A small stone from the |Similkameen
July 31st, 2011

five a.m. and I open the door to fresh air,

a bowl of red raspberries, nestled in a tray of salad greens,

a bouquet of garden flowers and a fragrant spray of pink sweetpeas.

All say a secret welcome to a friendly neighbourhood 

and a kind, creative neighbour.

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 30th, 2011

Timidly trying out the new home

she spends hours under the covers

at the bottom of THEIR bed...

but then she discovers the garden!

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 29th, 2011

Muscles and sinew gnaw at my energy
I shall go out an snip at the roses
and watch for new buds of renewal.

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 26th, 2011

The lavender daisies
have spread themselves indiscriminately.
Underneath lies the Christmas Rose, resting in the shade.

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 25th, 2011

The fortress crumbles momentarily
and she cries bitter tears,
but joy is irrepressible.

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 24th, 2011

 the organ sounded,

the people sang,

and the organist at least

felt quite exhilarated with hymns of praise

played at a merry clip.

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 23rd, 2011

I saw the moving van

and knocked on her door

to tell her what joy her lovely little garden has brought me.

Some nice bit of friendship passed between us

as she moves out,

and I move in.

Small Stones from the Similkameen
July 22nd, 2011

My pretty blue 'witch's' globe

hangs in the doorway of the computer room.

I take it down,

wondering if the enchantment will disappear

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 21st, 2011


She is small, and kind and dear to my heart
and she comes bearing gifts.
Two glowing gems.....
Strawberry jam for breakfast!

Small stones from the Similkameen

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011


A flock of pigeons
wheels and turns and wheels again
Transient diamonds, catching the sunlight in flight.

A small stone from the Similkameen

The pale pink lily stretches up through the climbing rose
reaching, reaching
for sunlight and warmth.

A small stone from the Similkameen
Monday, July 18th

a small sip of orange brandy,
its amber sweetness swirling in the glass
makes getting supper a little giddy, totally relaxing.

A fairly small stone from the Similkameen
July 17th, 2011

I stride through the jungle,

machete in hand, preparing

to log the delphinium stalks.

Tender new shoots push through the rich earth

promising an October display.

Who will cut them back next year?

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 16th 2011

The days grow short and I grow giddy.

I watch the practical, the treasured and the frivolous

disappear into boxes - duly marked.

Will they surprise me when they once more appear?

the cat sleeps atop a lidded Mexican basket, full of straw hats, - his and hers.

Oblivious......

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 15th, 2011

The pages are brittle and faded.

I pack once again my mother's petit point graphs

and from the walls the pictures she stitched......

forever treasured.

Small stones from the Similkameen
Thursday, July 14th

The phone man cometh
and once again I am servant
to its shrill summons

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 13th, 2011

This early hour is dedicated
to snipping faded roses,
regretting yet their numbered days

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 12th, 2011

a mild day -
gentle showers
and a rippled pudding sky

Another small stone from the Similkameen
July 11th, 2011

one lone red poppy

rises from the gravelly road

bravely claiming her place in the sun

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 10th

I turn the last page,

read the last word, - 

close my eyes and sigh,

a thoroughly delectable book

A small stone from the Similkameen

The first cherries....

sweet and firm and

luscious in their rich red ripeness

Should we wonder at the early morning birdsong?

painting by Brian Smith

A small stone from the Similkameen
Friday, the 8th of July

As the sun rises
the long shadows gather -
a morning breeze stirs the flowers,
sways the tender young willows

Another small stone from the Similkameen

I lean in close to inhale the fragrance of the lily.
The golden pollen brushes against me
and I shimmer - in patches.

A small stone from the Similkameen

Waiting for the sun to rise
the horses' tails twitch
through the windows of their shelter.
It is the time of the Mosquito

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 5th, 2011

I see the grass, sere and crisp,
and the roses, drooping their thirsty leaves.
My heart responds....

A small stone from the Similkameen
July 4th, 2011

The first flush of roses fades
while the lilies open white waxen petals
behind my back

Similkameen Stones.

A very small stone to describe my present state of acceptance

Whistlling in the dark
I find the path
to contentment

Another small stone from the Similkameen

Small round bales,
green cored and golden rimmed.
Circles of sunlight
in a freshly mown field.

A River of Stones

A small stone for the 1st of July, - cool in my pocket and polished idly between my thumb and forefinger.

Turned upside down

and inside out -

the winds of change blow fresh

and promising.