I have fallen—once more

you knew I would.

My face pressed against the floor.

You saw it—coming

I never knew what hit.

I just keep running—away.

Your whisper

reverberating in the air.

Coming.  Coming. 

Ever closer

 in words

only the soul can hear.

                                      I thirst

                                      for souls.

                                    I’m parched

                                    for souls.

Alone in the desert of souls—turned away.

Used bale twine hanging in the barn.

Beak on Mary-Kate's setting hen.

Corn in the crib overhead.

My favorite bit of yellow.

Gate hooks.

Wilson! Mary-Kate painted him on the side of our shed.

Layn's college fund.

The slide.

The sign on the side of our driveway.

Insulators on a row of fence posts.

Non-slip ends of the sidewalks in town.

I like this sign on the front of the library.

Architectural detail on the old incinerator building.

Spent red tulip.

The end of one of our fuel tanks.

Thorns on the rose bush.

We're having meat, lots of meat!!!!

Outside my window....it is cool and gloomy.  I wonder if the sun is going to show its face today.

I am thinking....I like the sound little teeth make when they bite into puffs.  That little crunching noise is so sweet.

I am thankful for...baby smiles, sticky fingers, and cheese puff crumbs all over my desk.

From the schoolroom...MK has a stats test to finish this week and there is always plenty for me to do.

From the kitchen....plenty of leftover ribs and cornbread from yesterday.

I am wearing....sweats over my bathing suit.  MK and I are going to the Y this morning for a water aerobics class.

I am creating....a home.

I am going...to the Y this morning and then I will be home all the rest of the day.  Lots of writing to do this week plus the usual homey things.

I am reading....How to Write Irresistible Query Letters by Lisa Collier Cool

I am hoping...to hear back from some of the publications that I have queried about possible writing ideas.

I am hearing...Layn settling in for his morning nap, Matthew fussing around in the kitchen preparatory to baking bread, and MK getting ready to leave for class.

Around the house....it's not pretty but it is home.

One of my favorite things....the casualness and chaos that is created by the comings and goings of a large family.

A few plans for the rest of the week....school, family, life, and more life.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you....

My beautiful daughter singing in the chorale concert yesterday.

They were made for each other.

Outside my window... in the immortal words of Robert Loius Stevenson; "the rain is raining all around, it falls on field and tree, it rains on the umbrellas here, and on the ships at sea.  I think we got the two inches that the weather people were threatening us with.  Okay, it can stop now so Ian and the other farmers can plant the rest of their crops.

I am thankful for...the very devout and traditional priest that we have in our parish.  Not that it isn't usually but I was refreshed by the devotion and piety that was the mass that I attended yesterday. I have recently been going to another parish because my car was ill and this other church is within biking distance.  I think in this case absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.

I am thinking....about the lessons that people need to learn from living with each other.  There should be more large families in the world because that is the best way to learn to get along.

From the schoolroom....MK is going to be finishing up statistics and I will be cozying up with Shakespeare.  There will be a Tempest in a teapot in our house this week.

From the kitchen....leftovers aplenty!!!!!!

I am wearing.....warm cozy jammies.  It's a bit damp and nippy out this morning and I don't foresee the sun coming out anytime soon.

I am creating...words upon words. Books of words, piles of words. Taste words and touch words and sight words.  Words to roll in and slide in and step in. It is officially a word day today.

I am going....out of my mind, slowly but surely.  As far as taking my car anywhere; I'm not going nowhere.

I am reading...The Necessary Shakespeare.

I am hoping....that after all this Shakespeare that I have ingested none of it starts to leak out. If I start to wax somewhat Shakespearean in tone somebody shoot me.

I am hearing....MK and Melissa discussing what they will be doing together today, Layn giggling and chattering, and Matthew fussing around in the kitchen.

Around the house....status quo folks, status quo.

One of my favorite things....orange juice and coconut rum. But seriously, spending a rainy Sunday afternoon surrounded by my family.

A few plans for the rest of the week....try to get the bulk of my writing done today and tomorrow.  Wednesday my other mother, Buehner is having reconstructive surgery done on her shoulder and I need to be free to spend the week at the hospital with her.

Here is a picture thought that I am sharing with you...

Meet Harry, my Mother's day gift from my loving daughter.