Fall Favorites (2)

 

It’s Fall, Ya’ll

Red and black flannel shirts and worn blue jeans,

Warm cozy sweaters, I know what that means,

Sandals and swimsuits are replaced with knit hats and boots,

Thick socks and sweatshirts, there are no substitutes,

Crispy morning air with a freshness that cleanses,

Sipping on hot cider while football commences,

Cornhole and barbequing in the stadium parking lot,

Tailgating with friends at the usual spot,

Fall is for pumpkins, scarecrows, and a bright yellow tree,

Jewel-colored leaves and the scenery is free,

Acorns fall, and the squirrels are so busy,

Watching them work is making me dizzy,

A majestic sunset of orange adds to the autumn delight,

Not to mention Halloween, to give me a fright,

Fall festivals and farmers are truly the best,

A beautiful time to be thankful for harvest,

Corn shocks and hayrides, apple orchards and all,

Makes me choose as my favorite season…  Fall!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/16/2023

BONUS Fall Poem:

Fall Display

Big round orange orb, thick brown stalk,

You will be my jack-o-lantern, to place beside my shock,

Large corn shock, sitting on its end,

Bound like a corset in ‘Gone with the Wind’,

Multi-colored corn will add some festive delight,

To my fall display, without any Halloween fright,

Gourds, flowering chrysanthemums, just a few,

A bale of hay, and always a scarecrow or two,

Just lots of harvest fun out there on the lawn!

Hayrides, corn-mazes, the list goes on and on,

Fall flavors are so yummy: Apple cider and pumpkin spice,

And The NC State Fair makes fall twice as nice,

With an assortment of pumpkins residing on my porch,

Sitting in my swing I watch summer pass the torch,

For cool days are ahead and I can hardly wait,

October has arrived, and there is no debate!

Tammy Harvey

10/2/2023

The Golden Road

 

August 2023

Recently, I started following a couple on Instagram, Matt and Grace, (@thegoldenroad), who are venturing to walk from the border of Canada to the Keys in Florida with their two dogs and a pushcart they named Timmy.  The big husky dog Nemo walks the entire time, while the 4 lb. teacup Yorkie dog they call Foxie (aka Monkey) rides atop “Timmy” (the cart).  They are 133 days into their 3000 mile walk and are now walking through Raleigh today.  They actually came down the White Oak Greenway just minutes from my house and posted a photo of the mural on the trail behind my son’s house.  In doing this walk, they are raising money for a cause @ Elevate.youth.boston.  It is a community organization in Boston who stive to empower underserved youth through outdoor experiences and positive adult role models.  Their goal is to raise $100,000 in donations to this organization. Thus far they have raised $26,800 for the cause.  They have walked over half of their walk (1700 miles) and only have raised one quarter of their goal, but Matt and Grace are determined to make their goal.  I am inspired by their determination and stamina.  Each day they walk they encounter new experiences and new people.  Many generous people offer to allow them to camp in their backyard.  On occasion, they get a hotel room, like when Hurricane Idalia threatened NC this week or when the weather is too hot to handle.  They get up early before dawn to start the walk.  Some walking is done on trails, but other times they are subjected to walking along the road.  This can be dangerous at times.  This is not their first walk across America, but it is their first walk down the east coast.  They average 15-20 miles/day.  Recently, while walking near Clayton, NC, Timmy broke down and was forced to retire.  The couple waited patiently in a hotel nearby to receive their brand-new pushcart they named Carl. They expect to reach the Florida Keys sometime in December.

Juno Loves Autumn

 

Juno loves Autumn

Juno has shed her lovely headband worn since Fourth of July,

There is a really good reason, and I am going to tell you why,

It’s September, and football season has started once more,

And although she doesn’t have a clue of the score,

She may even think that football is a bore,

Her headband now is black with 3 small pumpkins on top,

I know she loves autumn, and if she could shop,

I’d say she’d buy pumpkins, mums and a plaid ascot!

For I know she loves autumn; She loves it a lot,

In the past she has even dressed up for Halloween,

Her costume this year is still unforeseen,

Will she be a good witch, a clown or a scarecrow?

I guess we will see because I really don’t know,

But for now, she is giving off her harvest vibe,

She’s got a look of her own I can’t really describe,

She is regal.  She is stoic.  She is also so much fun!

With her cute little pearl necklace, and her hair in a bun.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  9/12/2023

Observing Tiny

 

Observing Tiny

Seeking sweet red nectar, on a hot summer’s morn,

Tiny emerald-green hummingbirds are already airborne,

Fluttering and darting in and out of my sight,

Sipping drinks from my feeder, with pure delight,

Daintily and elegantly dipping their beak,

Not staying too long, which is part of their mystique,

They hover over the source of their delicious drink,

With an entitled-like ownership, I’m inclined to think,

While selfishly keeping others at bay,

Sharing is not a trait I am observing today,

Atlas, the plump yet petite bird is resting on a nearby perch,

Declaring its territory, like a back pew at church,

I wouldn’t call it mean, but high and mighty,

This bird is a combination of irresistible and flighty,

It has the courage to go after what it wants,

Against all odds, this tiny creature flaunts,

Not too sociable, not today at least,

This tiny bird is quite a beast!

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/31/2023

Hugs

 

Healing Hugs

Squeeze me tight, my family or friend,

I want a hug that will never end,

I need to feel your arms around me,

It fills a hole in my heart, you see,

I’m generally not the touchy, feely kind,

But I am broken, keep this in mind,

I need the warmth of a loving touch,

It would help to heal me, oh so much,

I just feel lonely at times, without a caress,

Hugging helps to relieve all stress,

My life partner is an angel now,

And I’m getting along fine, somehow,

I just need a nice long, warm embrace,

To put a smile back on my face.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/21/2023

PS- Happy Birthday to Cassie (33) and Joshua (29)!!!

This is Number 500!

 

500^th Post

I’m really excited and not trying to boast,

Can’t believe this is my 500^th post!

This might even deserve a celebratory toast:

Here’s to me and my love of rhyme,

Writing has been a favorite pastime,

Pouring out words, like water from a hose,

Poems are like a blooming rose,

The beauty and thorns, go hand-in-hand,

Some painful, but healing, the reward is grand,

Whimsical, magical, thought-provoking prose,

Gives me joy.  Why do you suppose?

Putting thoughts on paper is a mystery drug,

It’s like a warm and tender heart-felt hug,

All wrapped up in a blanket of creativity,

These poems have been a source of positivity,

Capturing my heart and captivating my mind,

Leaving worries and troubles far behind,

Writing has made me carefree,

And that is wherein lies the key.

Tammy Harvey

Written:  8/17/2023

Lonesome Dove

 Listen to the Cry

The distant cry of the mourning dove,

Is a pleasant sound, and one I love,

CooooOOOO-woo-woo-woo, CooooOOOO-woo-woo-woo,

It’s a graceful song, yet not meant for me or you,

Methodically calling out in a rhythmic tone,

The male dove does not want to be alone,

These birds are known to mate for life,

He is actively seeking to find a wife,

In summer they raise two families together,

Through thick and thin, in all kinds of weather,

Scientifically, the frequency and pitch of the mourning dove call,

Has a calming affect on one and all,

The lower pitched wooing is my favorite part,

I anticipate it right from the start,

It is peaceful and serene, not sad to me,

I smile every time I spot a mourning dove in a tree,

On the ground, perched on a barbed wire fence, or,

In rows along roadside electrical wires, this I just adore,

These lovely birds with their lonesome song,

Make me want to sing along.

Tammy Harvey

7/18/2023