Everyday Poetry for Regular People

April in Canada

2011-04-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone:

Well, April is almost gone and it's still cold here but today it's not snowing and that's a start! We don't really get spring and autumn up here in the Interior of BC - we just get summer and winter - winter starts around mid to end October and as it was still snowing on and off last week, I guess April's out.......but the snow has melted from my front lawn and I only have a little bit left in the back garden, so am looking forward to the time when I can plant some new bedding plants. Am going for creeping thyme in the pet garden as it doesn't need mowing! But will still provide something nice and green for the cats and dog to walk on and lie on - I'm hoping they don't pee on it! But whatever! Something green will be great. Have been having a bash at more writing - am learning lots all the time. Just read a blog called 'witchway' and it is very helpful indeed. The author lives in Ilfracombe, North Devon, which is where I lived once.....small world, eh!

What is real and what is not?

2011-01-30T12:36:00.000-08:00

So, what is real and what is not?
If seeing is believing
What we can't see, does not exist
Our sight can be deceiving

We see in third dimension way
That's dangerous you know
For there's much more around us all
'They'd' like themselves to show

I challenge you, this world has much
To teach you, even now
We see what we're prepared to see
What earthly minds allow

And once we come to realize
Our lives we self create
We open up to Higher Self
And learn to meditate

The more we learn, the less we know
That's progress in itself
Our ego must be held in check
Then we will find our worth

We are complete, each one of us
Our true selves know it all
So we must go within ourselves
To hear our spirit's call

Sit quietly, and do not think
Allow your mind to still
And wait for sources from above
With wisdom, minds to fill

A quiet, empty, vessel gives
Our Angels and our Source
The time to give us faith and hope
To help us run our course

So never think you're all alone
You've Angels by your side
They're waiting till you ask for help
Yes, they with you abide!

Express your feelings carefully
We get what we give out
Our feelings and our thoughts create
That's what life's all about

When happy thoughts, your life create
More happy things arrive
When sorrow is your earthly cloak
More sorrow will abide

So dwell on this, my earthly friend
Your future's in your hand
It can be bright, or full of care
Your life's yours to command.

V.E. Hall (c)
January 2011

Sorry no posts lately!

2011-01-16T14:32:00.001-08:00

Hello friends
Just want to update you - sorry there's been no posts for a while, I've been busy writing a book. I'll keep you posted!
Vida

Is Devon Heaven?

2010-10-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Is Devon Heaven?
Or is it just heavenly?
This depends on you....

If you're seeking
A quiet country lane
A view of the sea
A sandy shore
Then go visit Devon

If you're seeking
Country pubs and home cooked food
And waves where you can surf
Then go visit Devon

If you're seeking
Farmers' markets
Antiques and crafts
And really good bakeries
Then go visit Devon

If you're seeking
Diverse scenery
Some windswept and wild
Some charmingly ordered
Then go visit Devon

You'll be thinking now
The author loves Devon
And the answer is sure
For me, Devon IS Heaven!

Fall in Logan Lake

2010-09-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Fall is coming a little earlier this year

The rain falls, steady and cold

And creates a white mist in the mountains

And the chill seeps into my bones

I close the windows and turn up

The thermostat for our fireplace

And it clicks on, flames shooting upwards

And sending out welcoming, radiant, heat

My old cat, Henry, moves to the rug

In front of the fireplace

And settles down for a comfortable snooze

Phoebe moves to the pet bed near the fireplace

And smiles as she snuggles

Into the warmth of the pet bedding

Encompassed in the radiant heat

Gradually the other cats come in to join us

Leaving the wet ground in the pet garden

And abandoning the mouse-watch area

In return for a snooze in our warm and cozy living room

The garage has been cleaned out

And the Jeep sleeps in there once more each night

The garden tools have been brought inside

And the watering hoses disconnected

Ready for their winter's hibernation

Stews and casseroles are now on the menu once again

To almost completely replace the salads and the quiches

Comfort food is called for

Warm, tasty, and satisfying to the body and the soul

Winter will soon be here, I can feel its approach

And we'll be ready for it when it comes

Snow shovel in the garage

Extension cord for the Jeep's block heater

Ready for its winter duties

But for now, we'll take Fall

With its rainy days and its trees shedding leaves

And we'll get ready for long evenings indoors

With good books

Old favourites and future favourites

The seasons come and go

My pet family and I are safe and snug

In our Logan Lake home

Our little home in the west.

The Lanes of Bratton Fleming, Devon

2010-09-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

Photo by Bridget Moore, Devon (c)

Living in Bratton Fleming was a joy

A quiet, safe, community

With countryside views from our home

Green rolling hills, scattered with trees

And silver streams running across narrow lanes

It's there I spent hours walking my dog

My dear spaniel, Topsy

She was full of joy

And her happiness at simple things was contagious

She'd wag her tail and her whole body in an ecstacy of excitement

In the spring time

When the wild flowers bloomed

It was a feast for the eyes

And we'd pause on our walk, down the lanes

And gaze across fields and meadows

At the bobbing daffodils

Or snowdrops

Or bluebells

Each season presenting a different kaleidoscope of colour

We'd walk the lanes, my dog and I

And I thought I'd never leave my beloved Devon

Fate had a different life in store for me, for a while

But I will return

My spaniel has passed away

And I have another dog to walk

And I can hardly wait to introduce

My Toffee dog to an English country lane

I know she'll love it

And together, we'll create our own

Special walks and places

Somewhere in Devon

I'm not sure where

But its gentle, rolling countryside

And flower filled fields

Are calling me home.

Poor neglected feet!

2010-08-31T18:00:00.000-07:00

Poor, neglected, feet
You take us miles every week
And we rarely pay you any attention

You're always there for us!
Surely you deserve a nice hot soak
Each night after a day of duty, carrying us around

How you'd love to be pampered
And cherished
And loved

I promise I'll pay you more attention from now on
After all, you're very hard-working
You deserve some soaking
And creaming
And massaging at night

See you later, then?
Well, how can I forget?
You'll remind me, right?
You'll ache and make me feel tired

But when I soak you in a warm bath
And rub you with foot moisturiser
You'll reward me with a feeling of contentment
As we fall asleep in our bed
My feet and I.

The Wonderful Devon Cream Tea

2010-08-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

'Ooh, a Devon Cream Tea!
How Yummy!' my niece squeeled with delight
As we sat in the tea shop in Croyde and gave our order
With barely concealed excitement

We've been away, for a long time, you see
And England's ex-patriots
Tend to dream about these things
When they're far from home
Until the longing for the much loved
And very much missed
'English things'
Brings us home
Like magnets to a fridge door

We settle into our chairs and look around
At the quintessential 'Englishness' of the tea shop
And we smile at each other
As we gaze around us
Like water thirsty travellers in the desert
Drinking in the sights and the sounds
Of once familiar surroundings

And THEN the Devon Cream Tea arrives!
Two scones for each of us
Crisp on the outside
Buttery soft on the inside
Spread with strawberry jam whose berries fall over each other
To be covered in thick, rich, succulent, Devon clotted cream

And we take the first bite.......
Heaven
The flavours and textures of the scone, the jam and the cream
All blend together and make a perfect experience
Firm, soft, sweet, creamy
That wonderful, wonderful, Devon Cream Tea

And we sip our English tea
And eat our scones and we smile
The familiar is NOT to be taken for granted
Because, when the familiar is no longer available......
Well, we came 6,000 miles for this Devon Cream Tea!
How far would you go?

An Immigrant's Dilemma

2010-08-27T06:16:00.000-07:00

How I long to walk my dog, down country lanes
With no fear of bears, or coyotes, or wolves, or cougers
Coming to attack my much loved pet

How I long to sit in a garden in the summer
Not plagued with mosquitoes
And without the smoke of distant forest fires
To cloud my sight and fill my throat

How I long to enjoy year-round walks
Without 5 months of snow and ice
And the fear of falling over
And hurting myself, again

And yet, and yet
I know that when I leave you, Canada
I will miss your wide open spaces
Your lakes and parks and evergreens
Your friendly, smiling people

I will miss seeing the bears
Climbing into the neighbours' apple trees
And the deer in the forest behind my home
And the first snowfall
That blankets our lakes and mountains
And makes everything clean and pure

Will I sit in my English garden
And dream of endless blue skies
Covering forests of fir
And clear lakes and canoes
And RVs heading for campsites and pastures new?

I will remember your spirit, Canada
I will remember your warm summers
And your snow covered winters
And I will smile

But I will walk and walk and walk with my dog
Without fear for her safety

I've had my adventure
I'm heading home - soon......

My Devon

2010-08-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

Photo by Bridget Moore, Devon UK (c)

(I don't have a photo of bluebells)

Devon, my heart aches for you

Your sandy beaches

Your rocky cliffs

Your green fields and woodlands

How I long to visit your bluebell woods

And feast my eyes on those beautiful blue flowers

And smell the intoxicating scent of them

Delicate, bell-shaped, blue wonders

That I remember from days long past

To walk again

Along the twisty paths of Ilfracombe's Torrs

And see the sea

Waves breaking on the shore

And hear the seagulls calling to each other

To walk amongst your trees in autumn

And feel my feet gently crunching your leaves

Brown, and gold, and orange

And smell the sweet smell of leaves

Melting into the earth to replenish

The already rich soil

I'm coming home

I don't know when

But it will be soon

My Devon, my home.

Learning

2010-08-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

Learning, learning, learning, still
Will it ever end?

"I don't think so" said my Guide
"I was on the earth a long time
And I've been in Heaven a long time
And I'm still learning"

Interested, I asked him
"What do you learn?"
"Everything" he said
"When?" I asked
"Always" he answered

"How much is there left to learn?" I asked
"How much do you want to learn?" he answered
"As much as I can" I said, smiling
"We'll learn together" he answered

Learning, learning, learning, still
May it never end!

What makes a friend?

2010-07-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

Good Friends of the author, May 2009, UK

Author's niece and friend, aged 4, UK

What makes a friend?
Someone who understands
Someone who's on your side
Someone who cares whether you've had a good day
Or a bad day
Someone you can laugh with

What makes a friend?
Someone you can go for a walk with
And talk and talk, and giggle
Someone you can meet for coffee
Someone who's always pleased to see you

What makes a friend?
Someone who's honest with you when you need it
Someone who remembers your birthday
Someone who keeps in touch over the years
Even when you don't see them very often

What makes a friend?
Someone who makes you smile when you pick the phone up
And hear their voice
Someone who shares the ups and downs of their lives with you
And shares your ups and downs too

What makes a friend?
Someone who, even though thousands of miles away
Seems as though they're in the same room with you
When you call and chat at the weekend
When you share all the things in your life

What makes a friend?
Someone who calls you when they know you're down
When they know you'll gripe and complain a bit
Someone you call when you know they're down
Because you're friends
That's what makes a friend

The Beauty of a Garden

2010-07-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

Photo by Bridget Moore (c) Devon, UK 2010

My soul longs for beauty
Needs it, demands it
What's really important in this world?
Love, kindness, compassion
Beauty
To me, beauty is synonymous with nature

To sit in a garden
Pesticide free
And watch the bees flying from plant to plant
Even the humble dandelion
Provides nectar to the bees

Butterflies and brightly coloured moths
Flitting amongst the grasses and shrubs
Watched by the keen eyes of my cats
Ballet leaping into the air
To catch a passing fly

Listening to the sounds of my garden
The chatter of a nearby squirrel
The drilling of a woodpecker in the forest behind my home
The wind rustling the leaves of the trees
Wind chimes gently contributing to the gentle low key music of life
The music of the garden

What better way to fill my soul with beauty
Than to sit in my garden
A cup of tea nearby
And watch, and listen, and contemplate
All of life is here
Right here
Right now.

My Special Mum

2010-06-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

Mum and Dad, Earls Court, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England

Happy Days!

Always patient, always kind
Got a problem? Never mind!
Always there with time to listen
Wipe away the tears that glisten

Friend, confidante all in one
Never too tired to have some fun
Wise and generous, good and true
Even in hard times, seldon blue

Always working, at home or away
Loved to cook and have people to stay
Good in the garden, good in the house
Kind to the cat and kind to the mouse

Faithful wife to my darling Dad
Stayed together through good and bad
Struggles, heartaches, laughter and tears
A really good marriage through many years

And when Dad died and went to heaven
She worked even harder, the work of seven
Always loving and always true
Oh how I strive to be more like you!

What an example you set for us kids
To love one another and be staunch Brits
To carry on working with joy and with pride
And right to the end, to behave like a bride

A lover to father, a mother to us
You never were one to make a big fuss
You just did your duty, with love and with laughter
And showed us we could live happily ever after

Rain

2010-06-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

It's raining once again today
I like the rain, what can I say?
'Cause rain makes all our gardens green
More rain than this I've seldom seen!

The flowers bloom, the veggies grow
It gives you confidence to sow
For summer's sun is good to see
But earth needs rain, and so do we

And without water, what can live?
I think the sky has more to give!
And that's OK, bring on the rain
The sun will shine, once more, again

And food abundant for the bears
In forests where they have their lairs
Will keep the bears away from town
And stop the need to mow them down

The squirrels, happy in their trees
The birds are happy, so are bees
So rain, you can keep falling still
And help our lakes and rivers fill.

Phoebe

2010-06-11T05:49:00.000-07:00

Phoebe and Henry on settle with Toffee nearby

Phoebe in pet garden at mouse watch area

Phoebe is a feral cat
She was born in the wild, what's wrong with that?
She looks so calm upon the seat
But taming her was no small feat!
We've been together many years
And still I can't allay all fears
She trusts me now, I'm pleased to say
And now feels safe enough to play

When people come to visit me
They sometimes look, but seldom see
My Phoebe is a feral cat
She was born in the wild, what's wrong with that?

And now my Henry cat is old
Dear Phoebe stops him being cold
She sleeps with Henry every day
She's kind to him in every way

When meals are served, she cannot wait
And other cats avoid her plate
For little Phoebe can be tough
And if you push her, even rough
If Ginger cat goes near her dish
She growls at him, her tail aswish
My Phoebe is a feral cat
She was born in the wild, what's wrong with that?

Each evening, up to me she comes
She wants a stroke and shows her tum
That means she trusts me very much
She loves to kiss me, feel my touch
But if another should approach
She'll run and hide beneath the couch
It takes a while to trust, you see
And you are you, you are not me
My Phoebe is a feral cat
She was born in the wild, what's wrong with that?

I am so glad I took the time
To know my Phoebe, now she's mine
I took her home for her sake, yes
But she is now the one to bless
For loving Phoebe, she loves me
And she is such good company
My Phoebe is a feral cat
She was born in the wild, what's wrong with that?

My England

2010-06-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

I love you, my England, yes I do
If love it is, then why leave you?
Well, even though I love to roam
My heart will always call you 'home'
And one day soon, my roaming done
I'll come back home, we'll have such fun

And once again I'll walk your lanes
My dog in tow, my heart in chains
We'll walk on beaches, by the sea
And throw some sticks, my dog and me
And when I want, I'll find a pub
And have my share of English grub

My England, I can hardly wait
To open up a creaking gate
Which leads me to my English home
I'll never feel I'm on my own
For I'll be back with folk like me
We islanders, who love the sea

Yes, I'll be back, I hope it's soon
There's nothing like an English June

My Toffee

2010-06-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

Photo by Penny McKay, BC, Canada (c)

And so you sleep at end of day
You're tired now, worn out by play

You precious bundle
Precious dog
So full of love
A gift from God

In snow filled days
You find delight
But rain and storms
Give you a fright

Your fur is clipped
For summer now
You look so cute
With well clipped brow

My days are built around your fun
For I am now your human mum
We wake together at each dawn
And start our day with stretch and yawn

You're not a morning dog, I know
And sometimes breakfast comes and goes
You won't eat yet, too early still
Another nap will help, then fill
Your tummy with a tasty treat
I do so love to see you eat

And every evening we share
The sofa, with some loving care
As up to me you come and snuggle
My book put down, we have a cuddle

And when it's time once more to sleep
I know, my company, you'll keep
For we are one
My dog and I
And will be always
Till we die

And maybe even then, who knows
My Toffee: so much love she shows.....

Timmy the Angel

2010-05-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of Mitzy - another black and white cat. I have no electronic photos of Timmy and he passed away in 2000.

This poem was written for Timmy when he was still alive - he has since passed away. I brought him from England to Canada with me in 1997 with 6 other cats and my dog. Timmy was very special - a tamed feral cat who was loved by everyone and every cat and dog he met.

I have a little angel cat

He's black and he's white

And he's slim, not fat

He's loving and generous

Sweet and kind

He gives of himself and he never minds.

He is the anchor of the family

The other cats love him, it's plain to see

In the evening when Timmy with me likes to sit

One by one come the others, to love, to fit

All around Timmy they come to lay

To his right, to his left, or wherever they may

They snuggle together and smile and purr

They all love their Timmy, he grooms their fur

He washes their ears, he washes their shins

He nibbles the knots out from under their chins

Up go their paws, around Timmy's neck

To cuddle and snuggle and be Timmy's pet

Sometimes they compete for a place by his side

And they all surround Timmy, he's no place to hide

Sometimes he gets swamped by their love and affection

And looks for relief in another direction

When Timmy feels drained and he needs some relief

He comes to his Mummy and winds round my feet

I pick Timmy up for a cuddle and prayer

I often give thanks to my God that he's there

For life without Timmy is hard to imagine

What would we all do without Timmy's compassion?

Timmy, Timmy, Angel Cat

A gift from God, and that's a fact.

Smile

2010-05-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

Give someone a smile today
Take the time to try
So many people can be helped
As you go smiling by

So many faces, tired and sad
They need a helping hand
Smiles are free, but worth so much
So show a heart that's glad

This world of ours is full of stress
We rush from place to place
We have our schedules, overfull
We fill and plug each space

If only we could stop awhile
And give ourselves some time
We'd find that life is not so bad
And people can be kind

Sometimes a smile is all we have
To offer up each day
But we should know how much it helps
To see a smiling face!

Smile as you through every day
Try not to show your pain
Accept the trials with grateful heart
They only lead to gain

Each battle won, each crossroad faced
Means one more lesson learned
So smile at life, give out some joy
And peace is what you'll earn.

2010-05-09T08:20:00.002-07:00

An English Saturday

2010-05-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday, that means one thing
For my dear mum and me
Some yummy cake, some good coffee
A pot of Earl Grey tea

'Hi Vee' says Barry, 'Hello, mum
What will it be today?
The cheesecake's good, and so's the pie
Whose turn is it to pay?'

We choose the pie and take our seats
It's here we get our rest
We munch our pie, and drink our drinks
And chat about our quest

Today we look for mum's new coat
We've searched the town already
One place is left for us to try
Our search is slow and steady

The coffee's good, it's hot and strong
I think I'll have another
'O.K. Vee, it's coming up
Now, what about your mother?'

The waitresses all know us too
Our visits here are frequent
We love the shop, the food, the tea
The service always excellent

This coffee shop is 'olde worlde'
We love it just this way
It's pleasant here to sit and chat
So here, a while, we stay

When time has come to say goodbye
We head back to the shops
We find the coat, some shoes, a hat
We're tired, fit to drop

One more job awaits us yet
A visit that we love
Our Pannier Market, full of veg
Antiques, and books and stuff

Our Saturdays would not be done
Without our market veggie run
Bananas, carrotts, apples too
They taste just great, and good for you!

The stalls are full of local goods
All grown or made in Devon
The fruit is juicy, eggs free range
The cream is made in heaven!

Of course my favourite stall holder
Sells flowers on her stall
So there I stop and buy a bunch
Fresh flowers for the hall

I run mum home, we say goodbye
"I'll call you in the week'
An English daughter and her mum
Whose company I seek.

The Interview - a short story

2010-05-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

He sat back in the armchair and looked around the room. It was nice - such a nondescript word that could be, but yes, it was nice. Healthy plants on a table against the wall, comfortable furniture, a couple of nice prints on the wall opposite the telly.

She came back into the living room with two mugs of hot coffee and then disappeared back into the kitchen, returning with two plates and what looked like a freshly baked cake. It looked good.

Elizabeth offered the cake plate to him, eyebrows raised in a silent 'will you have some?'

"Yes please, it looks good - did you make it?"

"I made it this morning, I like to bake. Here you are then."

He took a bite of the cake - absolutely delicious! He hadn't had anything that tasted that good for a very long time. He took a sip of the coffee, yes, perked coffee, none of your instant stuff here! Really good coffee too. He mustn't get side-tracked though. He was here for a reason, still, good background stuff.

"So, Miss Snow, when did you first see these, er, these....."

"Elizabeth, please! The helpers? About two years ago. My dog used to see them long before that, of course, animals can, can't they? She used to suddenly gaze upwards towards the ceiling, but I couldn't see anything myself at that time."

"So, why do you think you were suddenly able to see them, when you hadn't been able to see them before?" He took another sip of coffee and another bite of cake - it really was exceptionally good!

"I'm not sure really, I suppose I just wasn't ready, mentally or emotionally, before, but then, after prayer and meditation, I started to see them - fleetingly at first, the edge of a garment floating past my face, a sense of another being in the room, a smell of perfume - not an earthly perfume, such a beautiful smell, I can't describe it."

She also sipped her coffee and had some cake - Elizabeth enjoyed good coffee and cake, it was one of her favourite things.

He wrote his notes in between sips of coffee and included his impressions of Elizabeth Snow. She seemed sane enough, but can you ever really tell? He had to admit she was quite attractive, not in an obvious, blowsy way, but subtle details: the way she wore her hair, to her shoulders, curly, dark auburn, no grey yet, unless she coloured it. Her clothes suited her, not just her appearance, but they suited the character he was starting to understand. She was a kind person, he thought, and intelligent. Plus, she was thoughtful - she'd asked him if he would feel comfortable interviewing her in her home, or if he'd feel better in a neutral place - his office, or a restaurant? But he'd wanted to interview her in her home to get a feel, silly journalistic phrase, but actually spot on. Atmosphere was very important and he always trusted his instincts, he'd learnt that early on. Regardless of what the Editor might do with the story, he always wrote it as he saw it, he was true to his craft and always strove for honesty. Unusual these days, but true.

Elizabeth looked him straight in the eye and smiled at him.

"This must seem very strange to you, Simon! I expect you think I'm quite mad! But I learnt long ago that I can't control what other people think or do, I can only control what I think and do. I always try to keep an open mind - I suppose that's why they revealed themselves to me. Would you like another piece of cake?"

"Yes please! How big are these helpers?"

"They're about the size of my dog, actually, although much slimmer and without the fur." Her eyes twinkled as she talked. She had a mischievousness about her that was almost irresistible. Pity she was so much older than him, he found her very comfortable to be around. He thought he'd like her for a friend, he felt sure she'd be a faithful, non-judgmental friend, a rare commodity.

"Talking of which, I'll let her up now. She doesn't like it when new people come to the house, it takes her a while to warm up to them, but she's heard your voice for a while now and I think she'll be O.K. Don't worry, she's not vicious, she just barks at people she doesn't know." And with that Elizabeth opened the door from the kitchen into the conservatory and in came a long-haired dog, fairly short to the ground, looked rather like a Pomeranian, but not quite. The dog approached him, sniffed his trousers, then ran over to Elizabeth and jumped onto the sofa next to her.

"She's a Pomeranian-cross. Her name's Tess." said Elizabeth.

"Right. So, does Tess bark at the helpers?"

"No, she never has. But she's been seeing them for a long time and doesn't take much notice of them any more. At first she was a little alarmed, as was I! When she saw them flying around the living room, hovering just below the ceiling, she didn't know what to make of them. But once she realized they weren't going to hurt us or the cats, she just ignored them."

"Are they female, or male?"

"Both genders. They're very attractive beings and very kind. Their whole object in life is to help animals and people whenever possible."

"Hmmmm. What do they eat? Do they eat anything?"

"They eat flowers and fruits and vegetables and they particularly like marigolds."

"So, how do they help animals and people exactly?"

"Animals see them more easily than people, of course. Animals aren't taught to ignore their senses like we are, so animals are easier for them to help than people. They try to divert them from danger - sometimes they hover over the animal and hide the animal with their wings, then people, or predatory animals, can't see the animal they're hiding. It's very interesting to see! It's a bit like the 91st Psalm actually! "He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shalt thou trust."

"91st Psalm - hmmm. I must admit, I'm not a church goer."

"Neither am I Simon. But every day I read my Bible and the 91st Psalm is one of the Psalms that I stand on daily, for protection, you know."

"Oh - no, I don't know. You do seem to have led a charmed life, Elizabeth. My Editor has told me a few stories about your life. As he's a friend of yours I was very excited when he asked me to interview you. Usually this type of thing (his face grew a little pink as he said this) is covered by Tony, but he's on vacation at present. I'm glad to have this opportunity." This last part was added in an attempt at reassurance.

"Don't worry about it, Simon, I'm pleased to talk to you. I know this all sounds more than strange and most people won't believe it when they read it. But your Editor, and my friend, felt the story was interesting and should be told, so here we are."

"Yes, right, well, did the helpers come here to help you or Tess? If that's what their objective is."

"I have some feral cats, plus some dumped domestic cats too. One of the cats was going through an emotional time of it, the cat's particular friend had just passed away and it was grieving for him. The cat's called Henry and the one who passed away was called Timmy. Henry and Timmy went everywhere together and when Timmy died, Henry took it very hard. You do realize that animals grieve, don't you? For each other and for humans that they've loved?"

Right on cue, a cat walked into the room and jumped onto the back of the sofa, where he could view the room, and look out of the window whenever he wanted to.

"This is Henry, Simon. Oh, and that one's called Ginger, for obvious reasons!" Just then, a ginger tabby entered the room - completely sure of himself, the ginger cat went right up to Simon and rubbed his face on Simon's trouser-leg.

"Oh - that's a good sign. He's always friendly but not usually that friendly with someone he's never met before. Do you like cats, Simon?"

"Yes, I do. We always had a cat when I was a child; I grew up in Cornwall. I don't have one now, but I think maybe I should get one. I live alone and it would be so nice to come home to a cat - is that selfish of me, do you think?"

"Not at all, Simon, as long as you look after the cat's emotional as well as physical needs. They need love and attention just like us, of course. There are plenty of cats looking for good homes. I could get you a cat very easily if you want one, Simon, but you'd have to promise to get it spayed or neutered - so many unwanted animals in the world!" She smiled warmly at him and he felt his heart melt. Not in a lustful or romantic way, but in a warm, enveloping way. Her whole persona spoke of kindness and consideration. But what about these 'helpers' - surely they couldn't really exist?

He sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. His mind was working overtime - he must stay detached! He had to get to the facts of this matter.

"What did the helpers do then, for Henry?" he asked.

"It turns out that two of them stayed with him the whole time he was grieving. It took a couple of years, you know. Timmy is buried in the back garden and Henry used to go up there and lie on his grave. They hugged him and kept him company and spoke words of kindness and comfort to him."

"They speak? Do you talk to them?"

"Oh yes, they speak very softly, their voices are melodious, musical voices, very pleasant to listen to. No harsh tones in their speech, no shouting, no anger, just kind, comforting words." Elizabeth smiled again.

"Would you like another cup of coffee, Simon?"

"Yes please - very good coffee, by the way."

"I'm glad you like it, it's organic, of course, wouldn't buy anything else. Everything tastes much better without chemicals in it, don't you think? Why would we put chemicals into our bodies when there's an alternative?"

He hadn't thought of it that way before, he really should start buying organic produce, he thought.

"Are there any helpers in here at the moment?" he asked, looking up towards the ceiling.

Elizabeth smiled again and put her face into her coffee cup. Sophie and Eggie had been hovering over Simon the whole time he'd been there.

"Yes, Simon, there are two helpers in here at the moment."

"Is that because your dog or cats need help of some kind?"

"No, not exactly. These two have become close friends to us and often drop in for a visit. Oh dear, Eggie is eating the daffodils again. Eggie dear, please don't eat those! I brought those in to brighten up my room! Oh, O.K. just the one then....."

Simon looked over to the bookcase where the daffodils were and to his absolute astonishment he saw one daffodil coming out of the vase, going upwards, and slowly disappearing, as if it was being eaten....

'Did she put something in the coffee? Am I hallucinating? No, Jim, the Editor, wouldn't be friends with Elizabeth if she were dangerous.'

"I think I have enough for a story here, Elizabeth, I think Ishould be going now! Thank you for the coffee and cake and thank you for talking to me. I've enjoyed my visit." Simon was surprised to hear himself say this, he'd never said it before and he'd done hundreds of interviews. The truth was that he had enjoyed his visit, very much. He felt calmer, tranquil even....

"Well, if you need any more information, you have my phone number. And if you're in this area and want some coffee, please come and see me, Simon." This was said with warmth, it wasn't just a parting phrase, and Simon knew she meant it.

"I will. Thank you, Elizabeth." And Simon knew that he'd be visiting again and he knew they would become friends.

Simon put his coat on and felt something brush past his face. He looked up and saw, what was that? Just a glimpse, something pretty, and the most wonderful perfume! He got into his car and drove away.

"Well, Sophie, was that O.K? Did we help Simon, do you think?"

A sweet voice replied. "Yes, he'll find his way now. I put that black kitten on his passenger seat. They're just right for each other. I think Simon will expand his outlook and accomplish many things in his life - and he'll always have a cat!"

Elizabeth smiled and said, "Mission accomplished then. I wonder if the story will ever see the light of day? I don't think the world is ready for it yet!" and she picked up the Derek Tangye book she was reading, Tess by her side, Henry sitting on the back of the sofa, and Ginger on her lap. "Life is good!" she said and started reading.

A Bear in the Apple Tree

2010-05-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

There's a bear in the apple tree - yes, I'm serious!
Mama bear is under the tree
And, wait, yes, two cubs IN the tree!
Well, the cubs couldn't reach the apples
So they climbed the tree
Now they can get at, and eat, the apples

They're SO cute!
Dear little cubs
I pray God will protect them and mama bear
Mama bear spies our fence
Will she come over?
I don't have any apple trees
My dog Toffee barks as mama bear approaches our fence
Mama bear backs off

Munch, munch, mama bear sits on my neighbours' lawn
Munching apples, crunch, munch, crunch
The cubs eating the apples in the tree

The bear family are satisfied now
They go back into the forest
I pray for protection for mama bear and her cubs
I thank God for the animal kingdom
I thank God for bears and this beautiful place

I'm truly blessed as my home backs onto forest
A forest where bears, coyotes and deer roam
Amongst others....
What a blessing, to live amongst these animals
What a blessing to see trees behind us
What a blessing to live in this lovely place

Blessed, blessed, blessed, truly blessed
That's what we are.

The Frog

2010-04-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

'Not all frogs turn into princes'
I heard someone say
'Sometimes a frog is just a frog'
I think I had to learn that - how about you?

Is there a frog in your life?
Do you want him or her to be a prince or princess?
Remember this
We are all on different paths
With different lessons to learn

Sometimes a frog is just a frog
Don't be disappointed
If you want a prince, look for a prince
Don't be surprised if you don't find him
In a pond full of frogs!