Sunday Stroll Invitation

A quote from my original Sunday Stroll Invitation in April of 2008:

"A Sunday Stroll is not a power walk. It is a slow motion experience. To take a Sunday Stroll is to meander through the garden, with camera in hand, noticing things... like the tender green shoot growing up through last year's leaf litter, light through a translucent petal, or the spider in the tulip cup. "

If you have time this week for a Sunday Stroll, please post about about it on your blog and then come back here with a comment and a link to your post. You may use the Sunday Stroll button at the top of this post on your post or side bar if you would like. I will add participant names to this post so other strollers can walk through your garden too. I'll check back often and try to keep the list updated.

Look who is strolling today:

Linda at Vulture Peak Muse

Pom Pom at Pom Pom's Ponderings

Margaret at Periodic Pearls

Me, here at the Quiet Country House

"The moment one gives close attention to anything,
even a blade of grass,
it becomes a mysterious, awesome,
indescribably magnificent world in itself."

~ Henry Miller

Beautiful Life Friday - Holiday

This is my first time participating in Beautiful Life Friday…

I’ll enjoy reading and participating while my summer holiday allows the time to do so.

While I’m glad to be pursuing the goal of earning my degree and teaching certificate, I have to admit that my home has suffered for it. When you walk into my house, you notice right away that it looks as though the mom has been in school full time for a year… which she has. I am blissfully enjoying my three week hiatus between semesters, with no big plans. My only goal, very undefined and flexible, is to improve the condition of my house during my “holiday.”

Thus far, the steps have been very minor. Perhaps no one would notice the improvements but me… There are a few less bags of recycling in the basement to attend to, but still a pretty significant collection of cans to crush and boxes to fold before the next batch is carted off to the recycling center. A few odds and ends have been picked up and put away. The dishes have been clean and the counter has been clear just a little bit more often than usual.

Today, finally, I made an improvement that someone might notice besides me. I cleaned the first floor bathroom from top to bottom… washed walls and floors, wood-polished the oak shelves my hubby built for me before we moved here, and scrubbed the tub, sink, toilet, and mirror. Sure, the walls still need a new coat of paint. Yeah, new towels would be nice, since the old ones are fraying at the edge. And definitely, I’d love a basket of pampering bath products on the wide edge of the tub… but my six year old son would have it all spilled and wasted the first time he was alone in the bathroom.

So, I pulled an old blue and white shower curtain from the linen closet to replace the one we’ve been using, and added a vase of flowers and a lotion dispenser and soap dish that have been in the laundry room (meaning, no one ever sees them but me!) I replaced the artwork on one wall with a soft summery scene (though I may change it again in autumn.) For a make-over that required no financial outlay, just elbow grease and flower-picking, I’m pleased… and I’ve already had rave reviews from my six year old who hollered to his ten year old brother that “Mom made the bathroom better!”

Poetry Thursday - Healing

I take a walk along the lakeshore
Bare feet in clean white sand
And my thoughts are turning in my mind
Like this pebble in my hand.

There is beauty in these hills,
Something sweet that lingers on,
In the woods and in the fields
And in the wind so free and strong.

I take a walk along the lakeshore
To put my mind at ease
And the sun settles slowly
As my restless heart seeks peace.

There is healing in this water
In this lake of green and blue
There are depths and there are shallows,
There are currents, deep and true.

There is healing in these hills
On the paths through quiet trees
And the night birds softly sing
As, at last, I walk in peace.

~ Healing, by Aisling, August 13, 2009

photos by Haiku, August 2009

Sunday Stroll - Through the Week

All of these and more are blooming here today. There hasn't been a camera available to me today, so these photos are from earlier in the week - mostly last Monday. I did get outside when the sky cleared earlier today, to mow the lawn, walk through the garden, check the wild apple trees on the back hill (not quite ripe!), and pull a few weeds in both the butterfly garden and the front garden. The air has cooled and clouds are gathering once more. It wouldn't surprise me if it rained overnight again, as it has frequently this summer.

Where-ever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you peace and happiness.

all photos by Aisling, August 2009

in the butterfly garden:

1)close up of purple cone flower 2) blue balloon flower

the orchard garden:

3) a little pear 4) echinecea (purple cone flower) 5) dill in bloom

the front garden:
6) autumn red daylily 7) echinacea 8) bronze fennel in bloom

Sunday Stroll Invitation

“A few minutes ago every tree was excited,

bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling,

tossing their branches

in glorious enthusiasm like worship.

But though to the outer ear

these trees are now silent,

their songs never cease."

~ John Muir

We are having the whole "thunder and lightning" thing here this morning, as well as the rain that usually accompanies that phenomenon. Even if that lets up, I'm not sure I will have a chance to photograph a stroll today because the three other family members with cameras (mine is still out of commission) are off and doing interesting things today and have their cameras with them! We'll see what I come up with!

In the meantime, if you have time to stroll today, and if your weather permits, please post about about it on your blog and then come back here with a comment and a link to your post. You may use the Sunday Stroll button at the top of this post on your post or side bar if you would like. I will add participant names to this post so other strollers can walk through your garden too.

Look who's strolling today:

Nan at Letters from a Hill Farm

Cloudhands at Uncarved Block

Abbie at Farmer's Daughter

Margaret at Periodic Pearls

Lying Low...

It is difficult to find time to post,

with finals this week and other family happenings.

I hope to have a little writing and visiting time soon.

photo by Aisling, August 3, 2009

Sunday Stroll - While August Warms the Fields

Walk with me down the lane,

where the blue weed grows.

Walk with me down the trail,

where bluets dart amid the chicory.

Walk with me to the lake,

where soft light falls on the water,

and wild roses bloom on the shore.

Walk with me while August warms the fields.

"While August Warms the Fields" by aisling, 8/2/09

All photos by Aisling, August 2, 2009

1) wild chicory 2) the lane 3) blueweed 4) the field

5) a northern bluet 6 & 7) the lake 8) wild rose 9) goatsbeard