simple things, great pleasure

My strainer with light coming through it made me extremely happy.  How lovely that it takes so little to please.

virginia opossum here

Not usual in Maine the opossum has found it way to our yard which is making the dogs extremely excited.  We had opossum in Maryand that fed with the outside cats and life was pretty peaceful.  Not sure about these dogs with this critter.  Would hate to see it hurt or killed or them hurt.
This one played possum with Shunka earlier in the day.  Not sure but believe it is living in the woodpile down below the house or at least that is where Shunka is indicating something is going on.








To “play ’possum” is an expression that comes from the opossum’s strange habit of feigning death when frightened. It goes limp and rolls on its side, with eyes shut, mouth agape, tongue out, and tail and body curled. It will even shrivel up its large, round, black and white ears.


“They send off this horrible scent of death from a scent gland in the back,” said Richardson.


Opossums can play dead, unmoving, for hours, waiting for the confused predator to leave them alone. And surprisingly, this tactic is effective. It tends to puzzle dogs, foxes and other animals that don’t eat carrion.

the runners up

and the sun came out...

not invited?

When I was a young age, and I am not sure that age 8, 9ish something happened in my world that shaped me.  I lived in a good neighborhood and my best friend lived across the street.  We played together and we were carpooled to school as we went to schools near each other, but not the same schools.  We had always shared birthdays, all the birthdays.  Yet on this birthday, my friend didn't share.  It was her birthday and others were arriving.  I went across the street and the door opened and my friend's mother came out and told me that this was a party for my friend's school friends and I was not invited.  She closed the door.  Closed the door and left me confused and alone standing on the porch, not invited. I remember walking back across the street.  
To this day it still hurts and yes "don't take things personally", but  - I am young and a best friend does not want me at her birthday party .... ? because we don't go to the same school? We couldn't find a place for me at the table to meet her school friends?  I am there, dressed up and not invited in?  

This was the hugest, biggest lesson in my life.   let me tell you no one will ever not be welcomed in my space.  I will not shut the door.   No one will ever suffer the hurt of not being "invited"   Not having the door opened.  People makes choices every day to be kind, to open doors or to shut doors. 
 I  remember that day.  I can picture the street, the porch, the trees, and Mrs. Penn saying this is a party for Susan's school friends. 

morning thoughts

There are squirrels galore this morning.  Gray squirrels  may be in mating mode. Sitting her watching them up the trees, down the trees, across the snows.

Rosemary - 
The Treasury of Botany says:
'There is a vulgar belief in Gloucestershire and other counties, that Rosemary will not grow well unless where the mistress is "master"; and so touchy are some of the lords of creation upon this point, that we have more than once had reason to suspect them of privately injuring a growing rosemary in order to destroy this evidence of their want of authority.'

new word

simple beauty everywhere

light hitting the ceiling above my desk quite happy making. 

wet and white

This has been our February