Mockingbird

It was warm this afternoon.

When we came home from walking I sat out on the deck.

I sat in the sun with my book.

I had put some raisins out for Robin and much to my delight Mockingbird came.

I have missed Mockingbird.

He found the raisins.
I will set out two bowls from now on.

I have seen him in the cemetary when we walk.

It seems a long time ago when Mockingbird called my backyard his home. It seems a long time ago when we were friends.
I am so pleased he came and was not afraid.

I do hope he is a regular visitor.
I do hope we can be friends again.

I am a lounge chair scientist.
I love the microbes.

Most days are ponytail days.
I like the ease of a ponytail.

It is too early to do much in the gardens.
So while I relax in the late Winter sun
I am telling myself stories.
I imagine my Tall-grass Prairie as the
land of myth.

I have begun to study Wales.
I have begun my armchair travels.

I do believe
I could have been,
( in some distant past life)
a Little Welsh Cowgirl.

Anticipation

A winter storm

greeted me this morning.

Spring is just waking up.

We will watch the dance.

The Chipmunk came to the deck
for seeds.

Our first crocus has bloomed.
Once again the parade of flowers is beginning.

Daffodils are emerging.
This storm will pass.
I am filled with anticipation.

Dreaming

The wind blew strong out of the south raising our afternoon temperatures to record breaking highs. I recorded 76 degrees.

I sat outside for a little while and enjoyed watching a Red Winged Black Bird. Every now and again this country bird will find my city feeders. 

I was able to go walking again today.
  I am once again dreaming my dreams.

I picked up a few books from the library.

This one I want in my library.

This book is food for my spirit.
I too ride a Dragon!

I am listening to music and

Dreaming.

Heart

I have read you can tell
a Cowgirl by her heart.

I treasure the Valentines from my Mother.
This charming lady was given to my Mother when she was 16 years  old.

I am doing a bit of Redwork.

I am making simple little hearts and Bears.

My first Bear is named Ann.

Today I am cutting felted red wool.
I will make a Red Bear.

Sometimes I carry my heart on my sleeve.

I love deeply

and completely.

It is the way of the Cowgirl.

Luna New Year

Today we celebrate Luna New Year.

The festival to welcome Spring.

We are far from Spring at my house.

We are digging out from the blizzard.

My husband has been shoveling for two days.

The sky was so blue, the sun so very warm and the beeze so very light I was able sit outside with my bird friends.

I am almost well,
almost.

We are celebrating
Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit.

I am already head over heels
for next year, 2012,
the Year of the Dragon returns.
I was born in the year of the Rain Dragon.

I love the Dragons.

Chinese New Year is fun.

We will have a festive supper.

We have a new Dragon in the stairwell.
He will stay up all year.

In the Spirit of the Cowgirl
I will wait patiently for Spring.
I will wait for Summer's Dragon clouds.
I am patient.

Everyday Cowgirls

This collection of poems and stories is on my nightstand.
 It is my next read.
I am looking forward to reading this book. Many women contributed their work. I know I will be inspired.

Lisa sent her Everyday Cowgirl, "Bill", photograph from when she was little. It seems to me she always knew just who she was. When I look at this picture I am reminded to be just who I am. I am inspired to be authentic. Lisa and I met through our blogs. She is a gardener and a lover of birds and an amazing artist. Her watercolors are gorgeous. I am not a painter nor can I draw but I admire Lisa's talent.  I like how we support each other in the spirit of cooperation.

Carol was a young woman on the Kansas prairie
when this photograph was taken. Carol and I have been friends for over 40 years. When I first saw this photograph of Carol and her pony I gasped. The contrast between the pretty young girl and her darling pony and the desolate countryside was so apparent.
Carol remembered the day this photograph was taken.
She remembered "putting on her best".
Now when I look at this photograph I am reminded
 to "put on my best".
Even if I am only sitting at my desk writing.

If you want to be part of the
Everyday Cowgirl Inspirational Card Series
just send me a photograph of yourself
and let me know how your photograph inspires you.

Epiphany Cowgirl Style

A westerly breeze brought warm air. The sky was once again a gorgeous ,clear blue when we walked in the afternoon sunlight.

An amazing day.

It is easy for my Cowgirl to be mindful.
It comes naturally.

My Mother-in-law brought over her late husband's Stetson.

My husband will take take of his old hat.

I have been stooped in my tracks by this book.
I am taking notes.
Johnson makes reference to many books I want to read.
I have requested Leaning into the Wind: Women Write from the Heart of the West from my library.
 Johnson states that this book " makes clear that Western women's independent spirit has always derived from their connections to nature and its animals-to wind and the weather it fetches, sun and moon, pines, birds, horses, piglets, wild and domestic blurred together like birth and death. There are now  more cowgirls of one type or another, with or without cattle than ever before...."

Life changes.
A year ago we had snow on the ground
and more fell through out the day.

One year ago I was sad.
The way the American Indians were treated by
the white man has always made me so very mad and sad.
This year I decided to find the fun in life
and so I embraced the Spirit of the Cowgirl.
I am empowered by her spunk.
In a bold move I asked my husband if we could have a day of
reconciliation.
I wanted a day to wipe the slate clean.
I wanted a day not only to ask for forgiveness
but to offer forgiveness.
I needed a day to put the past as my history, never to forget the lessons, to move forward.
I needed a day to begin living in the now.
We choose today.
We choose the Epiphany as our day of new beginnings.

A Cowgirl Moon showed herself at dusk.
I live in real time.
I am living mindfully.