Daffodils

Yes - while on Temple Square this evening I took advantage to take a look at the daffodils again. The mini-daffs are dying out, but the rest are in full bloom. Tulips to come!



...Is it winking? (Why should I wink at you child, pray?)



There is Sunshine in my soul today...



Angel Wings



I am sorry, but for some reason, when I first looked at this - I thought of Ringwraiths...




These are social daffodils...yes, quite social, quite amusing.

Simple Inspiration

Last night I rode on a school bus. To Salt Lake City.

The last time I was on a school bus was...well - I suppose it would have been in high school when our sports teams went to state and we dressed up in crazy maroon and gold, and a decked-out school bus was our means of transportation. I am used to the green seats. Last night they were red.

My sister works for a local school district which teaches and oversees youth that are in foster care. They go to all the big shows that come through SLC for arts credit. They had some extra tickets - and I was happy to join the crowd!


The show of the evening was Annie at Kingsbury Hall! I hadn't seen Annie (the movie) in YEARS...the performance was so delightful and the cast was wonderful. Miss Hannigan was hilarious and the orphans adorable. Such talent. And there were so many little girls in the audience that it made the experience all the more magical.

I did love the show, a highlight of my week, and I came out singing "it's a hard knock life for us!" - but my favorite part of the evening happened on the bus ride up.

Whenever this group of students takes an arts trip to Salt Lake, the director of the program has them memorize and pass off poetry. I received a sheet myself and choose to memorize a part of an Emerson essay.

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion
It is easy in solitude to live after our own
But great the man, is he, who in the midst of the crowd
Keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of his character

I have almost got it, and it seems to help if one tries it with a bit of an English accent - especially on the last two lines.

The bus was full of youth that one would typically, by
"normal social standards", not expect to memorize poetry. Piercings, interesting language, skulls, black, skate boards, bold eyeshadow, etc. These kids were great. There was one in particular that sat in the very back alone. Earphones in...lost in his music. The director called his name. "Would you care to start us off? Inspire us?"

The boy stood, came forward a few steps, and started quoting a poem. "Louder!" The director called out. It was "Oh Captain! My Captain!" by Whitman. The sun was setting and the last rays of the day filled the interior of the bus and all was aglow. Cool-warmth. With a little more volume, and a little more determination, the boy proceeded with the poem, only stumbling a few times, and as he did he laughed to himself and continued on. There was a look of humble greatness about him. When he concluded all clapped and cheered! Then in unison let out a loud "Boo-yah!" Inspiring? Yes.

Poetry was in the air on the ride up and on the ride back...with eager, and in some cases, almost eager, students going up to the director every so often to recite what they had just taken to heart. Reward: a candy bar and a sense of great accomplishment.

Something happens to a person when they are quoting poetry, especially when it is memorized. They get this certain look in their eyes - as if they are seeing into a different world than the one that is physically around them. It was an awesome sight to see this youth quote Whitman. I love to watch people quote poetry and other types of writings, they take me with them. I am not very good at it myself, memorization that is, but I am determined to get a few in this year.

I can't imagine that these students lives are very easy. And I wondered how they viewed the show Annie - being in the situations that they found themselves in. I am grateful to their director for inspiring them with great words and great ideas. I hope that these youth go on to greatness and realize what potential they have, and that they can continue to inspire those around them as they did me, yesterday evening on a school bus.

re-LIEF

In desperation of a little comical relief...at least I think it was comical...I began to speak-scream in syllables.

I was at my parents house waiting around for a four o'clock appointment...going a bit crazy for a number of reasons.

I needed an outlet...some type of outlet. So - to break up the monotony, I started to emphasize certain syllables by screaming.

How are you DO-ing? TO-day's wea-THER has been won-DER-ful!

Pretty soon - all my siblings in the room were speaking in the same manner and we just ended up laughing until we cried. Ah - just what I needed. It was hil-LAR-ious ... while it lasted. Then another sister walked in and didn't find it extremely funny.

Yeah -

An Outing

Today was the first of many weekly outings - I declare.

Once a week I plan to have an adventure! At least. It is so easy to get caught up in hours and hours of work, making sure I get my run in, the laundry done, keep the apartment clean, the plants watered, and blah blah blah blah blah.

And while I consider my job an adventure - I still need an outlet ...somewhere my mind can run free and explore without a deadline.

This week: The study of daffodils and hyacinths at Temple Square.




I shall always try to convince a friend to come along and this week it was Brooke and her husband. Brooke is from my Sassafras days and was in my same major at the Y. I hadn't seen her in oh so long - so today my fun was doubled!


We started at the Red Iguana for an early dinner: Killer Nachos. It was my first time - and since I had heard rave reviews about the restaurant - I was rather girlish about going. We all shared one plate of the Killer Nachos; economical yet filling. Although, I am sure the hermano that took our order was a little put out when he found out that what he thought was a "starter" - was indeed our entire meal, everyone's meal at that!

So yes - daffs and hyacinths are out, among some other bulbs. The tulips are on the verge - some have even peaked out to show themselves off. My favorite part however was found at the Conference Center. Mini daffs sprinkle the planter beds here and there - creating clusters like fall aspens on the mountain side. I was in love. They are a delight! And right as I was to take some pictures my battery died! Drat.

I have never been a huge fan of pansies, which are also out - but I do love violas and violets. Pansies just need to be applied correctly to be successful in my mind - I like them as fillers among the taller tulips and daffs. But just as a polka dot, stand-alone...I don't know. Maybe I am too being too harsh.

All the sun long it was running, it was lovely, the hay

Fields high as the house, the tunes from the chimneys, it was air

And playing, lovely and watery

And fire green as grass.

~ Dylan Thomas

CoNGRaTuLaTioNS!!!

Congrats JaYHaWKS!

You know, I have always had an affinity for Kansas - mainly and probably solely because my older brother has been a super fan of them since I can remember. I have put them to win the NCAA tournament since I started filling out brackets - back in 2000. I think this was the first year I picked someone else. Ha.

THe QueSTioN MaRK

I am a comma, therefore, I get along best with the question mark. One of my sisters is a question mark. But I like to think that I get along with ALL of my sisters; colons, semi-colons, exclamation points, and all.

If you are a Question Mark:


You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning. And while you know a lot, you don't act like a know it all. You're open to learning you're wrong.

You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more. You're naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises.

Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking.
(But they're not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!)

You excel in: Higher education

You get along best with: The Comma

A Good Short Story Writer

I have always loved the music of Sting. And I have always thought that he would make a great short story writer, whose works you would have studied in a High School AP English class.

Ghost Story

Ghost Story

I watch the Western sky
The sun is sinking
The geese are flying South
It sets me thinking

I did not miss you much
I did not suffer
What did not kill me
Just made me tougher

I feel the winter come
His icy sinews
Now in the fire light
The case continues

Another night in court
The same old trial
The same old questions asked
The same denial

The shadows closely run
Like jury members
I look for answers in
The fire's embers

Why was I missing then
That whole December
I give my usual line:
I don't remember

Another winter comes
His icy fingers creep
Into these bones of mine
These memories never sleep

And all these differences
A cloak I borrow
We kept our distances
Why should it follow I must have loved you

What is the force that binds the stars
I wore this mask to hide my scars
What is the power that pulls the tide
I never could find a place to hide

What moves the Earth around the sun
What could I do but run and run and run
Afraid to love, afraid to fail
A mast without a sail

The moon's a fingernail and slowly sinking
Another day begins and now I'm thinking
That this indifference was my invention
When everything I did sought your attention

You were my compass star
You were my measure
You were a pirate's map
A buried treasure

If this was all correct
The last thing I'd expect
The prosecution rests
It's time that I confess: I must have loved you

~ Sting

I am a CoMMa

Aw, personality tests.

So...what kind of punctuation mark are you???

CLiCK HeRe


This is what they say about me, since I'm a comma and all...who are they anyway?

You Are a Comma


You are open minded and extremely optimistic. You enjoy almost all facets of life. You can find the good in almost anything.

You keep yourself busy with tons of friends, activities, and interests. You find it hard to turn down an opportunity, even if you are pressed for time.

Your friends find you fascinating, charming, and easy to talk to. (But with so many competing interests, you friends do feel like you hardly have time for them.)

You excel in: Inspiring people

You get along best with: The Question Mark

Sheepishly-shy

It's always a nerve-racking experience for me to go visit a residence where a landscape that I designed has been installed. I get nervous.

This past summer I was invited to a dinner party where all who where involved in building the home were able to gather together to enjoy the finished product of their long, hard work. I had never been to such an event and felt like I had stepped into a different realm; a professional, classy, catered dinner party, out on the patio in the evening light and all. It was beautiful. I even bought a new shirt for the event...and shoes...pathetic I know.

I did take a good wander through the house (amazing), but my main concern, was of course, the landscape. I had developed the concept design, which included lots and lots of walls. Once the concepts were complete and approved, my boss drafted them in to AutoCAD and made some changes here and there, but the overall design stayed true to what I had originally drawn. I helped a bit with the planting scheme, and then the plans were off to the contractor for installation! Bite my nails.

The Belgard Paver booklet has always been a favorite of mine. I just love to look at pavers! Especially when applied on the floor plane. So when the '08 edition came out, I was rather sheepishly-shy to find this very project featured. (Like I said, I had designed in a lot of walls...there was a lot to retain!)


(A: It's better in person, and B: This is a first-year landscape, give it two more years and the walls won't be demanding so much attention. :)