Sepia Saturday 228 The Sands of Time

A mention of  the sands of time,brings me immediately to recall American poet,  Henry Wadsworth Longellow's "Psalm of Life" that I memorized oh so long ago, back in school when we memorized poetry--it is with me still ages past. And yet this beautiful spring month is wistful for us for as May 23 approaches, the birthday of our late lost  son Steve, born May 23, 1964 and lost to the sands of time December, 2008, I feel a tribute to him  meets the sands theme. The heart ache that has become less painful with the sands of time but one that I suspect will never fully go away, the loss of an adult child. Sepians I give you my sands today...

1966 Steve and me

A Psalm of Life

BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW  1836

What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

   Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

   And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!

   And the grave is not its goal;

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

   Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

   Is our destined end or way;

But to act, that each to-morrow

   Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,

   And our hearts, though stout and brave,

Still, like muffled drums, are beating

   Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle,

   In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

   Be a hero in the strife!

1976 Steve and me   Auburn, CA
Statue of Claude Chana,  French 1849  gold miner
in the famous California gold rush

2007 employment ID photo Steve

This is my Sepia post.  To see what others offer in this international community, go to the site here...http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2014/05/sepia-saturday-228-17-may-2014.html

Thru windshield across the Mississippi at
La Crosse  evening clouds

No, blogger family I have not abandoned my blog though it may seem so.  Just no tiome to write so many thoughts and happenings.  Those of you on Facebook can keep up. others, not so. You are indeed my family along with so many long time friends.  It's just that it has been the busy time again.  I have managed all the trimming. pruning, clipping and weeding  all on my own this year while Jerry is nicely recovering from his back surgery.  It takes a bit of time and spring does adventure near for days or so here and then retreat through the rain and the colder temps.  What colder?  Why just a few months ago 54 degrees would have felt balmy, today it's nippy and calls for jeans and jacket  again although I did wear sandals all day to show off my pedicure.    

I have oft commented that some people use Facebook as a blog, they go on an d on and on.  I do not do so nor do I set up diatribes there,  but admit that Facebook is so much easier, post  a photo here and there from the phone and download and comment.  So for those of you who do not join in, I miss you.  And I do try to check in on blog, but this time of year time  flies.  From workout in the AM to domestic chores and errands, pretty soon  the day wanes.  and I find myself  in the refrain of retirees, "where does the time go?"  I have lots of mental thoughts to ponder but little time at the keyboard. 

One backyard bird feeder

Gold finches gather off back deck  thistle feeder

Orioles busy feeding on  grape jelly

The birds are feasting. especially the orioles who consume copious amounts of grape jelly.  A quart in 3 days is not unusual.  Sam's club was out the other day when we stopped so I had to buy generic jars at the Quillin's market locally.  The orioles did not object.   I must be the only one in this neighborhood feeding them. Some locals complain they have not seen any--please call and I will send some of our hundreds your way.    Hope our next door neighbors who are  also Morrison's return soon from their winter in Arizona because Tim feeds the birds and our birds await.  Rather expensive here meantime. 

End of our street cul de sac  blooms abide

So bloggers there has been scarce online time, please follow on Facebook.  l hope to catch up soon, but   ???

Sepia Saturday 226 Muses and leaps over

This week's prompt left me wondering what photo to share to match these muses.  The multitude of our photos left me with no inspiration, so I took the liberty to go off theme.  This weekend in the States is the 140th  annual running of the Kentucky Derby ; my bucket list includes attending the Derby because I would love to wear a  fancy hat as the ladies do there and stroll through the stands. Here is a link to a site about the Derby for more information about the horses.http://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses

 We watch the Kentucky Derby on TV annually.  One year we were in Las Vegas where I had booked us in January to escape the northern California fog; by the time May rolled around it was sweltering in the adult play land and we spent the heat of the day indoors, placing bets and watching the Derby on a big  screen at one of the casinos. This year we will be rooting for California Chrome, a long shot but a horse that is surprising many people.  

But the photos I share today are not of Derby horses but jumpers, car hoppers, a stretch of the expression, but an activity that must require finesse and synchronization, as much as dancers. 

 This first photo comes from http://www.old-picture.com/american-legacy/012/Jumping-Horse-Over-Car.htm .  

 Horse Shows. Ralph Coffin Jumping His Horse Over Sylvanus Stoke's Rolls Royce.
 It was created in 1916 by Harris & Ewing. 

This next photo I found while web surfing some time ago and set it aside to use someday.  It is from the National Photo Company, 1923 and I have found is famous and used today in note cards and posters.  Jack Presage on Tipperary.  I know nothing more about the rider or horse but wonder what was going on back then that  would inspire people to jump over autos with horses.  

This is my offering for the prompt.  To see what others in the Sepian world are offering, click on this link http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.com/2014/04/sepia-saturday-226-3-may-2014.html