Under the Weather

Or perhaps I am right at the same level as the weather, which is shivery cold, gray and gloomy! I'm sure it will pass off quickly enough...and what a great excuse for reading detective novels and drinking lots of hot tea with honey! I love the little note Paul pinned to the tea cozy for me...

Wistful

cold bright autumn day -
the last leaves float to the ground
like lost promises

This is for Haiku Bones, a new weekly haiku meme created by me and my brother Bruce, and its inaugural prompt: wistful...Please feel free to join in the haiku happening!

A Beam of Light

Onwards and Upwards

New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still, and onward, who would keep abreast of Truth;
Lo, before us gleam her camp-fires! we ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Future's portal with the Past's blood-rusted key.

James Russell Lowell, 1819–1891, The Present Crisis

Winter Graffiti

abandoned building-
all the writing on the wall
speaks to emptiness

Homemade Rolls

Sowing Joy

More dough in the freezer, and I planted flower bulbs last week (beating the season's first snow by only a few days so maybe they won't "take". But we'll see!)

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other. ~Chinese Proverb

Sweet Grapes

not sour
Shopping with Paul over the weekend he picked out a large container of green grapes. With a worried eye on the ever-mounting tab and a suspicious glance at the color of the fruit I said, "I don't think those will be any good. They look a little past it." Paul replied, "Maybe, but I want them." So okay.

They have turned out to be the most delicious grapes ever.


When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.

-- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Light House

On the highest hill,
the lighthouse sits flaming
in the setting sun



Took this shot during last year's trip to Monhegan Island. I thought of it again when I saw that One Single Impression's theme today was Lighthouse.

Friend Friday

Mary and Keith's Excellent Adventure!
My cousin Keith and his wife Mary have quit their jobs, sold their house, bought an RV and are touring the United States for a year, along with their little dog, Tina. We were lucky enough to host them for a few days last month as they headed south. That's a picture of the intrepid trio in front of their rig, with my oldest son P. We had a lovely visit and are glad to be able to keep up with them on their peregrinations via their lively blog:

Mary and Keith's Excellent Adventure!



Pink Doughnut with Clouds, Nancy Bea Miller, 4 x 6 inches, 2009


Today is First Friday, so there is a slew of artistic activity in Philadelphia and environs. I'm in a small works group show, along with many friends including Elana Hagler and Elaine Lisle, at Artists' House Gallery.
Small Works-2009
First Friday, December 4, 5 - 8:30pm
and
Sunday Reception,December 6, 1 - 4pm
Artists' House Gallery
57 North Second Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 923-8440
I'm planning to attend the Sunday reception; please stop in if you are downtown!

Wood Working

scraping and shaping
gouging and smoothing silk smooth-
the wood works us well

Almost Full

MIGRATION

Stumbling across
the sky, catching in branches-
the almost full moon