Sharron, that's a lifetime worth of miles and experiences. What I love about the places you mentioned is the variety. You must have some great photo albums. Enjoyed this piece. - Jim
Yes, a wave of melancholy over here on the coast. I will get over it. Thanks for reading, my friend. Now get out there in the sun and smell the wild flowers!
Found Lilac buds starting and magnolia buds trying to open. WAAAIIIIIITTTT-for-it. Snow coming. They survive only one year in 5, but are magnificent when they do. Hostas peeking out of the ground. )) Florescent blue Scillas and Star of Bethlehem making nice carpet in the lily row. Crocuses open. Thousand Irises still green from last year. Orange lilies thick in their rows. Daffodills open by the front door, budding elsewhere. Surprise Lilys green about a foot in the air....everywhere. Snowdrops are nearly done at the side of the building, but bright white everywhere else. SUN. BLUE sky. ))) Hansel hiding under the stove, but he did eat half the gravy and licked the eggyolks, so that is improvement. Light is a good thing. ))
I thank you for coming over to Leaves this morning, Joan. Yes, this piece was a little wistful. I am old, so I get into these memory modes from time to time. The photos are borrowed. The feet photo was a writing prompt for my little writing group ( Seven old er women here in town) and the photo of the pathway, I just found.
You and I were on a similar course this morning, Mark. Home. It is everything. Don't you find it amazing how you can go from Captain Peanut butter to talking monkeys and then to this beautiful poem? My head is like that, too. Just such a jumble of ideas to sort out. Maybe it is our age?
Thank you, Wade. The photo of feet was a writing prompt for my little writing group this week. I am curious to see if anyone writes about where those feet are going, rather than where they've been.
Scrapbooks filled. Pictures in the morning with croissant or espresso on the veranda. I toast to the blisters on feet well worn, sand dials of time in between clicks on track that took you places. Scenes, movements. A travel log on the fire that burns bright.
Thank you, Jim . A little throw-away piece. That four part Field Notes thing wore me out.
By the way, Clancy Steadwell has a complex, beautifully crafted story about two boys coming of age. The Big T. It is starting to turn darker now that the boys enter college and one is beginning to go a bit mad. It brings to mind your classic work Death Art, ( in its back story) but it's not nearly so intense and shocking. You might check it out.
PS that is a striking photo of that "other" Jim pinned to your home page. Handsome guy, Wilsky.
I have read some of The Big T and it is very good. The fact is, I'm having trouble keeping up with reading my grocery lists right now. I'm keeping a TBR file though. March is the culmination of snowbird season here and we have 3 sets of friends from Connecticut in town who are fixing to head home next week. It's been a lot of fun but I may be getting a little too old for this stuff. I should be getting back to normal next week, I hope.
Yes, Wilsky is a handsome devil. Must have something to do with the name Jim. Haha.
Thank you Yael, for this comment. I am glad you saw that this was not about travels, it was about love and always returning, no matter how thrilling the rest of the world was.
My wife and I finally figured out why we traveled. It was to experience the joy of returning home and all that it means to us. Since I subscribed to Leaves. I no longer have to physically leave home to travel. Sharron takes me on lovely trips through her words and photos. Thanks for sharing, Sharron.
Thank you, Justin. I see you are trying to catch up on your Substack reading! It gets away from us, doesn't it? My stories are mercifully short. Ha ha ha
Haha! Short and brilliant—if I may. Catching up on my Substack reading seems to be an ever-present theme in my life. Slowly but surely I hope to chip away at what I missed!
So many places! From one interesting place, to another breathtaking spot, and then out again. Your stories are as varied and compelling, as the places you’ve been. And home, again. I know she found your stories of traveling fascinating, your Mama, (as do we!), and treasured the travels you shared together. 💕
Thanks for reading these poems and travel stories, Sharon. I am your biggest fan! I look forward to reading about what is going on at the Gopher Farm on Sunday morning.
Sharron, that's a lifetime worth of miles and experiences. What I love about the places you mentioned is the variety. You must have some great photo albums. Enjoyed this piece. - Jim
I has been a loooong life. It piles up over time, doesn't it? Thanks, my friend.
Aw, very sweet!
Thank you Linda. Are you working with this photo prompt too?
Not exactly, but I have a photo that I'll send you that might apply.
Darned cute!!
Another painful piece. I have to be in the garden today with some sunlight. Breakfast with my last cat.
Yes, a wave of melancholy over here on the coast. I will get over it. Thanks for reading, my friend. Now get out there in the sun and smell the wild flowers!
Found Lilac buds starting and magnolia buds trying to open. WAAAIIIIIITTTT-for-it. Snow coming. They survive only one year in 5, but are magnificent when they do. Hostas peeking out of the ground. )) Florescent blue Scillas and Star of Bethlehem making nice carpet in the lily row. Crocuses open. Thousand Irises still green from last year. Orange lilies thick in their rows. Daffodills open by the front door, budding elsewhere. Surprise Lilys green about a foot in the air....everywhere. Snowdrops are nearly done at the side of the building, but bright white everywhere else. SUN. BLUE sky. ))) Hansel hiding under the stove, but he did eat half the gravy and licked the eggyolks, so that is improvement. Light is a good thing. ))
The joy of spring against the sadness of knowing you might lose your dear Hansel soon. The give and take that is life! The flowers sound like heaven.
What a somber picture! Was this taken before or after the Italian trip?
I thank you for coming over to Leaves this morning, Joan. Yes, this piece was a little wistful. I am old, so I get into these memory modes from time to time. The photos are borrowed. The feet photo was a writing prompt for my little writing group ( Seven old er women here in town) and the photo of the pathway, I just found.
I always read your posts. I am a fan!
Yaay! Thank you, Joan.
Lovely. And a great list of adventures.
You and I were on a similar course this morning, Mark. Home. It is everything. Don't you find it amazing how you can go from Captain Peanut butter to talking monkeys and then to this beautiful poem? My head is like that, too. Just such a jumble of ideas to sort out. Maybe it is our age?
I have been this way my whole life. I can't understand how anyone is content to write just one topic or genre. I love variety.
You are the veritable box of chocolates... never know what you're going to get until you bite into it.
Well told…. Interesting travels.
Thank you, Wade. The photo of feet was a writing prompt for my little writing group this week. I am curious to see if anyone writes about where those feet are going, rather than where they've been.
Beautiful poem, especially your reading of it.
Thanks, my friend.
Beautiful
Thank you, Barrie.
Melancholy? Wistful and pensive are your posts today. Always like hearing your voice, Sharron.
Thank you, Ron.
Footpaths left foot prints.
Scrapbooks filled. Pictures in the morning with croissant or espresso on the veranda. I toast to the blisters on feet well worn, sand dials of time in between clicks on track that took you places. Scenes, movements. A travel log on the fire that burns bright.
😊👍🏻
Those places
They keep spaces
In your kind mind
Sent to start a heart
In a space
Full of grace
Hey! I thought you were in the backwoods for a while, incognito! What happened?
The woods and Lake Michigan, though two miles as the crow flies, five or six if you drive partway, seem to be never a far back as they once were...
I'm always incognito.
I've saved a little space
In a not-so-far-away place
Possible to find
In a niche not-often-visited in our minds
Grace
Lingers in that space...
doesn't it?
Sounds lovely.
Beautiful prose, dear Sharron. Your adventurous spirit has served you well.
Thank you, Jim . A little throw-away piece. That four part Field Notes thing wore me out.
By the way, Clancy Steadwell has a complex, beautifully crafted story about two boys coming of age. The Big T. It is starting to turn darker now that the boys enter college and one is beginning to go a bit mad. It brings to mind your classic work Death Art, ( in its back story) but it's not nearly so intense and shocking. You might check it out.
PS that is a striking photo of that "other" Jim pinned to your home page. Handsome guy, Wilsky.
I have read some of The Big T and it is very good. The fact is, I'm having trouble keeping up with reading my grocery lists right now. I'm keeping a TBR file though. March is the culmination of snowbird season here and we have 3 sets of friends from Connecticut in town who are fixing to head home next week. It's been a lot of fun but I may be getting a little too old for this stuff. I should be getting back to normal next week, I hope.
Yes, Wilsky is a handsome devil. Must have something to do with the name Jim. Haha.
Yeah. That’s it.
Hell, we were all young and beautiful once. Now, old and beautiful.
So much love in that short poem❤️
Thank you Yael, for this comment. I am glad you saw that this was not about travels, it was about love and always returning, no matter how thrilling the rest of the world was.
My wife and I finally figured out why we traveled. It was to experience the joy of returning home and all that it means to us. Since I subscribed to Leaves. I no longer have to physically leave home to travel. Sharron takes me on lovely trips through her words and photos. Thanks for sharing, Sharron.
You are such a kind man, KC. Thanks for this fine compliment!
This is lovely, Sharron. You have lived quite the adventurous life! There is no place quite like home.
Thank you, Justin. I see you are trying to catch up on your Substack reading! It gets away from us, doesn't it? My stories are mercifully short. Ha ha ha
Haha! Short and brilliant—if I may. Catching up on my Substack reading seems to be an ever-present theme in my life. Slowly but surely I hope to chip away at what I missed!
So many places! From one interesting place, to another breathtaking spot, and then out again. Your stories are as varied and compelling, as the places you’ve been. And home, again. I know she found your stories of traveling fascinating, your Mama, (as do we!), and treasured the travels you shared together. 💕
Thanks for reading these poems and travel stories, Sharon. I am your biggest fan! I look forward to reading about what is going on at the Gopher Farm on Sunday morning.
Thank you, Sharron! 🌷