NATURE: Coreopsis Prairie Hill

 

I enjoy my daily walks around Prairie Hill

these days - big, cheerful coreopsis flowers

like a million dancing suns greet me.

 Some time ago a bird built her nest on the back porch

 under the studio balcony.  I call her ‘mama bird’ and

 I try not to disturb her. Yesterday, I  found one of her

 dead chicks on the concrete patio floor ~ eyes not yet

 opened and wings barely formed.  I buried the little

 bird in my garden plot.  It was so simple. 

If only it could be so simple for humans. 

There is an evil person trying to cause harm

and dishonor over my dad's remains and memory.

This person's evil actions are out of my control ~

but I have perfect peace.  Did you know peace

can protect you from anything?

 If God feeds the birds and clothes the wildflowers

 in splendor, and notes when one sparrow falls, 

then he can surely handle my cares.

~  P  e  a  c  e  ~

LIFE: and Death

Fear not the shadow

from the blackbird for the sun

is higher above

(current haiku)

My father passed away last Thursday.   

Truthfully, he has always been like a figure  

in the distant horizon, now he has totally 

vanished from sight.

 Norman Lucious Dunn

9/27/26 – 4/24/14

Seminole. Soldier. Sweetheart.

It's a very emotional time

 for me at the moment...

LIFE: Happy Easter

Are you not worth more than one of these?

Yes. Thank you Jesus.

Happy Easter!

LIFE: Consider the Lily...

Santa Fe Lily with Green Heart

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; 

and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not

 arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, 

which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the

 furnace;  how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? 

And seek not what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, 

neither be of a doubtful mind. For all these things do the

 nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows 

that you have need of these things. But rather seek first

 the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added 

unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's 

good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

Luke 12:26-32

Dog Tooth Lily on Prairie Hill

This week the Lily has been a theme...

A humble flower that doesn't blow a trumpet.

Light in color with the sweetest scent ...

There is another,,,

He is my Lily among thorns.

He feeds his flock among the fields of lilies.

His garment doesn't draw attention

and his fragrance is pure.

I did not grow up with religion or church attendance.

When I was a teen I acquired a plastic sign with a picture 

of an angel I think - but the words I'll never forget

GOD IS LOVE.

This week, a dear Muslim gave me a tiny Koran written in Arabic.

It was a kind gesture.  I read the Bible (scripture) like medicine, 

like a love letter, and of course to know my Lord better.

But there have been times of intense pain

when all I could do is raise my hands up to Him 

as sign language to say YOU are the one -

the fairest to my soul.

I trust you.

My spirit celebrates 

My being quivers

My flesh praises too

This holy, beautiful, loving 

Son of God

ART: Small Things (Encaustic)

Hummingbirds with Cypress Flower

Cypress Saint

Cypress Madonna

Madonna with Protective Coral

Andrea won the mini Shakespeare book! 

Thumbprint Book

Wishing everyone a great week!

KITCHEN: Cheesecake & Pearls

Since I have to cut back on chocolate, 

I've turned to cheesecake and been searching for the perfect recipe,,,

I think I found a winner.  This recipe is simple and serves 10 rich slices.  

I've adjusted the recipe though - especially less sugar.

Philly Cream Cheese Cake

Crust:

1 cup Graham cracker crumbs
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling:
2 (8 ounce) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla 

A squeeze of lemon juice

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 325F degrees. 

Combine crumbs and melted butter & press onto the bottom of a 9-inch pie pan. 
Bake crust for 10 minutes, remove from oven and raise oven temperature to 440F degrees. 

To make filling - mix the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer, then 
add eggs, one at a time.  Blend in vanilla & lemon juice and pour filling into crust. 

Bake for 10 minutes at 440F, then reduce heat to 250F and bake for another 25 min. 

Chill; top individual slices with desired topping, if any, just before serving. 

Greg says one day I will poison him. 

 I've been harvesting the wild plains onions 

growing all over the landscape and throwing

 them into just about everything I cook lately.

 All parts of the plains onion are edible, but I go for the

tiny pearl (bulb) under layers of skin.

This plant just has to be healthy!

The flower (so pretty) can also be eaten.

I tossed some into my breakfast burrito.

Tastes like chive.

I enjoy cooking and baking!

It's one of my favorite things to do.

LIFE: Early Spring

 

Spring agrees with my soul.  

Budding flowers, busy birds and

and the earth singing hallelujah!

I'm absorbing it on my own Prairie Hill.

Winter makes me go bonkers.

Not spring - it returns my sanity,,,

It makes me skip on the fields like a calf.

I hope you're having a beautiful spring start too.... 

"Comparison is the thief of joy." - anon

HAIKU: Rain

I have a knack for finding skulls & bones when I'm out walking,,,

My feet went straight to this animal skull on Prairie Hill 

the other evening.  I think it may have been a raccoon.

My words aren't flowery.  They are more like bones.

Smoothed and solid and absent of adjectives and color... often.

I love poetry and wish I could write profound poems.

 I can extract the essence of what I feel through a haiku

though.  It's sparse and to the poetic point for me. :)

Our land was blessed with a little rain yesterday and quite a bit today.

I prayed for rain and so I'm very grateful for the beautiful answer.

 I was also inspired to write a rain haiku this evening...

Calligraphic roots

Write poetry beneath us

When rains fall like words

Blessings on your week dear friends.

GIVEAWAY: Shakespeare

I found these mini Shakespeare play books in the rare/antique

 section of the annual book sale.  I love and wait for this

book sale with anticipation every year!  I'm not the only one.

So I bought six of these adorable books - I think I left two

 behind for someone else.  I'm only going to keep one or two for

my miniature book shelf.  The rest are going to be gifts.

I looked up the Knickerbocker Leather & Novelty Co., New York

and found out that these books were printed in the early 1900's!

More info here.

"For Jean" - Encaustic Collage on Antique Book, 2" x 3 1/2"    

This one was fixed up for my friend Jean as a 

birthday gift.  I included a tiny Michelangelo figure 

to the book cover.  Notice the tattoo on the arm!  

Do you like miniatures? Or books? Or Shakespeare?

`

I'd like to give another one of these tiny books 
to a blogging friend.  

Just leave me a Shakespeare quote and I'll know

you are interested.  Next week, I'll ask Greg

to draw a name.  One more thing,,,

I will probably 'fix-up' the cover with an

encaustic collage - it may have a "tattoo"

or not.  Let's be surprised. 

"And though she be but little,

she is fierce."

-Shakespeare