Monthly Archives: December 2018

Lily: FOTD Dec. 26, 2018

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For Cee’s FOTD.

The Leech

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IMG_2991

proclaimed to be fine,

The Leech

They’ve plugged up their ears to muffle his mutterings.
They’re tired of his self-serving utterings.

He’s an indulgence they’d like to be shed of,
expunge from their sofa and free their spare bed of.

He thinks it’s tradition that they should take care of him,
yet they’d prefer that their house just be bare of him.

He’s a caricature of self-indulgence,
wallowing in familial abundance.

They need to be boxing his ears or possessions
and signing up for codependency sessions.

They’ve supported him well and sent him to college,
imbued him with clothes, with playthings and knowledge.

Now he needs to be kicked out to find his own life—
to be taught by experience, seasoned by strife.

Lest they make a mongrel of a fine pup,
it’s time they encourage their boy to grow up!

 

 

The prompt words today are tradition, caricature, indulgence and boxing.

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/rdp-wednesday-tradition/

FOWC with Fandango — Caricature


https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/your-daily-word-prompt-indulgence-December-26-2018/
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2018/12/26/boxing/

Christmas Day: Coloring, Singing, Strumming.

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Click on any photo to enlarge all.

This morning as I did my blog, Christina and Fred worked diligently on their music, but earlier I had awakened to find her having a great time completing a task I’d set out for her the night before.  A few days before, I’d colored one of the wonderful drawings Ansley had drawn for Isidro and me in thanks for our using her and her family for the models for our newest book, “Sunup Sundown Song” and for dedicating the book to her. In the picture I’d colored, I was riding the pig, Isidro was on the goat and Ansley was on the elephant.  In the one I’d left for Christina to color, I think I was standing on my hands on the surfboard, Ansley was in the water and Isidro spread out at rest on the tree, but I’ll leave it to Ansley to tell me if I was right. Her drawings were just too much fun to resist coloring them in.

Later, we had Xmas dinner and played Mexican Train, but I was too busy to remember to take photos.  Our friend Gloria came to spend the day with us. A wonderful time, all-in-all.

Christmas Eve Dinner at Viva Mexico

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I had one of the best meals of my life at Viva Mexico last night and the best company one could ask for.  Fred and Christina from Gabriola Island in Canada, Lach and Becky who were friends in Boulder Creek who came to visit and ended up moving here and my long-time good friend Gloria. Here are photos.  looks like I concentrated on the food. Both of these dishes were the culinary masterpieces thought up in the mind of Agustin.

 

Becky’s chicken salad.
Me, barely reflected in the Xmas tree bulb in the courtyard.
Antonia, Agustin’s wife and head Chef.
Most of the rest of us had this succulent pork special.

 

Holiday Visitors

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IMG_6687

Holiday Visitors

I’m playing host this holiday. Prospects are in the air.
Christine is at the table and Fred is up the stair.
She’s making lovely art and he’s sawing rhythmic dreams.
Everybody’s active on this Christmas morn, it seems.

The dogs are pacing jauntily. The air is crisp and still.
They’re hoping I’ll give them a treat. There’s a good chance I will.
The carcass of a chicken and the scraps from last night’s feast
would make a lovely picnic for a canine beast.

I’m putting words together when I should be giving pats.
They knock against the doorframe. They fidget on their mats.
I can hear the scraping of Fred’s key in the door.
It’s a human intervention. He’s advancing ‘cross the floor.

The dogs are his companions. They’re demanding my attention.
Christine joins in with their demands. I give in to the tension.
I’m going to have to socialize with people I can touch,
and I admit it’s company I enjoy very much,

But still I had to come here to spend some time with you
bloggers and Facebookers and you Tweeters, too,
for daily keeping company and keeping me on track.
I’m going to the real world now. Tomorrow? I’ll be back.

IMG_6684Fred woke up and is writing his poem, Christine got her picture colored. 

IMG_6694Diego got his treat and Morrie got his ball thrown.  All is right with the world.

Merry Xmas!!! Happy Hanukkah!  Joyful Kwanzaa.
xoxooxooxox

 

 

The prompts on this Christmas day are host, discovery, love and holiday.
https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2018/12/25/rdp-tuesday-host/
https://fivedotoh.com/2018/12/25/fowc-with-fandango-discovery/
https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2018/12/25/your-daily-word-prompt-love-December-25-2018/
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2018/12/25/holiday/

Family Christmas: Reporting the Action

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This is my brother-in-law Jim being silly for illustrative purposes only. jdbphoto

Family Christmas: Reporting the Action

We’re resplendent with family dripping like jewels—
gaudy ones, nosy ones, darlings and fools.
They flock ’round the Christmas tree, collect in groups.
Grandpa stands proudly while Uncle Al stoops.
The aunties are formidable with demands:
a nip for their toddy, while meanwhile their hands
examine the silver, the linen and lace,
draw dust trails with fingers and make a shocked face.

Why do we anticipate this all year long?
When families gather, it’s bound to go wrong.
And yet it goes on countless year after year.
We call each one “sweetheart” or “darling’ or “dear.”
We carve up the turkey, deliver the blessing,
serve up the cranberries, yams and the dressing.
We nod our heads “yes” and agree with the prattling,
try to avoid unavoidable battling.

They open our presents and do not dare spurn them,
yet we know in our minds that they’ll surely return them.
The children are running and fussing and fighting,
the parents regretting that they’re overnighting.
Your sister’s dog likes to beat up on yours.
He lies on his back, pinned down with all fours.
Meanwhile you give thanks for all you are worth
that tomorrow, again, there will be “Peace on Earth.”

 

The prompt words today are resplendent, formidable, anticipate and family.

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2018/12/24/rdp-monday-resplendent/
https://fivedotoh.com/2018/12/24/fowc-with-fandango-formidable/
https://onedailyprompt.wordpress.com/2018/12/24/your-daily-word-prompt-anticipate-December-24-2018/
https://wordofthedaychallenge.wordpress.com/2018/12/24/family/

Tree Trimmings, Xmas Eve, 2018

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Flower of the Day, Xmas Eve, 2018

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IMG_6664I took this photo of these flowers yesterday.  They are actually tiny kalanchoe blooms in a pot on my wall ledge.  This is Christmas in Mexico!

For Cee’s FOTD.

Tree Trimmings, Dec. 23, 2018

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The entire tree at the Nueva Posada in Ajijc, Jalisco, Mexico was covered with these beautiful flowers. Here is more of the tree:

99 New: Small Can Be Beautiful

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This poem by Jan Wilberg says it all.

Jan Wilberg's avatarRed's Wrap

Every time I take the path from the bluff down to the shore of Lake Michigan at our beloved Doctors Park, I see the picnic table where, nearly forty years ago, I sat with my young daughter on Christmas Day as she pulled out the blades of her new Swiss Army Knife one by one.


It was just the two of us.


It was uncommonly warm for Christmas in Wisconsin, spring-like, the air carrying the honey of renewal and possibility, the sun shining and the water of Lake Michigan glittering like it does sometimes when you expect to feel lonely and alone, the water deciding somehow to erase your gloom and make you grateful to be alive at that moment.


What I’m saying is this.


Love what you have
Put your yearning in the drawer
Behind the sweaters you don’t wear
And the scarves your mother sent you

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