Autumn's Warning

 

  

Crisp autumn seems to

gently negotiate with those of us used to warm climes.

Bold winds and light sprinkles advertise coming times.

New shows on the marquee,

mannequins with coats,

candy sales and baked brie.

January and February will be nippy,

she whispers among falling leaves.

Is your wine chilled or are you tipsy?

Craving hot appetizers on cool platters,

we want al fresco dining ‘til our teeth chatter.

 

Prepare yourself autumn seems to say.

Before everything turns gray.

Fix the furnace before it’s too late.

Shorter days are worth the wait?

Stock up on tea bags and cocoa,

there might be snow.

You never know.

Time to dig out sweaters and socks,

hide the shorts--ditch the flipflops.

Trade lemonade for pumpkin lattes--

and secretly pray for long summer days.

 

 

Eve Gaal

Happy Easter Anyway!

I’ve heard stories about how the crocus flower peeps through the snow.

Daffodil bulbs with an innate desire to grow.

Tulips that thrived in the cold,

withering when shipped to be sold.

Fiona spots one of our tulips

This one has blown away.

I’ve read Eliot’s poem about April being cruel,

especially noting the price of fuel.

I see the icy highways on the news,

wild seas and the unpleasant cruise.

Watched our petals take to the sky,

like butterflies waving a brief goodbye.

Though things seem bleak,

the way many speak,

we cannot mope.

We must understand this visual depiction of hope.

The promising end to winter storms,

as a time to be reborn.

Easter-time.

Happy New Year--Stay Warm & Safe

Finally, there’s some rain in California. Normally this is exciting, wonderful news, but after all the fires, there are now mudslides threatening homes all over the place. And, while I can poetically dive into my daydreams that wax on about the promise of spring around the corner and the flowers that will cover everything in happiness, the television news reminds me that winter still has a few tricks up his or her cold, wet sleeves.

How can I complain when my friends in the East are bundling up like Inuits and snow is covering everything in white?  I have to admit, it looks beautiful from my heated living room. Even nicer when I’m holding a cup of hot cocoa with whipped topping. Sorry.

Wait a minute; I don’t need the television news to remind me of rain and cooler temperatures when I have two pooches telling me to switch channels immediately. What happened to the sunshine they seem to ask with pleading eyes? Where are the patches of warm soil and the cool grass that tickles our underbellies? And what's with the weird sweaters?

 What have you done MOMMY?

Fiona and Pinky 

 Poor pups.

Happy New Year and trust me even with my first name being Eve,

 I have nothing to do with the weather. 

💧

PSA: Please remember, if you're cold outside, then your pets are cold too. Try and take them inside or at least into a garage, shed or barn. They will appreciate your kindness.

💖

Stormy Haiku!

Giant ocean swells

 Off the coast of Hawaii.

I wanna surf, Not!

There’s a place called Haiku on the Island of Maui, where surfers have named the area Jaws. This week, some of them were falling over 40 feet from the top of a wave! Here’s a 46 sec. YouTube video if you’d like to see some of the incredible footage or maybe you’d like to plan one last surfing getaway. May I suggest packing light and leaving your affairs in order? 

 I’ve never visited Maui but the name Haiku sounds inviting, as well as inspiring. Take a walk through our U.S. El Nino winter with some of my stormy Haiku.

The end of a drought

scene; quenching a thirsty state,

With giant mud-flows.

 ************  

The cliffs dissolved--

Multi-million dollar homes

Crashed into the sea.

**************

How high is the snow?

It’s a blizzard in the east

Everywhere you go.

*************** 

Our car is buried.

Someone will have to shovel.

Stop looking at me!

*************

 I’m so glad winter

Wants to finish its business--

So we can move on.

Frozen Sisters Wish You a Happy New Year!

Three blogging buddies inspired me to write this post. Plus, I just finished reading Jack London’s book White Fang.What a marvelous book--White Fang moved from the snow in the North to California where he wasn't used to being warm.(See previous post for my review) My rescued dogs Pinky and Fiona moved with us from the California desert and though we only  moved one hour away, they are both wondering what happened.

Anyway, if you like dogs you'll love these blogs:

The first one: Two Fur-Peeps and A Writer-is a blog about author Shelly Arkon and her two adorable pups, Sir Poops A-lot and Hairball. It’s a wonderful, happy blog.

Fiona catching rays
outside and trying to sleep!

The second one: Two Little Square Black Dogs is where you can visit Hamish and Watson in the Sonoran desert.

Lastly, there’s the informative and funny, Pets and other Critters also about dogs, birds and turtles.

(I don't know how to add audio to blogs and someday I'll figure it out. Until then you'll have to use your imagination.)

 Here's a story about
 Christmas Eve Morning

“Mommy, Pinky ate all my kibble.” Fiona looked at me, tilted her little head and blinked.

“Yes, I know,” I replied. “I’ll give you a snack later. Her whiskers sparkled under the Christmas lights and though she had been a naughty little Chihuahua all year long, she still deserved to eat.

Pinky ran up wagging her tail. “I heard you complaining, you little snitch. What do you expect after crapping on the sofa, you moron?”

Fiona yawned.

“Mommy, let me explain,” Pinky said while wagging her tail. “I’m bigger, I need more food and she’s stupid.” Pinky put her paws on my lap and stared at me with her doe-like eyes.

“How about you go into the garage while I give Fiona some more food?” I tried to pick up Pinky who immediately snapped at my fingers. “I thought Fiona was the naughty one? What’s with you wanting to bite me?”

Daddy put down the newspaper and looked across the room. “Are you okay? If she hurts you then she’s going back to that same rescue facility she came from."

He stood up and put Pinky on a leash and pulled her into the garage while I refilled Fiona’s bowl. 

When I sat down to drink my coffee I watched Fiona staring at the garage door. “Is she in solitary confinement?”

“No,” I mumbled. “She’ll be back soon.” (This is where you play the song, "Love is an Open Door" from the Frozen soundtrack.)

Fiona kept staring at the garage door and wouldn't eat. She looked sad and missed her sister. After I finished my coffee, I stood up and let Pinky back into the house. Minutes later Pinky finished off the food in Fiona’s bowl. 

“Thanks mommy,” she said after scarfing it down.

Fiona yawned. 

Music:

(Let it go... Let it go....)

New Year's Eve we had a freak storm over our house which dumped several inches of snow all over everything. It's just not melting fast enough for Pinky and Fiona. Here they are checking out their first snow. 

Music:Do you Want to Build a Snowman?

 Yes, even Fiona wants to wish you a bright and sunny

 New Year and all of us hope your dreams come true!