Little Brother

When I was ten years old, my parents announced to the four of us children that we were going to be having a baby brother or sister. Back then there were no tests to tell ahead of time. What a surprise for me (and I think for my parents as well). My mom was 43 at the time, and having a baby at that age was questionable back then, since the age factor could lead to issues like Downs Syndrome and others.

I remember being introduced to people as the “Baby of the family!” It brought a lot of good attention it seemed. But with the advent of my new little brother, all that changed over night. All went well and my brother Philip was born without any complications. He was the first of us to be born in the hospital! He was so cute and everyone loved him and showered him with attention. I don’t remember ever feeling jealous or left out as a result. I am sure it was a bigger adjustment for my parents than it was for us children. My sister was delighted to have a little brother and took him under her wing to look after.

Tomorrow, October 25th, he turns 64! It is hard to believe that so much time has passed since then. I wanted to write this post to wish him happy birthday!

What a nice surprise

A little brother arrived

Happy Birthday Phil

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Photo from family album

“Here’s Looking at You Kid”

I found this cute little guy today on the side of my house when I was rolling up my water hose. He is a common tree frog found in this area and may other parts of the Eastern United States. They are usually more active at night. I love all his little suction cups on his feet.  Keeps him hanging on!

Little green tree frog

Keeps one bulging eye on me

Suction cups for toes

iPhone Photos:  Dwight L. Roth

Title taken from the movie Casa Blanca   –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqhNZJKMFLc

 

Viking Alruna

In 2019 we took a Viking River Cruise for our 50th wedding anniversary. We were on the Viking Ship Alruna. The story they tell is this:  Alruna – A Valkyrie The daughter of Kjárr of Valland, Alruna (Ölrún in Old Norse) was one of three Valkyries spinning linen on the shore of Wolf Lake, when they were spotted by three brothers who lived nearby. Alruna and Egil, one of the brothers, lived together for seven winters, until Alruna flew off to battle, never to return.

Viking Warrior

Strong female Valkyrie leaves

Never to return

It was the trip of a lifetime for us, as a European heatwave moved in that summer.

Photos: Dwight L. Roth   The art piece portraying Alruna was at the top of the landing on the second deck. 

 

You Can’t Take It With You

Being retired allows me the freedom to volunteer at our local Habitat Restore. The store depends on donations from the community which are resold at our store.  The money raised is used to build affordable housing for families who qualify. One of the things I have observed is that much of the donated furniture we get comes to us after the death of older family members. The children take what they want and then give us the rest to sale. Sometimes there are no children and we get most of what is left behind.

Here are two major items that were donated recently. The end tables and center piece were acquired by the owner when he was stationed in Japan. They are beautiful hand carved pieces that were then brought back when he came back to the States.  The tall room divider that was donated appears to have come from China. It also was brought to this country by the owner. It is very difficult to get the full value of an object. We usually resale for about half of the original value or less. Hopefully we will find a buyer for these items.

Cherished items stay

When death come calling for us

All is left behind

Children take what is desired

Cherished memories are resold

Photos are from the Union County Habitat for Humanity Restore in Monroe, NC

What’s Your Sign

Signs seem to be an important part of our lives. I remember when people would ask each other, “What’s your sign?” This usually referred to the signs of the Zodiac. In our world we take signs for granted, including when to cross the street, or where to cross, what to watch out for, where not to turn, and so many more. We depend on signs to send us in the right direction, show our streets, or the roads we are riding on. One sign many ignore is that little box that says, “I read and understand the rules and policies for this App!” Overwhelmed we just click and go on.

Even more disturbing is our failure to read Nature’s signs… wear your mask, get your vaccine shots, our climate is changing, our world population is spiraling upward, pollutions is killing our environment, and many more. To borrow a quote from Bill Engvall, “Here’s Your Sign!”

Signs of the times speak

Humans fail to hear prophets

Living in denial

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Nature is my Muse

Today at d’Verse, Ingrid asked us to write a poem describing our muse. In the past poets were often inspired by a person who stimulated their imagination and brought life to their poems. My muse is Nature. One thing I enjoy as much as writing is getting a good nature shot. The bees and butterflies, birds and flowers all feed into my poetry in some way. When my mind goes dry, I can always count on my photo files to get my juices flowing.

Inspiration flows

from Nature’s muse to my thoughts

Honey of the mind

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Painting Peru (photo montage)

In 2014 some neighbors we met from down the street came by my house and said they saw me painting in the garage. They wanted to commission me to paint several small paintings for them. His wife was from Peru and wanted some mementoes of Peruvian art. They gave me some pictures they wanted painted and I said I would try. After a couple of weeks, I had them done. They were pleased and I was happy to get a paid painting job. I don’t remember all the names of the objects. Perhaps you might know. One was a famous beach and another was a famous canyon, as deep or deeper than the Grand Canyon.

Peruvian Art

Meaningful home memories

Paintings on the wall

Paintings: Dwight L. Roth

Cicada’s First Song

Claws firmly attached, it hangs on to my old bird house wires being swallowed up by the willow tree! Seeing it hanging there was a most interesting sight. I wasn’t sure at first if it was alive or not, so I tapped it and found it hollow. The cicada, or seventeen year locust comes up out of the ground every seventeen years, usually attaching itself to a tree, and bursts out of its shell. Then it sings with his wings trying to attract a mate. Ours are usually green in color and about twice as big as the original shell. This one is a photographer’s dream shot. I was very excited to see it hanging there.

Cicada shell sways

Remnant of its dark past life

My bird house long gone

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Hollow memories still hang on

Cicada sang its first song

Thrill Ride

Today Sir Richard Branson and his crew tested his Virgin Galactic space rocket that will take you to the edge of Space over fifty miles high, and then back to land like an airplane. People are signing up to ride the next flight at $250,000 each. It seems people with lots of money are always looking for the next big thrill.

Rich billionaires race

to create people’s first thrill ride

People pay big bucks

for the Virgin’s first high trip

Pushing Earth’s limits

Stamp art: Dwight L. Roth

Fruit of the Vine (haiku)

Grapes ripen on vines

Turning blue in summer sun

Squirrels may get first taste

My first good harvest

Will I get a taste at all

Other mouths compete

Globes of green sunshine

Pure sweet transformation waits

To see who tastes first

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Clauda at d’Verse, asked us to write a poem about our garden. I wrote this one last week about my grapes and competition with the squirrels for the fruit. I am now getting some sweet blue ones. They are wonderful. Since many of the d’verse group did not see this poem, I thought I would post it for our prompt this evening.

Join us at: https//dversepoets.com