Tiffany Painter

Lessons From Max and Millie
Max and Millie are the resident cats. Max is about 14 1/2 years old and Millie is just 3 1/2 months old. As you can imagine, they have two very different approaches to life. Max likes to observe things and pick and choose what he wants to be part of. He very rarely chooses activities that involve lots of people and noise. His idea of a good time is a quiet evening in front of the television. Max is perfectly content to spend the afternoon hidden away in the dark storage room snuggled up in his bed. The only time he will give that up is if there is a warm lap to curl up on instead. His motto is less is more for living a good life. Millie, on the other hand, has a different philosophy guiding her. Wherever the action is happening is where you will find her. Life is best lived when she is going full speed ahead. Well, until she absolutely runs out of gas. Then she either climbs to the highest perch or under a chair to recharge. These rest breaks can last hours sometimes, and other times, she may only need a few minutes to get her second or third wind. Once she is recharged, she’s off and running again. She is determined to get the most out of life as fast as she can. Her only disappointment so far is she hasn’t convinced Max to join her on her adventures. So far, it seems these two ways of living are an either or kind of thing and they have not figured out how to compromise and merge their ideas. Some people are just the Maxes of the world and go slow and steady. Other people are the Millies and run full steam ahead afraid of missing out on something. It’s a good thing we have both types to balance out the world.
7/17

debating order
seniority should outrank
youth elicits change
7/18

just playing it cool
keeping a low profile
here if you need me
7/19

forgotten treasure
waits in the field to be claimed
soaking up the sun
7/20

eyes following me
watching every move I make
waiting for action
July 20, 2024

cats, change, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, kittens, pets
Go Slow to Go Far
I may have mentioned before that my dog is injured. The same dog who needs an hour walk each morning followed by several trips out to chase tennis balls, and that is still never enough. He now is on a six-week recovery plan that involves no tennis balls and limited walking. During this time of rest I’ve had time to reflect how so many of us live with that type of mentality. Always feeling like we must be doing more and going farther, and feeling guilty if we aren’t doing enough. When life steps in and forces a slow-down, sometimes we get the opportunity to reflect on things. I have been given this gift of time with my injured dog to think. Just because you are moving swiftly along, doesn’t mean you are going anywhere. Slowing down can give a person a new perspective that leads to new paths. It’s like riding a bike and you are spinning your legs as fast as you can but not getting up that hill. If you adjust the gears and change your cadence you might have better luck. As the vet says, go slow to go far.
7/24/23

quiet morning walks
before the heat of the day
with my loyal dog
8/31/23

dogs, sun, and dirt trails
few of my favorite things
guiding my journey
9/9/23

catching and fetching
hard work when done correctly
much needed rest break
A few throwbacks from last summer when Zephyr was able to hike and play.
7/13

calling me onward
while the streets are still quiet
before the chatter
July 13, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, thankful, Walks with Zephyr
New Beginnings
Millie has been part of the family for almost two weeks. I have been watching the dance between the older cat, the dog, and the new kitten as they establish their roles in this new friendship. It is very much like the start of a new school year when kids thrown together, often against their will, must figure out how they all fit. Sometimes these forced friendships blossom into long lasting relationships, but sometimes they are only during school hours, if that. The verdict is still out on my three. The dog injured himself and needed surgery on his elbow a few days in and that has thrown things a bit. His true self is not on display so we may be readjusting when he is back to normal. For now, they all are doing their best to get as much attention as possible. In this classroom, there are three teacher’s pets. As the oldest, Max the cat does not like to be bothered and tries to ignore Millie the kitten. Millie is doing all she can to get the old man to play with her. A few hisses have been heard and I have had to remind them to use kind words only. When they are discussing things loudly, Zephyr the dog has to hobble over to break things up and report back to the teacher. He loves to tattle. He also has remained loyal to Max and tends to only give Millie attention when Max is not around. Only time will tell how this will work itself out, but Millie is doing her best to join the club.
7/2

always there to help
lack of thumbs adds to challenge
maybe I’ll just watch
7/3

really want to play
not a fan of injuries
sure leg is better
7/5

exhausted from life
entertaining is hard work
need a holiday
7/6

cat with a purpose
supervisor of the work
typing some ideas
July 6, 2024

cats, change, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, kittens, pets, Walks with Zephyr
And Kitty Makes Three
We decided to tempt fate and get a new kitten this week. Our older cat is a mellow and easy to take care of. Max has been getting really clingy though, so we thought a buddy might be nice. We had a second cat up until a year ago when she left us for the giant food bowl in the sky. A friend was fostering kittens and I fell in love with the “sweet girl.” Millie came home as a timid, little kitty and then got comfortable with her surroundings. I should have named her Fomo (fear of missing out) because she does not like to be away from the action. If she is locked in a room, she will cry until she can come play with us. She loves to play, run, purr, chase yarn, and sniff the dog. Zephyr is more tolerant of her than Max, but will side with Max when there is a debate. Max hasn’t thanked us for his new friend, but he is slowly getting used to her. He loves her catnip toy and has claimed ownership. I think it will be a few more days before all three can relax in the same room.
6/24

conflict of nature
chilly lagoon reflects up
waves of heat flow down
6/26

sweet backyard delight
first blooms of new garden plant
little splash of pink
6/28

ruler over all
captured hearts of everyone
small but mighty girl
6/29

learning from a pro
lessons being handed down
little copycat
June 29, 2024

cats, change, garden, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, kittens, pets, summer, thankful
Walking Through Life
I had lunch with a friend this week who said something that stayed with me. We were talking about all the choices we have made at different points in our lives. Some people end up at a place filled with regret over the paths they took. My friend pointed out that even though life has not been perfect and there are a few things she wish she had done differently, every path she took she did with the information available at the time. As long as we make choices that are right for us at the moment we will end up where we are supposed to be. We may have to jump to other trails from time to time, and we may get a few bruises and skinned knees along the way. That’s a guarantee. If we really end up off course, then we have to be honest with ourselves about the paths we chose to take. Did we let something or someone else guide us away from what we knew was right? It happens. We may have to work a little, or a lot, harder to course correct, but we can do it. Life has many trails to follow and it’s okay to try many of them. Endure the bumpy ones and enjoy the smooth paths that keep us going.
6/18

closing out the day
catching the last of the rays
shadows take over
6/19

walking down the trail
look back to see what’s behind
just the path to now
6/21

choices to be made
when there’s a fork in the road
and paths split or merge
6/22

quiet morning walk
down the path amongst the trees
only leaves talking
June 22, 2024

change, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, walking, Walks with Zephyr, wondering
Moose on the Loose
I was fortunate enough to get to spend a few days up in the mountains this past week. We barely got the car unpacked when my dog let me know he was ready for a walk on one of our favorite trails. We got our stuff and headed out. I’ve done this trail so many times that I almost missed the new sign that was posted. The sign was bright yellow with the word CAUTION written in bold with a bright red background. Definitely the kind of sign one should stop and read. Below the picture of the moose were the words warning me of defensive moose in the area. It even said I should consider an alternative trail. I did pause and consider, but I decided to continue with caution since I could see others up ahead. I knew we weren’t going far since my dog would want his dinner on time. We did a nice little twenty minutes to stretch our legs and then headed back for dinner. While we were relaxing after dinner I kept thinking about that sign. After some internet searching I discovered a mama moose with her two youngsters had attacked some people twice last week. Using the map app on my phone I tracked down where these attacks happened, and more importantly, how close that was to where I was at. I could see both attacks were in the same area a few miles away. While the sun was setting and there was still light, I felt safe and ready for our longer walk the next day. But then 2:30 a.m. came around. And it was dark. And I started thinking about that mama moose and how a few miles wasn’t that far. Especially for an animal with long legs. I almost packed up the car right then, but finally, I fell back asleep. When morning, and sunlight, greeted us again, my backbone seemed to be working. That and a very persistent dog who was ready for his walk. I stalled for a couple of hours to give the wildlife a chance to get some food and water before slinking off behind the trees. Once again we gathered our stuff and headed out. With my owl head pivoting all around watching and my feet moving quickly, we charged down the trail. When we reached the half-way point without seeing any wild animals, my heart finally slowed back to normal. I did not stop watching or slow down on the way back, but was able to enjoy the scenery more. When we got back and I checked my watch for our distance, I noticed that was one of our fastest paces yet. So I guess if you want to improve your pace, you just need a moose on the loose.
6/10

calm waters in front
blanket of clouds overhead
content heart within
6/11

tries to push away
light doesn’t want to give up
stretches out the day
6/12

sitting on mom’s feet
keeping her safe from danger
like birds flying by
6/14

possibilities
stretch endlessly across sky
wishes for good day
6/15

rush of melted snow
crashes down the rocky hill
delighting parched earth
June 15, 2024

Granby County, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, summer, Walks with Zephyr, Winter Park
Life at the Bowling Alley
Life is good. I see that written on T-shirts all the time. But life has a way of sending a bowling ball down the lane and knocking all your pins over. That may be good for bowling, but not so much for living. It happens to all of us. If you are so focused on your day-to-day living, these times of having your feet knocked out from under you can be over whelming. When you are lying flat on your back and trying to figure out how you got there, the way you get yourself back upright is important. Some people manage to take out everyone standing around them offering a hand. Others catch their breath and slowly get up, with or without assistance. Once back on their feet, these people are then able to start setting their pins back up, even if it’s in a different formation. No matter how perfect someone’s life may look, that bowling ball seems to find everyone at some point. I know you can’t have a rainbow without the rain, at least that’s what they say, but I will always prefer staying dry during the storm. When the bowling ball finds you, I hope there are hands reaching out to help you up, and I hope you are able to catch your breath and rise up to reset your pins.
6/3

stretch out long, strong neck
eager to greet the new day
even with bed head
6/4

gate without a fence
magic place hidden from sight
just through the portal
6/6

basking in the sun
between strong kicks to the edge
in the cool water
6/8

remember the past
hope for future filled with peace
leads the way for us
June 8, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, thankful, Walks with Zephyr
Spring Cleaning
I took the spring cleaning outside this week. Fortunately, I had help from my son who didn’t realize what he had signed up for when I asked. We spent two long days planting new shrubs, clearing out years of leaves that had built up around the plants, and cutting back the dogwoods that needed a good trimming. It was when I brought out the leaf blower that I quickly realized I could not tackle the outdoor cleaning the same way I do the indoor. Whereas the vacuum cleaner can get all the dirt and leave the carpet with nice marks to show off the hard work, a leaf blower just sends leaves flying in all directions. You can imagine my surprise when I was often attacked by the very leaves I was trying to send in a different direction. After many attempts to leave not a trace of these old, decaying leaves, I realized how futile my desire at reaching indoor completion was. I was never going to get rid of all the debris. I could spend all day chasing those leaves around with that blowing machine, but there would always be some lurking behind a rock or under a low lying branch. After a very long afternoon of leaf-cleaning, I had to accept that sometimes good enough is good enough. My son was much quicker at reaching that conclusion, but he hung in there with me. The next day a friend came over and gave me the kudos I needed on my lovely yard. I will hold onto that one day of feeling like I completed my yard spring cleaning. At the end of that day a hail storm swept through and a yard full of leaves knocked from the trees greeted me when I went out to inspect the damage. I guess I’ll be getting to know that leave blower again.
5/26

secret escape hatch
inviting door left ajar
to accept or not
5/29

favorite helper
assisted with all the chores
ready for some rest
5/30

newly in the ground
small and unsure of future
much growth expected
5/31

some days can’t just pick
one color isn’t enough
need a splash of pink
6/1

passage meant for me
promise of light at the end
pass the long shadows
June 1, 2024

garden, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, perfection, spring, summer, Walks with Zephyr
Defrosted
With every degree the temperature rises, I feel my soul defrosting. It turns out I need more than just a sunny day; I need all the warmth that comes from summer. Like a turtle poking its head out of its shell, I turn my face upwards to absorb all of the energy the sun provides. I arrange the patio furniture, prep the garden, and hang the wind chimes. My dog follows me around with anticipation. He too looks forward to afternoons spent together outside in the shade. We are summer buddies who prefer being outside taking in all we can from long summer days. We are just at the beginning when everything is fresh and new and the possibilities are endless. Breathe it all in.
5/23

more than just a tree
support arm for holding dreams
soaring through the air
5/24

new friend in the yard
little buddy for us all
needs no maintenance
5/25

music in the air
calm sound restores energy
with just gentle breeze
May 25, 2024

garden, haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, joyful, scbwi, seasons, summer, thankful, Walks with Zephyr
Too Much to Read
When you write, the piece of advice you often hear is to read a lot. I took this advice to heart, but I may have gone overboard. At least in terms of preparation. My TBR pile is at the point it’s causing me stress. Actually, piles with an “s” because I have sorted them. There’s the basic reading pile of books that I’ll share with a small group of fellow readers. This pile is on my nightstand and is now threatening to knock over the lamp. It’s a hard pile to get to the bottom of because as I share books with my friends, they share books with me that get added to the pile. It’s mostly fiction, but there are some nonfictions in there because I love Anne Patchett essays. In my office there’s a basket of middle grade (children) books that I want to read to support my writing. The basket is completely full but I have another one arriving in the mail today. That’s part of my problem. I love to support independent book stores and their events for authors and always end up purchasing the book being discussed, even when it’s an out-of-state store. I have two more piles of books on my work table, one for library books and one for writing craft books. The craft books tend to get started, but then I may bounce around reading sections that apply in the moment. Wait, that means it’s not actually a TBR pile and more of a being read pile. But that still leaves the library pile; the one causing me the most stress. All the other piles can stay as long as necessary, but the library pile has a deadline. I have to finish these by next week. It makes me sad knowing it won’t happen and I’ll have to return a couple of them unread. As it is, I had to create a reading schedule just to get through most of them. It’s like being back in school with homework. “I’m sorry I can’t go to dinner with you. I haven’t finished my daily reading allotment.” And if that isn’t bad enough, I have to give the books back. That’s the way the system works. I only get to borrow them for a couple of weeks. When it’s a really good book with a pretty cover, it’s hard to push it through the return slot knowing I won’t see it again. This is the kind of stress I’m dealing with. I won’t even bring up the books waiting for me on my kindle and audio app. It’s easier to pretend they don’t exist since I can’t actually see them. I may have to admit I have problem, but for now, I must go do my homework.
5/12

cat resting on lap
listening to rain outside
enjoying warm tea
5/13

after the rain falls
the sun comes out to spotlight
highlight of the day
5/15

purple wall delights
scent of spring greets everyone
slow down to enjoy
5/17

trying to find peace
in a world full of noise
turning off the phone
5/18

mornings together
best when spent outside watching
shadows disappear
May 18, 2024

haiga, haiku, haiku Saturday, poetry, reading, scbwi, TBR, Walks with Zephyr