tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-236144942024-02-28T07:48:07.214-05:00Life in the Salt ShakerFrancinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-7209057181887513512008-11-08T16:15:00.002-05:002008-11-08T16:26:31.967-05:00From the Gypsy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZwfJBUqCvtPrPpefpYy4rYAASeov4u8wVRUvPCrt5wv59HFekXWOCuC9y9GXNOk4Ud5NA-tbYKw7Wb-jcIcLaOHJ9A3htc_teAj8NOlfiAWpIEQJZuCUSDMiBlKrb74fRweJOA/s1600-h/Fall08+051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 198px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZwfJBUqCvtPrPpefpYy4rYAASeov4u8wVRUvPCrt5wv59HFekXWOCuC9y9GXNOk4Ud5NA-tbYKw7Wb-jcIcLaOHJ9A3htc_teAj8NOlfiAWpIEQJZuCUSDMiBlKrb74fRweJOA/s200/Fall08+051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266398912076227410" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">A VAGABOND SONG </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">There is something in the Autumn</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">that is native to my blood-</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Touch of manner, hint of mood;</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And my heart is like a rhyme,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">With the yellow and the purple</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">and the crimson keeping time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">The scarlet of the maples</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">can shake me like a cry</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">Of bugles going by,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">And my lonely spirit thrills</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">To see the frosty asters</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">like smoke upon the hills.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">There is something in October</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">sets the gypsy blood astir,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We must rise and follow her,</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">When from every hill of flame</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">She calls and calls each vagabond by name.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> Bliss Carman</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></div>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-36760307549411714542008-05-11T15:47:00.004-05:002008-05-11T16:03:27.537-05:00My Sweet Baboo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuDjvF4fVYvI8jzKx-BI8DkmTzDPL3LZDSmdCOmflPaI_J5vxn6MLl6ItGGX4RB-i3289lrU5VX2uhX8FqP_QdQM_UWzob7rIWbVFm1RP5_f4XkLxdRpnqIOujwDvi-RKThiZ_A/s1600-h/TerryandTeds408+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuDjvF4fVYvI8jzKx-BI8DkmTzDPL3LZDSmdCOmflPaI_J5vxn6MLl6ItGGX4RB-i3289lrU5VX2uhX8FqP_QdQM_UWzob7rIWbVFm1RP5_f4XkLxdRpnqIOujwDvi-RKThiZ_A/s200/TerryandTeds408+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199225625377979474" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cBUFLNzns0dEpM5PIKo-u0SAFYiCrRZMi_dy3MzfWxwr0xQikOPHh-rDos9htvnWU03I5ZNwJpQklSXnCHYOEKoIp7Ael3z9_Pfv96WRkkjsknLSZzjbOSDOguR99QvrsOmCGg/s1600-h/Mia308+013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cBUFLNzns0dEpM5PIKo-u0SAFYiCrRZMi_dy3MzfWxwr0xQikOPHh-rDos9htvnWU03I5ZNwJpQklSXnCHYOEKoIp7Ael3z9_Pfv96WRkkjsknLSZzjbOSDOguR99QvrsOmCGg/s200/Mia308+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199225633967914082" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On this Mother's Day I can' help but feel fortunate to be a part of "My Sweet Baboo's" life! I've been watching her for about six weeks now and even though it's a busy job, she has brought many smiles to my tired face. We try to go outside for a walk each day and that is helping me burn extra calories. (an added benefit!) Sometimes I wish I was stronger as she is getting heavier. As soon as she starts walking, I'll teach her to push me in the stroller!! With age comes wisdom. :)<br /><br /><br /></span>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-1172721353767432892007-02-28T22:49:00.000-05:002007-02-28T22:55:53.776-05:00In Memory Of . . .<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-family: lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:130%;">When some beloved voice that was to you<br />Both sound and sweetness, faileth suddenly,<br />And silence against which you dare not cry,<br />Aches round you like a strong disease and new-<br />What hope? What help? What music will undo<br />That silence to your sense? Not friendship's sigh,<br />Nor reason's subtle count . . . .<br />Nay, none of these,<br />Speak, Thou, availing Christ! - and fill this pause.<br /><br />-Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "Substitution"<br /></span></div>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-1159299994311207062006-09-26T14:32:00.000-05:002007-02-25T21:23:03.660-05:00Time For Fall (literally)<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I can't believe the summer is gone and I didn't blog at all! I forgot about it. Thank goodness for my niece who gently (??) reminded me. I had a birthday since then, just a few weeks ago. I'm slowly getting over the shock that, yes, even I, am aging. It's a hard pill to swallow at first, but thankfully there's saliva!! What can I say? A famous quote comes to mind: "getting old is not for the squeamish". I was hoping for a easy decline, but instead "all dive" is ringing in my ears! Yikes and double yikes! The hardest part is seeing the looks people give you when they haven't seen you for a long time. First it's shock, then disbelief. Slowly a tender sympathy fills their eyes as they turn and walk away. Let em' look, let em' walk!! The best years of my life are ahead of me and I still have alot to offer! By golly, I'll show em'. This aging thing is going to be a piece of cake. (Make that two pieces of cake (chocolate), and throw in a bag of extra crunchy chips and a chocolate malt. If I'm goin' down, I'm goin' down with a well padded smile on my face!)<br /><br />Till next time!<br /></span></span>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-1148255848531396932006-05-21T18:44:00.000-05:002006-05-21T19:23:13.946-05:00Talents Differ<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/1600/May%20041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/200/May%20041.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/1600/May%20019.1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/200/May%20019.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>(This robin's nest is in our woodshed! The babies hatched a few days ago.)<br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"What are you doing there, Robin a Bobbin,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Under my window, out in the blue?"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Building my nest, O Little One, Pretty One,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Doing the thing that you cannot do!"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"What are you doing now, Robin a Bobbin,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Under my window, out in the blue?"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Brooding my eggs, O Little One, Pretty One,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Doing the thing that you cannot do!"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"What are you doing there, Robin a Bobbin,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Under my window, out in the blue?"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Feeding my nestlings, Little One, Pretty One,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Doing the thing that you cannot do.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"And what are you doing, pray, Little One, Pretty One,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >What are you doing, tell me now true?"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"Sewing my patchwork, Robin a Bobbin,</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Doing the thing that you cannot do!"</span><br /> <br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > Laura E. Richards</span><br /><br /><br /></span>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-1141954115092008602006-03-09T20:25:00.000-05:002006-03-28T20:01:31.113-05:00A Walk Beside the Sea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/1600/Florida%20055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/200/Florida%20055.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">One of my favorite pictures taken at St. George Island, Florida.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The Sea Gypsy<br /><br />I am fevered with the sunset,<br />I am fretful with the bay,<br />For the wander-thirst is on me<br />And my soul is in Cathay.<br /><br />There's a schooner in the offing,<br />With her topsails shot with fire,<br />And my heart has gone aboard her<br />For the islands of Desire.<br /><br />I must forth again tomorrow!<br />With the sunset I must be<br />Hull down on the trail of rapture<br />In the wonder of the Sea.<br /><br /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Richard Hovey</span><br /></span></span>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-1141919064925999082006-03-09T10:42:00.000-05:002006-03-09T14:01:00.316-05:00A Flower<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/1600/Blooms%20201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/320/Blooms%20201.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Walking through the forest,<br />I saw a flower -<br />Soft, pale yellow, delicate-<br />I picked it.<br /><br />The trees wept with sadness.<br />The ferns bowed their heads.<br />The birds stopped their singing<br />and looked on with mournful silence.<br /><br />D.Walsh 1970<br /></span></span></span></span></span>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-1141781437410773562006-03-07T20:22:00.000-05:002006-03-07T20:30:37.420-05:00The First Snowfall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/1600/Transfer%20008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/668/2429/320/Transfer%20008.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The snow had begun in the gloaming,<br /> And busily all the night<br />Had been heaping field and highway<br /> With a silence deep and white.<br /><br />Every pine and fir and hemlock<br /> Wore ermine too dear for an earl,<br />And the poorest twig on the elm tree<br /> Was ridged inch deep with pearl.<br /><br /> JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL<br /></span></span></span>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23614494.post-1141767843012139852006-03-07T16:33:00.000-05:002006-03-07T16:44:03.020-05:00If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking . .<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">If I can stop one heart from breaking,<br /> I shall not live in vain;<br />If I can ease one life the aching,<br />Or cool one pain,<br />Or help one fainting robin<br />Unto his nest again,<br />I shall not live in vain.<br /><br /> Emily Dickinson<br /></span></span>Francinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16177627512459252306noreply@blogger.com0