There is a name
for 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7-7 poetry.
I just saw it on a blogger’s post
And now I can’t find it.
But I said I would try it.
So, here goes:
TENACITY
Montana in August
In the heat of day,
A day under August’s sun,
Stood fields of flowers –
Springtime flowers so alive –
Spreading colored joy.
It’s highly unusual
To see such a sight.
Generally summer’s sun
Scorches them early.
But this year they testify:
God shows us TENACITY!
What’s the name of that poetic form?
Try it… it’s fun!
The Willow trees in our back yard were only saplings when we moved here
nine years ago. They are extremely fast-growing trees which are now at
least thirty feet tall. As I sat in their shade, I observed the wide
splits in the bark. The old years growth sheds away as the tree expands.
Eventually it falls away back into the soil. We are like trees. Those
who grow the most continue to shed things they no longer need; negative
attitudes, hurts, ideas, stereotypes, resentment, and bitterness, etc.
Some are trapped in their own bark unwilling to let go and change for
the better. How are you at shedding your bark?
Growth brings expansion
Stretching us //sometimes to our limit
Breaking us out of our comfort zone.
Growth causes cracks in our perception
Finding, perhaps there are other ways
Of thinking or feeling that may be different.
Growth brings change
Change is often painful
Forcing us to cast off old ways of thinking;
To have growth, we will have to change.
With change comes new strength;
New strength moves us beyond the present;
Fulfills our dreams for today…
Knowing tomorrow, we will again
Expand, stretch, and shed our bark.
Yesterday Bob & I took our ATV, our dog, our lunches, and our stamina on a ride with friends up to the top of Mt Baldy in the Tobacco Root Mountains. From my sanctuary window, I can see the snow-topped mountain off to the north-west of us.
Mt. Baldy out my sanctuary window
Hard for you to see, with the sunlight reflections on the glass, but it’s out there through the angels in the distance… the tallest of the snow capped mountains.
What does all that have to do with thoughtfulness? Well, without the help of our friends, we wouldn’t have ventured up there!
First of all, some of the trails were really, really rocky and rough. We wouldn’t chance it alone!
Rocky trail up to Mt Baldy
Secondly, I could not have made that climb up from the trail where we left the ATVs without the help of my buddies!
Jan, Caroline & Penny on top!
With kind thoughtfulness, they each took one of my arms and climbed with me. They stopped to rest when my breathing got to panting instead. God bless ‘em!
View from Mt. Baldy’s top
At the 10,788 ft. level, the view was spectacular and the air coming off the snow on the peaks beside us was crisp and fresh.
I hope you’re as blessed as we are to have such thoughtful friends!
Rex in top of Mt. Baldy
Our buddy/neighbor/guide was Rex, who (with his wife, Penny) led the way. We’d have been lost without him!
Bob, Jan & TazE
Have a thoughtful day, my friends.
Who can you help with his/her climb today?
Today was a perfect day to take Lucille
(Our ATV with a red head who is a Ball),
And go up into the mountains –
Up on Mt. Baldy, more than 10,000 feet tall!
On our way up to Mt. Baldy (10K ft ahead of us)
Lucille is a trooper with Bob at the wheel.
TazE loves riding with us on the mountain trails.
Some of the roads are so rough, I cringe,
But I am happy to have an “Oh My!” bar instead of wails.
Hang tight to the “Oh My!” bar. Secure TazE with her leash.TazE crowded me as she leaned out the window of Lucille
Going with friends makes it extra fun;
Five guys and three gals in five 4-wheelers.
The area in the Tobacco Root Mountains
Is full of rough terrain, rocks and squealers.
Me (Jan) with Caroline & PennyBob, Rex, Gene, BW and Chuck
The views from up on top of Baldy
Are breathtaking to be sure.
The sky was a little hazy today,
But the air was clean and pure.
Gene, with a recent new knee, made the rigorous climb
from our ATVs to the top of the mountain
(a steeper climb than it looks here!)
We were above the snow level
Where the clouds seem so close
We felt like we could touch them.
I have more pictures than I can post!
Our lovely, protected setting for lunch on top of Mt. BaldyThe view from my lunch spotDilapidated old mining building
Over my right shoulder a dilapidated mine
Indicated that people once lived and worked
In this place miles from civilization –
For gold, lead, silver and copper – no one shirked.
Old mining site on Mt. Baldy
Old mines dotted the trail as we headed down.
I wished those old beams and rocks could talk.
They would have wonderful stories to tell –
Lived through many a death and untold shocks.
Jan in Bob’s fishing cap
On down the mountain on rocky trails,
We were careful to not tip over the edge.
The paths were narrow with no side rails –
I held TazE and tried not to look at the ledge!
Bob driving Lucille – in a rocky spot with a wider ledge than mostBob, Jan, TazE – top of Mt. BaldyOld mine on Mt. BaldyEnnis Lake from the Tobacco Roots to the Madison Range
We tried to stay in view of the Polaris
Traveling on the trail in our lead,
But we didn’t want to be too close
To eat his dust as he picked up speed.
That’s our Madison Valley and Ennis Lake
In the middle of this view.
As we headed back, the sun was warmer
And we wished we could share this trip with YOU!
Thank you for visiting JanBeek
Come back soon for more adventures and inspiration.
Visit
Yellowstone National Park
with my cousin Sofia and Me
Sofia at Firehole Falls
Me at Firehole Falls
Aqua Steam pool
I love the turpuoise, green, and orange.
It was a day of mild temperatures, blue sky with beautiful puffy clouds.
Old Faithful blew about 15 minutes early.
We were glad to be there to see it.
There is no site in Yellowstone that I enjoy more than Artist’s Point.
Sofia was impressed with its beauty, too.
It’s called the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Pictures don’t do it justice!
You can see here the yellow stone that caused the park’s name.
Then we headed for Lamar Valley where the buffalo roam.
It was a pain to get in a half an hour of stop-and-go traffic where the bison were crossing the road in Lamar Valley, but when we had to stop for one to pass right smack in front of our car, that was quite an experience – quite worth the wait!
They are impressive animals.
On the way home, we stopped at Palisades for a rest stop…
and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery there.
It was a great day.
Thanks for traveling vicariously with us!
Do you think Sofia had a good time?
Tomorrow is our Ennis Arts Festival. Come visit the art and artists there with me. I love entertaining visitors. Be my virtual guest!
See ya later!
