My Nature & Descriptions of the Mountain Quotes

My Nature & Descriptions of the Mountain Quotes

04/10/10Darker dreams, chilly air, a nip upon the breezes; the crow caws, the night owl flies, the cat does as she pleases; the garden's done, the trees grow bare before the winter freezes. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

27/09/10        
The butterfly landed on the conquering wildflower blooming and perfuming the wasteland of despair. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

26/09/10
The sumac red, the goldenrod, the fiery sunsets mellow a time of work to bring harvests in before that frosty fellow paints all the grasses and the leaves with white, lacy frozen touch. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

24/09/10
Full moon as the autumn kisses with frost promised nips brings harvest vigor to love, to life, and to our moonlight dances together... the pleasures of fire and ice to explore. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

21/09/10
The misty fog among the trees, the eerie silent calling of mystery chilling in silent embrace, the darkest light whose slightest touch thrilling, does weaken knees. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

27/11/10The icy wind is howling through the dark woods which are covered in a lacy whiteness. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

07/12/10The mountain is covered in blankets of white. A cold brisk air freezes all. The animals are all fluffy in their winter wear. Silence fills the mountain. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

20/01/11The full moon smiles as she dances on the beaming loving streaming through hearts calling her down to play among us for a while. Then back to the sky we fly with her to dance among the stars. With love to you all. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

31/01/11It is not so much I am shy really, just a very quiet fae type woman. I am playful but hidden in plain sight like the wolves dancing on the forested hill, curious but cautious. Watch if you must, but get too close & watch me vanish for a while. Listen for the rustling of leaves or the singing to the moon. I'll be watching, too. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

01/02/11The ewes softly lowing for babies' milk to bring as the old woman gathers firewood & tests the shadows for signs of spring. The young woman lights the candle for the winter nights still are near as she cooks & says her blessings upon those she holds most dear. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

02/02/11The ice storm dances down upon the mountain, turning everything into the dangerous beauty of frozen live crystal jewelry. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

02/02/11Blow blizzard winds, sail our house through the skies. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

06/02/11Steamy, frozen, moist, or flows, yielding pathway as it goes ever lower to higher call, giving life or mountains fall, unfathomed depths or drop by drop, soothing or the world to stop; salty, sweet, stale or sour, the humblest with such great power. Water. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

13/02/11The icy wind pierces me as it sculpts the starlit icy snow, dancing in my veins, reminding me of treasures only found in the frozen, dark places. Swirling, dancing with the howling winter wind, I laugh. Crystal joy in the air, visible. The wind loves me, calls my name. We dance. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

09/03/11More lacy whiteness, cold breeze dances
the ice crystals lazily as the breath hangs frozen in mid-air to the crunching sound of footsteps. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

27/03/11I have always liked to garden, indoors and out. My very favorite plants are the heirlooms. The thrill of taking care of plants that my ancestors or even your ancestors would have once loved is a joy I wish all could know. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

31/03/11Fiery fiery shooting star, may I fly as you are, soaring thru the nightsky brings a twinkly to my eye. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

13/04/11
In the quiet dark, the stillness, the silence watches, listens to the yearning of my heart breaking. The untamed wild heart, tired of cages, outgrows confinement. Stretch to crack the shell. A deep roar rumbles. Eyes flash. False craving for safety when only den to roam from is needed. Prowling. Pacing. Restless, growing heart. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

27/04/11Her eyes looked at me soulfully, trustingly. She knew I hurt, wanted to help. She was a bundle of shaking, wagging, whimpering love ready to comfort me, to make me feel better, less afraid, less unloved. All she wanted was to love & be loved. Such a beautiful dog to be my friend, my sometimes nursemaid. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

27/04/11
Looking out at the foggy morning, feeling the moist but still cool air, hearing the silence waiting to open into songs of growing life, I smile. Springtime on the mountain is life unfolding into new joys. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

28/04/11Lifting my heart to the morning sky, my spirit flies on the cool air while flitting from new leaf to new flower, birdsong filling my ears with new delights, new wonders, new curiosities, as if I, too, were just newly born. Perhaps I am each new day. Alive. Come. Fly with me. ~Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

07/05/11Dark, cold, crisp night silently crooning life into new spring growth as the stars watch from afar. A chill. An expectation. A knowing. Life grows on the mountain. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

07/05/11
When I am most upset & emotional, I need nature. My heart must see and listen to the deep places within the wind, the water, the trees... & know it is not alone. All is still. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

08/05/11
Listening to the birds sing this chilly, cloudy, peaceful day on the mountain. More green leaves here & there. Even the Mayapples begin to show their loveliness on the forest floor. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

13/05/11The foggy dew rests on the quickly greening mountain as birds chirp, cats prowl, & little furry creatures scurry here & there. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

14/05/11Leafing out, the trees have brighter silohuettes against the cool foggy mountain morning as the squirrels run branch to branch & the birds dart over & under them. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

15/05/11The cat sleeps in the window enjoying the cool overcast day while I type, think, sip lemonade, & sometimes smile out the window at the beautiful, greening trees backset against the white sky of clouds. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

18/05/11
Blues, purples, grays, with white puffs of clouds, the sun shines brightly on light green, new leaves on the tallest trees highlighted against the storm sky. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

23/05/11Strong thunder roars, shaking the house, huge lightning strikes against the black sky, & the wind & rain dance freely while the cat & I watch the show here by the window overlooking the mountain. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

27/05/11After a very heavy downpour, thunder, a bit of hail, & an upset cat who had to leave the window or get wet, the sun is shining very brightly while the drips from the roof continue falling & the cat basks in the sunshiny window again. All is well on the mountain. ~ Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw

© 2010, 2011, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.

Nalla

A parking lot,

Christmas rush,

Coldest temps and

Coal black slush,

She’s left alone.

Baby kitten,

Eyes still shut,

Boys want to use

Her little butt

And let her moan.

Found in time

By a loving soul

Who knew a place

To make her whole

And so rescued her.

She has grown,

And she has healed.

A whole family’s

Hearts appealed

To hear her purr.

© 2005, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw. All rights reserved.

Nalla, Puck, Then Misha

Nalla, Puck, Then Misha

“But, I’m allergic to cats. My asthma will flair up. And, well, I have never lived with a cat before. I don’t know the first thing about cat care. And, Chunky, (our dog,) what about Chunky?” I stammered into the phone. “But, please don’t let her die.”

And so I entered the world of cat “owner” and, quickly thereafter, cat lover.

I had always had animal companions in my life, but until Christmas 2002, cats had not been a part of my immediate household. Cats had been neighbors and friends but not housemates. But that all changed when Nalla, a gray and black striped tabby, decided to enter our lives. We have learned much since then, and our lives are fuller now.

She was only three weeks old, eyes barely open, extremely tiny, almost frozen, and very hungry when our son’s fiancée’s uncle found the kitten in a snow-covered Baltimore parking lot just before Christmas. She was also frightened and needy. Being kind-hearted and also knowing that his niece had wanted a cat, he scooped the baby up and took her home. Later that day, we got the phone call asking if we would allow the kitten to live here as no one else either could or would take her. Since I had had a longing for a cat that stayed in the back of my mind always, it didn’t take much convincing, despite the real quandaries that responsibility would pose. Besides, my heart ached for the wee furry orphan.

As it turned out, all my initial concerns about my asthma, allergies, cat care, the dog, and all were not that difficult to overcome. Cats generally take care of themselves with just a bit of input and lots of love from us. The asthma was tamed via keeping the cat shampooed and the house clean. The dog adopted her as her own—an arrangement totally acceptable to Nalla. And, we did not have too long before other feline friends decided to adopt us as well.

Just this past June, we rescued a black nine-month-old cat from extremely neglectful and even abusive owners. We named him Puck.

Then on the Fourth of July, a medium long-haired 3-week-old kitten showed up on our back porch, covered in muck, fleas, and blood. Apparently someone had tried to get rid of him and then thrown him out of the car near our home. Misha, as we named him, came to us. How could we refuse?

Now we have a very full house. All our animal friends are well loved and even spoiled, but we are the more blessed ones because of their presence in our lives.

I stammered into the phone. I stammered into the phone.

(C)2005, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, written for The Catnip Chronicles.

Captain Cat Sails the Chesapeake Bay

Captain Cat Sails the Chesapeake Bay

A cat went to sea
With his family

Upon the Chesapeake Bay.

His family of six

And he did mix

On that bright and sunny day.

“Let’s sail! Let’s sail!”

His meows did hail

As he strutted onto the boat.

He wasn’t as glad

When dear old Dad

Put a life jacket over his coat.

Then he started to purr

And at least concur—

It’s better safe than drowned.

“Now hoist those sails

And to the rails,”

His meows did start to sound.

Imagine a cat

In a captain’s hat

On deck of a beautiful sailboat.

Well, Sparky had dreams

He was more than he seems

Was all that his smile did denote.

The waters were pourin’

All that glorious mornin’

Past the boat at a leisurely clip.

The breeze then a gull

Had Sparky in thrall

While purrs from his throat did slip.

It was about noon

Which came very soon

When his tummy had started to growl.

“I’m hungry!” he cried

When Hemingway’s was spied.

“Dock at their pier!” was all he’d allow.

“Hemingway’s!” the kids cried,

For they too had spied

The restaurant accessible by Bay.

Turn in, the dad

With his hunger too glad

To see what the depth reading would say.

The tide was still out

Captain Cat thought with a pout

As the boat ran aground on the sand.

“Bring me some fish!”

His tail said with a swish,

“This cat walks only on land!”

Wading to shore

More fun they did pour

On poor Dad as the children did laugh.

“We can eat here with pride

Right on the shore side

Just after our fresh water bath.”

Awaiting the tide

Captain Cat purred with some pride

And dreamed of seagulls and fish.

One day to his glory

Would be told the story

Of Captain Cat and his Hemingway wish.

© 2005, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw. All rights reserved.