Remembering Mom

Mom passed away in 2007 at the age of 93. She was one of a kind, caring and compassionate, with a love that went beyond herself to those around her. Her life was spent in service to her family, her husband, and others.  She was strong and enduring, with a will to find meaning and purpose up to the end. She took time to read to us when we were young. Her faith in God went very deep and she shared that with everyone she met. She was a preacher’s wife who worked hard to bring the love of God to others.

Mom // strength of mountains

Caring love brings ebb and flow

Compassion for all

*********

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Advertisements

Patio Picnic

One of my great memories is spending part of a week with my two cousins at a vacation house along Stone Mountain in Pennsylvania. We had a beautiful view of Big Valley, where I spent five summers working on their farm. We enjoyed catching up with what we had been doing and taking a walk to the local Amish  Bakery. A patio picnic with fresh corn on the cobb and baked chicken topped off the visit.

Summer picnic enjoyed

Great food good conversation

Sweetheart celebrates

**********

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Gina, at d’Verse. reflects on picnics with her family over the years,  and asked us to write about a picnic we remember.

Join us at:  https://dversepoets.com

 

Remembering a Life

Today we planted a flowering pear tree in the back yard to remember Ruth’s father. Some dear friends gave us money awhile ago to make the purchase. With spring in the air and temps in the high sixties, it seemed like a good day for this project. We are looking forward to seeing it bloom each spring and thinking of Dad.  It will be a great addition to our yard.

A day to reflect

Memories of dad will blossom

With the warmth of Spring

**********

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Lion of Winter

While we are enjoying the first signs of spring in North Carolina, the Northeast is hit with another four to six inches of light snowfall. Fortunately March Lion Snows soon disappear as the sun moves further north.

March // roar all you want

Light snow doesn’t deter spring

Mourning doves shiver

 

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

More snow is forecast for this weekend. Frank Tassone asked us to address winter going out like a lion. Our Haikai poem is supposed to allude to light snow. You can join us at: https://frankjtassone.com/2019/03/02/haikai-challenge-75-3-2-19-light-snow-awayuki-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

 

Downey Woodpecker

This Downey has been coming to my suite feeder and enjoying my sunflower seeds all winter. I see him and his mate, who has no red markings on her head coming back and forth. They are such a pleasure to watch. During the winter months they come every day.

Downey and Hairy woodpeckers are almost identical in coloration. The Downey is much smaller in size and has a much shorter beak than the Hairy, according to audobon.org . Another indicator is the red patch on the top of the head of the male. In the Downey, the red patch is usually solid all the way across. On the hairy it is split.

Up to his eyeballs

in suet cake, Downey feasts.

Saves headaches for spring

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Sweet Solitude

What is it about the ocean’s ebb and flow that brings healing to the soul? Is it the sound of the surf rolling in; or the breakers crashing one the sand? The rhythm of the ocean  draws many to seek solitude at waters edge.

As you sit feeling the water tickle your ankles and soft sand squishing between your toes, the cares of the world seem to flow away with the receding tide. The ocean’s mantra soothes the soul and brings rejuvenation and renewed strength.

Ocean works magic

Soul’s sandcastles wash away.

Summer solitude

*********

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today Kim, at dverse, asked us to write a Haibun about solitude.  I chose to write about the healing qualities of solitude that many find at the ocean.

Come join us at: https://dversepoets.com

 

Athabasca Falls

When our boys were young, we made a number of trips to the Canadian Rockies and the surrounding areas. One of our stops was at Athabasca Falls. It was a beautiful spot. I took a slide photo of the falls, and when I got home sent it off to get made into a poster. It hung on our upstairs landing until we moved from that house to our present home. It was rather faded but that time but held a lot of sentimental value. I decided to see if I could paint the photo. This was the beginning of my renewed interest in painting. It is now preserved for a lasting memory.

Whitewater roaring
Rocks refuse to wear away
Athabasca Falls

The little fir tree growing in the rocks survived its precarious location. Several years later we visited the falls a second time and it appeared to be about six feet tall!

Painting of Athabasca Falls: Dwight L. Roth

Painting Summer

What do you do when you get a couple of days of warm weather in the middle of winter? You paint Summer! Yesterday was an unusually warm seventy degrees Fahrenheit. I decided to paint a photo on Masonite board that came into the local Habitat Restore. I kept the landscape and added the barn for a point of interest.  I took out a few of the cows in the field. It was sixty degrees today, but warm enough to finish the painting.

 

Winter takes a rest

Warm air sneaks in for a day

I paint summer dreams

***************

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

 

Raindrop Rubies

Have you ever seen a raindrop ruby shining in the afternoon light? Today was a little warmer, so I decided to catch up on my Fall yard work. When I finished, I sat down in my Adirondack Chair under the trees to cool off. I checked my cell phone for a while. At one point a few sprinkles fell. Two very tiny droplets landed on middle of my phone glass. As I looked at them I they looked like minute rubies and emeralds, depending on which way I turned the phone in the light.
I wondered how many people would have wiped the phone and missed the rubies. Very similar to life. If we take time to look around us, we might just find some sparkling rubies and emeralds in people we would usually pass over.

Raindrops on the glass
Refracted rubies sparkle
Fall rainbow compressed
Into tiny water drops
Look closely before they’re gone

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Golden Gate Morning (a Haibun)

In 1989 our family took a road trip to California and beyond. We went north west from Bakersfield to Fresno and visited Yosemite National Park.  Then we headed to San Francisco by way of Oakland. It was about 5:00 on Sunday evening when we arrived. We had no problem driving through the city, and then across the Golden Gate Bridge. On the other side, we stopped at the overlook where I took several photographs of the bridge.

I have been wishing to paint the bridge ever since that time, and finally finished this painting this week. I wanted to minimize the colors, so I used mostly black and white and then red on the bridge. I emphasized the ship in the bay to give a center of interest that draws you in to see the bridge. I tried a full color attempt first that I was not happy with, so I went this direction. I switched my haiku to morning instead of evening.

Golden Gate Morning

Summer sun burns off the fog

Ship heads out to sea