A hoper a pray-er a magic-bean-buyer If you’re a pretender com sit by my fire For we have some flax golden tales to spin Come in! Come in!” ― Shel Silverstein

Be well, Jess