Morning Run

Tiptoe through slumbering house
Floor creaking, laces snicking, joints cracking
From cool dimness into bright morning sun
First steps launching from walk to run
Settling into stride

Neighbours' nods
Hand lifting in greeting
Silent dog tracking my progress wistfully
Dodging parked cars
Noting yards strewn with toys with knowing smile

Down the hill past the park
Wide open green space
Sun peaking over the roofs
Breathing deep
Relaxing

Heart's Desire wood path
Enveloped in green light
An almost holy hush among the trees
Flowers peaking, leaves unfurling
Birds a twitter with morning joy

River's roar over the dam
Constant, filling, steady power
Contented water music among the rocks
Scent of sun-warmed water
Flick of a fish, a startled frog

Old neighbourhood
Stately houses resting
In yards a riot of colour or finicky manicured splendour
A house pregnant with hope
A prayer for the family friends moving in this summer

Drowning in blossomed perfume
Lilac, apple, plum, dogwood
Momentary showers
Of white, delicate pink, blushing fuchsia
The hum of bees

Fox and kit, geese and goslings
Busy squirrels and bright-eyed robins
Sun-bright grass-gravel verge
Slipping by head-down
Heading east up hill into the sun

Final stretch more uphill going
Running concentration dimming view
Hearing reduced to breathing and footsteps
The occasional car passing on to work
Breaking through

Home again
Aglow with heat and satisfaction
Passing from bright sun to cool darkness
Tiptoe through a slumbering house
Cool shower relief

A Post of a Few Ends

The school year begins to end in May 

And continues to end in June

Along with the summer beginning in May

And continuing to begin in June

A confusing - and busy! -  time

If you're not careful

Elation of victory

Satisfaction of completion

Relief for the busy schedule

Reluctance to say goodbye

Regret to have to wait for Fall

To try again, to see again, to be again

So far for us:

The wearing of coats

(And shoes, if the kids have their way)

Having 3 kids under 10

Grace turned 10

in nicely drawn-out celebrations

Thursday, Wednesday, Saturday! 

History done for the year

Canada to Confederation

    

Is all that will fit on our wall

                                                      AWANA is over for the summer

And we are a well-satisfied family

For how far we've come this year

W2W has had it's last hurrah

Here a "handful" of the volunteers 

Necessary for this booming mid-week study

Along with that, the homeschoolers' program STRETCH

Partied to say goodbye for the summer

Hurrah for the brave who led this group

And ends coming soon?

Violin lessons for Jasmin

Spring recital full of magic music

Choir for Mom

Spring concert evening

Culmination of many hard work practices

SHEP for Grace

A co-op one-day-a-week school

Art, gym, history, science

And, mustn't forget, the lunch-time soccer

Science

Math

English

The race is on - 

Will school or May end first?

A 3 year old 

An 8 year old

A 37 year old

...and yet even a few more we celebrate in the weeks to come!

Lazy days of summer? 

Certainly not yet!

What We Like about Spring

Wind

Park play

Flowers

Color on the trees

Buds everywhere

Recess outside

Growing things

Green grass

Bare feet

Nearing the end of school

Birdsong
Making sand castles
Playing with friends
No coats
Finding new hiding places

sitting in the sunshine

talking to people

Warm sunshine

Planting the garden

Fresh air smell

How dirt smells

Woodland Treasures

A walk in the woods this afternoon
A "must-fit-in" thing
On such a warm May day
Before the mosquitoes plague
After sodden spring ground dried

After dreary days
of sick kids
sick parents
relentless life tasks
Before yet another busy weekend

The flowers were so very pretty

and I can't get over the tree

trunk that looks like 

a grotesque face

trying to get through a fence.

One of the flowers
A trillium found
Ontario's flower
but this one is red
 A rare find for us

Surprised by yellow
Hidden in the dead brown leaves
Lots if you look carefully
Lillies with trout-mottled leaves
Curling back their petals













Nodding flags of white
Lined up in rows
Fairy washing hung out to dry
Dutchman's Breeches

With their fine, full, feathery leaves

















The newness of Spring
Shown clearly up close
Wrinkled, just unfolding
Maple leaves stretching into the sun
Ruddy red giving way to summer green















A patch of spring beauties
What more can be said?
Delicate, joyous
finely drawn, exquisite
Spring beauty indeed!










We definitely came home the better for our jaunt!
And then - Friday's bliss! -
A street full of kids
Loud play until
Late reluctant supper calls
Beckon in happy, dirty kids