I am relieved and happy that the Banyan tree in Lahaina has come back to life. Watched for a notice it was re-leafing.
Years back I visited the famous Treaty Oak in Austin TX which had been poisoned with a powerful herbicide. Lots of professionals labored to keep that tree alive.
I prayed and smiled while there. Have a background in horticulture and botany which gives me
a more involved outlook.
Lived in NYC for most of my life, though not living there now.
Re my poem I assumed the Times Square news ticker identified it as being NYC and thus the tree as being Rockefeller Center.
Thank you. I am reminded today that life doesn't stop just because we declare a holiday. The water went out. A friend gave me difficult news. A stranger wants to do potential business. The owls didn't know the difference and woke me in the morning, as they did yesterday, as they will tomorrow, I hope.
Quietly waiting for others to wake up, my 2 puppies have their treats and are waiting so patiently for the others to give them attention. Happy Merry!!!
Thank you, E. Jean. I’d planned to write about my birthday adventures back when I was 12 (prompted by your question in Ask E Jean) but the owls hijacked the page. Clearly I needed to write that poem. I’m so glad it touched you. Do you have owls in your neighborhood?
P.S. I was serenaded all last night by a sleepy sounding owl hooting from the branches of my holly tree. It was mesmerizing.
And how did I not know you are an incredible mystery writer?! I just started “Foliage,” and am both enthralled and a little alarmed that you came up with this story. If you didn’t love animals so much I’d be a little concerned about you - lol (jk). Thank you for the kinds words my friend. Love, hugs, and Merry Christmas!
Oh I envy you being able to be with equines. They have been some of my best teachers and friends. One day I hope to be able to give a retired Amish drat horse a home and spend time just walking, talking, and being with them. My back prevents me from doing much riding so a slow amble would be fine. Have you by any chance heard of The Red Mare? It is written by Tania Kindersley and is the ongoing story of her relationships with her thoroughbreds and all they’ve taught her. It is exquisite and captures the magic of horses perfectly (a word she would never use to describe herself): https://www.facebook.com/RedTheMare
Pleas tell me about yours. I love a good horse story almost as much as good food, which is saying a lot - lol
And now I am missing my quarter horse…gone but never forgotten. Thank you for your kind words. I hope your day is full of horsey love and light.
Aw you too, Jena, have had a dearly beloved horse, like so many of us horse owners... Thanks for the recommendation of The Red Mare, I'll look it up.
The transformational book about horses for me was The Tao Of Equus by Linda Kohanov. She learned a huge amount about herself when she could no longer ride her horse and spent time with her mare, initially just walking together. That lead to many more collective experiences that Linda developed into an approach called Eponaquest where horses help people better understand both themselves and their interactions with other people.
Working with Linda & other Eponaquest instructors, I've become an Eponaquest Advanced Instructor & I learned SO much! My horses are amazing teachers.
My young mare Foxy Lady is the daughter of my dearly departed mare Omega. She loves spending time with me and it's a delight to just hang out with her on the pasture on our property. I'm truly blessed!
I will look up "The Tao of Equus" (the title is familiar though I'm not sure why).
I think you will love Tania's work. The Red Mare is just a page where she shares thoughts and stories on FB (though she is a superb storyteller). She has written a couple of books about how her red mare has changed her life. She was a horse crazy kid and thought that being with horses was all about training, riding, and showing. Lo and behold she has so much to learn from her red mare who had no patience for her preconceived notions or human foibles. I believe she offers workshops now about the "field of peace" where she and her horses have learned to meet and enjoy one another's company . Here is a link to her site: http://taniakindersley.blogspot.com
I dream of being able to spend time with horses again - just being with them - learning with and from them. Please do stay in touch. I have this feeling you're one of my tribe ;-)
I'm off to learn more about Eponaquest. Thank you!
🙂 it definitely sounds like we're in the same tribe 🙂🐴🐎. Enjoy discovering Eponaquest! You might also like the card deck that Linda Kohanov created with the lovely artist Kim McElroy called The Way of the Horse. They recently printed a 2nd edition & I have the honor of being cited in the acknowledgements. 🙏💕
My very special Christmas present this year was a portrait that Kim McElroy created of my dearly departed mare Omega & the 1st horse we ever owned, a sweet French Standardbred named Amour who died at the ripe old age of 33. They are pictured peacefully grazing among the stars above our gate. ❤️ Omega died very suddenly in 2020 after a severe bout of colic, right at the beginning of the pandemic, just a few days before my 60th birthday. So this is also my special 60th birthday present.
This Christmas has been filled with special moments of togetherness with my family so far, I'm so very grateful. My heart is full!
Thank you again for all that you've shared with me, Jenna. I'll go talk to my horses about you tomorrow, so that they can connect with you from afar (they probably know how to do that sort of thing ...) 😉😊🐎
I'd love to see the portrait Kim created. What an amazing gift. Any chance you can share?
Thirty-three is a long life for a horse but it is never enough, is it?
I'll spend some time in horse space just soaking up the stillness and love. I don't do that often enough. Maybe I'll see Foxy there? My other special friends are the dolphins (specifically spinners) whom I used to swim with daily in Hawaii. I think of them as horses of the sea :-)
I am still working on how best to speak with whales as they are not just big physically, but appear to have very expansive consciousnesses and it can be hard to get their attention. But I enjoy spending time with them anyway, especially while swimming.
Okay, I have all sorts of human errands to run so I will leave this delightful conversation for now.
I am so happy to know your holidays have filled your heart and soul. Sending love your way.
Oh wow dolphins & whales! I've never experienced them up close, lucky you! I'll share the portrait when I'm ready, I only just received it a few days ago & I'm still taking it all in... You can see photos of my horse herd on my Instagram page @ltilbu. Enjoy! And thanks for the lovely exchange ❤️
What a fabulous poem! Just beautiful...! Thanks for sharing, Jena.
Thank you, Leon!
Wonderful!
Thanks so much Laura. HUGS!
Jena, was inspired by your owl poem and wrote this:
A Walk Thru Urban Canyons
Lights, action, cacophony
throngs of too eager tourists
jostling me in all ways without malice
a pedicab driver hawking he is free
as close to a hawk as I'm going to get
A proud and magnificent tree
that gave its many decades of sustenance
to entertain these hordes
crowds and police barricades
prevent me from getting
within communicable distance
a mutual loss
Visitors absorbing all the colors of the rainbow
all the overreaching commercial displays
to see feel and remember
maybe for a lifetime
lights on the blink
like me?
Walking faster my attention is sucked
into the Times Square news ticker
of bad news headlines
thousands of miles away
innocents are slaughtered
and I am not in control
my patience wearing thin
as thin as dangerous ice
about to take leave of this madness
and withdraw into the depths of my wise soul
Because I am an owl lady
far from my sustainable home
Oh my. This was a little too vivid for me. I could feel my anxiety ramping up. Well done.
Are you in Lahaina on Maui by any chance? Your description of the tree brought the Banyan tree roasted by the fire, but still blooming, to mind.
Thank you for letting me know my poem touched and inspired you to write your own. There's not greater compliment :-)
HUGS!
I am relieved and happy that the Banyan tree in Lahaina has come back to life. Watched for a notice it was re-leafing.
Years back I visited the famous Treaty Oak in Austin TX which had been poisoned with a powerful herbicide. Lots of professionals labored to keep that tree alive.
I prayed and smiled while there. Have a background in horticulture and botany which gives me
a more involved outlook.
Lived in NYC for most of my life, though not living there now.
Re my poem I assumed the Times Square news ticker identified it as being NYC and thus the tree as being Rockefeller Center.
HUGS BACK TO YOU
Stunning, Jena. Truly. 💖
I am so glad it touched you, Melody. It was a joy to write.
Thank you. I am reminded today that life doesn't stop just because we declare a holiday. The water went out. A friend gave me difficult news. A stranger wants to do potential business. The owls didn't know the difference and woke me in the morning, as they did yesterday, as they will tomorrow, I hope.
That’s it exactly. They are eternally in the moment. Sending warm thoughts and a virtual hug your way.
Quietly waiting for others to wake up, my 2 puppies have their treats and are waiting so patiently for the others to give them attention. Happy Merry!!!
Awwww…dogs are the best.
Gorgeous poem, Jena!
The last two lines are killers!!
Thank you, E. Jean. I’d planned to write about my birthday adventures back when I was 12 (prompted by your question in Ask E Jean) but the owls hijacked the page. Clearly I needed to write that poem. I’m so glad it touched you. Do you have owls in your neighborhood?
P.S. I was serenaded all last night by a sleepy sounding owl hooting from the branches of my holly tree. It was mesmerizing.
Wow, how did I not realize you were a remarkably talented poet Jena? Full moon December 26th! Merry Christmas!💚♥️🎄
And how did I not know you are an incredible mystery writer?! I just started “Foliage,” and am both enthralled and a little alarmed that you came up with this story. If you didn’t love animals so much I’d be a little concerned about you - lol (jk). Thank you for the kinds words my friend. Love, hugs, and Merry Christmas!
The beauty of Substack Jena!
Indeed :-)
Thank you Jena! I'm going to spend time in the pasture with my horses today. Beautiful poem and a timely reminder to be in the moment. ❤️🙏🎄
Oh I envy you being able to be with equines. They have been some of my best teachers and friends. One day I hope to be able to give a retired Amish drat horse a home and spend time just walking, talking, and being with them. My back prevents me from doing much riding so a slow amble would be fine. Have you by any chance heard of The Red Mare? It is written by Tania Kindersley and is the ongoing story of her relationships with her thoroughbreds and all they’ve taught her. It is exquisite and captures the magic of horses perfectly (a word she would never use to describe herself): https://www.facebook.com/RedTheMare
Pleas tell me about yours. I love a good horse story almost as much as good food, which is saying a lot - lol
And now I am missing my quarter horse…gone but never forgotten. Thank you for your kind words. I hope your day is full of horsey love and light.
Aw you too, Jena, have had a dearly beloved horse, like so many of us horse owners... Thanks for the recommendation of The Red Mare, I'll look it up.
The transformational book about horses for me was The Tao Of Equus by Linda Kohanov. She learned a huge amount about herself when she could no longer ride her horse and spent time with her mare, initially just walking together. That lead to many more collective experiences that Linda developed into an approach called Eponaquest where horses help people better understand both themselves and their interactions with other people.
Working with Linda & other Eponaquest instructors, I've become an Eponaquest Advanced Instructor & I learned SO much! My horses are amazing teachers.
My young mare Foxy Lady is the daughter of my dearly departed mare Omega. She loves spending time with me and it's a delight to just hang out with her on the pasture on our property. I'm truly blessed!
Oh Lorraine, I want to know more!
I will look up "The Tao of Equus" (the title is familiar though I'm not sure why).
I think you will love Tania's work. The Red Mare is just a page where she shares thoughts and stories on FB (though she is a superb storyteller). She has written a couple of books about how her red mare has changed her life. She was a horse crazy kid and thought that being with horses was all about training, riding, and showing. Lo and behold she has so much to learn from her red mare who had no patience for her preconceived notions or human foibles. I believe she offers workshops now about the "field of peace" where she and her horses have learned to meet and enjoy one another's company . Here is a link to her site: http://taniakindersley.blogspot.com
I dream of being able to spend time with horses again - just being with them - learning with and from them. Please do stay in touch. I have this feeling you're one of my tribe ;-)
I'm off to learn more about Eponaquest. Thank you!
Jena
🙂 it definitely sounds like we're in the same tribe 🙂🐴🐎. Enjoy discovering Eponaquest! You might also like the card deck that Linda Kohanov created with the lovely artist Kim McElroy called The Way of the Horse. They recently printed a 2nd edition & I have the honor of being cited in the acknowledgements. 🙏💕
My very special Christmas present this year was a portrait that Kim McElroy created of my dearly departed mare Omega & the 1st horse we ever owned, a sweet French Standardbred named Amour who died at the ripe old age of 33. They are pictured peacefully grazing among the stars above our gate. ❤️ Omega died very suddenly in 2020 after a severe bout of colic, right at the beginning of the pandemic, just a few days before my 60th birthday. So this is also my special 60th birthday present.
This Christmas has been filled with special moments of togetherness with my family so far, I'm so very grateful. My heart is full!
Thank you again for all that you've shared with me, Jenna. I'll go talk to my horses about you tomorrow, so that they can connect with you from afar (they probably know how to do that sort of thing ...) 😉😊🐎
I'd love to see the portrait Kim created. What an amazing gift. Any chance you can share?
Thirty-three is a long life for a horse but it is never enough, is it?
I'll spend some time in horse space just soaking up the stillness and love. I don't do that often enough. Maybe I'll see Foxy there? My other special friends are the dolphins (specifically spinners) whom I used to swim with daily in Hawaii. I think of them as horses of the sea :-)
I am still working on how best to speak with whales as they are not just big physically, but appear to have very expansive consciousnesses and it can be hard to get their attention. But I enjoy spending time with them anyway, especially while swimming.
Okay, I have all sorts of human errands to run so I will leave this delightful conversation for now.
I am so happy to know your holidays have filled your heart and soul. Sending love your way.
Jena
Oh wow dolphins & whales! I've never experienced them up close, lucky you! I'll share the portrait when I'm ready, I only just received it a few days ago & I'm still taking it all in... You can see photos of my horse herd on my Instagram page @ltilbu. Enjoy! And thanks for the lovely exchange ❤️
Poetry has a way of just emerging. It was beautiful. Happy Holidays, Jena.❤️🎅🎁🎄
Truth. Best laid plans and all that ;-)
I love your poem!
Thank you, Patty. I didn’t intend to write a poem per se. It just emerged :-)
Keep it going! It's great you channeled that.