pocatello

The Glorious Wind Pinking

October 28, 2011 by The Noisy Plume

Oh!

Oh what autumnal joy is mine!

Today is the first day in three weeks that we have not had a house guest or two in our home. I loved, very dearly, visiting with our friends but let’s be honest, if you’ve been reading this blog since last December, you’ll know that we have had at least two weeks worth of house guests at The Gables every month since last January. Life has been full. The love has been so thick — thick like Canadian maple syrup.

That said, I am a smidgen tired.

November begins in just a small handful of days and it is the first month since last December that we do not have any friends or family booked for a visit and I cannot wait to fall head over heels into a creative habit again. I love the people who have visited, with all my heart, but quite frankly, they were bad for my work! That’s just bare bones honesty for you.

So, since this was my first day (in quite some time) in a quiet and private home, I found myself in a long hot bath this morning with my steaming cup of coffee followed by a breezy bike ride through the autumn wind pinking with a stop at my favorite vintage shop (HELLO YOU WONDERFUL VAIN AND VINTAGE GIRLS) where the ladies and I talked about my new/old beautiful airstream trailer! Hurrah! Also, I found a beautiful blue and gray pleated, mid length wool skirt that will be utterly gorgeous for winter walking with tights and boots. It’s so lovely! It’s so Sylvia Plath at the country stone cottage. I can’t wait to wear it. I had a wonderful batch of sushi for lunch and chatted with a kind fellow from Boise who has a heart for the arts. I peddled around a bit more, coasted across the university campus (and daydreamed about the weaving class I hope to take this spring). I talked to a friend on the phone and we laughed out loud and groaned a bit before exchanging Iloveyous and hanging up.

I listened to this while I pedaled my bike.

I love that low, growly, womanly voice…well, I also don’t mind sandpaper kisses…

[ the record version is amazing…go hear it]

Then, oh then, oh then of all thens,

I went to my Ace Hardware store and finally bought

the Swedish wrap I have been coveting there. I know, this all sounds strange…a Swedish wrap at the hardware store?

The Pocatello Ace Hardware is the kind of thing legends are made of. Come visit and I’ll show you myself. This particular Swedish wrap is a sensual sort of furry hood that has a scarf attached with pompom ends and it makes me look like a Ukrainian princess in exile in hip deep snow with nothing to eat but cold borscht.

I’ll be wearing it obsessively this winter and I’m sure you’ll see it in a photograph or two before spring does its springing.

I’m so spoiled,

Spoiled rotten.

But some days, it’s a good day to be spoiled rotten.

Some other tidbits you may enjoy:

I finally watched this! I loved it, though it was tremendously sad — it made me wonder if some people are born melancholy.

It made me hold my favorite melancholy mistress tightly in my heart.

If you’re in Pocatello and you haven’t been up here yet this fall,

you’d better hurry. The fall colors won’t last forever!

I’m going to finish reading this tonight.

I can’t believe I’m only one book away from finishing this amazing series — I feel like the characters in these stories are some of my best friends. I can get like that with books. For example, when Dumbledore died I felt like I had lost my grandfather.

Actually, when Johnny Cash died, I felt like I lost a grandfather.

Perhaps I am one who easily attaches?

Maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to love?

Perhaps I allow myself to be too transported by books?

Lastly, this arrived in the mail today. It’s tremendously beautiful.

I have been a huge fan of Lana’s work for some time now

and finally claimed this rust and gray beauty from her.

It’s delicate, robust and generally amazing.

At any rate, this is all to say that I wish you

a merry weekend.

Oh, and Taternator is the cutest quadruped within a thousand mile radius of my home. I’ll be sure to give him a smooch for you (he’s eating Rhubarb, the cat, right now).

Tater! Stop that!

MERRY FRIDAY!

Be well, brave hearts.

Don’t let the man get you down.

Filed Under: pocatello, random junk

God’s Country

June 3, 2011 by The Noisy Plume

When I woke up this morning, my soul felt magnificent,

like four million fire opals blazing in moonlight.

At seven thousand feet above the sea,

my spirit is so full,

it’s aerial.

Filed Under: bannock, german shorthaired pointers, idaho, pocatello, rocky mountains, the fire of the soul, the flight of the spirit

May 9, 2011 by The Noisy Plume

RW, the dogs and I headed up the mountain late this afternoon, despite the rain, despite the gloom.

We had planned to take a trip this weekend, but had to delay. With a pair of hot drinks for the drive, we made our way up to Gibson Jack trail head and walked off into the rain, deeper into the mountains, with just each other and our pack of canines.

[…he never closes his eyes…]

Idaho is so beautiful right now. In the high country, the aspens are tightly furled and there’s a whisper of fresh chartreuse in exponential augmentation in every direction. I feel so good when I’m out in it. Early in the day, I took ten fast miles on the mountain. I ran like a wild thing through the rain and mud. With Farley by my side, I paced quietly up the mountain, pausing to smell the wet of the junipers, pausing to listen to my creek. He and I dipped down into an aspen and maple grove and I slammed on the brakes. The hair rose up on the back of my neck. I could sense a large animal in the area (I can’t explain it, but some primal thing in me reared up and felt it…). There was no birdsong, only quiet falling all around and pooling at my feet. There are cougars up there, tucked away under the tree line…I know it, for they come down to my street sometimes, all tawny flanks and tall whiskers, I’ve seen them…

Farley too, stood alert, hackles up, unmoving. A sudden crashing of underbrush startled us both and a huge dark form rose up out of the trees. Moose. A cow and her calf. I rounded the bend in the glade and we all stood, but twenty feet apart, watching each other with mutual curiosity. I sat down in the wet underbrush and simply took my sabbath there, on the side of the mountain, soul rest.

Thank God for those moose.

They came to me when I needed them most.

White hocks.

Smooth lumbering gait.

Telescopic ears.

Gibson Jack trail is unfurling.

The world is waking.

My winter bones are thawing.

Summer is coming.

I used to be a prairie momma. Now, I think, I’m half prairie momma, half mountain momma.

Does it suit me?

I think so.

Happy Mother’s Day to all, I hope, if you have young (and old) to tend, that you felt so appreciated and loved today. In every way. Lord knows, I love you. I appreciate you. Don’t ever stop being so wonderful.

Love,

The Mountain Momma

https://www.thenoisyplume.com/blog/2011/05/09/986/

Filed Under: gibson jack, hiking, idaho, mother's day, pocatello, west bench

Solo

April 20, 2011 by The Noisy Plume

I’m just in from a twirl about town.

I traveled by bicyclette and my oh my, the breeze was brisk and the sun was pooling like young amber, musky and musty, light and bright. The wavering flex of spring shift is falling all around like chandelier crystals on white marble — so pretty and smashing and the delicate light spinning through and through.

The daffodils hold their holy rows.

The world is tossing itself about in shades of green…

I went on a solo date. The rules for a solo date usually include food, coffee (green tea, in this case), antique or second hand stores, book stores and a camera.

Regardez:

1. The sushi was delicious (my pot of green tea overflowed=eth),

as was the pillaging of my favorite antique shop, right across the street.

2. Walrus and Carpenter, my favorite used bookstore, held more treasures than usual.

3. Will gave me a start from his century old jade tree (it belonged to his mother and her mother before her, before it became his…). I’ve been begging for a piece of this plant for a year and a half…..most politely. You’ve never seen a jade tree like this. The trunk of it is at least as round as my leg, just above the knee. How lucky am I to own a small piece of such a fantastic chloroplastic dynasty?

4. My trusty steed was heavy with bits and bobs but we cruised the sidewalks and greenbelts with utter grace.

This was my first time out and about in my little community on the South end of town in roughly two months.

How did I get so busy?

How did life get so wild?

Well I’m simmering down now and taking my time. I was supposed to take one day off…but it has turned into three. You’ll have to forgive me that! I thank you in advance!!!

Fact:

I love it here.