1. Sunday afternoon

    Sitting on the back patio now. In the shade to avoid sun glare on my laptop screen. Have the wind in my hair - a l’il breezy but overall not bad. My dog is keeping me company and my youngest son just joined me. I’d summoned him out of doors to have a conversation - about cussing…because he said if he could cuss it’d let some of his mad out. I hear that! So much like his mama the way he slams doors, stomps and grr’s. I call him my grizzly bear cub and sign notes to him, “Grizzly Bear Mama.”

    April 14, 2013 

    excerpt from personal email correspondance

  2. I am the crazy lady who shoveled her backyard to find the dog’s long leash, so he could romp and dance and play with his favorite 9 1/2 year old boy. It’s snowball throwing, snowman building, snowdog playing time. All is well. March 25, 2013 a.k.a. The Snowiest Spring Break Ever

    I am the crazy lady who shoveled her backyard to find the dog’s long leash, so he could romp and dance and play with his favorite 9 1/2 year old boy. It’s snowball throwing, snowman building, snowdog playing time. All is well.

    March 25, 2013
    a.k.a. The Snowiest Spring Break Ever

  3. I woulda missed tonight’s hot pink and lavender sunset had I not taken Blue out back to throw the frisbee for a bit. Color was richer and more vivid than shown here. You’ll just have to take my word for what a stunning spectacle it was, for a few brief moments, as the sun dropped toward the horizon line. ~ Janean November 25, 2012

    I woulda missed tonight’s hot pink and lavender sunset had I not taken Blue out back to throw the frisbee for a bit. Color was richer and more vivid than shown here. You’ll just have to take my word for what a stunning spectacle it was, for a few brief moments, as the sun dropped toward the horizon line. ~ Janean

    November 25, 2012

  4. powers of deduction

    Our doorbell rings.
    (sitting on couch) My youngest son says, “Who is it?”
    (standing behind couch) I reply, “I don’t know. I don’t have x-ray vision.”
    I could of guessed right though. I walked down the not too long hallway to answer the front door. It’s a neighbor boy, the 6th grade one, wondering if my boys can play. Yes. Yes, they can. Come on in and join the fun. Just leave your shoes on. Go quickly. I have ahold of Blue. Next thing I knew they were switching houses, from ours to his. My house is quiet, for just a little bit. For this I am admittedly thankful. Saturday just keeps getting better. ~ Janean

    P.S. I spoke too soon. Let the wild woofing commence. Blue’s at his backyard facing window, and this is how he says, “SQUIRREL!!!!” *sigh* Quiet was nice while it lasted. All 2.3 seconds of it.

    October 13, 2012

  5. I’m enjoying the warmth of sunshine on my back. I must be channeling my inner kitty cat. =^.^= Shhh, don’t tell my dog, Blue. October 12, 2012

    I’m enjoying the warmth of sunshine on my back.
    I must be channeling my inner kitty cat. =^.^=
    Shhh, don’t tell my dog, Blue.

    October 12, 2012

  6. …and there I was, on the backyard deck with blue sky overhead, whining to myself about a bug that landed in my coffee…so I picked the bug out with my fingers and drank it anyway. ~ Janean September 20, 2012

    …and there I was, on the backyard deck with blue sky overhead, whining to myself about a bug that landed in my coffee…so I picked the bug out with my fingers and drank it anyway. ~ Janean

    September 20, 2012

  7. the one I know

    This morning, as Blue and I stepped onto the backyard deck, into the brisk 4:30am air, my breath caught at the brightness of the morning stars against the dark of night. An oft repeated Van Gogh quote came to mind, “…the sight of stars makes me dream.” Yes. Me too. Then, my still sleepy eyes looked up, opened a little wider, and I said aloud, “Orion’s back.” The Hunter. The one constellation I know. It’s those three diagonal stars that glisten from his belt. I’d know them anywhere. Even shining low in the eastern sky, surprising me on an early August morning. ~ Janean

    August 28, 2012

  8. I ran barefoot through the backyard this morning the grass still damp from dew right on through the neighbor’s too I am not a runner twas quite the sight to see my arms waving in the air and that big dog Blue following me I had to get his attention and distract him from the scent of squirrel he slipped his collar ran off leash faster than we knew my wild pup tasted freedom (and rather liked the flavor) I bounded back to our yard winded and wheezing eyes on that running dog when they saw my husband standing straight and tall I’d left the sliding door open pup and I were nowhere to be found then he sees us round the corner sure the dog goes to him when called he holds the pup I reattach his collar add his blue leash too back inside we file one, two, three man, dog and me August 15, 2012

    I ran barefoot
    through the backyard
    this morning
    the grass still damp
    from dew
    right on through the neighbor’s too
    I am not a runner
    twas quite the sight to see
    my arms waving in the air
    and that big dog Blue following me
    I had to get his attention
    and distract him
    from the scent of squirrel
    he slipped his collar
    ran off leash
    faster than we knew
    my wild pup tasted freedom
    (and rather liked the flavor)
    I bounded back to our yard
    winded and wheezing
    eyes on that running dog
    when they saw my husband
    standing straight and tall
    I’d left the sliding door open
    pup and I were nowhere to be found
    then he sees us round the corner
    sure
    the dog goes to him when called
    he holds the pup
    I reattach his collar
    add his blue leash too
    back inside we file
    one, two, three
    man, dog and me

    August 15, 2012

  9. We had some more rain this evening followed by the biggest, brightest, most beautiful rainbow I’ve ever seen stretch across several houses that face my own backyard. I looked for a rainbow such as this all last summer. A sign from God that He keeps His promises. The significance of seeing a rainbow today, tonight, after a brief rainstorm, is that the printed copies of my oldest son’s book arrived today. The one he wrote for 4-H. The one that honors his father and the fight he’s been fighting for over a year now. The title is, “On May 25”. It’s a beaut of a little book that also honors the Lord as my twelve year old shares his heart, faith, belief in the power of prayer and the comfort that comes from the prayers of many for our family during this difficult time. My heart was already dancing, soaring and flying. This rainbow, a double rainbow, was an unexpected gift. SO BIG! SO BEAUTIFUL! Praying this new type of chemotherapy works. Praying for complete healing from stage four cancer. Praying to weather this storm with my family of four intact for many years to come. Thank you, God, for the reminder that You are there. Always. From the dark of night to the glow of sunrise, until the sun sets once more, and sometimes, the most special of times, You are in the translucent glow of a rainbow in a perfectly formed half circle. ~ Janean July 26, 2012

    We had some more rain this evening followed by the biggest, brightest, most beautiful rainbow I’ve ever seen stretch across several houses that face my own backyard. I looked for a rainbow such as this all last summer. A sign from God that He keeps His promises. The significance of seeing a rainbow today, tonight, after a brief rainstorm, is that the printed copies of my oldest son’s book arrived today. The one he wrote for 4-H. The one that honors his father and the fight he’s been fighting for over a year now. The title is, “On May 25”. It’s a beaut of a little book that also honors the Lord as my twelve year old shares his heart, faith, belief in the power of prayer and the comfort that comes from the prayers of many for our family during this difficult time. My heart was already dancing, soaring and flying. This rainbow, a double rainbow, was an unexpected gift. SO BIG! SO BEAUTIFUL! Praying this new type of chemotherapy works. Praying for complete healing from stage four cancer. Praying to weather this storm with my family of four intact for many years to come. Thank you, God, for the reminder that You are there. Always. From the dark of night to the glow of sunrise, until the sun sets once more, and sometimes, the most special of times, You are in the translucent glow of a rainbow in a perfectly formed half circle.
    ~ Janean

    July 26, 2012

  10. today for sure

    the dog and I
    are deck sittin’
    as thunder is growlin’
    lightening is flashin’
    brightenin’ the sky
    momentarily
    on the horizon
    crickets are chirpin’
    singin’
    rain is comin’
    today for sure
    hallelujah

    July 26, 2012
    5:12a.m.