OHHMMMMEOW . . . .?

Pookie - Meditating - enough said! LOL

Pookie - The Yoga Kitty

Here is Pookie practicing yoga. I told him about Marigold the goat, and her yoga poses that the goatmother posted on Goat Philosophy 101. Pookie said he wanted to give it a try.

Poem To Share - Spring Burial

Spring Burial

The gray feather from the table
reminded me—
the silver maple in our parents’ backyard,
from a spring storm a wind blown nest,
a baby robin, its downless body
lifeless on the ground.

We tucked the bird inside
an empty gelatin box
and said our prayers for its soul.
We buried it in a shallow grave
where no one walked
between Jeanette’s white picket fence
and the carport.

Recipe - Quick Walnut Bread

This recipe is by Martha Rose Shulman -- martha-rose-shulman.com

This savory quick bread is easy to make and versatile. Try it lightly toasted for breakfast or tea, or drizzled with a little honey. You may also slice it thin and serve it with cheese.

1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
4 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
3 tblsp olive oil
3 tblsp walnut oil
1 cup (3 oz) chopped walnuts

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Move the rack to the center of the oven. Butter or oil a loaf pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

2. Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in the buttermilk or yogurt and the oils. Quickly whisk in the flour, and fold in the walnuts. Scrape into the bread pan.

3. Bake 50 minutes to one hour, until nicely browned and a tester comes out clean. Remove from the heat, allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Then reverse onto a rack and allow to cool.

Yield: one loaf
Advanced preparation: This bread will keep for a couple of days wrapped airtight. It freezes well.

My note: I'll probably make this in the next day or two, but first need to get some buttermilk or yogurt from the store. I don't have walnut oil, so will probably just use safflower oil since I have it on hand. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Happy Baking!

Poem To Share - Flight II

Flight II

The wind came up
and so did you
bald eagle kite.
Wings flapping in the breeze,
up and down you pitched
with each gust
as I watched outside
of the café.

My past months have been you,
day to day undulating
from one episode to the next.
I whirled in the chaos,
buffeted by the flurry.
Finally I’d had enough.

So, I hang like you
from my beak
in dead air.

Poem To Share - Nelsonville Dust Bowl

Nelsonville Dust Bowl

The day began early—
running, winded, walking,
I saw great dust balls roll
along the tree line,
heaving translucent spheres
round with the smell
of plowed earth,
whirling,
illuminated orbs.

The prairie swelled
in my mind,
grit
rising and falling
with each gust.

Cars continued on their way,
headlights mixing with the trees.
I stood still.

A Poem to Share - Cobbler's Knob

Cobbler’s Knob

The knob was full
of stinging nettle
and bitter dock
with its heart-shaped leaves.
In the clearing I saw the blue flowers
of chicory
whose roots the Indians
would grind to make a drink
like coffee.
I crouched on the path.

I could hear the chick-a-dee-dee-dee
of the black-capped chickadees
and the peter-peter-peter call
of the tufted titmice
in the oaks and hickories.
We regarded each other peaceably
as dusk came.

A breeze rose
out of the valley
bringing a night-hawk
flapping its thin wings.
I walked to the edge
of the trees, sat on the ground
and stilled myself to let
the wild ones
come near.