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Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Apple baby

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I get a kick out of finding faces in nature, where a face isn't necessarily required. In a cloud, the moon, a tree's bark where branches have left scars. I happened upon this apple face in our orchard this week, the very week our growing future grandbaby is the size of an apple (and we escorted the parents out of the Big Apple for Michigan). I find all this very propitious. The other apple face, below, I found on my university campus a couple of years ago. You might know that the coming of this baby has been the coming of a joy that is beyond anything I've ever felt. It's as if all my cells were balloons, waiting to be filled up, and now someone is breathing into them one by one. In January, when the baby arrives, I might just float away. To keep myself grounded this all has to go somewhere, and I have a thousand and one ideas in my head for expressing it. (These expressions are not only words. See a hint at the bottom of the post.) This little lullaby is the first of probably more lullabies to come.



Apple baby


Apple cherub, laugh with me,
while I bounce you on my tree.

Plum and pear might grow a lot
but they are not an apple tot:

You can watch the fireflies
while robin twitters lullabies.

Close your eyes now as she sings.
Fall asleep and swing, swing, swing.

One morning soon we’ll hear a sound,
and then we’ll know — you’ve hit the ground!






Hint of joyful expression unfolding:


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73 comments:

Maureen said...

Such a sweet post.

Once you start seeing faces like this in nature, you see them everywhere. These are wonderful.

The Broad said...

Your post leaves me feeling all smiley face and everything!

annell4 said...

Such sweet faces. Happy, happy!

Barb said...

Your joy is well-founded. Another generation to celebrate. Grandchildren are such a blessing partly because, though we love them boundlessly, we do not have final responsibility. It is all play and not so much work. Your apple baby photos are wonderful, Ruth!

Margaret said...

Just lovely, Ruth. This has made me smile and I will stop here as I have a busy day ahead of me... actually the whole weekend... LOL.. the whole rest of the month, I think... Your grandchild will be one lucky baby.

Patricia said...

They say that winter babies are the smartest of the bunch, but I don't know if this is true. I cannot wait to hear the lyrics to the lullabies that you will come up with for your little apple cheeked dumpling.

steven said...

you are so very sweet ruth! i can't wait to read and see the floating away of you when the little weeble wobbles his or her way into the world. steven

Reena said...

Ruth, your joy is delightful to experience through your writing! So happy for you.

Mark Kerstetter said...

How lucky this little one will be, to have homemade apple lullabies sung to her (him?) That apple looks like it's whistling a tune!

ellen abbott said...

I loved this. Must be your first grandbaby. And yes, they are wonderful.

jan said...

How lovely that lullaby is. And the apple face is sooooo cute. I usually see faces in trees and stones, I've never seen an apple face before until now.

GailO said...

How happy that apple face is!! I can see this photo framed on apple baby's nursery wall. How lucky your apple baby will be to have you:)

I can't wait to see what you will be doing with that fabric:)

Babs-beetle said...

Now I'll have to look closely at the things I grow to see if I can spot a face. I love those apple faces :)

Do I detect just a tiny glimmer of excitement at your forthcoming grandbaby? ;)

Brendan said...

Look at the kisser on that one. Swing low, sweet apple ... Lovely.

Nelson said...

I can see that li'l apple rolling as soon as it hits the ground....

photowannabe said...

Delightful, utterly delightful.
Apple Baby will love hearing that lullaby.
Those ar ethe cutest little faces too.
Congratulations Gramma....

J.G. said...

Lucky baby, to have such an apple grandma! Congratulations, Ruth!

hedgewitch said...

I laughed and then smiled throughout the whole post. Apple tots are better than Tater tots, I think.

Arti said...

Oh congratulations to you Ruth, on such an expectant joy. No wonder you're showing it through your writing, bursting with warm and loving rhymes. What a happy little lullaby... I'm sure you'll be a wonderful grandma! I wonder if you've heard of the recent film from director Terrence Malick called The Tree of Life? You know, your posts and your thoughts are so aligned with the graceful mother in that film. I have said this before, but allow me to reiterate... your blog here is a joyful respite. Also... love those fruity faces. :)

* said...

Coincidence, I just learned the name for this (seeing faces in inanimate objects such as boxes, apples, trees) -- forget the word for it now! It starts with a "p" I think. Drats!

Great post, I see faces/meanings everywhere, too.

amy@ Souldipper said...

What sweet little apple dumples. Imagine having a lullaby written for you simply over the joy of your little apple-sized existence.

Are you creating a birth mandala? Ohhh...

Ruth said...

Thanks a lot, Maureen. I'm glad you are a face seer too.

Ruth said...

Glad to bring a smile, Broad!

Ruth said...

Happy is good, Annell!

Ruth said...

Thanks, Barb. I've been a little worried that I will overstep and think this is my baby. No doubt the first time I get to that moment of not knowing what to do with her/him, I'll happily send her/him home with Mom and Dad.

Ruth said...

Hi, Margaret! If you are still in Petoskey, no doubt you are busy with sparkling waters and white sand. I envy you! I hope all is well, I'll come check your blog in a minute . . .

Ruth said...

Patricia, I hadn't heard about winter babies being smart. Now I'm going to start paying attention . . .

Thanks for liking my lullaby and listening for more. I hear this one to the tune of the little 'anti-lullaby' Mary Poppins sings to the children, "Don't go to sleep . . . "

Ruth said...

Thanks, Steven! Oh, and memories: Weebles wobble but they don't fall down. And I have just written a lullaby about this one falling from the tree!

You must be getting ready for your big bike ride soon . . . .

Ruth said...

Thanks, Reena. I'm glad you can feel it here.

Ruth said...

Mark, thanks for listening to my lullaby. I hope Poppy Seed likes it too. Yes, those lips are really puckering!

Ruth said...

Ellen, pretty obvious, right? :-)

Ruth said...

Thanks, Jan. I imagine that now you might see apple faces yourself too.

Ruth said...

Oliag, I want to thank you for that wonderful idea to frame one of these apple faces for Poppy Seed's room. Or maybe both double matted in one frame, one for her/him and one for gramma.

I will share the fabric later this year . . . :-)

Ruth said...

Babs, I'm more excited than a thousand apple faces!

Ruth said...

Brendan, yes low, for an easy drop. Thanks.

Ruth said...

Nelson, I hope s/he won't roll too soon! :-)

Ruth said...

Thanks, Sue, I'll sing it to the Mary Poppins tune 'Stay Awake'.

Ruth said...

Thanks so much, J.G., I hope s/he thinks so. :-)

Ruth said...

Hedge, now you've taken me in a whole new direction! A hungry one . . . (why do they sound so good right now? the tater ones, I mean)

Ruth said...

Arti, you are very kind.

I haven't seen the new Malick film yet (after only recently seeing "Days of Heaven" thanks to you) but I plan to soon. Now I especially look forward to experiencing the grace of Mrs. O'Brien, and feeling the alignment you speak of. What a lovely thing to be compared this way. Thank you.

Ruth said...

Terresa, apophenia? (Could be apple-phenia!) Like seeing Mary or Jesus in a piece of toast . . .

Ruth said...

Thanks, Amy, I like that, 'apple dumples' . . . combining dumplings and dimples!

A birth mandala? Not yet! But I would love to, after Dutchbaby's nudge. But I agree with you that the flowers in the fabric here remind me of mandalas. Maybe an inspiration for another expression . . .

erin said...

you bring me back to the sweet time when my children were little, drawn on my knee, kernelled to my chest. and you draw me forward as well, to a time when they might have children. how my fingers itch to draw the little ones near, whispering hints of the awesomeness of life falling all around us.

you swell, you know. you swell and i am happy for you.

xo
erin

Shari said...

Lovely little lullaby. Maybe you should compile a children's book. The apple faces and the fabric are beautiful, too. You are going to have so much fun!

Poetic Soul said...

Beautiful post... if i saw a face apple i wouldn't be able to eat it

Dutchbaby said...

Precious lullaby, Ruth! Oh how I loved singing nursery rhymes to my little ones.

I'm excited to learn about your book!

* said...

No, the word I'm looking for is pareidolia. :)

Louise Gallagher said...

What a blessed child this is -- and what a blessing you are in the little apple tot's life -- a blessing to the world as well!

Your lullaby is beautiful. Listening to Julie Andrews I felt the urge to watch my daughters' and my all time favourite -- The Sound of Music.

Lovely!

Oh said...

Love the picture - it made me chuckle before I even read anything.
Congrats on the coming "grand!"

And your lullaby is pitch perfect - look at me, my eyes are closing!

Such fun, all this. Thanks for sharing!

Arti said...

I'd just like to mention too, as I reply litlove's comment on my "Tree of Life" post, that one of the themes Malick brings out is the contrast between religion and grace. (I still remember your post where you openly shared your disappointment with religion) Many people nowadays are turned off by organized religion, but I believe they are open and receptive to grace, if only they can see it manifested in our present day. In the film, the character of Mrs. O'Brien has done a good job in revealing what it's like.

Margaret said...

I am NOT in Petoskey any longer. Only a week this time and I will NEVER fly there again. Arrived in Chicago on the most rainfall recorded ever. Missed my connecting flight... had 4 kids with me... had to stay in a hotel. etc.. BUT we finally got there are we so enjoyed it. I will be posting photos all week as I am swamped with "to do" lists. AND we bought a horse in Harbor Springs, MI ... my husband will never tell me to "go shopping" without being more specific ever again. :)

ds said...

Oh, you are going to be the "grandest" Gramma of all time. Must confess I like the second apple picture best--and you should frame it. At the very least include it in your book of lullabies & poems...

"Mary Poppins" was my very first movie ever, at a very young age & my patient parents waited w/antsy me through at least one whole showing before we were able to see it ourselves...how blessed this baby is to be entering such a patient, creative, loving family!
Your joy is infectious--thank you for sharing it.

Pauline said...

this whole post just sings! love the apple face - it looks like it's pondering its life from that branch! you will absolutely love grandmotherhood - and you will float away but to such a wonderful place!

Ginnie Hart said...

Singing "Apple Baby" to that tune is like adding frosting to the anticipated celebration cake, Ruth. I can just imagine the joy you're feeling, day in and day out. Create away, dear Sister.

Ruth said...

erin, having a chance again, to see a new life take shape, to be a part of it, holding them close, seeing their eyes open, learning from each other, it's beyond anything.

Thanks, I love how you mother.

Ruth said...

Thanks, Shari. I've got a hundred books in my head for this sweet child. I want to document everything.

Ruth said...

Thanks, Poetic Soul. Me too.

Ruth said...

Thanks, Dutchbaby. I've been realizing that if I write them, I have to also memorize them. :|

Can't wait to talk more with you about the book!

Ruth said...

Terresa, oh! Another new one for me.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Louise, The Sound of Music is one I can almost always watch too, much to Don's chagrin, though he fell in love with Julie Andrews in the front row watching "Mary Poppins".

Ruth said...

Thanks, Oh! What an immensely joyous world I have to share with Poppy Seed.

Ruth said...

Oh lovely, Arti. Thanks for that extra mention. Maybe Inge and I can see the film this week or next.

Ruth said...

Margaret, the trip sounds miserable. But a new horse!

Ruth said...

ds, you and Don saw this as your first movie. He fell in love with Julie Andrews from the front row. (Didn't we all?)

I will print the second photo and have it framed, I love this idea (which Oliag also suggested). Thank you for thinking I will be a good gramma. I hope you are right. I have a feeling I will be a very gaga gramma.

Ruth said...

Thank you, Pauline. I so look forward to that floating away.

Ruth said...

Thanks, Boots. I haven't even told you yet about our weekend with Lesley & Brian in Chicago, for Peter's concert . . . We all had so much fun.

C.M. Jackson said...

Ruth--wonderful post..blessings to you and yours on the pending arrival of your first grandchild--you will be a wonderful gramma;-)
c

sonia a. mascaro said...

Just lovely post, Ruth!
The nature is always a nice surprise.

Congratulations to the arrival of your first grandchild! Grandchildren is a blessing.

Have a pleasant week ahead.

Lil Coyote said...

i know that apple! she sat behind me in third grade and passed me notes.
how wonderful for you to feel love, such love-before ever meeting the reason.
may it grow and flower and become a beautiful tree
rick

Ruth said...

C.M., thank you so much for that. :-)

Ruth said...

Rick, I bet you're happy to see this apple again! She told me to tell you "hi" in good third grade fashion.

Thank you for your kind wishes for our little apple. I wonder what her/his third grade will be like . . .

Susan said...

Your lovely lullaby almost makes me wish for another new grandbaby to hold and sing it to. I guess I'll just have to borrow one. :)

Jeanie said...

OK, my dear -- in a long overdue visit (sorry to be so MIA -- that's for our get together, which I hope will be sometime soon!), I'm learning a great deal about your world -- an apple coming soon, no longer just a seed! How fun! Lesley's move. And did you go to Chi-town to see Lord Huron and Peter? Oh, my -- much to catch up on. Your book sounds exciting and I'm so glad you shared the poems. Back in business. Finally!