by Kari Diane Pike

In the frenzy of continued unpacking of boxes, out-of-state company, the continued generosity of master gardener neighbors sharing their abundance of peaches, tomatoes, and peppers, and the ongoing harvest from our own fruit and nut trees, I have had little to no time to spend writing or reading and anything else so that I might share and few words with you today. (Was that sentence long and confusing enough??)

However, my daughter (who,with her five children, is temporarily living with us) shared her favorite poem with me the other day. She used her best calligraphy and I know she shared a piece of her heart with it.

Symphony
by William Henry Channing

To live content with small means.
To seek eloquence rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion.
To be worthy not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich.
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently,
act frankly, to listen to the stars, birds, babes,
and sages with open heart, to bear all
cheerfully, do all bravely, await
occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual,
unhidden and unconscious
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.

So now I take a deep breath, give thanks for this abundance of love, friendship, and the knowledge of who I am and why I am here. I'm looking out my bedroom window, watching Papa Quail on the fence post as he keeps guard over Mama Quail and their 8 Baby Quail...well, now seven baby quail. Mr. Hawk just grabbed breakfast!!! Oh my...this was not the ending I had in mind for this post! Sigh...the life cycle just keeps turning! Love you all!