Nature’s Dance of Fire

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane
by those who could not hear the music.

- Angela Monet
_________________

Life has a way of throwing curve balls our way when we least expect it.
I choose not to let them hit me, and I choose not to strike out.
I’m going to hit one out of the park and dance my way around the bases
all the way to home plate. I can hear the music. Can you?

For Tabbie:

Eaten

_____________

an eaten pear
is oft forgotten
core is tossed
and left for rotten
but my pear
I swear to thee
thou art forever
art to me

- Aggie Aglaia
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A Message from Tabbie

He is outside of everything, and alien everywhere. He is an aesthetic solitary. His beautiful, light imagination is the wing that on the autumn evening
just brushes the dusky window.
~ Henry James,
in praise of Nathaniel Hawthorne
_____________________________

Dear Friends,

I am unable to continue as the creative force behind this website.
My friend, Aggie, has graciously accepted my offer to take this blog
and make it her own. She will give it a bit of a makeover. Some things will change while others remain the same. Aggie’s kindness and generosity were typified when she told me that I would be her inspiration for this project, an inspiration reflected in the new name she has chosen for this place:   A Garden for Tabbie.
Thank you, Aggie! I’ll be tiptoeing through your tulips and your teasel,
your thistle and thyme, and likely I’ll comment from time to time.

All the Best,

~ Tabbie

_____________________________

For Tom

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.

~ George Cooper
_____________________________

You are in my thoughts during this difficult time of loss.

Hiatus

Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.

O well for the fisherman’s boy,
That he shouts with his sister at play!
O well for the sailor lad,
That he sings in his boat on the bay!

And the stately ships go on
To their haven under the hill;
But O for the touch of a vanish’d hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still!

Break, break, break,
At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me.

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson

It is with heavy heart I announce the temporary yet indefinite suspension
of my blogging activities. I have come to this decision after long and careful consideration of several factors mostly related to my health.
I extend my deepest gratitude to all who have faithfully followed
my journey here over the past year. The fact that any of you
are interested in what I have to say boggles my mind just a bit.

When will I be back? Honestly, I do not know. This site will not just suddenly disappear. Comments will continue to be moderated by me or by an assistant. You may see some changes happening as some of the tags, categories,
pages or posts are retooled, time and health permitting.

As I seek renewed health, peace and direction in my life, I hope you will continue to visit from time to time and explore the archives.
Don’t be surprised if, during my hiatus, I make the occasional wordless post
showcasing some new photograph of bird, cat, orchid, rose…

À bientôt.

False Indigo, Baptisia australis, May 19, 2009

This House Is Not Mine

…but if I were a Windsor, it might serve as a nice little Spring Cottage for me.

A man’s home may seem to be his castle on the outside;
inside, it is more often his nursery
~ Clare Boothe Luce
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Some of my neighbors have the most amazing houses.
Some are massive. Some are quaint. Some are inviting.
All of them are unique, and I’ve decided to showcase them here.
This is the fifth house in this series.
(House 1,   House 2,   House 3,   House 4)
– Stay tuned for more –
__________________________________

I photographed this house and its grounds by starting in the back
and working my way around it counterclockwise.
Large sizes are only a click away.

Nor need we power or splendour, wide hall or lordly dome;
the good, the true, the tender, these form the wealth of home.
~ Sarah J. Hale

This House Isn’t Mine

…but I sure could fit a lot of orchids inside of it! I love what they’ve done with the masonry around the door…talk about an entrance!
So yeah, I really like this house a lot!

Some of my neighbors have the most interesting houses.
Some are big. Some are bold. Some are beautiful. Some are quite unique.
All of them are special, and I’ve decided to showcase them here.
This is the fourth house in this series. (House 1,   House 2,   House 3)
– Stay tuned for more –

A man builds a fine house; and now he has a master, and a task for life:
he is to furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This Is Not My House

…but then again, I’m not a Tudor.

Some of my neighbors have the most interesting houses,
and I’ve decided to showcase a few of these homes “just because”
…this is the second in this series. The first house can be seen here.
Stay tuned for more.

Grace thou thy House, and let not that grace thee.
~ Benjamin Franklin