LOVE -- Whispers

[Photo Source: Google online images -- Quilting using SINGER peddle sewing machine]

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(Sometimes the threads of LOVE are a silent gesture, a bold token, a thoughtful gift, a sacrifice, a prayer, or whatever ... Woven together, these LOVE threads become a strong bond that can withstand the rigors of life and the tests of time. The bonds become the fabric of our life with all the texture, flourish, whimsy, faith, and strength that make our life rich and full.

Family Lore has many colors and patterns made from these fabrics and LOVE threads that WHISPER IN THE EAR of generations, reminders of our bonds to the past, the hopes of the present, and the promise of the future.

I wrote this today 25 JUN 2011 and dedicate it to my daughter Rebecca Lynne Shoudy Richey on this her 47th Birthday today. Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011)

      [Photo Source: Google online images -- Quilting by hand]

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THE QUILTIN’ TIMES ARE A-CHANGING

For our Great-Great Grandmothers, in quilting times past—

A frugal quilter had to scrimp, make every scrap last—

Today wasting fabric is not such a crime—

Today what’s scarce is a quilter’s TIME.

Patterns used to travel with pioneers going west—

Now we swap and share instantly on the Internet—

Once templates were traced, fabric carefully scissored—

Now we slice multiple layers, we’re all Olfa wizards.

At one time a two fabric quilt was a sign of status—

Now Watercolor quilts have hundreds of prints comin’ at us—

Quilters used to gather at small local quilting bees—

Now we congregate at conferences, national teachers to see.

Like our Great-Great Grandmothers our lives are busy, we’re stressed—

But with the beauty of our quilts, we feel we are blessed—

As with Great-Great Grandmother, our quilting serves many goals—

To give warmth, grace our homes, and feed our souls.

[by CindyThury Smith 1999]



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Web LINK--

For a inspirational poem you may want to visit this web page

[ http://www.promiseofgod.com/quilt/ ].

ELEVATION -- A Poem

[PHOTO Source and Credit:  Courtesy of  J.M. Hire]

(10 JUN 2011 – A special THANK  YOU to my kindred spirit "CAMV" for sharing this poem with me and for her sister "JMH" for the two beautiful photos to partner with the words of the poem.  ENJOY!!  Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011)

SOURCE LINKS

I was new to the poetry and writings of this French poet before my kindred spirit shared the poem ELEVATION.  I want to explore more of his writings. Here is some info from wikipedia  about him.

[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Baudelaire ]

Charles Baudelaire (April 9, 1821 – August 31, 1867) was a French poet who produced notable work as an essayist, art critic, and pioneering translator of Edgar Allan Poe. His most famous work, Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil) expresses the changing nature of beauty in modern, industrializing Paris during the nineteenth century. Baudelaire's highly original style of prose-poetry influenced a whole generation of poets including Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud and Stéphane Mallarmé among many others. He is credited with coining the term "modernity" (modernité) to designate the fleeting, ephemeral experience of life in an urban metropolis, and the responsibility art has to capture that experience.
Philosophy --  Many of Baudelaire's philosophical proclamations were considered scandalous and intentionally provocative in his time. He wrote on a wide range of subjects, drawing criticism and outrage from many quarters.
It is interesting to me, to note that Charles Baudelaire knew the painter Édouard Manet.

Manet and Baudelaire became constant companions from around 1855. In the early 1860s, Baudelaire accompanied Manet on daily sketching trips and often met him socially. Manet also lent Baudelaire money and looked after his affairs, particularly when Baudelaire went to Belgium. Baudelaire encouraged Manet to strike his own path and not succumb to criticism. "Manet has great talent, a talent which will stand the test of time. But he has a weak character. He seems to me crushed and stunned by shock". In his painting Music in the Tuileries, Manet includes portraits of his friends Théophile Gautier, Jacques Offenbach, and Baudelaire. While it's difficult to differentiate who influenced whom, both Manet and Baudelaire discussed and expressed some common themes through their respective arts. Baudelaire praised the modernity of Manet's subject matter: "almost all our originality comes from the stamp that 'time' imprints upon our feelings".  

When Manet's famous Olympia (1865), a portrait of a nude prostitute, provoked a scandal for its blatant realism mixed with an imitation of Renaissance motifs, Baudelaire worked privately to support his friend, though he offered no public defense (he was, however, ill at the time). When Baudelaire returned from Belgium after his stroke, Manet and his wife were frequent visitors at the nursing home and she would play passages from Wagner for Baudelaire on the piano.

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ELEVATION
(NOTE:  This poem was originally written in FRENCH, and there are may translations on the Internet.  Below is one translation.  dht-2011)

[~A Poem by Charles Baudelaire, translated by William A. Sigler]

[ http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/elevation/ ]

Above the ponds, beyond the valleys,
The woods, the mountains, the clouds, the seas,
Farther than the sun, the distant breeze,
The spheres that wilt to infinity.

My spirit, you move with agility
And, like a good swimmer who swoons in the wave
You groove the depths immensity gave,
The inexpressible and male ecstasy.

From this miasma of waste,
You will be purified in superior air
And drink a pure and divine liqueur,
A clear fire to replace the limpid space.

Behind this boredom and fatigue, this vast chagrin
Whose weight moves the mists of existence,
Happy is he who vigorously fans the senses
Toward serene and luminous fields—wincing!

The one whose thoughts are like skylarks taken wing
Across the heavens mornings in full flight
Who hovers over life, understanding without effort
The language of flowers and mute things.

SOURCES OF some interesting YOUTUBE LINKS —

Printed in french with instrumental video:

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDXd2wFIZK8&feature=related ]

 Read in French with instrumental music:

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVpJoDOxxDw&feature=related ]

 Sung in French by Patricia Guede with instrumental music by Regis Flecheau and photos:

[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYzHVLnt2NE ]

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[PHOTO Source and Credit: Courtesy of  J.M. Hire]

Just Butterflies - and - Emily Elizabeth Dickinson

PHOTO SOURCE: National Geographic online images]

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Butterfly – A poem #354 by Emily Dickinson

From Cocoon forth a Butterfly

As Lady from her Door
Emerged -- a Summer Afternoon --
Repairing Everywhere --

Without Design -- that I could trace

Except to stray abroad
On Miscellaneous Enterprise
The Clovers -- understood --

Her pretty Parasol be seen

Contracting in a Field
Where Men made Hay –
Then struggling hard
With an opposing Cloud –

Where Parties -- Phantom as Herself --

To Nowhere -- seemed to go
In purposeless Circumference --
As 'twere a Tropic Show --


And notwithstanding Bee -- that worked --
And Flower -- that zealous blew --
This Audience of Idleness
Disdained them, from the Sky --

Till Sundown crept -- a steady Tide –

And Men that made the Hay –
And Afternoon -- and Butterfly –
Extinguished -- in the Sea --

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[PHOTO SOURCE: National Geographic online images]

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Butterfly – A poem #541 by Emily Dickinson

Some such Butterfly be seen

On Brazilian Pampas --
Just at noon -- no later -- Sweet --
Then -- the License closes --

Some such Spice -- express and pass --

Subject  to Your Plucking --
As the Stars -- You knew last Night --
Foreigners -- This Morning –

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 [PHOTO SOURCE: National Geographic online images]

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Butterfly – A poem #533 by Emily Dickinson

Two Butterflies went out at Noon --

And waltzed upon a Farm --
Then stepped straight through the Firmament
And rested, on a Beam --

And then -- together bore away

Upon a shining Sea --
Though never yet, in any Port --
Their coming, mentioned -- be --

If spoken by the distant Bird --

If met in Ether Sea
By Frigate, or by Merchantman --
No notice -- was -- to me --

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A SPECIAL THANK YOU for a PERFECT gift and remembrance from a KINDRED SPIRIT and FRIEND -- A Book of Poems by Emily Elizabeth Dickinson. This Book is very special to me, for it was only this year (2011) that I was delightfully surprised to find that Emily and I had the same maternal "many" great grandparents.  I am delighted to call Emily my maternal Cousin. And, I am very grateful for Ancestry.com for help in researching my Family History.  Many thanks again for this wonderful Book of Poetry goes to my SPECIAL FRIEND who knows how much Family and Friendship mean to me.  -- WITH warm affection, respect, and friendship, Dee [Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

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Rainy Days and Rainbows

[PHOTO SOURCE: National Geographic online images, GRAND CANYON RAINBOW]

{A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to a VERY SPECIAL FRIEND for the VERY SPECIAL GIFT OF A BOOK OF POETRY BY EMILY ELIZABETH DICKINSON.  dht-2011}

(INSPIRATION from the rain that fell this morning over my roof, and set the leaves to sparkle in the sunshine -- that has come out and the sky that is chuck full of glorious RAINBOWS!  ~dht-MAY 2011)

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A Drop fell on the Apple Tree --

Another -- on the Roof --

A Half a Dozen kissed the Eaves --

And made the Gables laugh –

A few went out to help the Brook

That went to help the Sea --

Myself Conjectured were they Pearls --

What Necklaces could be—

The Dust replaced, in Hoisted Roads --

The Birds jocoser sung --

The Sunshine threw his Hat away –

The Bushes --  spangles flung –

The Breezes brought dejected Lutes --

And bathed them in the Glee -

The Orient showed a single Flag,

And signed the Fete away --

[~ A Poem #794  By: Emily Elizabeth Dickinson]

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WHAT this poem by my Maternal Cousin Emily Elizabeth Dickenson says to me -- OR why didn't you just say so (Emily's poem #794):

It seems this is about a summer rain shower and how it refreshes and changes the land as the water cycles (a chain of nature as a chain of pearls in a necklace) through nature as rain, streams, rivers, seas, oceans, then evaporation and storms and rain again.  How the land is blessed, kissed by the rain, decorated by glittering raindrops, and dust is settled.  How the rain makes soft and cheery sounds on the roof and birds sing their song.  How the sunshine 'gave it up' and the clouds and rain prevailed in rain shower festivities (fete), until the sun came out again from the East and displayed a rainbow (flag).  How the rain and wind washes the leaves (pear shaped leaves like a lute.)  [~ dht-2011]

What's a Butterfly – Quotes

[Photo Source: Google online images]

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“What's a butterfly garden without butterflies?” [~Roy Rogers]

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
[~Irish Blessing]

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies. [~Author Unknown]

The fluttering of a butterfly's wings can effect climate changes on the other side of the planet. [~Paul Erlich]

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly. [~Richard Buckminster Fuller]

Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine. [~Jeffrey Glassberg]

The butterfly is a flying flower, the flower a tethered butterfly.

[~Ponce Denis Écouchard Lebrun]

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. [~Nathaniel Hawthorne]

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." [~Hans Christian Anderson]

Love is like a butterfly: It goes where it pleases and it pleases wherever it goes. [~Author Unknown]

I've watched you now a full half-hour;

Self-poised upon that yellow flower
And, little Butterfly! Indeed,
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless! - not frozen seas,
More motionless! And then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!
[~William Wordsworth, "To a Butterfly"]

I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free. [~Charles Dickens]

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. [~Author Unknown]

It is necessary to write, if the days are not

to slip emptily by. How else, indeed, to
clap the net over the butterfly of the moment?
For the moment passes, it is forgotten; the mood is gone; life itself is
gone. That is where the writer scores
over his fellows: he catches the changes of his mind on the hop.
[~Vita Sackville-West]

We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever. [~Carl Sagan]

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough. [~Rabindranath Tagore]

I WISH YOU TIME ENOUGH, TO REACH YOUR HEART'S DESIRE WITH LOVE OVERFLOWING AND KINDRED SPIRITS TO SHARE IT WITH !! [~dht-21 May 2011]

**JUST BUTTERFLIES -- lightly touching your HEART and dancing in the air. [dht-2011]**

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SO SAY I----->

DO you have a favorite BUTTERFLY poem, quote, saying, dream, and/or thought?

Any thoughts about the quotes proffered here about BUTTERFLYs?

WHAT does the BUTTERFLY mean to you (if anything)? (ie., change, love, spring, nature, bugs, insects) ~dht-21 May 2011

WHAT SAY YOU -------> ????

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"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."  This is the most thought provoking of the above quotes for me - for it's so easy to relate those words to humans.  But I like all the sayings - good work in putting this together.  Thank You so much."  [A comment proffered by my Friend  ~CAV-21May 2011]

The Dream – The Seed

[Photo Source: Google online images California wildflowers - GOD spilled his paints!]

(28 APR 2011 -- At times it is a burden to imagine so many wonderful 'things' and NEVER see them come true. The Dream - The Seed. dht-2011) 

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IF you think in terms of a year, plant a SEED;
IF in terms of ten years, plant TREES;
IF In terms of 100 years, TEACH the people."
[~ Confucius]

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SEEDS -- My maternal grandparents taught me how to tend things growing in the EARTH. This year (2011) I have planted FLOWERS (roses, sweet peas, calla lily, cannas, iris, african orchids, nasturtium, marigold, gladiola, coral bells, forget-me-nots, peter pans, daffodils) and a veggie garden (radish, green onion, green squash, yellow squash, tomato, bell pepper, cukes, jalapeno pepper).

TREES -- I have planted a tree at EVERY HOME I lived in (except for rentals). The Trees in my current home are California REDWOOD trees. (I planted 5 trees—AND there were FIVE already on the property---SO now I have 10 of these magnificent trees in my yard—LOVE'N IT!)

TEACH -- I have been a pupil and student most of my life, and LOVE to learn from others on just about everything and any topic! Anything is NEW when looked at from the different perspective, experience, and perception of others. IN ADDITION, I have been a TEACHER for all my life. I taught my parents how to take care of a new baby (I was their first child).  I taught my grandparents the joy of having a young child (age 4-6) again after raising their own six kids (my aunts and uncles). I taught my spouse what it was to have a wife, BUT NOT how to cherish and LOVE her (some things cannot be taught I found). I taught my daughter the joy of sewing her own clothes (I made almost all her clothes until she was about age 10). I taught in College as an Assistant Teacher to College Professors (Pre-Legal, Accounting, Business, English, Public Speaking, and History). I taught co-workers in the various jobs were the company offered on-the-job-training — many times my employer-company would send me to a class and then I would have to return back to work and teach the same thing to my co-workers on the job.

BUT, NONE of this amounts to a droplet-of-water-in-the-ocean!   Especially, when you compare what GOD (or whatever you want to call the FAITH LEADER) created and planted on this EARTH and the HEAVENS above and all that was made or taught to us by GOD's GRACE.

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

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SHARE  your thoughts on this!  (if you care to)