Posts from the ‘Front Porch Musings’ category

August…things are looking up

I love August! It is my birthday month. Growing up, it was the time when we went on family vacation coming home to the time for thinking about back to school – I loved “back to school” :)!

Here in Montana, although it is typically the month with the hottest temperatures, we have almost turned that corner of being far enough from the solstice that there is enough darkness to cool things off quickly…and then it takes most of the day to reach that hottest temperature and it doesn’t stay there long. There is also a weather phenomonon that occurs around the 3rd week of the month where it gets very cool, sometimes “fire up the woodstove” cool.

And the best thing about August is that after August comes September and even if summer officially goes to nearly the end of September, September seems like Fall.

I am an outspoken proponent of living in the present, being grateful for each moment and being aware of the current moment…except for July :)! I have berated myself in past years for wishing away July but have finally given myself permission to not like July and look forward to it being over. For me, it turns out that is the way to enjoy July. In the mumbling, grumbling, “can’t we just get this over” mindset, I find myself enjoying the anticipation of getting through it and almost appreciating the annoyance…a kind of “it feels so good when it’s over” way of enjoying the moment and a sense of being close to something badly wanted.

And this July, certainly has not been the worst as far as heat. And we have had rain.

Yesterday and last night, rain and thunderstorms. Early yesterday morning, Karl and I boarded Wild Thing with the Jeep in tow and headed to town. The Jeep was dropped for a service appointment and we continued on our way to gather groceries and supplies. A heavy downpour accompanied by thunder and lightning kept us in the WalMart parking lot for an hour but a fresh pot of coffee and some homemade biscotti got us through.

We moved to the Costco parking lot when things cleared. The clouds were spectacular – above as we headed out for a walk before shopping. There is a sports complex of soccer fields, baseball diamonds and 2 one mile loops for walking and running adjacent to Costco. The walking/running trails are on land that is to be a green buffer – pleasant to walk on and lots of Big Sky to see!

Oh…and just in case the August cool down is cool enough for a woodstove fire…

Just shy of 2 cords of firewood sit under cover.

Another cord of this downfall, cut and dumped in the splitting venue will be dry enough to split for this year and the rest will be a good start on next year. There is still some downfall to pick up and cut as well as some trees to take down to start drying, but this August 1, I am good for wood. AND, the chimney sweep is to be here Tuesday morning

August first morning…looking up :)!

Butterfly blessing

I opened my morning email to find this photo and the following from my friend Sandy. Sandy and her husband, Jerry, were the first “From the Front Porch” readers to sit on my front porch with me. I hope to someday visit their home and their back porch :)!

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

And for Sandy, who loves the moon as I do – here’s one for you!

Moon photo is from this morning (7/30/2010), from my side yard.

Held home

Walking down the driveway with Karl, the nearly full moon was visible through the trees. The sunrise alpenglow had me considering a run down the road to see what morning looked like over the valley. But the moon was still high and I didn’t want to leave the woods.

It did not cool off last night to the usual upper 40/low 50’s (F) and was a balmy 67 per my home weather station at 5:00 a.m. this morning. But there were gusts of winds high in the trees and some of that breeze made it to the ground. There was something about the sound of the wind in the trees, the feel of the warm breeze and a bit of melancholy that stopped me from chasing the color and kept me on my home ground.

The upper jet blew the few morning clouds into mares tails. I ventured to the edge of the woods to get a look. I was glad I was held home by the quiet and peace of my own woods.

Soft light

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting in the sunroom doing a bit of work, not at my desk and opposite the chair where I typically sit. I like to work somewhere other than my desk if I work on the weekend – a change of pace, a way to make it seem not so work-like… I looked up, saw the light – noticed the way it softened everything. The filtered light both warms and cools. Colors seem warmer. In the heat of the day, the light through the blinds and darkened room feels cooler. Peace and serenity washed over me – warming my heart and cooling my thoughts – looking at the soft light.

Morning has broken

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s recreation of the new day

Lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon, 1931


The melody familiar to me for these lyrics is the Cat Stevens version circa early 70’s I think. It is in fact a vintage Christian hymn. Eleanor Farjeon was a writer and poet, most often described as a storyteller.

Photo taken July 16, 2010 – sunrise through my woods.

Disclosure

From the front porch passed its third year in mid-June. I spent much of today reading through a good portion of it, including comments. Sharing my life in writing and photos has been a joy. Hearing from people that I have never met – from all over the U.S. AND the world – that find something, enjoy something and in return share something – doubles that joy.

In late December, 2009, I shared my marriage. And now I need to share that that marriage is over. It is sad, disappointing and not what was hoped for. But, no regrets. As a friend pointed out to me, I LIVE my life. I make choices. I accept the consequences of my choices.

Now…Onward – In JOY, PEACE and GRATITUDE for this good day – From the Front Porch!