“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It Goes On.”
Robert Frost
Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts

Friday, February 11, 2022

Valentine Poem

 



The Owl and the Pussy-Cat

- 1812-1888
 
 The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat:

They took some honey, and plenty of money
   Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
   And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love,
   What a beautiful Pussy you are,
            You are,
            You are!
   What a beautiful Pussy you are!"

Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl,
   How charmingly sweet you sing!
Oh! let us be married; too long we have tarried,
   But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the bong-tree grows;
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood,
   With a ring at the end of his nose,
            His nose,
            His nose,
   With a ring at the end of his nose.

"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
   Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will."
So they took it away, and were married next day
   By the turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince and slices of quince,
   Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
   They danced by the light of the moon,
            The moon,
            The moon,
   They danced by the light of the moon.*

 


 

Friday, October 5, 2018

Poetry and Pumpkins





The Pumpkin  
John Greenleaf Whittier, 1807 - 1892

"Then thanks for thy present! none sweeter or better E’er smoked from an oven or circled a platter! Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine, Brighter eyes never watched o’er its baking, than thine! And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express, Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less, That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below, And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow, And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky Golden-tinted and fair as thy own Pumpkin pie!"




Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!

October screams PUMPKINS! I love them! My baking takes on a very Pumpkin theme until after Thanksgiving and then I move on to Christmas with other ingredients. Check below for my Pumpkin recipe!







Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake
                        Crust
  1              box  Spice cake mix
  1              stick  butter -- softened
  1              whole  egg
           
                        Filling
  8             ounces  cream cheese -- softened
  1             stick  butter -- softened
  2             cups  sugar
  2             whole  eggs
  1             teaspoon  vanilla
  1             can pumpkin puree (15 oz.)
  2             teaspoons ground cinnamon
  1             teaspoon ground nutmeg
  1/2          teaspoon ground ginger


For the Crust:  In large mixer bowl blend the cake mix and butter to combine.  Add the egg and mix until it forms a soft dough. Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  Press the dough evenly into the dish. Set aside and make the filling.

For the Filling: In large mixer bowl cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.  Add the sugar, eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add the pumpkin and spices, mix well. Pour over the crust.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.  Center of dessert will be gooey but not runny.

Cool at least 20 minutes, cut or spoon onto serving dish and top with whipped cream. Serves about 12.


The Harvest Moon
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807 - 1882


It is the Harvest Moon! On gilded vanes
And roofs of villages, on woodland crests
And their aerial neighborhoods of nests
Deserted, on the curtained window-panes
Of rooms where children sleep, on country lanes
And harvest-fields, its mystic splendor rests!
Gone are the birds that were our summer guests,
With the last sheaves return the laboring wains!
All things are symbols: the external shows
Of Nature have their image in the mind,
As flowers and fruits and falling of the leaves;
The song-birds leave us at the summer’s close,
Only the empty nests are left behind,
And pipings of the quail among the sheaves.



Hope you enjoyed this bit of Pumpkin Palooza! 
Happy Fall to All!
Diane

🍁🍂🍁🍂
🍃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🍃




Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Vintage Valentine

My favorite Valentines are the ones from the 1950's through the 1960's. Here are a few I've collected over the years! I've also included the lyrics of a favorite old love song called "Where is Love" from the musical Oliver. Tony Bennett included it on his "Snowfall" CD a few years ago. It's really a lovely song with beautiful lyrics.





















































Where is love?
Does it fall from skies above?
Is it underneath the willow tree
That I've been dreaming of?
Where is she?
Who I close my eyes to see?
Will I ever know the sweet hello
That's meant for only me?
Who can say where she may hide?
Must I travel far and wide?
'Til I am beside the someone who
I can mean something to ...
Where...?
Where is love?
Who can say where...she may hide?
Must I travel...far and wide?
'Til I am...beside the someone who
I can mean...something to...
Where?
Where is love?


Songwriters
LIONEL BART

Read more: Oliver - Where Is Love? Lyrics | MetroLyrics
Oliver! is a British musical, with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. It premiered in the West End in 1960, enjoying a long run, a successful Broadway production in 1963 and further tours and revivals. 





































Friday, September 5, 2014

Tim and Tina ~ A Love Story


Today I would like to introduce you to fellow blogger Mary, a wonderful writer of whimsical poetry. Some of you may already be following her fun and magical world at Lemonade on My Patio.
Mary describes herself and invites you to her blog...
"Just myself, Mary, thinking about this world of ours, our history, things we like, things we do. I love to tell stories and I'd love to hear yours!"

Why thank you Mary! I was happy to join your blog
and hear your fantastic stories!
Oh, yes, Mary tells wonderful stories! She tells stories about cute little animals like Marcia the kitty who bakes pies or Alex and Avery the reading rabbits! You may also find a poem to fire up those brain cells on Haiku Friday!


Mary was quite gracious when I asked her to write a poem for my two sweet little friends Tim and Tina Turtle! So let's begin our journey with them now....




Tim and Tina in their backyard.


Tim and Tina

Tim and Tina live beside Listening Lake
They're wonderful turtles who loving friends make!
They take slow walks in the rain...
Down lovely Lily Lane.
They only eat veggies, and never eat cake!


Walking through the rain.


Tina has developed a crush on Tim...
He's very intelligent; not at all dim!
When Tim looks at Tina... what does he see?
And Tina wonders, 'Can Tim see the real me?'
Soon Tina will confess her feelings, and go out on a limb.

Friday Tim and Tina are going out for lunch...
Tim picked her some daisies... a whole big bunch!
Tina will wear a little blue bow...
It was a special gift, from her friend, Turtle Moe!
Tina loves Tim... about this, he has a hunch!

Tina never used to be shy around Tim...
But the last couple of months... she's been shy around him.
Tina has such sweet turtle eyes...
Tim sees this; her beauty he spies!
When they're together, they're anything but grim.

Picnic at Listening Lake.


Tim and Tina lunch by Listening Lake....
It's a summer picnic, so their sweet time they take!
There's a legend around that the beautiful lake listens...
It shines and sparkles, and deep blue it glistens!
And Tim's a true gentleman; after all, he's no rake!




A stroll by the lake.


Tina tells Tim how she truly feels.
And Tim is so happy, his mind really reels!
He tells sweet Tina that he loves her too...
And he asks her, 'Tina, please marry me, do!'
Tina says yes, and the trees around them sing!
The lake has listened, and is happy... wedding bells will ring!

by Mary Raynes


Wedding Day for Tim and Tina.


Thank you Mary for turning my little idea into a magical memory where Tim and Tina will live happily ever after! Please visit Mary at her blog and say hello! Tim and Tina have returned to everyday life and are available in my shop! The photos above have been enhanced and edited for your enjoyment!

I hope you have all enjoyed your time here. 
Have a magical weekend! ~~ Diane


Saturday, July 26, 2014

Barefoot Days


Hello friends! I know I have been in and out of blog land for a few weeks now.  I am trying to find time to enjoy all of the beautiful joys of summer while I can.  In this part of the country our summers are fleeting and will be just a memory in a few short weeks!

I hope you took a moment to read the poem above, it is from my favorite vintage book Poems for Boys and Girls, illustrated by Lois Maloy.  I think the poem Barefoot Days above, sums up my thoughts about this full and lush season, even the roses, which are beyond beautiful, are adorned with bees!




I thought I would share a few garden pictures with you today. My daylilies are really starting to take off!  The one above is a favorite called Orchid Corsage.



This peachy-pink one is called Pink Monday. I am happy to report that this year our bees have been returning and I've even seen a few more honeybees mixed in with the dependable bumblebees!



If you look closely in the middle of the image, you will see a small bumblebee on this vervain plant.












The vervain (tall plants in back) and catmint (forground) are loving the abundant rain we've had.  The bees have been covering them for weeks now!







 Another of my favorite day-lilies called appropriately, Summer Wine!






This is another favorite (OK they are all my favorites), called Lemon Custard! I love the color and the frilly ruffled edges.




A blue clematis adorns a trellis next to the house. I've forgotten the name of this one.





This daylily is called Grape Ripples and has stunning dark purple blooms! Well that is the end of my garden tour, except for an update on my two year old cat, Guy Noir.





Guy has become afflicted with a condition I'm sure many of you who have dogs and cats have heard of. 

It is called
 Chipmunk Fever!





Symptoms may include: Inability to focus on anything other than chipmunks, severe agitation, yowling at the door to go outside, ears twirling in various directions while listening for chipmunks, unable to eat or sleep without thinking of chipmunks, thinking that any moving object is a chipmunk. Unable to sit still for photographs and of course.....
Dreaming of chipmunks....







Pleas share any anecdotes you have of your encounters with chipmunks in the comment section!! I would love to hear them.

I will be taking a few weeks off from blog land to enjoy the summer and take care of some projects, but if I have time I will stop in and visit.  I will be trying to organize my disaster of an office and get all sorts of goodies photographed and ready to list in my Etsy shop.
And remember this summer to go out early in the morning, barefoot where the ferns grow curly, to feel the cool grass between your toes!!

~~Diane~~




Monday, June 2, 2014

Hello June



Spring lasted about five minutes and now here we are in summer!
It seems like we just got rid of the snow and the calendar indicates that our warm weather up here in the northern states will last just a mere four months more!  We went out for dinner the other night at a local eatery on Lake Minnetonka, and sat in the sun where we were roasted for the entire meal.  How can it already get this hot!? 

I had to remind our dinner party that we should enjoy it, because we had just endured one of the coldest winters in the past 30 years!!

But still, really 87 degrees already, that is kind of unheard of for this time of year.  I chugged down over two glasses of iced-tea just to keep from melting!  Our server was terrific and kept apologizing for the heat, (all the seating in the shade was taken), but dang-it, we were going to sit outside even if we got heat-stroke!

As I said our server was great and he made sure we had plenty of ice water and even replaced my first ice tea because all the ice melted in about 4 minutes!  We had a nice meal, even though we ate pretty quickly and did not linger, it was really hot! We drove around the lake and stopped in a couple of spots to take in the lovely views and the plentiful sailboats on the lake that were in some sort of regatta. I would have loved to get a photo, but we never got into the right spot to capture one. It was a lovely sight though and proof that the lazy days of summer are soon upon us.










I happily said goodbye to my house-guests and find that as an introvert having other people around for over a week starts to wear me down. It's nice to see visitors, but I also love my solitude!

I have to rest up though, because I will have more visitor's coming at the end of the month! So I need to enjoy the flowers, bees, wildlife and birds while I have some quiet time on my own. I need to refresh and renew my spirit and just soak up as much of this early summer as I can to last me through the cold months of winter.

I found a lovely little quote that I'd like to share with you today, it makes me wonder if maybe the flowers do sing and we just can't hear them!


"What a pity flowers can utter no sound! A singing rose, a whispering violet, a murmuring honeysuckle, --oh, what a rare and exquisite miracle would these be!"
Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)








 Oh, and one more thing --- 

Dear June,
Please be Wonderful!

 June Calling Card...
 Happy June!

 ~~Diane~~ 


 

Saturday, April 12, 2014

The Lamb

Spring is here at last! While we still have a bit of a nip in the air, at least the signs of spring are all around.  The ice is off the lake, the grass is starting to green up and assorted ducks and geese have started looking for nesting areas.

I was deciding which spring cuteness I would feature today and was thinking about lambs. I remembered that tucked in a closet, there was a tiny child sized suitcase that has been with me as long as I can remember.




My little suitcase is a bit battered and worn, but I still think the image is adorable.  I still remember packing my toothbrush and PJ's for a overnight stay at my Grandmother's house in town.  I think for a while when I got a bit older it held assorted Barbie and Skipper dolls and all their paraphernalia.

Sorry, getting off track, back to lambs. Since Easter is almost here I thought I would share a few vintage images that include lambs and a few other spring lovelies.

Before I do, here is a delightful and very appropriate poem for Easter.


The Lamb

Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life and bid thee feed
By the stream and o'er the mead
Gave thee clothing of delight
Softest clothing wooly bright
Gave thee such a tender voice
Making all the vales rejoice!

Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee?

Little Lamb I'll tell thee!

He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb;
He is meek and he is mild,
He became a little child
I a child and thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.

Little Lamb God bless thee.








































Thank you for taking the time to visit!
~~ Diane ~~




Thursday, December 5, 2013

Oh Christmas Tree


The beautiful image and poem below were taken from the
1985 "Ideals Christmas" issue. The name of the image below is
"The Wonder of Christmas" by Three Lions. My mother collected
these magazines over the years and I inherited them from her.

They are tucked away in a safe place, but every now and then I will take them out and look through them.  I just came across the poem and image the other day and loved both so much that I wanted to share them with you.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. ~~ Diane





To a Christmas Tree

Heaven twinkles where you stand
with the snow-drift in your hand
interweaving myriad charms
as you cradle in your arms,--
here a bauble -- there a gem --
little stars of Bethlehem!

Wistful now, and wonder-wise,
children stand with lifted eyes
gazing on your fair festoons
of gossamer and magic moons,
singing birds and swaying bells,
marshmallows and caramels,
and every kind of fairy thing
that ornaments imagining.

Yuletide must be bare indeed
for him who feels no inner need
of elfin dreams and elfin drums
every year when Christmas comes.
He hears no goblin trumpets blow.
For him in vain the baubles glow
who is so blind he cannot see
beauty in a Christmas tree.

Mona Dale 





Monday, October 28, 2013

Black Cat Awareness

October is Black Cat Awareness Month. 
Black Cats are beautiful! 
Sharing a few photos of my very own black cat, Mr. Guy Noir!









Guy Noir, admiring the trees and sky.






Guy, rolling in the grass and playing with the leaves.






"Did I hear a squirrel?"










Capturing an oak leaf.






Feeling like the luckiest black cat in the world! I was so inspired,
I even wrote a poem!  I found some Louis Wain illustrations that go
with it perfectly!










Black Cat Dance

Black Cats Dancing
In the forest at night
Spinning in circles by
The warm firelight

Only in the misty evening
will you see them, whirling, weaving

Dancing cats all black as ink
twinkling stars above them wink
Mysterious, wondrous!
What do you think?

Black Cats dancing in a row
Tails all flying to and fro!
Watch them, watch them,
There they go!

Black cats prancing
 all around
Nothing else like
this is found
anytime but Hallows Eve...
Maybe now's the time to leave!

~~ CraveCute














Working on his pose for Halloween!




 

Dot, showing only her "Black Side"! Haha!


For more on Black Cat Awareness Day click here.


Please note, Guy was never off leash in any of the photos.  I edited out the red leash for a nicer photo.