"Howard"

Where is Howard
when there is work
to to be done,
out on the golf course
just having fun

Never a care in his
daily life
for he has Nedra
his loyal wife

The house is full, the babies
are crying
but Howard is out
where the golf balls are flying

Nedra has Katie and John
and dinner to prepare
Laura and Rich
are not yet there

Margaret and Temel
are gone as well
leaving Grandma
to do show and tell

Hurry home Howard
grandma is only one
and hard as she tries
she will never get done

She is having fun
grandkids are a joy
her work in never done
with this girl and boy

Nothing she would change
to alter her charge
Katie and John are her range
Grandmas love is large

For all we know
Howard is lamenting
To miss this home show
obligations are preventing

Fun will be had
to those who are here
all will be glad
pass the butter Howard dear

"A Day in the Life of a Blessing"

Blessings are there
drifting in air
round, flat and square
caught by your snare

Bustling about
carrying their clout
fulfilling our doubt
inspiring our route

To many to count
never sold by the ounce
not here to trounce
only to pounce

So, take time today
it's really ok
see what they say
devine in every way

They cushion your past
cover today like a cast
the future so vast
your ships mast

Don't miss them you see
they won't let you be
seeing is the key
there is no fee

Happiness they bring
it's joy they sing
stay on their wing
a gift from the King

Be grateful for all
long, short and tall
life is the call
hang on don't fall

Don't miss the plan
so many can
blessings the fan
for the shadow in man

"Silent Visitors"

they come without a sound
creeping into our space
our flowering Angel Patch
our cabin our woods

they don't even rustle
the leaves on the woods floor
or the glue traps in the cabin
for our ears to detect

the Aliens Scouts made more noise
when they walked around the woods
looking over the Alien Self Parking Area
where they will land their fleet of ships

Gypsy found one snake in the Angel Patch
when she dug a hole in the rocky ground
to fend off the afternoon heat
for a much needed nap

the Smooth Green Snake she found
buried deep in the ground
didn't have a chance
to escape her grip

I tried to save it
by putting it outside her fenced area
it returned and was in her mouth again
I removed it again still hoping

I did not see it again
so maybe it survived her grasp
unlike the lizards
who live in the Angel Patch wood piles

she spent the morning
playing with our first
baby squirrels of the year
born inside the mattress in the smoke house

the centipede on the bathroom floor
got stuck on the glue trap
which slowed it down enough
for me to wound it, pick it up, and flush

Carpenter ants and wasps and hornets
are still finding our bunkhouse
which is nearly ready for
its first guests to enjoy?

The good thing about this is
the bad guys are outside
where Carlos my organic pest control guy
can find them

We will continue to be alert
for the arrival of still more critters
who share our love
of the Texas Hill Country

"Joe"

Well, you see as we go
it's just Gypsy and me.
Here at the cabin
nestled snug in the trees,
we gather our blessings,
all that we can.
For awhile we knew
no neighbor next door,
so we would just sit
and watch not wanting for more.
Then one day we met Joe,
who lives on the hill nearby.
We sat for a time
a nice visit we had
a friend we had made,
we were sure glad.
His chickens lay eggs,
he gathers right from the nest,
supplying us with breakfast,
they are the best.
We are glad to know Joe,
because friends are like diamonds
they sparkle and glow.
We love to sit and reminisce
about old times gone by,
as old memories are gifts
remembering we try.
Gypsy and I are lucky you see,
to have Joe as a friend
is a good place to be.
For in the end
that's what they are for,
entering your life quietly,
not keeping score.
We find the know in each other
liking the stories it brings,
this is surely a life,
fit for kings.
There is no measure,
for a friend
is a treasure.

"Kody"

Special one
A wonder to me
Kody my grandson
The best you see

Say he is great
I'm bragging alot
He's perfect at 8
All he has got

Everything there
Nothing to change
He has quite a flare
To shift and arrange

We get on quite well
A sense of humor says so
Held in his spell
The best way to go

My heart fills with joy
He comes for a stay
He is a good boy
In every way

His laugh is contagious
He's one of a kind
He is marvelously outrageous
This grandson of mine

"Alone in the Woods"

It was a quiet, foggy
warm, woods morning.
Gypsy, my dog and I
lingered on the cabin porch;
me with my expresso,
Gypsy with a bone.
We noticed the wild flowers
awakened by the soft
light and moisture,
caressing them.
A humming bird came,
a crow called,
a jay squawked,
alone in the woods.