Is everyone having a nice weekend? I’ve been doing a little yard work — the annual War with the Leaves has begun for 2010. We’re just getting started and I bagged as many as I could for today. It’s SO dry outside, I’m now covered with dust. Crossing fingers for rain tomorrow!
While I was outside, I cut a few hydrangeas and hung them on our back porch door. They’re not nearly as pretty (or as prolific) as they were last year, but they’re still nice.
Since all I have is yard work, I thought I’d mention a few other things. Yvestown wrote an interesting post about twitter and facebook and all points in between. I found myself nodding my head in a vertical manner a lot while reading.
And a few weeks ago, a coworker sent me a link to a video of a 3-year old little boy reciting a “Litany” by Billy Collins on youtube. (Have I mentioned this before? Forgive me if I did — I can’t remember anything anymore. Yesterday morning, I prepared a beautiful sweet and sour chicken meal for the crockpot and then left for work without plugging it in. Grrrr!) Anyway, I LOVE Billy Collins — and this poem too. This little guy is super cute.
(Hmmm, I tried to embed the code, but it says it’s been disabled by request — you can see the video HERE.)
Here’s the poem if you’d like to read along:
Litany
You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker,
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.
However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.
It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general’s head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.
And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.
It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.
I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.
I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman’s tea cup.
But don’t worry, I’m not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and–somehow–the wine.
–Billy Collins
So…see if you can top that this weekend! {winky}{wink}
XOXO,
Anna
My memory has been horrible lately, too. I prescribe more chocolate!
This is the joys of living in the NW, rain=no yard work!! xoxoxo Clarice
Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers…I so wish I could grow them in the desert. We’ve had some wonderful weather and some beautiful rain…it finally feels like fall!
Love your hydrangeas Anna, they definitely look better than mine ~ so pretty. Sweet video too. Happy weekend to you!!!
I joined FB a few months ago and feel the same….*eh*. I was persuaded by my daughter & nieces and do admit, with all of us scattered around the globe, it is good for touching base. A long lost friend found me this week. That was nice. But I pretty much just dip in and out occasionally, skimming. Forget Twitter.
I love Billy Collins, too.
What an amazing little boy! I listened to several besides Litany. I’d love to hear more about him as he grows up! Lovely hydrangas Anna! I have resisted those social network sites. They already have enough people without me. Count me, definitely, out!
Now, see, that’s why I read you, Anna. Continually educational. And I love your hydrangeas. Wish I were closer. The chickens do a terriffic job of composting leaves. We collect them from all the neighbors every fall and by early spring they’ve all magically turned into beautiful compost. Magic.
That little boy is terrific, isn’t he? Not only does he remember all the words, but the intonation is beautiful too! Love your hydrangeas.
And I’m still resisting joining FB ;).
Oh the twitter and facebook thing! I have to say facebook kind of annoys me. I like it to find people I’ve lost contact with but I can do without the knowing what everyone is doing every minute, so I just never log in unless someone contacts me who I want to connect with. Now twitter I have recently gone back to…I don’t tweet but I have been using it to keep up on some news and book stuff. I have to go watch your link now :) Oh and pretty flowers!
love your hydrangeas miss anna.
and i have a crush on that little 3 year old!
thanks for sharing that with us.
just got home from a funeral. your weekend trumps mine.
:waves madly
Wow! Love that poem and the little boy. What a cutie-pie. Thank you for sharing it, Anna.
Your hydrangeas look lovely.
What a great poem. I love it! And beautiful hydrangeas :-)
Your hydrangeas are gorgeous (note to self, plant some next year!). I love the poem …. I started reading thinking it was going to be all slushy and sentimental – instead it’s fun!! I have resisted Facebook (maybe I’m too old?) and Twitter seems pointless (but I have to admit that since I got an ipod touch for my birthday, I check my emails more often, as it’s so easy!) Enjoy the rest of the weekend!!
I agree about Twitter but am afraid I have to disagree about FB , I love it. I have found so many friends that I lost touch with and also chat to blogger friends all over the world ( mainly Australia though ). I recently got in touch with an ex boyfriend from 20 years ago and now we chat just about every day, a lot of people also use it to promote business , Melly and Me uses it as does Jodie from Ric Rac. I can see why people dislike it though as sometimes people just update everything on it – even going to the loo!!! I’d be lost without my FB – sad I know lol
Thank you so much for the great poem – and the link to the adorable 3 year old reciting it. And for all that you share with us. You are the best!
What a lovely post Anna – those hydrangeas are beautiful. I have a real yearning for a hydrangea, I just love them.
Wonderful poem. I’m off to follow your link now :o)
xxx
Hello friend. What a beautiful poem, thanks for sharing. I LOVE your hydrangeas. I’m going to have to think of a place to grow some. And thanks for sharing Yvestown Blog!
Karen :)
The hydrangeas look like they belong in a magazine.
I’ve never tweeted, nor do I have an account. I did create a profile on Facebook because a friend wanted to share some pictures. She invited me to be her friend, and a few days later I received an e-mail from her son advising that HE had confirmed me as HIS friend. So I guess I’m too dangerous to be running loose on Facebook!
Love the poem, but the three-year-old is amazing!
I wonder if I wrote the part about forgetting to plug in the crock pot (lol)….Your hydrangeas are beautiful. I’m heading to check out the video. I’m moving my head up and down as well about facebook and twitter I just don’t get.
Anna – your hydrangeas are just beautiful! You’re right though…we need some more rain too!
The hydrangeas are gorgeous, you are not alone in not plugging in the crockpot and that little boy gave the perfect recitation of Litany. Just lovely.
I had to laugh at your query as to whether we call John Albert Prince Albert! The joke, “Do you have Prince Albert in a can? Yes? Well, you need to let him out!” immediately came to mind! Oh, and to answer the ?, no, we don’t and that’s why. lol
Hope you have a lovley, hot crockpot week, Anna.
Billy Collins! You posted a poem by Billy Collins! He’s one of my favorite poets. You are my new Blog Heroine! You are the needle and the thread…
my all time favourite flower!!!!!!!!!!!