saturday afternoon

a tree squirrel shakes his bushy tail as he ascends a pine tree,
scolding the dog and chattering to himself as he climbs,
woodpeckers knock on oaks near and distant,
and a scrub jay announces himself with bold shrieks,
on the porch the chime sounds softly in the breeze,
and we two sit silently,
side by side,
in the sun

dear liam,

dear liam, my new nephew, we haven't yet met. i'm melina, your aunt, but you don't have to call me aunt. melina will do well enough---i've never been much for titles. your father, my brother, informs me you've been a bit under the weather---jaundice, he says, and a bit underweight, but getting stronger and soon you'll be back with twin sister, kinsley, at home where your mama will take good care of you both.
i'm looking forward to making your acquaintance---and your sister's as well. i'll be the one in the ragged shirt and dirty cap who smells like garden soil and garlic and seems a bit uncomfortable holding you, but don't take it personally---it's only because you're so small and delicate and i'm more used to handling tough, furred and feathered critters with enough teeth and claws to fend for themselves. 
when you're older i'll show you and kinsley the chickens and let you collect the eggs and show you how to pick beans and plant seeds and hold a toad and other things that are fun to do outside---if you want.  but that's for later...
for now be well, dear liam, and i'll be seeing you soon.
love you,
melina

doing the math

in line at the grocery store,
i catch the gaze of a woman in the next line over,
she pretends she wasn't looking at us,
but i could see her doing the math,
then she seems to think to herself...
maybe he's her father,
and i put my arms around you and give you a kiss,
she politely tries to mask a cringe,
and i just smile at you,
people need a challenge

happy news

got a call from caleb last night---happy news.  the twins (a boy, liam, and a girl, kinsley) were born yesterday afternoon.  amber and the babies are doing well and should be able to come home soon.  looking forward to meeting my new niece and nephew---or at least seeing some pictures.
congratulations!

happy anniversary to us

we had a great day today---lots of fun...

breakfast at the sugar pine with nick and ben

thank you, nick

after breakfast, nick drove us up chowchilla mountain road and he and ben led us on a nice hike down to the river.

ben's a great sherpa

these holes are about 4' in diameter

nick, scouting ahead

saw some neat fungi and lichens

zane had a great time

we had fun too

the drive back down the mountain offered some beautiful views

beautiful view number 1

 

beautiful view number 2

 happy anniversary, staal.  i love you.

bird-lightness

i watch the birds,
the sparrows and the towhees and the woodpeckers and the jays,
high above in the oaks and pines and cedars,
flitting, effortlessly, from branch to branch,
on paper wings and wire legs.
flight is more than hollow bones,
more than feathers and wings.
it is a joyous lightness of being,
an openness,
a willingness.
it is in the green of the budding leaf,
the first, violent breath of the newborn fawn,
and in every fiery beat of the heart longing for the nearness of its love,
a joyous bird-lightness soaring within on a thousand, feathery wings.

lunch at the ranch

a great visit and a great meal with the friedlands yesterday.  

the chef at work

roasted veggies

tasty

thank you, fred and kerstin.