Sunday, August 14, 2011

Fox on the Run


Sometimes, I have to remind myself of all I have to be grateful for. It should be easy to remember, but life crowds in and if I'm not careful the simple beauty of life gets pushed aside. I forget to remember.

Today, I just wanted to recall a few of those things that make my life such a good place to be. So, without further ado, recent scenes from My Book of Gratitude:

Flowers, of course, lots of 'em ...







My place along the river ...




What looks to be a bumper crop this year ...





My little buddy, who isn't so little anymore ...



And falling asleep tonight to the wonderful smell of sheets fresh off the line ...





Tom T. Hall's,  "Fox on the Run,"  keeps running through my mind. Maybe it's the fox scat I found beneath my grape arbor. "The Fox and the Grapes."  Silly old fox. 


Here's Tom. I love this man:









37 comments:

  1. I really like this post that summarizes good thoughts and adoration. Buddy has grown! I really like the grape arbor. Your grapes -- be sure to pick them and make tarty jam. I also like the river. What a place you have!

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  2. Hi Jack, I have not forgotten how much you encouraged me when I first bought this place. It meant a lot to me, and still does. I made jam last year and one of my sons made a batch of wine. We had it at Christmas time. It was really good. Thanks for commenting.

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  3. Teresa, your photos are wonderful; you are surrounded by beauty! (I imagine it's a lot of work, too.) I love the picture of sheets drying; I always loved that fresh smell. Alas, our lot has no space for clotheslines.

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  4. Jack, I meant to add: I definitely found my place at the end of the clothesline. :)

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  5. Nancy, Thanks so much. It's hard to imagine anything so sweet as that smell of sheets dried by the sun.

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  6. Your pictures are spectacular and I love your scenes and your recognition of gratitude, Theresa. What an uplifting post.

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  7. You have a beautiful place. Buddy is sooo beautiful...good boy too!!! Just letting you know that I've been working lots of hours (so much for retirement) and am taking a little break from blogging. It's amazing how busy I've been this summer. Busy is good...
    xoxox

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  8. Thank you, Penny. I needed some uplifting, too.

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  9. Lynn, I certainly understand. I'm just so glad to hear from you. xoxo to you, dear friend.

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  10. I have impatiens too, so looking at yours makes me feel that we're connected.

    I love plants, but I don't love caring for them. I wish I did--or that Peggy did.

    Your dog sure looks cute. I'll bet he's a really cuddle-bunny.

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  11. Snowbrush, My flower beds can be a little overwhelming at times. Glad for their beauty, though.

    Buddy is a handful at times, but I can't stay annoyed with him for more than a few seconds. He's so darn smiley and, yes, cuddly.

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  12. Well I wouldn't recognize fox scat if I saw it, but so nice to know the fox is enjoying the shade of the grape arbor, what a lovely retreat you have there and Buddy is so big, he looks full grown, but I guess they keep growing till about two years, filling out and maturing and all. Gary and I saw a movie we borrowed from the library last night and there was a scene with fox hunt and I am glad I can now think of a fox at your place just living and not being chased.

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  13. Linda, I've seen a fox on the place a couple of times now, and it's probably the same one, no way to know. A beautiful animal. I have such empathy for all wild animals now.

    Buddy is six months old now, and he's going to be a big fellow, I think. Thanks for commenting.

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  14. You do live in a beautiful place! Makes that Book nice to read!

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  15. That fox is scheming on your grapes, that little scoundrel. Better leave him a couple of wood boxes so he can reach a bunch and enjoy a special treat. He will be so grateful.
    Love the photo of the sheets hanging on the clothesline... Brings back memories of my childhood.

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  16. Your flowers are something to behold. Everything is just reaching it's zenith here, too but come Sept. the nightly frost will take the flowers.

    You do have the important things in life as you are aware and speak of gratitude. Buddy is such a fine looking dog and a great companion.

    your own wine from your grapes. I made elderberry wine a couple years ago but then I cut down the bushes. I still have some and it is really good. We can toast each other with our wine. :)

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  17. What a beautiful, peaceful place you have.

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  18. Your home surroundings look so wonderful and full of glorious flowers. My own garden is very shady and overgrown now although once it was neat and pretty, now I just admire my neighbour's she's a true 'Green-fingers'.
    Oh..lovely white sheets and pillowcases blowing in the sweet breeze, there's not much wrong with your world Teresa!

    Hugs Jane

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  19. Montucky, Thanks so much. My flowers can't hold a candle to yours, but I have fun trying. :)



    FARMLADY, I wasn't too crazy about hanging out clothes and sheets on the line when I was a kid, it seemed interminable. I thought I'd never want to do that again. Time changes everything. Now, I don't like it when winter comes and makes it pretty much impossible.

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  20. MANZANITA, I always have mixed feelings about fall. It takes the flowers, but I love the light, and the warm Indian summer days are the best of the year.

    Yes, we'll have to toast to friendship and homemade wine.



    JANE, It's a wonderful world. I'm glad I took the time to really remember. Not many finer things in life than sheets on the line.

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  21. Linda M, Thank you. It's a good place to Be.

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  22. I am just thrilled with this beautiful post. You have much to be grateful for, but just remembering and sharing all this is worth a great deal to me. You have enriched my day with it. Thank you, dear Teresa.

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  23. DJan, I will be thinking of you today with love, Knowing you'll have peace of mind..

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  24. Yes the simple things are important and our culture has forgotten that if they ever knew it to begin with. You have a very cool place you live Teresa.

    There are four simple things on my "to do" list in Iowa. The last one may not get done.

    See lightning bugs again at the time there are so many they can light up a field.

    Throw a worm in some of the local river just to see what happens.

    Play some of the many 9-holers that never were played because there was never time. May not be able to afford that now but I want to.

    Last and maybe the most important experience the smell of freshly turned over dark loam soil in the late fall or into November when it's just above freezing.

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  25. So many small, beautiful things there are in life for which to be grateful! Thanks for reminding us all.

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  26. ONE FLY, That is one fine to do list. I hope they all work out for you. That "Good Earth," something we always want to remember.



    BOSSYBETTY, You remind me often. Your blog is filled with the small, but very significant beauty of life.

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  27. It must be great to have your own "vineyard." That's something I could never grow in my backyard in Honolulu. But, I believe Symphony white wine comes from the Big Island. I bought some years ago and it was refreshing!

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  28. I like to count my blessings. It's strange, isn't it, how it can be difficult to remember to do it in all the bustle and worry of everyday life. And then when we really think about it, we realise just how much there is to be thankful for.

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  29. gigi, It's good, but even this small arbor is a lot of work. I'm glad my son wants to make some wine.



    Jenny, I really needed to remind myself. Life gets kinda bumpy sometimes.

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  30. Love this post. Way leads unto way. Here's the original Fox on the Run by Manfred Mann from 1968. I would have sworn this song was original to Bluegrass and far older. It isn't. Also, Do Wah Diddy was done originally by The Exciters, an Americn girl group. Freaking brilliant it is!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXf3QttUPlI

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3ep-JvUqyU

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  31. Thanks, Cletis. I had not been aware of the Manfred Mann version until I posted this. It just sounds so bluegrassy. I appreciate your including the link to the other version. It's really a different song done by them. I like it very much, but I'm long smitten by all things Tom, so I love his version and I like dancing in the kitchen to it....

    The Exciters do a great version of Do Wah Diddy. It sounds like it was meant to be a girl group song. So very early '60's.

    Manfred Mann, for me, was always all about "Mighty Quinn, the Eskimo." Can't seem to get past it.

    Thanks for commenting. Glad you liked it.

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  32. Tom T. Hall. :-) Hadn't thought of him in quite some time. Lovely voice.

    And line-dried sheets?! YES. One of the sweet and short-lived joys of Minnesota.

    Beautiful pics.

    Pearl

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  33. Hi Pearl, Glad you stopped in. I'm a Tom fan, have been forever, it seems. I mean, Ravishing Ruby? Thanks a bunch. :)

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  34. I like the song.
    I hadn't imagined that Buddy is so grown-up now. I can hardly recognize him! But he's still pretty and he looks so cute. Why is it that a dog always occupies a sofa? Well, the cat does the same. For the same reason like us naturellement. For cosyness in the sofa corner. Newspaper and TV and a crime story and a dog - or a cat! Have a lovely evening!
    Thank you for a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
    Grethe ´)

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  35. Hi Grethe, Yes, Buddy has grown. He looks like a wise old soul in this photo, but he's still all puppy. Cozy is good. For us and our furry companions. I trust you're having a good evening. You're welcome. ;)

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  36. You're right: there just isn't anything better than sheets hanging outside on a clothesline. What an incredible smell. Your place looks so beautiful. So green and lush. Do you ever have to worry about the water coming up close to your house? Ever any floods? I wanted to comment on remembering things. It seems that you and I have the same ability. I think it feels as if a CD is playing in my head. I can pull up colors, conversations, what someone was wearing, where they were standing, etc. I can't do it with everything but there are so many things in my childhood that I can instantly recall. And in my adult life too. And Fall...my absolute favorite and it does feel as if there is something in the air pointing toward Fall. Yippee!

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  37. Teri, I'm high enough up the bank where flooding will probably never be an issue, never has been in this area anyway to my knowledge. There's a dam in town that controls things fairly well, too.

    Yes, I can also call up whole memories as you mentioned. AS though they happened yesterday. A great gift to a writer, isn't it?

    Fall: bring it on. Definitely transition time. Just that hint in the air, the light. Yes!

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