New Years Eve and My Last Post of "09"

Happy New Year everyone! I know I should write some long post about what an amazing year it was or some sentimental thing but I just don't feel like it. I'll just say I hope you all have a holy and blessed new year with plenty of time for family and friends. Next to faith ,seriously, whats more important then that?

SNOW!!!

It finally snowed! Hooray! My brother informs me about an inch and a half. It sprinkled yesterday but not enough to shovel. I actually enjoy shoveling but was denied the pleasure of doing so today. Mom needed help cleaning for guests. Oh well maybe it will snow again tomorrow. If it snows enough we can go to my cousins and sled!(or if your my little bro you just sled down the neighbors driveway).

The Thrid Day of Christmas

I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday. Too busy. We went to a late mass at the church were my parents were married and my brother and I baptized. It was very nice. The celebrant was very traditional and gave a lovely sermon on Catholic family life. The church was very nicely decorated, simply but elegantly. I really don't like a lot of gaudy decorations especially in churches. These consisted mainly in evergreen and red poinsettias. The creche was one of the nicest I have ever seen. I am presumimg it is German as the parish is. It was beautiful. After mass we went "over the river and thru the woods" to Grandma and Grandpa's for a little brunch. By the time we got home it was time to get dinner ready! So that is why I didn't post. To make up for it I will try to post twice today(notice I said try(':). In honor of yesterday's feast day that of the Holy Family I will share a little poem I wrote last year. I never was quiet satisfied with it but I'll post it anyways.

O Mary, O Joseph
How did you know?
Who guided you to the manger?

Was a king's cruel decree
All there was to be
Of your flight to Bethlehem?

The kindness of a stranger,
Shelter you from danger,
Come dwell in my manger.

Did the star that had been seen
Appear with brightest gleam
Or an angel of the Lord in a dream?

The King of Kings to be
Was born in poverty
That we could the truth see.

Though blind I may be
And His glory cannot see
The light of truth shines thru His humanity.

The First Day of Christmas

Today I will share with you a poem I wrote many Christmases ago at 4am Dec 25. I hope none think it to sentimental but the lack of sleep may have contributed to that aspect(':

Love is like a morning sparkling with dew.

Love is like a rainbow with promises anew.

Love is like an ocean with it's gleaming expanse.

Love is like a dove with it's peaceful trance.

Love is like a rose because the thorns are always there
But the rose when it blooms is always sweet and fair.


It kind of seems like it's missing something doesn't it? I'm open to any suggestions. Like I said I wrote it years ago, o4 or o5 I'm not sure which.
Enjoy these holy days!~Ardhoniel

"Love was born at Christmas"~unknown

So This is Christmas

Christmas Blessings to everyone(that is if anyone reads this sorely neglected blog. So sorry folks I have just been so ridiculously busy! What am I going to do when school starts! Aiee yei yei!) So anyways Christmas is finally here the long awaited and greatly anticipated day. For some it can be a day of disappointments because everything doesn't go perfect. For those who are content in Christ and open to His holy will it is a day of peace and joy no matter what happens ,rain like we have here today, not getting everything done on time or last minute mess ups. The Savior is born. He has come to save us from futility and death. Alleluia!

Fall Reinactment

At the end of September my family and I attended a reenactment. We drove about 2 and half hours arrived ,in period clothes, at 9 A.M and stayed until 9 P.M. exhausted and cold.My brother was sure that the Scottish Highlander(pictured on bottom)must be a descendant of Gimli!

Entmoot

Back in September I found myself bored one morning so I decided to take some snapshots around the house. While I was doing this I discovered an Ent living on our front lawn! What thinks you?

Pictures Finally!

Now that it is starting to feel like winter I have got my Autumn pics uploaded. Oh well, better late then never! These are just a few. Stay tuned for more.

Gratias!

Thank you everyone for your prayers. I had a wonderful retreat as did all the other girls I was able to speak to. Unfortunately I was not able to personally meet all 148 but I did meet many wonderful young ladies and ran into some girls I had previously been acquainted with at summer camp two years ago. Nice seeing you gals again.
Concerning Saturdays vote it was a smashing Pro-Life victory! The Pitts-Stupak Act passed by 240 to 194! Thank you Lord for securing this victory thru the hands of Blessed Mother Mary! Let us continue to pray for our Congressmen and Senators that those who are not yet won over may be thru the intercession of their Guardian Angels and that those who have stood up for life may continue to do so.

Prayer Requests

I would like to ask for prayers tomorrow as I am going on a vocation discernment retreat with the Dominican Sisters of Mary in Ann Arbor. Last I heard there are 148 girls coming so please keep us all in your prayers. Also a health care reform is being voted on tomorrow in Congress that if passed will allow federal funding of abortions. Please storm Heaven that it will not go thru. Tomorrow is first Saturday. I am confident that Our Lady will work a miracle for us if only we entrust ourselves to her. So please offer up some extra prayers for our congressmen that they be enlightened by the Holy Spirit and guided by their Guardian Angels to choose life!

Update

Hi all! Quick update here. I have been wanting to post some pictures for you all to see but have had some challenges. I hope to get them downloaded soon though. The weather has been really nice and the trees just amazing! More brilliant then I ever remember them being. The yellow just glows. I feel like I'm in Lorien. We have these three small trees and this year the leaves were mostly yellow except for the tips which were flaming red. The trees looked like they were ablaze with fire! Awesomeness!
Lets see, what else has been keeping me from the computer besides the wonderful weather? Running. I raised my weekly mileage by 10 last week so I'm going to have to spend 2 versus 1 hour on it every day. Then, lets see, I have been trying really hard to make time to read The Two Towers as my brother is beating the pants off me. He read the whole Tolkien Trilogy in a week, then the Hobbit in a number of days and is now reading one I never even heard of called The Children of Hurien! I've got to catch up with that boy! I have been doing some writing independent of my blogging and have also been studying the Holy Father's new encyclical Caritas in Veritate. So yes that is everything that has been happening and this is the end of a very poorly written ,random post.~Ardhoniel

I'm Back!

Hey! I'm back and I'm freezing. Even my dad who wears shorts in 60 degree weather says that he doesn't know how long he is going to be able to hold off turning on the heat. Right now I'm down in the basement typing with a turtleneck sweater, a heavy hoodie, gloves, running pants and a scarf on. Yea, I'm cold. I'm on my third cup of tea and am getting sick of the watery stuff. Why am I complaining so much though. Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day. We went to a park after Mass. Everyone biked and I ran since I just couldn't resist(it was such a perfect day for jogging!). We came home and had some of dad's homemade chicken soup, the perfect thing to have on a chilly day. After all the exercise we where all famished! After Sunday excursions like that one everybody usually shares what their favorite part of the day was. The little girls liked the park we stopped at best. Patty said he liked being able to play with the older guys. At home they are always busy with other things like school and their forum. I really enjoyed running in a new place. It gets really monotonous jogging thru the same neighborhoods everyday. I was also excited about the swans we saw. I know I sound like a 3 year old but they were huge! I never realized how tall they get when full grown. We also saw a flock of Turkey Vultures which was pretty neat too. Last week was pretty hectic so I was very grateful to be able to enjoy such a pleasant day with my family. In some ways it makes me grateful for the busy insaneness that happens during the rest of the week because if things were always wonderful I wouldn't appreciate them like I do now. It's the craziness that makes the peace so nice, the storm that makes the calm. ~ Ardhoniel

Yummy!

I realize no themed week would be complete without a recipe so I found this one, Hot Cross Buns. Sr. Kitchen gave me the recipe with a story as well. Apparently the pope came to visit St. Clare and her sisters. After they had conversed together Clare ordered the table to be set and bread to be laid out for the Holy Father. This being done she asked him to bless it. Upon hearing her request the pope kindly declined and expressed his desire for her to bless the bread. Holy Mother St. Clare was greatly troubled and said it would be a disgrace indeed for her to bless the meal in the presence of the Vicar of Christ. Still his Holiness insisted and Clare out of obedience blessed the bread. After the blessing,on all the loaves appeared a small cross. The pope rejoiced that he had been privileged to witness such a miracle and brought some buns back to Rome with him in testimony of Clare's sanctity. To this day Franciscans all over the world bake Hot Cross Buns around Easter time in remembrance of Christ's passion and in honor of our Holy Mother.
(Thank you Sr. Kitchen for the modern translation of this recipe. The old one would be difficult for a modern reader to use.)

Hot Cross Buns

Ingredients: 1 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of yeast
1/2 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of salt
1/3 cup of butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
4 eggs
5 cups of flour
1 1/3 cup of raisins or currents
1 egg white
Glaze: 1 1/3 cup of confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of chopped lemon zest
1/2 teaspoons of lemon extract
1-2 tablespoons of milk

Heat milk to very warm but not hot in a small saucepan. Fit an electric mixer with a dough hook. Pour warm milk into mixing bowl and sprinkle yeast on top. Mix until dissolved and let sit for 5 min. With mixer running at low speed, add sugar, salt, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and eggs. Gradually add flour. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 30-45 min. Afterward knead dough until smooth and elastic for about 3 min. Add currents or raisins; knead until well mixed. Dough should be fairly wet and sticky. Shape into a ball, place in a buttered dish, cover and let sit overnight in the refrigerator.
The next morning let it sit at room temp for a 1/2 an hour. Line baking pan(s) with parchment paper or lightly grease. Form dough into 24 equal sized balls. Place on baking sheets a 1/2 in apart. Cover and let rise in a warm place until they have doubled in size(about 1 1/2 hrs). Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. When buns have risen use a knife to slash a cross in each one. Brush them with egg white and place in oven. Bake for 10 min, then reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake for about 15 min or until golden brown. Let cool on wire rack. Whisk together glaze ingredients and spoon over buns on cross pattern. Best if served warm.(I thought I would note that the glaze is optional but it adds a delicious lemon zing. Without it the bun can be ate more as a sweet breakfast(or even a dinner)roll.)

Francis Words for the Day

"Start by doing whats necessary;then do whats possible;and suddenly you are doing the impossible".

New Version; Old Song

Here is a new version of a very old hymn. Doesn't this guy have an amazing voice!
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Francis Quote of the Day

" Where there is charity and wisdom,there is neither fear nor ignorance".

Day 2

Today I will go into more detail about the 3 divisions of the order. The first sect, the O.F.M's are thought to be the closest to the original order. They like I said before wear brown and retain the name friars minor. The second sect ,O.F.M conv., were the first to separate in favor of a more laxed rule. They changed the color of their habits to black and their name to Conventuals. Later a radical group unhappy with both sects broke off to become the Capuchins. They adopted an even stricter rule and changed their color to gray. To this day each sect claims to wear the original color of Francis although most experts will say he most likely wore gray. Some have rejected popular opinion totally and gone with what is practical such as The Little Brothers of St. Francis who (go figure) wear dungaree. ~Sr M Colette

Sister's Journal Day 1

Ah! Free time at last. From the time we rise at 5 a.m until our 1:00 free hour us sisters our on our toes. This morning at breakfast I found my self thinking "Oh its only 8 and already I want to go back to bed"! You see I have a very strange habit of rising a half hour earlier than everyone else and jogging in place in my cell. Very unusual I know for a nun but I have been doing it ever since I entered. At first many of the sisters wondered at the noises coming from my corner of the hall so early in the morning so I had to explain. I was afraid that I would be forbidden from doing it anymore but Mother Superior only laughed and asked that perhaps I make my runs a little softer of step.
This morning at study period I was reading up on the history of our order. Mother knows I am a history buff and has been very kind in allowing me to pursue my interest during study. Today I was just going over the first foundations starting with Holy Father St. Francis himself. He left his earthly father's house in 1209 to live by the providence of His Heavenly Father alone. His first follower was Bernardo di Quintavalle a prominent member of the town. By the end of that year he had 11 followers. They lived not in Assisi itself but the hillsides of Umbria. Francis's rule was approved by the pope but he himself rewrote it in 1223. The original rule was not so much that as a collection of scripture passages that they were to model their lives after.
The Poor Clares (my order!) were founded in 1212 but it wasn't until 1253 the day before our Holy Mother's death that the rule was approved by Pope Innocent IV. The Third order was instituted in 1221.
Even in their lifetimes Francis and Clare were faced with disputes over the rule. After Francis passed away Clare worked to the last to keep his original rule in tact. Despite their valiant efforts the 1st order would eventually be divided into three fractions the Order of Friars Minor(brown Franciscans),the O.F.M Conventuals(black), and the Capuchins(gray). The Poor Clares would also experience similar fractions.
Unfortunately I must go now. Free time is almost up and still have some reading I'd like to do. Perhaps I shall have a few moments to spare this evening. God be with you.~Sr. M. Colette~

Update

I've decided to change my name and the backround of my blog for the week so don't be alarmed later when you visit and Ardhoniel is gone. I'll be back next Sunday!

Franciscan Week

Hey Everyone! I haven't been around much this past week so the poor blog got neglected. I'm back now though and have a fun idea for this week!
Today is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Unfortunately since it is a Sunday his feast will not be celebrated liturgically but why should that stop us from partying it up at home! Since he will probably be forgotten by many this year I am having a Franciscan Week to try to make up for it. I love all the saints but I have always had a special relationship with the brown clad poverello(Saint Francis wore brown;don't let the Capuchins or Conventuals tell you other wise)(just a little inside joke;hee-hee). Everyday this week I will post something Franciscan, a prayer or quote, a little bit of history and maybe even some music.So without further ado let Franciscan Week begin!

In His Presence

Lately ,because I'm currently not in school or employed, I've been able to go to Eucharistic Adoration more often. Some weeks it has been every day, others not so much. Whenever I go though it is such a blessing to be able to enter the presence of the Lord. If it has been a particularly hectic day I pour it all out before Him. Other times I feel drawn to meditation on the scriptures or intercessory prayer. On days like today though I have nothing to say but "Thank you Lord" and I am content just to sit in the presence of my King.
Come to Him and be refreshed. Even if you experience dryness the time spent is not in vain but will serve to draw you closer to His Eucharistic Heart. He will refresh you and your effort will bring joy and consolation to Him. -Ardhoniel

Prayin For Life

Last Saturday my dad and I attended a Prayer Vigil for Life hosted by the Helpers of God's Precious Infants. The vigils are held about four times a year. Each time we meet at a different parish for Holy Mass. From there we go out and say all four sets of the rosary mysteries by the two local abortion clinics. While we are out some stay behind in the church for adoration. After the rosaries we return to the parish for benediction followed by a few speakers and refreshments.
It is interesting to note that the number of women going into the clinic that morning was much lower then usual. The reason for that ,the volunteers said, was because the clinics learn of the vigils and forewarn people who call to schedule abortions for that morning. Apparently our prayer and silent witness to life changes many women's minds and the forces of darkness know it. Hopefully some of those who postponed their abortions to later dates will give more thought to life and find the courage they need to keep their babies.

The Helpers of God's Precious Infants was founded by Msgr Philip.J.Reilly in N.Y.C. The members main work is counseling women going into abortion clinics. The other members called prayer warriors pray in front of the clinics and if unable to go out offer up penance and fasting for the other members. My friend and I often accompany a prayer warrior Saturday mornings to say the rosary on Calvary as the helpers call the abortion clinics.

Every Christian is obliged to do everything in their power to end abortion. Even if unable to pray at the actual killing sites remember the unborn in your rosaries, Divine Mercy Chaplets, morning offering and when confronted with pain and suffering. We all can and should be "prayer warriors" in this movement.

"Jesus, Mary, Joseph I love you very much and I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby whom I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion." -Prayer of Archbishop Fulton J Sheen to be said every day for nine months to save the life of an unborn child

Another Day

Philosopher commented that she enjoyed my random post yesterday so this is for you Ms. Artist. Yesterday was eh let me think Tuesday that's right. I woke at quarter to 6. At 7:30 I walked to 7:45 Mass. I came home and had Froot Loops. After my breakfast was all digested I went running. When I got home I went downstairs to work on a crazy project I started on Monday. I decided to clean and organize the basement and upstairs this week(I'm such a dreamer). I will be fortunate to finish the basement by Saturday the way it is going! The more I straighten things up it seems the more clutter I discover! I told my mom that to truly complete the project I'm going to have to get rid of some stuff to which she readily agreed as long as I can get approval from the many pack-rats of our family(good luck).Around 11:00 Mags needed looking after so I took her downstairs with me on the pretext that she wasn't going to make a mess(ha-ha). We spent the next hour and half playing in the basement and reading until my poor little voice was hoarse. Luckily at that point Em had finished school and was able to play with her. I took a break before going back downstairs to finish the "great project"(notice that I said the great project). I did that the rest of the afternoon until 5:00 when I had had enough and decided to roller blade to a church that is nearby(about a mile and a half) for Eucharistic Adoration. Don't worry, I didn't go into church with my blades on, I brought shoes. I stayed for an hour, then rushed home just in time for dinner. I was really tired so I spent the rest of the evening just chatting with my dad and sister over dish washing.

Today was very similar except that it is much chillier outside which I am not very happy about but it is inevitable. Also I ran farther. I didn't heat up as fast so had more endurance. Since I jogged so far I didn't get to eat a proper chilly morning breakfast so I enjoyed it for lunch instead, tea with honey,an English muffin with peanut butter and half a nectarine. The nectarine was really just a healthy addition. It doesn't really go with the chilly theme now does it. Now I'm blogging. I'm actually not sure what I will do next. Later we have holy hour at our parish and then hot dogs for dinner. My apologies to anyone who is now snoring. I shall sign off now. -Ardhoniel-

"My dear young people have no fear of Christ! He takes nothing, and gives everything. Who gives himself to Him, receives a hundredfold. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ, and you will find the true Life." - Pope Benedict XVI

More Inspiration

When I watched Karol the other night one thing that really amazed me was how much John Paul loved us. At the part were he was shot and they were rushing him to the hospital, when they showed the blood stained sheets I gasped because I realized he did it for the Church. His blood was shed for his people. Then it dawned on me, that's what Jesus did! He shed His Blood for us. At the end of the movie when he was dying the doctor decides to do a procedure to help him breathe better. The procedure works but he is no longer able to speak. This was a terrible blow to him who wished to be a "voice for the voiceless" and to bring the message of hope wherever people were suffering. His health was a humiliating state for anyone to be reduced to let alone Christ's vicar. It hurt me to see him like that and yet he did it for us. He gave his life for us. How well did he imitate the Good Shepard who layed down His life for His flock. I think he is still watching out for us and interceding for the Church because love doesn't end with death but only grows stronger. I ask for his intercession often as it seems that the prayers of a former vicar of Christ must surely be powerful.
Servant of God John Paul II, pray for us!

Be Inspired

Last night I was blessed to be able to watch Karol:the Pope,the Man on EWTN. For those of you who haven't seen it, the film is very inspiring. It left me moist-eyed during many scenes and when it was over, with new insights on life. I found myself asking "What is it I can do to promote peace and life in the world?" What can I do for the Church? What are her needs at this point in history? While I am still pondering over these things I have already found some answers. The Church I think is in need of reform, the reform that the cardinals tried to put in place during VatII. This reform has been greatly misunderstood and abused so much so that the reform needs reforming! Our dear Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has put much effort into reform, especially in the liturgical sense in his restoration of the Tridentine Rite or Extraordinary Form of the mass. It is up to us, the people of God,who are His Body to support these reforms the Pope is initiating.
Conversion starts in the heart. The Church must be reformed but it will only happen when Catholics start acting like Catholics again, like true followers of Our Lord Jesus. It will only happen when Catholics begin to take their faith seriously and when they become bold in living the Gospel in a pagan world. It will only happen when they take God's Word to heart. Let us today, you and I, generously respond to Christ's call to Holiness and be reformed in our hearts so that we may experience a new revival of Faith in our country and the world.

"Dear young people, by your baptismal anointing you have become members of the holy people. By your anointing at Baptism you share fully in the Church's mission. The Church,of which you are a part, has confidence in you and is counting on you. May your Christian lives be a progressive "getting used to" life with God... so that you may be missionaries of the Gospel!" -John Paul II at WYD in Paris 1997

New Additions

Attention all ye fans and readers;I just added a "link list".If you scroll all the way down to the bottom you will see it. Also, how do you like the new colors, presuming you saw the old ones?

What's Up

Hey all you bloggy bloggers out there. How's it going. Life is pretty good for me right now. I usually don't just write posts about myself but maybe I would enjoy blogging more if I did so today that is what I'm gonna do.
Since I am no longer working(summer job ended) and I'm not ready to go to college yet I've just been hanging out at home. It has been kind of boring so far but the beginning of the school year holds promises of entertainment(if you can call it that). Although I am no longer part of the industrious realm of scholars 7 of my 8 siblings are. Since we are home schooled all the action takes place right in our kitchen. Yesterday I witnessed an experiment by Dave, Patch's first attempts at cursive and Emma's first day of Kindergarden. It was neat watching her use the same math book that I began with.
Don't think I just sat around idly while they all worked their little brains out. I was entrusted with Little Mags who wasn't to happy about being left out of all the fun. The two of us spent the morning loading and unloading the dishwasher, making the beds, building puzzles, singing and reciting nursery rhymes as well as attempting to build a castle(let's just say I will never be an architect) and watching Mr. Rogers. I felt like a little kid again and was glad to spend the morning in my sister's shoes. I actually was looking forward to doing it again today but fate saw fit to do other wise. I woke this morning at 10 after "oh my gosh" eight instead of six and my whole day was screwed up. I tryed to make the best of it though. I ran as usual but unfortunately fell on mile 3 and didn't return till 9:30. Mom needed Mags out of the house so she could work with Em so I volunteered to take her on a quick trip to the library. Well the quick trip didn't get us home untill quarter after noon. First because I couldn't find one of the DVDs that was due and second because I got carried away at the library as usual. Thirdly because Mags got upset on the way home and rode particularly slow. When we did get home I took a shower, had a cup of coffee and made my bed all the things you are supposed to do when you first get up. The rest of the afternoon was uneventful enough until five when Dad usually arrives home from work but today was delayed until six which meant we had to miss our Wednesday holy hour and that dinner was late. Now it's 8:36. I'm blogging. The kids are putting on a show for Mom and Dad. Soon they will start getting ready for bed(I hope). Even though I love them and really enjoy being able to learn and play and just spend time with them I really look forward to the silence that ensues after there night time video is over and they are tucked into bed. That and early in the morning is the only time when it comes anywhere close to hearing a needle drop in our house. Hopefully tomorrow my alarm will go off at the right time and everything will run smoother but if it doesn't I'll just cope with another discombobulated day at home.

Why We Loved Him {and still do}

Anyway

Here are some words of wisdom from Mother Teresa.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self centered;
Forgive Them Anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be Kind Anyway.
If you are succeddful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed Anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be Honest And Frank Anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build Anyways.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be Happy Anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tommorrow;
Do Good Anyway.
Give the world the best you, and it may never be enough;

Give The World The Best You've Got Anyway.

You see in the final analysis; it is between you and God,


It Was Never Between You And Them Anyway.

Which Way???

This is how I feel about my life sometimes.

Six of the World's Most Random Road Signs

Told you they were random!

First Day of Summer

I just love summer . From swimming pools and corn on the cob, to crickets and thunderstorms I love it! I'm so glad it's finally here. It brings so many nostalgic memories from being a kid(I still am completely a kid on the inside but I have to operate in an adult world.) This is what summer is to me.....

Summer is....

Ice cream on a hot day, melting down the side of a waffle cone, tipping ,oh no, but dad saves it just in time.

Watermelon dripping down my chin, spitting black seeds across the table (and at each other).

Hamburgers hot off the grill, Saturday night after a long busy day, loaded with toppings and juicy yellow corn on the side.

Raspberries just picked from the back of the house, so perfectly sweet and plump.

Lemonade in a clear glass picture at Gram's after a game of baseball on humid July night.

Summer is...

Crickets singing late in to the night creating an invisible symphony.

Birds chirping at five o clock in the morning , twittering and singing until dawn.

Oldies playing on the radio, tunes you've know the words to since you were seven though they were written fifty years ago.

Voices going by your window while you lie in bed at night , cars speeding by in your sleep and a lone skate boarder swooshing past.

Thunder clashing, banging, booming like a canon, shaking the whole house and filling you with awe.

Summer is...

The smell of upstairs on a August afternoon , dust mingling with heat creating the perfect atmosphere for novel reading and story writing.

Fresh, early, morning dew creeping thru my window giving me the hope I need to begin another day.

Smoke on the 4th of July filling the air and my lungs with thick gray fumes.

Chicken barbecuing on the grill telling my stomach it's chow time.

Our neighbors bonfire , making me feel like I'm camping again and putting me in the mood for marshmallows.

Summer is...

Fireworks , brilliantly exploding as I lay in the grass, dazzled by the amazing colors.

Marshmallows slowly cooking now light on fire, glowing as it turns to ash.

Millions of stars, all I can see on a pitch black night up north, making me feel like one tiny speck in an endlessly vast universe.

The sun reflecting off the river , glaring in my eyes, creating a beautiful light.

Sailboats bobbing on the water on a perfect Sunday afternoon being carried off by the breeze.

Summer is...

The humidity creeping up my back, up my arms, in my hair, bearing down on everything, making the day move in slow motion.

Bare feet on the sand, the bumpy, rough sidewalk and in the pool.

Cold water running down my back and face from the hose , spraying in my mouth , causing shrieks of surprise as I spray my brother.

Dirt in my fingers and nails as I weed the garden on the hottest morning of the year, sweat dripping down my face and neck.

A cool and gentle fan lulling me to sleep with its soft breeze and hum.

Summer is....

Work and sweat and mosquito bites,

It's scraps and bumps and stings.

Youthful memories and dreams reborn

Hopes for relaxation and fun.

It's reality , sure, like everything else but on June 21st let me dream!

More Spring Pics