Cathedral of Learning
Light hits an object,
reflects back.
Capture as best I can.
How it changes, brings life
to surfaces,
fascinates me.
Cathedral of Learning Late Afternoon Light
Month: April 2011
Split Second Cookies from the Archives
What I did with the orange marmalade and raspberry jam
. Split second cookies recipe here
April Showers
“Pansies in soft April rains
Fill their stalks with honeyed sap
Drawn from Earth’s prolific lap.”
— Bayard Taylor 1825-1875 Buried in Kennett Square PA
April Showers
The weight of the raindrops
bent the Pansy’s face to the ground.
Petals like velvet.
Pansies
“The pansy gets its name from the French word pensée meaning ‘thought’.”
-quote from Pansyflowers.com
The forsythia is in bloom
and there are violets and crocus,
the daffodils. All those bulbs people
planted last fall are up.
Buds on some of the trees.
Pansies look
like Spring to me.
Wisconsin Feed Corn Does the Trick
Lovingly stitched by a grandmother in Wisconsin, you put this pillow in the microwave for 3- 5 minutes. The heat emanates from the corn and is soothing for aches and pains. It holds heat a long time and has the softest flannel pillow case. You slip the pillow in or out so you can launder the case. Her phone # was on the pillow ticking and that is how people know about her. I was fortunate my friend lent me her pillow for healing purposes since the “being rear-ended last Friday accident.” I hear they are great to take to bed everyday, especially in the winter. Every once in awhile if you use the pillow a lot, you need to return moisture to the corn inside- pop the pillow in the freezer for a day. Then heat again. Not sure the official name of these handcrafted pillows but they are wonderful. R-E-L-I-E-F. I called her today and ordered three. Fifteen bucks each plus shipping. Worth it!
Comfort
Hot soup
Buttered toast
A call from a friend.
Murphy curled up at your feet.
Grandmother’s soft cotton quilt.
And a friend knows just what to lend.
Santa Claus on April Fool’s Day
Taken at lunchtime on Friday April first. You worry the homeowner might be ill or injured and can’t get out on the roof to take down Christmas. A gray sky but a cheery Santa face. Reminds me of the Coca-Cola ads. I’ve watched and wondered how long Santa will be up there. I’ve had Christmas up a long time myself, inside the house. But not into April. Ever. The front hallway always seems so bare when the garland comes down. 
Sign Says- “Retiring” ? HA!
Remember the vintage ironing board propped against the sycamore tree? Saw this sign today that the sycamore is slated for execution. It has canker disease and the sign says it is dying. I had a sister tree in front of my house and it’s been gone about 8 years. A magnificent canopy. This tree must be close to 100 years old. Our street used to be tree-lined. The euphemisms of our language, like “putting a dog to sleep”? When they say retiring they are cutting it down and turning it into wood chips or something.
Hailstones Sunday Afternoon April 3rd
Weather
Another item
for the list
of things
out of our control.
I never used to talk about it much
or even pay attention to weather.
Lately it’s impossible to ignore!.
Pittsburgh just had a big hailstorm about ten days ago. What a sound. When it stopped I went out and photographed a few patches of lawn. Haven’t gone anywhere in a couple of days and was wondering what to post. Thought I was going into the archives. My answer arrived after the thunder and lightning! Someone told me it depends on the size and wind and all but some hailstones can fall to earth the speed of a major league pitch.
Rooftop Grill & an Unexpected Mishap
Plans Change
You think you’re on your way.
A family weekend, return the dog.
A full tank and bags packed.
You’re excited to go.
It’s been a long week.
But circumstances of traffic
and some guy going too fast-
wrong place wrong time
but you are there.
You’re not going anywhere.
It takes awhile to adjust.
Shot Friday after school. Who knew in 10 minutes my Subaru Outback (3386 pounds) would be rear-ended by a Dodge Ram Pickup (4969 pounds) as I sat in traffic on the entrance to the Bloomfield Bridge. Ouch. I was headed home to get Murphy and head out to the family in Columbus. Never made it. Ended up in Shadyside ER with a neck sprain, real sore from the jolt. Car undriveable. The paramedics were so nice. I said, could you get the gray bag, with the camera? And in the back, Could you get the green bag with my computer? oh and please, my suitcase? They took it all with us to the hospital. Oh and the knitting bag, too. I declare Friday April Fool’s my lucky day. Grateful this is not my final photo. No horses today. Glad I’m okay. Thought about posting the damaged car but decided it was unncessary. But you just never know what the day will bring. Grateful it was no worse. My mother always said, “Cars can be replaced.” Left the school bag and the lunch box and the gym bag in the car. And the white garbage bag of new Tupperware for Laura & Erika that Jenn had brought and left in my garage earlier this week. The men asked me if I was going on a trip. Well, I was…….
Sally Said, Things Come in Threes
Drove to the Post Office at lunchtime to mail a package. On the way back to school I saw this horse’s head. Not the whole rocking horse, it’s true but a horse nonetheless. And Sally had said how things come in threes and to look for that third horse. One block from school. He was waiting for me to find him? There he was. How many times had I driven by him before? Who knows. But today I saw him.
