Ode to the heavens

The other day, in the garden, I saw a bird wheeling high up in heaven… it passed again, gracefully, higher, narrowing its wings. I understood then my dreams of birds, and why, deep inside, I’m a bird.

Turning and turning I’m in the widening sky. Among white clouds soars my soul, things cannot fall apart, the centre hold… I’m free upon the world. Heavens, pure mystery the purest of mystery… the top silence, the door to the sacred dwelling.

My soul praises your wonders, O Great One… clouds pass by the clouds over my head, distances don't exist... as I fly I sing thy name!

When I consider the work of your hands, I see the worthlessness of every good in me… what I'm I that You take thought of me? Insignificant wings in the vastness of the universe; I cannot soar without you….

I can hear your voice through the clouds, the falcon hears the Falconer; it hears His voice; His voice is like the sound of many rivers…. Where shall I hide from you?

In my sky at twilight you are the lamp of my soul...

You are taken in the net of my wings… and my wings are wide as the sky. My soul is born on the shore of your eyes…. In your eyes the land of dreams begins…

Words and photographs by Cielo Noriega

How does your garden glow?

It goes through walls, slows to a standstill, it bends around buildings and squeezes through pinholes…

It zips around us, bounces off us, and sometimes goes through us… most of it is not visible to our eyes, although we know it primarily as the opposite of darkness…

It's light! And I love how it brightens up our back porch, and how darkness seems to melt under the cheerful spell coming forth from my newly installed string lights…

I sense a magical spell has come over the garden… I can see the night fairies playing in the light beyond the porch… won't you like to stay for a while?

I’ll be out for a few days, but you’re welcome to stroll the gardens, or just stop and rest... if you decide to stay, just close your eyes and listen.... you'll soon hear the grasses whisper tiny things about this world of ours... it's the garden, singing sweet incantations.

See you soon!

The wonders of summer skies and Outdoor Wednesday...

Sky watching is one of my favorite past time... I love taking pictures of the clouds, with birds circling over my head... like they're doing this very moment!

White clouds, dark clouds, puffy rain clouds, weird shaped clouds, Cumulonimbus clouds, clouds covering the sun, playing hide and seek.... clouds of almost human appearance gathering on the horizon, with the air so mild and the garden untroubled... I love it all!

After all, it is our sky... it is the sky that inspired the ancient Greeks to write myths about their gods and goddesses; that helped the ancient Polynesians to navigate the Pacific; the same sky that early astronomers studied to find our place in the universe...

Sometimes I see happy clouds and sometimes sad clouds... each cloud has a name, each has a story to tell... but when it comes to skywatching, evening summer skies are my favorites. Every evening after sunset, when the sun has dipped below the horizon, I patiently wait outside searching the skies...

I am awaiting the apparition of noctilucent clouds, which are none other than wispy filaments glowing electric blue against the black sky. Although noctilucent clouds appear most often at arctic latitudes, they have been sighted in recent years as far south as Colorado, Utah and Virginia. Noctilucent clouds are seasonal, appearing most often in late spring and summer. In the northern hemisphere, the best time to look would be between mid-May and the end of August… so this is the perfect time.

Octilucent clouds have not only persisted, but also spread within the last years. A century ago the clouds were confined to latitudes above 50o; you had to go to places like Scandinavia, Russia and Britain to see them. In recent years they have been sighted as far south as Utah and Colorado... and they keep getting closer to home!

Meanwhile, all I can do is wait ... and watch. There's never been a better time to see noctilucent clouds. During the summer months, look west perhaps 30 minutes to an hour after sunset when the Sun has dipped 6o to 16o below the horizon… If you see luminous blue-white tendrils spreading across the sky, you've probably spotted an NLC. Just don’t forget to let me know you’ve seem them!

Happy Skywatching, everyone! Visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for more "Outdoor Wednesday" delight.

A living moment...

It takes awhile to reach the magic mark of 100 degrees in this part of the world… but we reached it yesterday, and today, and the mercury keeps rising…. I am happy. As I sit here enjoying a quick pick-me up cup of café cubano (yes, hot), I can hear the bewildering variety of whistles, trills, and warbles of the birds among the green vegetation. To my right, the faint sound of water coming from the water fountain creates a sense of tranquility and relaxation... The sky is blue, and the trees are covered in green...

Is there a lesson to be learned from that? Well, it's just life. Right now I happen to be enjoying the moment.

In order to enjoy the moment you actually have to appreciate it. Life is made up of moments... so make each count!

Dreaming in the back porch

Welcome to my back porch… my heaven; my delight, the place I look forward to spending my summer mornings and evenings…

Porches are a playback to earlier times when people had more time, were more sociable and didn't live in air-conditioned abodes… I love sitting here for breakfast and enjoy the morning air and later the cool breezes of the evening…

My world is always filled with perfume here… of sunshine kisses on the lilies and moonlight through my roses....

Here I delight with the sound of robins stirring in their nest; a Yellow Warbler flies the sky above my head… look at me, look at me it delights the ear with it's voice, soothing my soul, inviting peace.

And at dusk I can see the path that fairy feet had pressed on the ground... reflected stars shine in the birdbath and the water of the floating candles…

My favorite thing about my back porch is actually sitting quietly and listening… the silence seemed to speak to me each time. But as to “things” that make it “mine”: The romantic flair of tables adorned with white linens, candles and fresh flowers…

Did you notice my new candle holders? They’re some old recycle globe light fixture I bought at Habitat for Humanity the other day… just put the candle in it and voila!

Personal touches such as potted plants and vintage fabrics can turn any porch into a welcoming destination...

The covered part of our porch is the perfect spot for al fresco dining and relaxing. In spring and summer, this is where we host all our dinner parties…

Some day I'll add some pretty string of globe lights, and to make it even more romantic, maybe add some sheer curtain panels and a chandelier with clear prism drops… and I want heaps of jars with battery-operated fireflies to hang among the green leaves of the grape vine and pergola!

It is so every summer…. And I love every minute of it right here on my back porch… a jeweled balm for the spirit!