The Daily Muse
Thoughts from an Austin Garden -- July 2008
Last update: July 29
The fledgling Blue Jay who briefly adopted me.
July 5 - evening
Just a brief note to introduce you to my Blue Jay buddy who joined me while I was sitting on one of my garden benches the other morning - he flew down onto the bench, landed by my arm, and proceeded to beg for food as if I were its mother. I got up to go get my camera and he followed me to the house. A few moments later he was happily eating a peanut from my hand. Yesterday evening, he joined our 4th of July celebration and spent some time on the shoulders (or head!) of each of our guests. At one point, he even jumped onto a margarita glass and took a quick sip. Apparently, watermelon margaritas are not to his liking. This morning I was relieved to see him with his real family - none the worse for his brief encounter with mankind.
Finishing off the peanut I ground up for him.
Trying to figure me out.
Enjoying the party.
Pelindaba Lavender Farm on San Juan Island, Washington State.
A wide view of the fields at Pelindaba.
Mt. Baker rising over the Patos Island lighthouse in the San Juan Islands.
Click here to take a photographic tour of the San Juan Islands.
July 13 - evening
A dead Ponderosa Pine silhouetted against storm clouds at Vallecitos Mountain Refuge, Vallecitos, New Mexico.
Please forgive my brevity this evening, I just wanted to check back in with you after spending the better part of the past week at a business / mindfulness retreat at Vallecitos Moutnain Refuge in Northern New Mexico. The retreat was truly tranfomative for me personally, and I hope for the organization that I lead, Austin Area Interreligious Ministries (AAIM.) I will have much more to say about this wonderful experience in the coming days - but for now, I just wish to extend my gratitude to the the folks who made our participation possible - Heather McKissick of Leadership Austin, Tim Costello and Melissa Morman of Builders Homesite, Inc. (BHI,) and Grove T. Burnett, the Founder of the Vallecitos Mountain Refuge and its Guiding Teacher.
A detail shot of the large bell that was used to signal activities at Vallecitos.
Four-fifths of the AAIM team that particpated in the retreat: Simone Talma Flowers, Lu Zeidan, Derek Hansen, and myself.
Most of the retreat participants... including the staffs of Leadership Austin, College Forward, AAIM, and BHI. Grove Burnett, founder of the refuge is at the center of the back row..
Before we went to Vallecitos we made a quick stop at Bandelier National Monument where storm clouds moved in.
Cliff dwellings at Bandelier.
Inside one of the dwellings.
Kathy Weiner of AAIM enjoying the cool inside the cliff dwelling.
Early morning light at Vallecitos.
Mist rising from one of the ponds at Vallecitos.
Vallecitos Morning
(a work in progress)
The long meadow grasses
and cattails shimmer with dew -
rising from its hidden nest
a redwing blackbird
disappears into the mist
hovering over the pond.
Elvis - a sixteen year old lab who was one of our teachers at Vallecitos. The haiku comes courtesy of his wagging tail and very poor hearing.
Tibetan prayer wheels.
More images and thoughts soon!
July 18 - morning
Vallecitos, New Mexico.
I have been extremely busy this week but have managed to get most of my images from our New Mexico retreat ready for view - click here to visit my Vallecitos Mountain Refuge page.
Sunrise clouds at Vallecitos.
July 24 - morning
Dawn lighting up the dew at Vallecitos Mountain Refuge.
It is very early and there is no hint of light yet in the garden. I woke up early hoping to hear the sound of rain on our roof - but, alas, only silence. It has been desperately hot and dry, but Hurricane Dolly is now steadily moving inland to our south and a few bands of showers have swept through the area. So far, no rain on our garden, but that could change today. I will be doing my best rain dance and ask that you do the same!
July 25 - morning
I am very happy to report that we received almost an inch of rain yesterday! This morning the garden has already responded - it looks rejuvenated and fresh for the first time in many weeks, and I am greatly relieved. I am crossing my fingers for one more passing shower.
For those of you from Austin, tomorrow I will be leading a class at The Natural Gardener titled "Creating a Sanctuary Garden." The class will start at 10:00 AM and it is free to all. I hope to see you there!
July 28 - evening
Two black bird poems (one revised from 7/13)
1.
Last night a storm hurled
debris thick into the streets -
and as I picked my
way to work I heard the crunch
and snap of branches and twigs
under my tires. When
I passed a wind whipped pecan
a blur of black birds
filled my rear-view mirror. I
caught myself smiling at the
grackles’ greedy rush.
“You’re welcome,” I said. “No one
likes shelling pecans.”
2.
The long meadow grasses
and cattails
shimmer with dew -
rising from its hidden nest
a redwing blackbird
disappears into the mist
hovering over the pond.
I stop for a moment
and glance at my soggy boots
wondering, “Why can’t I stick
to the beaten path?”
July 29 - evening
Not this from this past morning, but a favorite image...
It seems to be poetry week here at Soul of the Garden - I hope you enjoy this one that I just finished:
Summer Morning
Summer morning -
pink jets of clouds
splash out
from the golden well of the east
falling just short
of an ebbing moon.
Streams of swallows
flutter and glide
over the garden -
they are all flying
in the same direction
as if erupting
from the sun’s waking pulse.
Just for a moment
one of the birds hangs
perfectly still -
like the top-most drop of water
from a fountain before it turns
to face the glittering pool.
Beneath them all
the hummingbird
makes her rounds
and a dove scratches the earth
below the feeder
keeping an wary eye
on the scribbling intruder.
So many summer mornings -
too many summer mornings
I have wasted
worrying about the world
and my place in it –
absent from my own body
and breath
the cage of my ribs
rising, falling, and pausing
without me. Meanwhile,
another swallow
stills her wings.
Buoyed by an unseen breeze
she is both feathered sail
and cresting wave as she slices
over my shoulder bearing west.
Continue to Daily Muse for August 2008