I’m getting soooooooooo tired of dark and cloudy days here in BC.

But one thing about living here; spring comes very early! Not this early, but hopefully soon.

I love winter but not when it’s a series of dreary days, as has been the norm here for weeks now.

In the meantime, thought I’d share another sunny scene/haiku, from the archives.

This one with a spring theme.

Happy Weekend. Happy Spring….bring it on! 

It’s been overcast and grey here in Interior BC, day after day after day….for what seems like weeks.

The sun came out yesterday (briefly) and it was so nice.

It’s even making me tired, unmotivated (I’m fighting that part) and cranky too.

The air quality isn’t very good when the clouds refuse to move on for days at a time. It’s like a box holding in the stale, polluted air; with the clouds above and the mountains around us. Not good!

I thought it would be nice to share a bit of shimmery sunshine from the archives,  here today.

I hope you enjoy it, even if you’re skies are clear and bright. How lucky you are, if they are!

Hope to see you soon and Happy Week, G

PS: I’m back up and running at www.myreallifereviews.com  as of this afternoon.

I’m a big fan of Charlie Brown!

You can read more about the background behind Charlie Brown’s Christmas and it’s special message,  here. 

After all these years, it still rings true…

Happy, Happy Holidays!!!

The holidays are just around the corner….isn’t November flying by fast?

If you are looking for gift ideas (that won’t break the bank!) I’ve just featured some of my favorite products from My Real Life Reviews at:

20 Gift Ideas Under $20 (with reviews too!)

Hope you’ll stop by soon and do share.   

   Holiday Magic….savor every moment!  ♥   

               Photo courtesy of Flickr                   

You can read all about what I’m working on here,  over at Take A Happy Break.

Wishing You a Productive and  Creative Autumn.

 I’m working on that myself right now !

Also submitted for the OSI prompt: Amuse

You can read more about Tau-Ku poetry here.

Trees

I THINK that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

 A tree that may in summer wear

 A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

 Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

PS: I’ve been thinking about this beautiful poem during the past couple of weeks; while anticipating the start of Autumn. Lines from the poem come to me throughout the day as I look out at the still green leaves on the trees here.

A poem that I remember from grade school too, one we had to memorize.

I hope you enjoy re-reading this beautiful classic too.

Still no sign of Autumn’s arrival here in Interior BC.

I’m waiting to take some new Autumn photos but for now, will have to wait. It seems that summer weather is going to prevail for a while, in the daytime that is. The nights are getting cool though.

In the meantime, here’s a favorite and popular poem from the archives to celebrate my favorite season.

Has Fall arrived where you are? 

Poem for Autumn

Season of splendour.

As Mother Earth gently rests her weary head.

Preparing for the long sleep ahead.

The Stillness:

Harbinger to the winter chill.

But for now…

Nature’s paintbrush is busy.

With brilliant palette of crimson and gold.

The forest ablaze with color.

As the late summer sun still warms the days.

My favourite season.

It’s beauty far surpassing the others.

A time for awakenings and endings.

Like no other.

A joy to once again rediscover.

We  are reminded of another year’s passing.

Of changes, inevitable.

Required in all things.

And to everything there is a season,

and a reason we will find,

for all.

Autumn.

It’s loveliness and wonder endures.

It’s arrival.

Always a feast for the senses.

A gilded gift we receive.

To dazzle and delight.

We put away our thoughts.

Of the cold days ahead.

There is so much to enjoy right now.

Inspiring us.

Autumn’s timeless magic to behold.

                 **                     

GHH © 2000. Revised 2008/2011.

Keenan was one of the lucky ones. He was returned to his home, safe and unharmed. So many times in these cases, it is anything but a happy ending.

What really upsets me (and I see this again and again) is how careless some people are, when it comes to protecting their children from a tragedy like this happening. It can’t always be prevented, I realize that. Abductors are motivated predators and they are cunning in their pursuits. But at the same time, there is a lot that parents/guardians CAN do to ensure that an Amber Alert is never something that will be called for their own children.

Just yesterday in a large,local grocery store, I noted a young boy (4-5 years of age) trying to keep up with his distracted mother who was a half an aisle ahead of him, continuously. He was even calling to her over and over: “mom, wait for me, wait for me”. I wanted to take this woman and shake her, it made me so mad. Where was she when these TV reports about Keenan were being aired, again and again?

This is just one instance of many that I’ve noted in our small city of less than 10,000 people. Parents routinely letting their young children run ahead of them and sometimes behind the parents too, often not even within visual range. It’s incredible and it’s frightening to observe and think about too.

I hope that some of these “adults” did wise up after watching these reports about Keenan Hebert. Children need, deserve and rely on the protection of their parents.

***

This poem and photo also came to mind.

 I thought it was worthy of a re-post at this time.

Vanished!

Gone in the blink of an eye.

The empty swing, still swaying in the afternoon breeze.

Leaving only questions and despair.

As life fades to black.

Beware, the predators.

Waiting, seeking their innocent prey.

Silent, evil power.

Shrouded in the persona of non-descript and ordinary.

Seamlessly blending with the mundane of:

“just another day”.

A young life, cut short.

Precious sons and daughters.

Never to be replaced.

Toy soldier, standing guard.

Dolls, sitting on a shelf.

A film of dust, softens the lifeless features.

Untouchable.

Constant reminders of unbearable loss.

Gone in 60 seconds.

As if a wisp of smoke.

Another troubled soul.

Rises up to join the sky.

Be wary, be diligent, be ever on guard.

Code-Amber.

May this loss.

Never be yours.

“Vanished” © 2008 Geraldine H. Hartman

Link to the original post with comments and photo credit.