Home and Loved

On Thursday, Sid and I went out for lunch and to shop for a birthday gift for my sister Beverley, whos'e special celebration is in a couple of weeks.  Our pets were left "Home Alone" for the duration: Sid's plump little Jamie, my lovely Siamese girl Tiggy and of course my faithful Rusty.  Whenever they are left to their own devices for any length of time - be it 10 minutes or 4 hours! - there are always very enthusiastic greetings by the three amigos upon our arrival home.  Note the pink tongue and Sid's rapturous expression.....

 

Jamie felt the need to give Sid big kisses......

 ...and more big kisses....

 

before collapsing, exhausted by his efforts, on Sid's ample tummy!

 Not to be outdone, Tiggy jumped onto my knees and gazed questioningly into my eyes for several moments, trying to keep out of the boys' way....she, at nearly eleven, finds the jostling and general canine roughhousing hard to take and prefers the safety of my lap.  Sweet girl!

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 Rusty, having  also taken part in the supreme licking and overall dampness that big doggie lovin' produces,

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...then also collapsed and went to sleep on the sofa between Sid and I.  The whole thing took a good twenty minutes and then there were naps all round to recover from the exertion!  They were too tired to even start their dinner!  A minor miracle considering it was chicken!  I am so proud and happy to be so well loved by our pets.  I must be doing something right  :)

Vale: Sandy

It is with great sadness and a sense of loss that I pay tribute to the  beautiful quarter horse mare Sandy.  Tragically, on Tuesday last, Sandy became gravely ill and had to be put to sleep, much to the grief of her owner and companion, Gay.  

Sandy had colic, a simple sounding ailment, but actually quite involved.  There is little that can be done in a veterinary except to relieve the excruciating pain, so Gay took the only road open to her, and Sandy now lies at peace beneath the gum trees on the property she called home.  Sandy was fourteen years old and a champion.  I and all who knew her loved her gentle nature, her sweet disposition and her undoubted abilities under saddle. 

My friend Gay is bereft and deeply sad at the loss of her lovely chestnut girl.  I can but walk beside her at this very sad time and share her deep sense of loss.  I think you will agree that Sandy was a pretty horse; this soft natured girl loved her apples and carrots and was completely safe to be around Gay's granddaughter who is only two.  Erin will miss those big brown eyes and velvety muzzle, as will we all.

To know Sandy was to love her.  Requiescat in pace, beautiful girl; you will never be forgotten.  


(Photos by me in happier times.................)

Zen Proverb

Before enlightenment

chopping wood

carrying water

After enlightenment

chopping wood

carrying water

Founded in China in the sixth century and widespread in Japan by the twelveth century, Zen Buddhism emphasises achieving Enlightenment by the most direct possible means. I love the simplicity of its concept that nothing actually changes; you just see things differently.  So simple, so true and so very hard to do!

Feelings

Rock

lying beside the way

Pick it up

turn its smoothness

 in your hand

Cool 

grey 

stone

Warming just a little

from

the press of your hand

Nice enough 

to keep

take it home

Rock

lying forgotten in a bag

take it out

turn its smoothness

in your hand

Cool

grey 

stone

Scratched just a little

from

its life in the bag

Nice enough 

to keep

perhaps a little longer

Rock

lying on a shelf

Lift it down

turn its smoothness

in your hand

(don't mind the dust)

Cool 

grey 

stone

Dulled just a little

from 

mediocrity and neglect

Nice enough

to keep

but perhaps a little boring...

Rock

lying thrown in a garden

Leave it there

ignore its smoothness

as it leaves your hand

Cool 

grey

stone

Moistened just a little

from

the dampness of your touch

Not nice enough

to keep

Who needs it?

~Penelope~

Dream

Moon sleeps

garden hushed

soaking rain

gentle breezes

Night

of thought

and wonder

nearly spent

The clock

ticks slow

a steady beat

beside my heart

Ripples ride

the surface

of dark water

reeds dance

soft and supple

as

time 

slips 

by

unseen

~Penelope~

A Blessing

A friend sent me this lovely blessing  this morning and I thought I'd share it with you...

"May  there be peace within today and always.

May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others.

May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content with yourself just the way you are.

Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us."

  I wish for all of you, always, to know love, laughter, joy, peace and abundance.  To dance freely, with a happy heart, is to dance with God's angels. 

~Penelope~

Birthday Of A Scorpio

It’s October already and I can barely believe it!  Each year now, the months seem to visit me closer together, with fewer days and less getting done in my not so busy life.  I love all the seasons, though summer could be much cooler and a lot less humid and I wouldn’t complain :) 

October is special to me though, not just because it’s the middle of Spring, but because it is the month I got to meet, after a forever of waiting, my beautiful baby boy.  It will be thirty six years ago this month that we were formally introduced as mother and son, though we had known each other, somehow; informally, intrinsically, during those months he took to grow himself inside me with his characteristic enthusiasm and the  joie de vivre I would come to know and love more with each passing day.  Something like osmosis…

I didn’t think I could feel anywhere near the depth of emotion and deepest love that burned into my soul and my heart as I held his small body protectively close to mine in those instants that followed his birth.  For a brief second as our eyes locked, secrets were shared between us from a thousand lifetimes, and time stood still, until each of us went quietly about beginning life as mother and babe.  It was a magical and mystical time for me and each year I get to relive the anticipation and excitement I felt then, as his birthday draws nearer and nearer.

I am not unique, just another mum who loves their child…but having him was my greatest achievement ever; of that I am certain.  I wish him eons of happiness, a plethora of people to love him and care about him and myriad amazing birth anniversaries. 

I have yet to finalize his birthday gift for 2010, but just the sound of his voice gives me more joy and delight  than I can ever put into words. How do I match that?  With more love than I thought it possible to feel for another human being would be a start....