catnipoflife

Observe life at its best, Listen to life’s songs, Embrace life’s bounties, Breathe the breath of life, Savor life to its fullest!

Angels in the Snow

Today I read some beautiful poems from MaryHelen Ferris @ Greatpoetrymhf’s Weblog.
I was inspired and reflected back on some of my catnipoflife writings.

Wintry days have their own unique manner of finding a way to warm the heart. Angels in the Snow definitely finds a place among MaryHelen’s heart rendering verses. If you do not live in snow country, then your angels could be Angels in the Field, Angels in the Sand or simply use your imagination.

Click the picture and hope you enjoy. . .

 

“Make yourself familiar with the angels and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.”
~ St Francis De Sales

 

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Ode to the Willow Tree

This morning my husband and I marvel at the sights of new budding in our midst: Tiny white blossoms emerging on the pear tree, the azalias bursting forth in colors of pink, white, red, purple, lavender, and bicolor, the flowering dogwoods exploiting their magnificence, and the new crepe myrtles exhibiting signs of their very first spring. Yet, I don’t think any are any more magnificent than that of the weeping willow.

     Only a few days ago what seemed to be only barren limbs, striped and naked from the winter, now launch the weeping willow’s cascading essence with sweeping, low branches beginning to droop toward the earth.

           Its pendulous canopy is nothing more than the epitomy of grace.

     Thus sparked my . . .


O
de to the Willow Tree

Oh thou lovely willow tree
Why is it you weep?
Is it raindrops dancing
On each tiny leaf?

Like encircling curtains
Pendulous branches fall
Cascading slender leaves
Extend outward and sprawl

Oh thou graceful beauty
Why do you so weep?
Are your branches heavy
From secrets you keep?

Myths and sorcery
Envelop your past
Many a love spell
Romances have cast

Oh thou soothing sight
Why is it you weep?
Are your limbs lonely
For someone to keep?

A haven of comfort
You offer each a place
Who venture underneath
For your wispy embrace

Oh thou willow tree
I know why you weep
Your tears are healing
So I peacefully sleep

©2012 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

“Where there is a gracious heart, there is a weeping eye.”
—Mathew Henry (1662-1714)

Amid the pelting summer rains, the willow tree’s beauty never wanes.

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Couldn’t sleep……

Couldn’t sleep. . .’rain pounding’ sounded like my husband in the backyard hitting golf balls onto the roof, ‘lightening flashes’ appeared as spotlights exploding under extreme heat, ‘thunder roaring’ reminded me of our son learning to play the drums! Ah-h, the memories, how sweet they are! So, as I pondered such recollections of times past, I smiled to myself and whispered to my cat, Bootsie, “Let’s just go ahead and get up?” Of course, she yawned and stretched; then, gave me that cat look which indicated she did not want to be disturbed:)

Coffee was brewed in no time at all. A quick splash of water on my face revealed tired eyes from the lack of sleep but the day needed to go on. I donned my favorite robe (you know the kind that has all the knobby nodules but you just can’t seem to part with it) and ventured out onto the back porch. Not long afterward my husband joined me and we both listened to the rain as it ricocheted off the tin roof. What a great sound even during the wee hours of the morning!

Then, whoosh! As quick as it arrived, the rain decided it had stayed long enough and ventured forth toward a different destination. Hints of blue begin to peep around the clouds still floating aimlessly along looking like huge puffs of cotton candy. You know, the kind we use to gaze upon as a child and ponder what animal or caricature they represented in our brilliant imaginative minds! You haven’t been there? Well, you just need to give it a try on the next cloudy day!

Anyway, here comes the really funny part. With the steam rising from our coffee cups and smiling at each other between sips, all of a sudden, my husband looks up and says, “That cloud looks like a platypus!” I almost fell out of my chair! For at that same instant, I had glanced up from my cup and what did I see? None other than Mickey Mouse! Oh, dear, I do hope we were not looking at the same cloud.

Time for you to take a break and see what kind of clouds are waiting for you outside (of course, if you have not already). Before you go, click the links Cotton Candy Clouds and Smell the Rain. . .

“Nature always tends to act in the simplest way.”  -
Bernoulli

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