In Celebration of the Magic of Dragonflies

Dragonfly
Insect
A dragonfly is an insect belonging to the order Odonata, suborder Anisoptera. Adult dragonflies are characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body.Wikipedia
Scientific name: Anisoptera
Higher classification: Odonata

Seems such a shame to think of a dragonfly as just an insect.

They're magical, and so, so beautiful.

Honestly, I haven't been lucky enough to see many dragonflies until only very recently.

Dragonfly season was apparently in full season while we were at Topsail Island and while sitting on our deck we seemed to have been directly in their migratory path, so we saw a LOT of dragonflies.

I tried and tried to get a picture, but they're just too quick.

When one of two did grace me with a brief hovering appearance, I was too slow, or my camera was just out of reach.

My mother would have loved it.

She was a lover of dragonflies.

She had quite a few pieces of dragonfly jewelry.

Some of which I recently sent to friends and family members who I knew would appreciate the significance.

I kept a few pieces for myself.

After we had returned to Boone, Donald found this wonderful little snippet and posted it to my Facebook wall.

How lovely is that?!

I am now convinced that one of those dragonflies was carrying my mom - flying by to say "Hey!"

And, by golly, she brought a whole lot of friends along with her.

My dad, for sure.

And probably my Aunt Belle, Michael Dean . . . .

and oh so many much loved and dearly missed family and friends.

This brave soul stopped by for a visit with Donald one morning while I was still sleeping and stuck around long enough for a picture.

Thank you - whoever you were

"Dragonfly" by Susan Elliott

http://www.neptunecreations.com/

And now, I think it just might be time for me to pull out my pens and coloring pencils and make some of my very own dragonfly art.  Wish me luck!

And the next time you're lucky enough to see a dragonfly, be sure and let them know how much you appreciate them flying by - you just never know who it might be coming to check on you.

Books, Authors, Essays

I love to talk about  books.

I love to share favorite books and authors with others who might not have discovered them yet, and, in turn, I love learning about them.

One of the people I learn from is Lesa Holstine.

If you're one of the last people on God's green earth to hear about Lesa and her marvelous blog - here's a link:  http://lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com/  -  jump on over there!

Lesa and I seem to enjoy many of the same authors and books and have shared names and titles over the years.

The latest "share" I got from her was Rick Bragg's "My Southern Journey."

Now, I have read some of his work before, and love it.  But I don't think I was really prepared for how much his essays would touch me.

I have gone back and re-read the introduction he wrote for this book a half a dozen times.  With more to come, I'm sure.

And I learned something new about Lesa during the Rick Bragg conversation at her blog.

She loves essays for comfort reading.

And so do I.

I write them for that very same reason.  Essays have long been my first writing love.



There have been periods of time when I just simply have not had enough sense to read a novel.

These have been periods of stress when I've been concerned about loved ones and can't seem to hold a thought in my head for long without worries nudging it aside.

And there are times when I've been sitting on a deck, or on the beach, watching the waves and all I want is a little literary comfort to go along with the peace I'm feeling.

Rick Bragg's "My Southern Journey" is a book I'll add to my already fairly substantial pile of "essay comfort."

The pile, off the top of my head, includes:

Anne Morrow Lindberg's "Gift From the Sea"

Joan Anderson's "A Year By the Sea" and "A Walk on the Beach"

Mary Oliver's "Long Life: Essays and Other Writings" (and all her poetry)

May Sarton's "The House by the Sea" and "Journal of a Solitude"

Anything by Anne Lamott and Anna Quindlen

and finally -

Pat Conroy's "The Reading Life", and his cookbook.  Yes.  His cookbook.  It's not just a cookbook (although it can stand alone as one that cooks and cookbook aficionados would love. It's full of some of the most delicious essays written with the pure poetry that you would expect from this master.

If you're also a lover of essays, I'd love if you would share some of your favorites with me.

RIP Bronson L. "Bo" Parker

I have just heard about the death of Bronson Parker, known to many of us as "Bo." My heart is broken. Bo contributed many thought provoking pieces to Meanderings and Muses over the years. He was there from the beginning. He was always, ALWAYS, in my corner - even when I didn't deserve him there. He was always available as a sounding board, a shoulder to cry on, a cheerleader when things went well and always someone to discuss books and authors with. We shared a love of many of the same authors and finally got to meet up face to face a few years ago in Raleigh when Don and I went to one of Margaret Maron's book launch/signings at Quail Ridge Books. Bo published his PROVIDENCE OF DEATH in 2010, and the 2nd in the series, THE WEIGHT OF EMPTINESS, published just this past June. RIP Bo, I will miss you, my friend.

Here's links to the pieces Bo contributed to Meanderings and Muses.

I was always thrilled when he responded with a resounding "Yes!  Proud to!"  whenever I sent a request his way.

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2010/04/black-hawk-war-by-bo-old-cobbler-parker.html

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2011/09/what-do-we-see-when-we-read-novel-by.html

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2012/07/creative-writing-attempt-to-satisfy.html

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2013/07/north-carolina-friendly-state.html

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2014/10/bronson-l-bo-parker-talks-about-pledge.html

You can read more of his work at his blog  http://www.cobbledstones.com/  where he referred to himself as "The Old Cobbler."

In Celebration of Dreams and Magic and Glitter and All Things Sparkly ! ! !

If you're a stealer of dreams you are kindly asked to move along.

Close out this page, please

and just move along.

This is not the spot for you.

We ALL know people who cannot, for the life of what they hold dear, give a compliment.  It just seems to stick somewhere deep down inside and it's not going to come out.  No matter what.  They even profess to love you to bits - but tell you your hair looks nice?  That they love your cute new little dress?  Or kick ass new shoes?  Pfft!  Don't wait on it.  You know who they are, easy to figure out after all, so just ignore them

We all know people who love you when you're down and out - can't wait to lend you a helping hand.  But when you're on top of the world?  Not so much.

Sad souls when you get right down to it, and you have to kinda pity them.

Thing is, I hate pitiful people.

And negative people suck the life out of me.

I came here today to talk about how much I dislike negativity, but first I did a search and it would appear that I've written several pieces here at about that very subject.

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2011/06/optimist-pessimist-or-just-plain-mean.html

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2009/11/its-my-blog-and-ill-rant-if-i-want-to.html

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2012/12/things-i-just-dont-get.html

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2012/06/keeping-meanies-off-my-lawn-errr-sorry.html

Hmmmm, methinks this could possibly be a topic I just "might" be a wee bit obsessed with . . . 

Oh, well.

'tis a worthy obsession.

But.

Since I've done it.

To Death

I decided to dedicate this particular post to all things sparkly.

And what better way to do that than through some fun little sparkly memes.

I do love a good meme.

They're usually trite,

but some are also quite true.

Enjoy and take them for what they're worth

Celebrate the Sparkle!

And, speaking of dreams and magic,  here's a couple of books I recommend -


The Merchant of Marvels and the Peddler of Dreams by Frederic Clement

Everything by Sarah Addison Allen

A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd

Those are only the books that popped immediately to mind.  I'll add more as I think of them.

Here's to Magic!

And to Dreams!