LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, May 30, 2014

We Love Lucy


We love to spend time in our  front yard.  Because it is well buffered from the street with plants and boulders, Lucy can be off lead and explore the smells.  Our Ellie loved to pose for photographs, but Lucy does not like to sit still in the yard.  So she always looks a bit disgusted as if we have interfered with her fun.

The plant on the left is a cultivated type of laurel.
Shorter but fuller than the native laurel




 Sitting on this bench is no fun at all.




 Nope.  They are not going to make me smile.




It is fitting that our quote for the week comes from Maya Angelou who left this earthly life a few days ago.  I haven't the words to eloquently express how much this fine woman meant to so many people.  I will leave that to others.  Fortunately, Maya Angelou will continue to live on in her writings.  I'm glad that future generations will understand a bit more about the segregated south and Jim Crow by reading her remarkable words.  They will know that "still we rise" and they will be motivated and inspired by this courageous woman.




Read some of Maya Angelou's books or poetry this weekend.  You will find them fascinating.  You can read and listen to one of my favorites;  her "On the Pulse of Morning" which she composed and read at Clinton's inauguration in 1992.   (here) 
[NOTE:  Click on the cassette player below the photograph if you simply want to listen and not download.]


HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE!



11 comments:

Carolina Linthead said...

Dear Lucy! The girl just wants to have fun. Yes, a week of remembrance, indeed. Though Maya Anjelou was more than "just" a poet, for me that is where to begin and end when considering her life and legacy. Beautiful post.

Arkansas Patti said...

I miss the wisest woman it was my pleasure to hear and to read. Thank you for that link. It was such a pleasure to hear her voice.

Anonymous said...

Always glad to see Lucy, even if she doesn't like to pose for us on Fridays!

I remember reading "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," when I was in college. It was one of the most moving and thoughtful books I had ever read. She will be missed in every way.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Have to grin at your girl! I've found that some dogs are like people, and they don't like to have their photo taken, no matter what!

President Barack Obama called Maya Angelou "one of the brightest lights of our time -- a brilliant writer, a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman." No matter your political party, I think you have to agree with him! :-)!!

Cheryl said...

Love that Lucy......she always makes me smile.

Beautiful quote.....and very meaningful to me at this time. Thank you.

KB said...

Your Lucy looks like she feels the same way about the camera as R often does. No amount of treats or silly behavior from me can change it :) She is beautiful though!!!

Lovely quote. I'm heading over to read the poem. I remember that inauguration, from another time and place in my life...

Vicki Lane said...

Angelou was such a voice! We are richer for her work.

I love your pictures of the roses at Biltmore -- those climbing ones make me feel like swooning.

Vicki Lane said...

Angelou was such a voice! We are richer for her work.

I love your pictures of the roses at Biltmore -- those climbing ones make me feel like swooning.

KGMom said...

I love Lucy's patient face--as if she is saying: come on, mom. Get it over with...take the photo.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Linthead - Yes, Lucy just wants to have fun. I agree that poetry is the legacy.

Patti - She was one of my favorites as well.

Robin - I was deeply moved when I first read "Caged Bird Sings"

Kim - Lucy is definitely one of those

Cheryl - I also love the quote

KB - it was indeed another time and place in our lives, wasn't it?

Vicki - We are indeed richer for her legacy.

Donna - That is probably exactly what she was thinking.

Busy Bee Suz said...

Lucy is a doll....posing or not.
Maya was such a prolific writer; we need more Maya's in this world!