May 28th, 2007
Memorial Day
Today we will spend some time at the cemetery. There are now more of my people beneath the mountain than there are living on it. We will place bouquets at my mother and father's grave sites, and at my uncle Eddie's. But we will visit many other loved ones and we will honor them without a floral tribute. My Grandpa Louie, my Grandma Edna....My beloved Grandma Hodges, Grandpa Hodges, my Uncle Virgil and Uncle Clarence, both which I never met in life but look forward to meeting in the afterlife. My great Grandma Powers, remembering Grandpa Powers, although not knowing where he's buried....And all of the loved ones who have come before me who I know about but never met. I love you all, and I will always remember you. You are a part of who I am...

   I found this in the 'drafts' section of my blog...Interesting, since it happened 5 years ago and yet, we did exactly the same thing this recent Memorial Day.  However, while we fondly reminisced about our dearly departed 5 years ago, this past Memorial Day, as we laid the flowers on each grave, we began pondering where our OWN remains might finally be placed, and who will come behind us to lovingly lay the flowers. 

  Times are not as they were in years past.  While my parents, and theirs, made it a solemn duty to visit the graves on Memorial Day, my generation, with our nuclear families, either moved  too far away to make the annual visit, or were simply too busy pursuing careers to have the time.  Our children consider it an even less important task, and since cremation often trumps burial nowadays, with ashes being scattered hither and yon, there is no need to pull the weeds, place the flowers or brush off a loved one's headstone.  It's a bit sad to me.  This task allows us, in a way, to do something for someone without being asked, to take a moment to ponder our own past, and to honor those who came before us.  It's something we really never seem to have time for nowadays, and it's too bad - for us.

GASP!  Could this truly be my first post of 2012???  Good grief, time flies when you've got nothing interesting to say!  And what on EARTH have they done to my blog!!??  EVERYTHING is different!  It took me a good 30 minutes just to find the place to post a message!  When all is said and done, however, I think I might like it!  I'll be changing some things, for sure!  Slowly but surely, it will be done.  I think also that I must change my "name" from Mountain Muddah to something a little less "aggressive", shall we say?  That will also require some thought.  I can say for certain, however, that the ostrich is coming back!  I love it's sparsely covered head, those big, inquisitive eyes and the long neck. It represents me well and I miss it.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see how long it takes me to get this all updated and running smoothly...Hopefully BEFORE May 10, 2013!!

Ok, I simply cannot keep this to myself. I received this email at work today from a co-member of a professional organization we belong to:

International Development is selling cookbooks put together from member submissions. I am almost sure that they have tested all of the recipe’s before putting them in this book or someone was particularly proud of the recipe and it was probably because one of their friends or their family told them it was great.

At any rate, we don’t participate in fundraising to get good recipes, that is just the bonus. Please support your organization, order a book, get a recipe that looks like it may have potential. Use the recipes over the holidays and if anyone complains about the food, you can always tell them that at least one person said that the recipe was a solid addition to your library of food preparation repertoire. Oh yeah, quote me on this, “These recipes are a solid addition to your library of food preparation.”

Thanks,

Jeff

I must tell you...I do not HAVE a library of food preparation, because I really don't cook. However, with this great sales pitch, I might just have to spring for the cost of a copy! So excuse me while I order my copy and go design my "library of food preparation".

Whew!

In all the hub-bub of daily life, it hadn't occurred to me until just now that I've passed 100 posts on this little blog! My goodness! To think this started out as a way to document my journey through a very difficult time in my life! Although the entries have been erratic, it is interesting for me to go back and see some of the snippets of my life over the last 3 or so years!

I've already missed a day in my quest to complete 'one post per day' during this month of Blogtoberfest! It didn't slip my mind, either; however, the day slipped away before I could get around to getting it done. I am so grateful that this is not a high-pressure idea where you MUST post something every day. Well, I probably wouldn't have ventured it had THAT been so. I know better than to commit myself to ANYTHING right now. I am learning, however, of the importance of committing to doing certain things you WANT to do, and not just making the MUST do things a priority. And I find that quite enjoyable - knowing that the pleasant, fun, "paisley" part of yourself deserves a place of importance, alongside the necessary mundane tasks of everyday life. I'm starting to realize that there are aspects of my "self" I didn't realize existed....Some fun, surprising, even intimidating things! I am anxious to explore them, to try them on for size. I might actually find that I love this 'late-middle' part of my life!

What is this "Blogtoberfest"?

Oh my, what have I done? I feel like I just got on a bus I have no business getting on, but I want to go for the ride! A few days ago while visiting one of my favorite blogs, Fabulously Artsy, I discovered that October is indeed "Blogtoberfest" and she included an invitation to join in. She even designed a cute little button I could (and did) add to my blog, advertising this month-long event. She promises to bring us many wonderful tips and blog-type tricks to make our own corner of the blog-universe more visitor friendly and author-fun! I copied that little code and stuck it right up on my side bar, just because I thought it was sooo cute! It might also remind me to check her blog daily to make sure I get every single snippet she offers, because I feel I know the Stamp Goddess well enough at this point to tell you that SHE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT!
I must tell you, however (as you can easily see if you check the LAST time I posted), that I am not exactly a regular blog post-er. I mean, I love the idea of a blog, and I love READING other people's blogs, but when it comes right down to it....Hmmm, turns out I'm just not that full of fun information! I'm pretty sure that if I committed to blogging every day, you'd be getting a weather report, a daily blurb about the mood I'm in, and that's it! As I understand it, however, 'Blogtoberfest' is an opportunity to re-invest yourself in your blog - to learn more about blogging, writing and story telling, and just who can say no to that, I ask you?? I did wonder though, if this was another fantastic creation of the Goddess's, or if there was actually a national/international organization for Blogtoberfest? When in doubt, GOOGLE....right? And SURPRISE, SURPRISE! There are actually several links associated in one way or another with Blogtoberfest. I chose to click on Tinniegirl's link to see what she had to say and LO! I was certainly not disappointed! She invites everyone who would like to sign up for Blogtoberfest. After I read a few of the comments, I lost my head and signed up! I VERY much want to participate in this fun fest (I AM a fun fest type of gal...if you know me, you know that), so I intend to commit to entering SOMETHING here everyday. Something more entertaining than just a weather report (that is, unless my unleashed Id shows up and takes over...Lord knows where we may end up in that case!) Anyway, here's to a wonderful Blogtober!! To all of the folks I have joined, or who may join me in this adventure, I wish you the VERY best of blogging! TAKE MY TICKET, PLEASE! :) THE SEAT NEXT TO ME IS OPEN!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Good grief, it's been 8 months since I've posted anything to this blog! It's not that I haven't thought about posting, it's just that I couldn't think of anything much to post about. I still don't have anything earth-shattering to say, but I want to get that last post off the page, or at least a little lower down! I don't THINK I went crazy, for pete's sake (not that I've ever been totally sane). Maybe I should give a brief synopsis of how the year has progressed thus far:

My daughter, her son and their dog moved in with us just before Christmas last year. Understand that my house is about 900 square feet, and you can imagine the fun we all have stumbling over one another! I do very much enjoy having them with us. They keep life very interesting, which is something I need, considering how easily moved I am to boredom! This was not a voluntary move on Carly's part. She simply found it necessary to leave her position at work, and never DREAMED how difficult it would be to re-gain employment! She's had what seems like countless interviews - three, four, even FIVE interviews with a single company, only to find that she had ultimately been passed over by each employer! I can't imagine her frustration at this point, nor can I fathom why no one has hired her to date! She has a brilliant mind and a pleasant demeanor...A perfect candidate for any business (perhaps as her mother, I'm biased :))

In April of this year, Carly had a very serious illness which came near to taking her life. Fortunately, the doctors were able to correct her problem after what turned out to be a three or four hour surgery. She is still woefully thin and hasn't quite determined what foods she can eat without spending the rest of the evening or next day in bed!

Spring was practically non-existent here this year, with more rain than I thought was possible! It's been only within the last month or two that we've really enjoyed summer weather. I do hope summer will linger awhile after Labor Day this year.

On Wednesday of this week, a hillside just south of town caught fire, and for several hours, we all wondered whether our little town would go up in flames! It burned just over 17 acres, but was brought under control (for the most part) that evening, thanks to the valiant efforts of the Forest Service and firefighters from all over our little valley. I for one am extremely grateful to these brave folks for saving our little burg!

I'm hanging in there from day to day, as most folks are in the area. Is it possible for a person to go into a recession, as our country has done? I don't think I'm depressed, but I'm certainly not the happiest person on the planet!

Perhaps the saddest thing that's happened is that my son Josh and his wife Tia have separated. Josh is also currently unemployed following a few ventures in Vegas that didn't quite pan out. He seems to be having the same luck Carly, as well at a little over 9% (seasonally adjusted :)) of the people in our country, are having at the present time. Life is no bowl of cherries for anyone, it seems!

And so, we look forward to the rest of 2011. Hopefully, good things will soon be happening again on all fronts. Until that time, count your blessings and keep your nose clean!

The Crazies

I seem to have fallen into another case of the crazies. I don't know how it happened, and I don't know how to pull myself out of it (well, I guess I do, but I haven't). I've convinced myself that I hate my job, but I'm not sure that's actually the truth. I have a horrible cold right now but that isn't what clouds my thinking. I'm sitting here wondering how to crawl out of the abyss.

It's different this time. Ron Bacardi and Peter Vella are not a part of this fiasco. It's all just me. Am I not the Captain of my ship? The Master of my domain? Why can't I pick myself up by the bootstraps and get on with my life? Am I just that lazy, or is there something organic that causes me to feel this way? The total apathy; the lack of ambition. It's miserable and somehow, it's oddly comfortable. It is withdrawal. But, why? Why do I do this? How did I get here again? I want to be a productive, striving individual, but somehow, that person is not as strong as the apathetic nobody that seems to dominate my moods and actions. Something needs to be done. I need to decide which way I want to live out the rest of my life. Will it be doing what I need to do to be proud of the woman I am, or shall I live out my days in my pajamas, watching old re-runs and making myself physically ill? The choice is clear to me. Why can I not take the necessary action?

Random Thoughts...

I was just thinking....You know how they say that when you die you'll be greeted on that heavenly shore by your dearly departed loved ones? I've been saved and I know I'm going to heaven, but I'm not without fault! I have to admit, I haven't been the best follower of the Lord at all times. So, I was just thinking....I've had some friendships/relationships with a number of things in my life. INanimate objects, like my car. Animate objects, like my dogs. I even had an odd friendship with a cat face spider this summer! What if there's a party going on when I get there and God sends my Camry down to greet me/drive me back to the goings on? What if I'm met at the pearly gates by no one other than my springer spaniel, Patch?! It would be a bit of a letdown, don't you think? Kind of like being met at the airport by no one.
Well, if I don't rate a full blown salute when I reach the pearly shores, Lord, I will totally understand. Like I said, I haven't been the best fish in the pond....The best sheep in the flock. But please, Lord, grant me one wish. Don't let me be greeted at the gate by that cat face spider!

All Hail Facebook!

I joined Facebook awhile back and I really enjoy it. It's an easy way to stay current with people you like and there are a few fun games you can play. But the thing I like best is that I have found friends on Facebook with whom I'd completely lost touch! People who meant a lot to me, going clear back to a time I could barely remember or for which I had just begun having cognitive memory. It's fantastic.

Today I got a message on Facebook from one of my very first friends. I don't know exactly how old J and I were when we first met, but we couldn't have been more than 3.

My grandmother took care of me up until the time she died at the age of 82. We did everything together, and since we did, she drug me along to one of her lady friend's house one day. This particular lady was every bit my grandma's age, and as my grandmother knocked at the door and we waited for Esther to answer, I remember hearing a little girl squealing and splashing in a bath tub nearby! I looked up and found that the water play was coming from an upstairs window next door to Esther's house and I asked my grandma who it was, playing and having so much fun. My grandma wasn't sure, but she promised to ask Esther, who would surely know.


After we got inside Esther's house and the cookies were laid out, my grandma asked Esther if there was a little girl living next door. "Why yes, indeed! Her name is J. " Then she looked at me and asked "Would you like for me to call her mother and see if J can come over to play?" Obviously, I was beside myself to think I could pass the time with a little friend instead of sitting in a dusty old chair watching my grandma and her friend trade stories about the "olden days"!


J was brought over a short while later. I don't recall much about the first meeting...must have been pretty overwhelmed when she finally arrived. I only know, however, from that day forward, J's and my friendship grew and we became inseparable.

J was not an only child, but her sister was significantly older than she and so she was raised alone, much as I was. However, J. was fortunate in that it seemed her mother bought her every new toy and gadget that came down the pike. It seemed like every time I saw her, she had some new play thing. I particularly remember a plastic, round device that went over the top of a soda bottle that was previously filled with water. The idea was to fill the bottle with water, put a "Fizzies" into the globe, attach it to the bottle and enjoy water that was magically transformed in a sparkling treat! J. was also the first kid on the block to have Barbie AND Midge, Creepy Crawlers, and the edible Creepy Crawlers. When we were smaller, she had an entire toy kitchen, complete with refrigerator, stove and sink. Her 'fridge even had real food! She had a pup tent, which we enjoyed using for our club house. We'd pick green apples from the tree above her house and bring them back to store in the tent. We didn't realize what the hot summer sun would do to a bunch of green apples. I don't think that tent EVER lost its smell! Later on, she got the little shed outside to use as a play house of sorts. We had much bigger ideas, however. WE turned that shed into the finest Beatles Fan Club House you'd ever want to see, and we held weekly, no, daily meetings in which we sang the praises of the Fab 4.

J was able to run all over the hill before I was, and for that reason, my dad named her the "Pied Piper". Funny thing was, every dog on the hill seemed to follow her wherever she went, and she was perfectly content with that. She was going to grow up and be a veterinarian or SOME kind of dog person, and she always seemed to scrape enough money together to purchase some kind of doggie treats for her four-legged entourage, most commonly "Lolli-Pups". Lolli-Pups were little round, multi-colored bisquits for dogs, and I swear, they looked as good as candy! One day, J and I were sitting on the side of the hill, feeding the dogs their daily treats and talking about nothing in particular. J suddenly decided that we should try the Lolli-Pups. Not one to miss out on a new taste treat (especially if it was candy), I jumped right on the band wagon. J decided I could try them first. I of course was a little hesitant - After all, they WERE marketed for DOGS. I finally popped it into my mouth and began to chew. This was followed shortly with massive spitting, choking and spewing! Let me tell you something - If you ever get the urge to eat a "Lolli-Pup", don't! They are NOT as good as they look, especially when you're 6 years old.

J and I owned the South Hill in Wallace for many years, until my parents purchased a house down the road in Kellogg when we moved. I missed J dearly; fortunately, our mothers let us spend the night with each other frequently. I shared most all of my "kid" experiences with J...Mexican jumping beans, roller skating downtown, troll dolls and our first boyfriends. We even bragged it up to each other when we got our first bras!

Somehow, about the time I was a junior in high school, J and I lost touch. Oh, I saw her once during an all class reunion, but only in passing. By that time, she and I were both grown adults and she lived down in Southern Idaho, far away from that south hill. And then, I didn't see her at all anymore. Until just the other night, on Facebook. J and I are both back in the valley where we grew up. Together again...LET'S DUST OFF THOSE BEATLE ALBUMS AND LET THE PARTY BEGIN!

I'M COMING BACK!!

Hello to all of you who read my blog!

It's been a long, dry spell for me, but NO MORE!! I'm soon going to dig in again, all refreshed and inspired. I'm going to write a blook on my blog. It's all for me, really. I'm no writer and I'm certainly no master of the English language, but it's something I've always wanted to do and it's time for me to do it! So beginning in August, I WILL begin my epic BLOOK. Follow along if you want to - You are certainly welcome! Just don't expect too much, especially from the veteran of the "Great Honeybun War of 2008".

See you soon! :)

Tied to Technology

Today was quite an interesting day in the office! We arrived this morning to find that our computer system had been "upgraded" to Windows 7. If you were a fly on the wall in my office today, here are a few of the comments you would have heard:

"Ok B, so HOW do I log on??"
"Where did all my icons go?"
"(Gasp!) B, all my favorites are gone!"
"What happened to the communicator?"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO OUTLOOK?"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO WORD?"
"I have to do WHAT to get my printers back?"
"I have to do THAT to get Sharepoint to work?"
"What do you mean, I have to configure spell check?"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR DATABASE??"
"What are printer drivers and where do I get them?"
"If you can't make this work, can I go home?"

You get the idea. Our Department has been tied to technology for about 13 years now, but every time a change is made, you would think we'd never turned on a computer before in our lives! If it weren't so aggravating, it would be funny! If you are at all tech savvy, I'm sure you're laughing as you read this, or, if you are a computer tech, you are no doubt rolling your eyes! I think I can sum up the feelings in our office today with one sentence:

"I'M A P.C.....AND WINDOWS 7 WAS NOT MY IDEA!!"

Regional Ties

Today I traveled up to Sandpoint to give a presentation. I hadn't spoken to this group since 2007 and it was so nice to again see several of the ladies I communicate with on a fairly regular basis by email and telephone!
In my job, we each have a "territory" to cover. My area consists of Idaho's 10 northern counties. It covers quite a wide geographical area - about 300 miles from the Canadian border to the southern-most tip of my area, and border-to-border, west to east. The terrain varies, from significant mountain ranges in the north to prairie land as you travel south. Industries also vary within the region, and employers encounter problems specific to their industry. In my 20-plus years with the Department, I've gained positive, professional relationships with many of these employers. In all those years, I've learned one very important thing. Whether logging contractors or farmers, they all take great pride in living and working in our beautiful North/North Central Idaho. It's the regional tie that binds us all together.

Organizational Ties

My brother, my husband and I are hosting a family reunion this summer. It will be the first family reunion we've had in almost 16 years. I have all these ideas for our get together jumbled in my mind and I need to get moving on them or the date will be here and I will not be ready! Time to get out pen and paper and start making a plan. It's the only way I can organize myself and begin. I am definitely tied to organization!

All Tied Up

My, my! This writing about 'ties' every day for a month is getting to be quite a challenge! I only have a few more ideas up my sleeve and they are weak, to boot! My mind is all tied up trying to figure out what to do! Come back tomorrow and see what I've thought up!

Tied to the Holidays

I love Monday holidays because it means I get an extra day off work. That sounds selfish, I know, but since I've been pretty much working since I was 16 years old, it's nice to get an extra day off once in awhile. I always try to observe the holiday in one way or another. For instance, today I watched a series of documentaries on the Presidents. It only went up to Lincoln, but then I appreciated that because I know very little about the first 16 presidents. It was interesting, and I enjoyed it. I think I even learned a bit about our first leaders; things I wasn't aware of prior to watching the show. It was interesting. I am thankful for Monday holidays, and I will continue to look forward to them and the fact that my extra days off are tied to these holidays!

Tied to a Sweetheart

I have the best Valentine anyone ever had. His name is Kelly. We've known each other now for 25 years, and it seems like each day is better than the last. He came into my life at a very painful time for me, and I'm certain that without him, I would have never made it through. He was there for me when there was no one else. We always got along very well and I've shared countless laughs with him. Kelly is an extremely special person. He would (and has) given his last dollar to anyone he believes needs it. He constantly finds ways to do kind things - not just for me, but for people he meets every day.

Kelly has run pro shops in bowling centers all his life and is a crack mechanic on the machines as well. When he worked at the Cove Bowl, people from all over the Northwest would come in to have him drill their bowling ball, because no one can give you a better fit. And I can't begin to tell you the number of folks who've brought in their balls for him to plug and re-drill because they made the mistake of having someone else drill it!

Kelly became very, very ill in 2001 and almost died. He has never fully recovered and has never been able to return to work. So he spends his days doing things for other people. In the winter, he snow blows the entire block before anyone steps out the door for work. Once he came to pick me up from work. It was snowing quite steadily and had been for some time. He got out of the car into the driving snow and proceeded to clear all of the snow from the ladies windshields just before they left for the day. Whenever it was particularly cold outside, he would stop by my office shortly before the end of the day, start my car and let it warm up, so that when I came out, my car was toasty warm for the trip home.

Since he can't work anymore, he's spent countless days studying computers, and he's become an expert in that field. He's put together slide shows for my girlfriends whenever they've needed them, come to several of my co-workers' rescue when their computer has "gone down", and took pictures and put together a wonderful video of my 30th high school reunion, all musically choreographed.

I haven't touched the tip of the iceberg regarding the things this man has done for me and countless others. He never asks for anything in return and actually acts a little offended on occasion if you try to reimburse him in some way for his trouble. I am absolutely convinced that he's an angel on earth. How I ever got lucky enough to have him for a husband is beyond me. I cannot ever begin to give him everything he's given me. He has been a savior to me and will forever be my knight in shining armour. I love him more than words can say and I always will. He is one of the greatest gifts God has ever given me. I will never be able to adequately express my love and gratitude for him. I am truly tied to a sweetheart! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, MY DARLING MAN!!

Friendly Ties

Today I spent a very pleasant day with my friend Jeri. Jeri and I have known each other for years. Jeri worked with my husband back in the good ol' Cove Bowl days. In 1994, she came to work as our office secretary and she's been there ever since.

Jeri and I always have a great time together. We absolutely crack each other up! I have great regard for Jeri. She and her husband Gerry have been there for Kelly and I during each and every rough patch. We've celebrated good times with them on numerous occasions. We've encouraged each other through the thrills and spills of raising children to adulthood and shared each other's joy at becoming a grandparent. I love Jeri. She's an absolute treasure. I hope our ties of friendship remain strong through the rest of of our lives.

Tied to a Tragedy?

I love the Olympic games. I don't care whether it's summer or winter, the Olympic games are always a grand spectacle. I've been looking forward to these particular winter games because they are happening very near to where I live.

The Vancouver Olympics, however, seem to be getting off to a rough start. With the El Nino weather we've experienced in the region this year, Vancouver has had to truck in snow for several of the Olympic events. The rain is putting a damper on the festivities, but today, a real tragedy occurred. A young athlete from Soviet Georgia was killed while making a training run on the luge.

They say Vancouver's luge run is the most dangerous ever, and Vancouver is now being criticized for the way the track was constructed. The world drew a collective gasp at the news of the 21 year old's death, and of course our hearts go out to the young man's family, his teammates, and his country. I do hope, however, that this tragedy does not mar these Olympic games.

They say it was the dream of the young man to participate in the Olympic games. The heart of a true Olympic athlete would never want to be responsible for dampening the spirit of the games. For 17 days, we come together, from all over the world, to engage in friendly, spirited competition. For this brief period of time, we can almost believe we are all one people, connected to each other and living in peace.

Canada has done a fantastic job of preparing for these games. The opening ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Vancouver is a wonderful city. Please don't allow these Olympic games to go into the history books tied to a tragedy.

Creative Ties

The last weekend of this month, I am attending something called Creative University. It is a scrapbooking retreat of sorts, and I am very much anticipating the experience.

I've never considered myself a very creative person, but I've always enjoyed the arts, and I very much enjoy crocheting, cross-stitching, and making Ukranian Easter eggs. Many years ago, I took classes to learn to make stained glass, and I loved it!! But, it's only been in the last 5 years that I've experimented with paper crafting, and I find that I absolutely love it!

Anyway, a close friend and I signed up for Creative University, thinking we would experience a wonderful, educational weekend of scrapbooking techniques, card making and other paper-related crafts. What it has become is much, much more than that! The facilitator of C.U. put up a web page so all of us attendees could become "acquainted" prior to the actual weekend. We've discovered that these are a group in incredibly talented ladies, and in addition to the paper crafting, they are also quite the jewelry makers!

Being the adventurers that we are, my friend and I signed up for every little contest and side-shop being held. One of these is a charm swap. Everyone makes a charm for a bracelet, and when we get to C.U., the bracelets will be assembled. When I realized what I'd gotten myself into, I panicked, but J. talked me off the ceiling and assured me that I would be able to do it and she would be there to help. And so here I sit, nearly midnight, about 2 weeks before C.U., baking my "charms" for the charm swap. My creations leave a lot to be desired, but I'm oddly proud of them and if nothing else, they'll provide comic relief for the bracelets. And, while they bake, I can get my blog posting done for the day! I'll sleep tonight with a feeling of accomplishment, and 15 of the most "unique" charms any of the women will ever wear! Let the creativity begin!

Tied to the Hope of Spring

Considering that we live in the Inland Northwest, I must say we have had an exceptionally good winter. However, my heart is tied to the hope of spring. When I was in the 6th grade, our teacher selected this poem for us to memorize. I've always loved it, just as I love knowing that spring is around the corner, and daffodils will soon be in bloom!

"Daffodils" (1804)
I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;Beside the lake, beneath the trees,Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:Ten thousand saw I at a glance,Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils.
By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).