Jem Croucher, Poet’s Corner introduced to me today a new poetry form. Her blog beautifully described “In the Autumn Now” in an aaab rhyme scheme.
For those of you unfamiliar with those poetic descriptors, the aaab scheme means the first three lines all rhyme, but not the 4th one.
The fun thing about her last line is that it was the poem’s title and it was repeated in each of the four stanzas. Brilliantly done! (There are probably other rules to this rhyme form, like 7 or 8 syllables to create rhythm on each line… but I’m not sure I can do that! So will just go with the rhyme scheme and number of lines for now.)
I’m going to try my hand at this poetry form, but as you know if you saw my post yesterday, we – here in Ennis, MT – are “In the Winter Now.” Alas, our fall colors are buried under several inches of snow. Beautiful, but – oh my – too early for me!
From my kitchen window
October snow fell softly
The view from our dining room
Through the screen of my bathroom window – Look up – can you see the icicles?
October snow – unseasonable Way too early – unreasonable Return of colors – unfeasible In the Winter now
Lack of wind – delightful Snow in clusters – rightful Blue sky returning – eyeful In the Winter now
Howling winds return – disappointing Wind chimes play – enjoying Returning storm looms – annoying In the Winter now
Tasting falling snowflakes – purely Venturing out in the snow – securely Getting skis ready – prematurely In the Winter now
Wanna try your hand at this poetic form? Go ahead … give it your best shot. It’s fun!
For a really good example of the form, check out Jem’s In the autumn now It’s delightful!
Send your poem to Jem Croucher She’d be delighted to hear from you.
Speaking of fun – Look at that photo of us – 100 years ago – Ready for winter!
Today is National Smile Day. Our glorious Montana Colors will sure give you something to smile about!
I am smiling at our glorious Montana colors today!
We took a drive from Ennis up into the Tobacco Root Range up North MeadowCreek above McAllister where our friends, Mary & Paul Carlson live.
The colors along the roadside were so glorious! I got out to take this picture instead of looking though our cracked windshield like I did on that first photo.
My blogging friend, Dwight Roth, took this. His colors are as spectacular as ours. Are the colors changing where you are?
We visited Paul and Mary at their house. We met a new friend as we were traveling up to Paul’s little cabin. Paul & Mary invited him to come on home with them.
This piece of old mining equipment was found abandoned along the roadway leading up to their house. A friend helped them haul it into their backyard
The mining apparatus fits perfectly with the remains of this old mining shed (that’s also in their backyard). It was probably built in the late 1800’s.
The views from their backyard are breathtaking! They just completed this fence last week – attempting to keep the deer out of their greenhouse and flowerbeds.
Mary inherited this old barn when she bought this mountain property Paul uses it now as his “Man Cave.” It’s where he creates magical things with all his woodworking equipment.
Paul took Bob & me up to see the property he dreamed about as a kid… and the cabin he and nine of his friends built there -around 2005 – (same year we came to MT).
Many happy memories are tucked in here!
The road leading to/from the cabin is lined with wonderful aspen that shine their gold this time of the year.
Some farmers raise cattle in this high country.
Autumn is a wonderful season It brings with it colors galore I love the fall leaves and scenery I hope you can get out and explore
Do get out before all the leaves drop. Pick up your pup and take a hike. Tell me about your choices: Which of the scenes did you particularly like?
Yesterday was a day to read, relax, and mind the advice of my Unity devotional… rest, recharge my battery, my whole being. I didn’t blog… but I took time to slow down and take breaks. I wasn’t totally alone. My friend, Julie, came by for a few hours and helped me empty my china cabinet in preparation for when we have to clear out all our dining/living room furniture to have the floors redone. Here is the inspirational message that asked me to “experience the peace and tranquility that rejuvenates me.”
The view from my bathroom window
Summer’s behind us Leaves are turning bright colors Welcoming Autumn
Before he left on his trip to Alaska Sunday, Bob spent some quiet time up in my sanctuary with me
Quiet’s essential To hear the angels singing Rejoicing in God
Sitting on my porch, I glory in the sun’s rays Rejoicing daily
Aloneness is grand If you realize one thing: You’re never alone!
Take time to wander An imaginary path Jesus by your side
Know that your friends are praying for you every day Watching the sunrise
(Thank you, Lisa, for this)
Imagine flowers Covering every hillside Singing God’s glory
Treasure the silence Embrace precious aloneness Feel the Holy One
He’s in Swiss mountains He’s sitting beside rivers Keeping company
Hear His bubbling voice Calling from flowing waters, “Come, find rest with Me!”
This is my son, Ty, with his grandchild, Cosette (my great-granddaughter). Ty sent me this photo yesterday. It warmed my heart so much!
Cosette with The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Isn’t that the most precious photo and the most adorable expression? Someday with the help of her mom and dad, grandparents, her Uncle Sam, and friends who love her enough to read to her, Cosette will know the difference between an up-side-down view and one that is right-side-up. But meantime, this Great-Grandma (call me “GG”) takes enormous joy in seeing the delight in this child’s face – and her interest in books at her young age!
Uncle Sam, Cosette & her daddy, my grandson, Jordan
When children are surrounded by love, they grow into loving adults who know how to love in return. Yesterday, while Cosette was receiving this kind of nurturing, my friend, Kathy and I took the hour and a half’s drive from Ennis to Helena. We visited Intermountain Children’s Home and delivered some backpacks with school supplies for a boy and a girl who are there.
Intermountain ccottages
Intermountain is a school and residential facility for children who did not have the privilege of a loving start. They are between the ages of 4 and 14 and are critically “at risk.”
I first visited Intermountain about 14 years ago- with my Presbyterian Women’s group. We delivered “Wish List items” to the home for the children. This chapel was not there at that time… it was added to the campus about 6 years ago. I have loved visiting every couple years or so and watching Intermountain grow and thrive.
Intermountain was established in about 1908. It’s been around a long time! It was essentially a home for abandoned children initially. Today it is home to 24 children who need intervention for a variety of reasons. (The numbers were double that before COVID forced the space to house less children for social distancing and safety). There are four cottages with 8 children in each… and a staff of trained professionals who work as counselors, teachers, cottage parents, and administrators.
My friends, Kathy from our PW in Ennis and Tyler Zimmer, who is Intermountain’s fund-raising coordinator and an excellent tour guide!
Play is an important part of the children’s rehab.
Children who have been abused or neglected need guidance to learn how to play together peacefully, how to get along, how to trust again.
This is the bell tower in the center of the Intermountain campus
This plaque is at the bottom of the bell tower
Harry “Dibbs” Mitchell is just one of thousands of children who have been helped by the Intermountain brand love and care. Many, like “Dibbs” went on to live successful lives and enjoyed being able to “give back” to the place that changed their lives when they needed that intervention the most. They have about an 80% success rate – sending children out into the world with less traumatic symptoms than they came with. Not every child is receptive and able to change yet. We need to keep all our children in prayer. God’s not through with them yet… nor are we!
Intermountain’s website can tell you how to add your financial help if you are looking for a way to help children that has a long history of success: https://www.intermountainresidential.org/
Meanwhile, back to Cosette:
Grandma Monika, Uncle Sam, and daddy Jordan (and Grandpa Ty, photographer) took Cosette to the pumpkin patch
You can see how she loved it!
Cosette got to choose one to take home with her. to show mommy Joss.
I hope their ride home was as pretty as ours from Helena back to Ennis
I love this chapel tucked back into the aspen!
I wonder if it still is used every Sunday for worship?
I hope you are inspired to think of a way that you can help children in your life. If you’re a mom or dad with family still at home, you have your task facing you daily. Love ’em, read to ’em, and limit their screen time. Give ’em lots of hugs, encouragement, and face-to-face time!
Cell phones and internet games have their place – but they are not nearly as good a baby-sitter as you are!
Take a child to a pumpkin patch this month!!
Take a child on a picnic NOW before the snow comes! It’s predicted for Sunday here in Ennis!
God bless you, Ty & Monika, for being good grandparents. God bless you, Jordan, for being a loving daddy. God bless you, Sam, for being an adoring uncle.
Here’s a cute little Halloween kitten to bid you farewell for today.
Sharing more pictures from yesterday’s autumn colors ride I wonder why some are golden while others remain green?So many wonders to behold everywhere we looked!
The picture doesn’t do it justice. With the sun coming through them, those trees were pure gold!
Our friends, the Feldmans, led the way.
I posted this one yesterday. Bob told me today, “Those aren’t aspen.” Well, anyway, I like their color!
Before I leave you this morning, I want to share something I found on FaceBook:
#11 on the list is at least a half hour of journaling and beginning my blog post
I do #9 regularly. I love the Proverbs. There are 31 chapters. Today read Chapter 22. Full of wisdom!
I’m at #11 on the routine list right now. Do you get notices like this from WordPress? I wonder what’s magic about 1337? You’d think they’d wait til 1500 or some round number, wouldn’t you? Anyway you look at it though, that’s a lot of posts.
I hope you spend some time perusing them by putting your favorite topic up in the search bar at the upper right. Topics like bees or animals, Switzerland or Jesus will lend some beautiful results!
I appreciate your visit. I’m off to do #12… See ya tomorrow.
There is no better way To spend an autumn day Than to take a ride with friends Up into the Gravelly Range
We traveled along the Madison Overlooking the Palisades And enjoyed the river view And the hint of what’s to come
Every mile closer to Antelope Basin, our destination, The scenery became more and more breathtaking!
Lake at Antelope Basin
At the 7,000 foot level The autumn colors amaze The aspen are changing color From green to gold to orange
Golden grasses and blue sky Accented the purple mountains And created a wonderland For this appreciative photographer
Wow!
We went in and out of twelve Or more gates to keep cattle in They stood at the road’s edge Unperturbed by our noisy ATVs
When you sing of purple mountain majesty And you wonder what that might look like, Just come to Montana and you will Wonder no more… you’ll just be in awe!
We stopped by Hidden Lake To rest and have our lunch The lake is soooo beautiful And it really is hidden down there
Chuck and Caroline relaxed with Bob After enjoying a picnic lunch Penny & Rex were with us And TazE, too, of course!
Isn’t that blue sky spectacular? And the colors of the trees glorious? Don’t you wish you could be In an ATV traveling with us?
golden aspen
‘Tis time to return to our pickups Load up the four-wheelers Return down to our Madison Valley And look forward to the next trip.
Wish you could join us! I’ll share a couple more pics tomorrow. Have a good night. Thanks for traveling with me vicariously! Hugs, JanBeek
For more opportunities to appreciate Derrick’s wonderful photos of animals, flowers, his garden, scenery in Great Britain, and his clever commentary, click on the link above. Be ready for some oohs and ahs!
JanBeek 