woodpile

(via Heather @ Pintrest)

i drove by my parents' farm this morning to pick something up from my dad.

took a little wander down to the pole barn-slash-woodshed to check on my numerous kitties. when i moved out, they stayed behind. my daddy has discovered that he actually loves cats, and takes very good care of them for me.

at first glance, the barn was entirely empty

save for the woodpile 

and a few bits of machinery

and then i saw the ears. 

two tiny, fuzzy points sticking up from a small pile of wood

perched above a pair of wide golden eyes and a innocent little pink nose.

it was a stray kitten. scared to death. i could see it shaking. 

i could almost hear its thoughts as it stared right at me. 

please don't notice me. 

go away.

please don't see me. 

slowly, i turned to go. 

little kitty bolted. break-neck speed toward another woodpile, in which it hid. 

i am that little kitten.

doing my best to blend into the woodwork, begging all my fears

(via Natalie @ Pintrest)

please don't see me. 

go away.

just let me hide. 

and then, for whatever reason, i break cover and run as fast as i can. i'm too scared to just wait for the scary thing to turn and leave me alone. 

i get a burst of courage. and i run to safety. 

for a kittycat, it's a woodpile.

for me

it's a wooden cross.

prematurely linking up with The Wellspring.
perhaps not a playdate per se, but oh what joy . 

 

Treasure

"Our hearts are drunk with a beauty our eyes could never see." ~George W. Russel

This past week has been full of summery joys.

The delight of spending seven days on a farm, surrounded by perfectly green fields and more serene emptiness than I can even speak of in one breath...

...spending the sweet moments compiling my inspirational Etsy treasuries, filled with beautiful treasures that draw me in and make my fingers flutter with anticipation...

...losing myself in the pages of The Order of the Phoenix, never allowing myself to wander too far from Hogwart's gates...

...finding myself overwhelmed with the feedback for July's beautifully continuing giveaway, counting down the days until it comes to its end and the winners might receive their sparking gems...

...curling onto wooden porch steps and allowing the gentle pitter-patting of twenty-four kitten paws to wander across my arms, lap, and shoulders, finding innocent joy and comfort in their snuffling pink noses and tiny mews.

These summer weeks are the ones I love the most.

I feel as though I've written a thousand posts on the joy of summertime, and the little delights to be found in every single day within these blissful months. And honestly, you might all find yourselves becoming sick of my summery ramblings.

But I feel as though I've barely started to lift the guilded lid of the treasure chest that this warm and balmy season has deposited on my doorstep.

I don't want to put down my pen. I want to chronicle every moment of this bliss.

I want to lose myself in film and ink and compacted charcoal sticks.

I never want to let this book end or the pages become brittle from lack of touch.

There is much more to dream.

Much more treasure to seek.

Call me a gypsy.

Call me a summertime pirate.

I will walk this path, barefoot with flowers in my dark wavy hair...

...forever seeking this treasure, which we call summer.

Beauty deprived of its proper foils and adjuncts ceases to be enjoyed as beauty, just as light deprived of all shadows ceases to be enjoyed as light.  ~John Ruskin