An Artist Who Writes
Unsure
like missing an appendage
I enter the meadow
the trail foreign
my dog, unconcerned
speeds off to romp in the waving grass
wildflowers are passed unidentified
as are the birds and their songs
The trail winds
through a gentle verdant forest
quiet
The dog splashes in the creek
undocumented
the trail splits
I guess
I ramble
unchecked
uninterrupted
unfettered
blissfully
free
like my dog
My dog Bandit is now 17 years old. He walks like a very slow wind up toy that sometimes tips over. The things that keep him going in life are his pain meds, love of food, and our stroller walks. Most of the time it’s local but on occasion he gets to the beach or on mountain trails. The stroller functions as his wheelchair. We are an item as we walk down the local roads. Often we are greeted by smiles and waves as people drive by. Then I get a lot of puzzled looks like “why is that woman pushing that 45 pound dog in a stroller?” Small children are often filled with a combination of delight and confusion.
I wrote this little poem to provide some insight…
Stroller Dog
I missed our walkabouts
His cattle dog body
All worn out
So I bought him a stroller
That saw four children grow
Then fixed it up
So he could go
But instead of being side by side
I happily push him in his ride
By orchard, vineyard, fields of clover
Sheep and cows, up hills and over
His old dog face now young and free
I know he’d do the same for me
Up the lanes he would be panting
coasting down I would be chanting
“Good boy, good boy!” with so much glee
and he would say…
“Thank you, thank you for loving me.”
Alanna also blogs about sustainablity at onesweetearth.art.blog
WALKING THROUGH SCOTLAND
In the company of friends
And the rhythm of sticks
I spy a blue fly on green fern
Sheep grazing in the distance
Tufts of wool dangling from fences
Bluebells line the path with yellow anenome,
Purple geranium, wild rose, ferns
and blossoms of which I have no name
Rain falls from heavy clouds
White water spills over the faces of dark rocks
Into bubbling pools
The land begs verse
We end each day foot weary but filled
Seeing more by seeing less
We end each day bedding at inns in quaint towns
Savoring warm bowls of soup
And cups of hot tea
Yesterday I was doing my home exercise routine when my zippy Irish music was interrupted on Spotify by one of their ads (I’m too cheap to buy a $ 120-year ad-free subscription). It was an extra-long commercial about Spotify Premium and the many reasons I should upgrade. The last one was something like this “Never be without the music you love! Stream anywhere, even when you are offline!” This got me to thinking why we always need content streaming in our ears? Have we lost the value of quiet?
Workout routine done (don’t be too impressed, I don’t work that hard) I changed my clothes and headed out the door with my 13-year-old Golden Retriever for a ramble. We drove to the Benedictine Abbey less than 10 minutes away for a walk in the woods. They have a series of trails that they allow the public access to.
Car parked we headed off. It was a relief to be out of the house and in the fresh air, sweet with the scent of coming rain. We headed uphill on a muddy trail, thick with woods, mosses, ferns, and lichens. The calls of hidden birds surrounded us as Dougie and I made our way up by a gurgling stream with miniature waterfalls. By gosh I was streaming a real stream! An unlimited sensory experience brought to you by NATURE!
Imagine what I would have missed if I had earbuds in. I think about the students in high 
schools I sub in. They are constantly with their earbuds, listening to music, watching videos, checking social media. What about the sounds of birds and the ruminations of their own thoughts? I’m sad for them.
It was a lovely walk. I spent a lot of time observing and looking for ideas to include in my paintings in my new online painting class. You might see some things from my photographs in my coming artwork….
I wrote this poem last year while I was subbing at a local high school
Trying to live a creative life
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Live fully and have fun doing so...
Love Stories
Becky Ross Michael: author & editor
Design, Plant, & Enjoy a Healthy Northwest Garden
Writer. Blogger. Chipmunk enthusiast.
User-generated ratings for ethical consumerism
An exploration of Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music
Conversations On Creativity
Longing for "the endless immensity of the sea"
Climbing, Outdoors, Life!
Affordable | Accessible | Effective
Birding Oregon and California, nature and outdoors
Wildlife welfare, environmental conservation and animal rights
Sustainable Living for a Healthy Planet
By Alanna Pass 