Christmastime Rhyme and Reason

Whether alone or with loved ones, with or without gifts, Christmas is a time to remember the rhyme and reason to cradle all seasons of living and loving.

Cradle The Season

Poem ©Ruth Cox

Christmas...
Is about living and loving
Nothing more, nothing less
Not about giving, receiving
Presents biggest and best.

Living...
Is about memory-making
Events, activities
Not about long bellyaching
Obliged festivity.

Loving...
Is about freeing and cradling
Relationship building
Not about begrudging, ladling
Lip service unyielding.

Christmas...
Is about heart-spun bakery
Goodness, painstaking work
Not about store-bought fakery
Given, driven berserk.

Dr. Seuss and Grinch

May we each remember Dr. Seuss, his How The Grinch Stole Christmas tale of seasonal thought: "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more."

Christmastime is not about the gifts we may have or have not. Consider this ... Cradle Christmas!

Cradle Christmas Cards by abitosunshine
Check out Cradle christmas Cards online at zazzle

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an associate of Amazon.com and of Zazzle.com and may earn sales commissions via purchases made through links in this article. Links herein may lead to 3rd party sites for which the author is not responsible.

Live To Love An Addict

Long ago I learned that to love an addict I must first embrace the pain within. To reconcile myself to the past pains of addiction allowed me to reach beyond my scorn. Only then was I enabled to harmonize living and loving. This I needed to do--for myself.

I Live To Love An Addict Poem by Ruth Cox

Self-respect is the life-giving force enabling one a rebirth in the aftermath of contempt toward oneself as well as the addict one loves.

Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself

This book (with its companion workbook) by Candace Plattor will help you learn more about loving an addict by learning more about loving yourself.





This love-hate relationship with addicts poem is inspired by Len Maxwell and is my response to his Saturday Writing Essential challenge of Twisted Emotions.

Hound Dog Picture Poem Limericks

Since I enjoy penning poems to pictures I opted to try my hand at limericks. Of course, as a dog lover I chose to write these silly rhymes to photos I took of my dog Valentino.

Note: Click the pics for a larger view.

Love Dogs Valentino and Cassie

It was pretty much love at first sight for Valentino and Cassie, the neighbor's Labrador Retriever. One kiss and this little miss melted, succumbing to my Redtick Coonhound's tail wagging. Now they both jump for joy when they see each other, perhaps whining and pining for a chance to run off into the sunset together.

My Dog Valentino Hunting Seabirds

An afternoon walking the dog on the beach was loads of fun watching my hound dog sniffing bird tracks in the sand and sniffing the air as the birds took flight when he came too close. I imagined Valentino thinking, "If only she'd drop the leash I could catch one of those seabirds and prove to her the good hunter that I am."

Valentino chased those birds up and down the coastline for nearly an hour, with me in tow at the other end of his tether. What fun it was to see him enjoying himself at our sea of enchantment.

Sit and Stay Dog Training Valentino

This is my pride and joy, my Valentino in a "sit and stay" dog training session in the front yard. At any time he could have darted after any number of squirrels on our tree-lined street, but he didn't!




Edward Lear was a master poet and illustrator, often pairing his limericks and illustrations. Children as well as adults enjoy his classical representations and nonsensical poetry form along with the tales they told.

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an associate of Amazon.com and may earn sales commissions via purchases made through links in this article. Links herein may lead to 3rd party sites for which the author is not responsible.

This article is linked up with Writer's Unite, a blog hop for writers to share their written works, and is hosted by Marsha's Spot.

Tis The Season

We see and hear during this time of year, "'Tis the season..." For this there are myriad reasons.

In the spirit of giving, I ask that you read and listen to the verse and voice of the seasonal stampede of life prints of the wild horses as the season and its reasons glisten and glow upon all living things below...

...and, for further information about the plight of the wild horses, visit my friend Nancy Hardin, a voice for the things of life, and in this case, a moment in wild horse history.

Seasonal Stampede Gallery Wrap Canvas by abitosunshine
Browse for more wall art on Zazzle

Opus Moon Wild Horse Anthology Music Available at Amazon

We're linking this article of poetry and prose up with Writer's Unite at Marsha's Spot.

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an associate of Amazon.com and Zazzle.com and may earn sales commissions via purchases made through links on this article. Links herein may lead to 3rd party sites for which the author is not responsible.

Good Morning Sunrise at Sea

When saddened by the end of a day or a year, of good times or bad, or of love and loss, we need only look to nature for a reminder that endings are but new beginnings.

This decorative porcelain plate, designed by abitosunshine with the addition of Haiku poem by Ruth Cox, will be here to remind you to look at the dawning of each new day as a bright beginning.

Sunrise Yesterday Demise Porcelain Plates by abitosunshine
View other Sunrise Porcelain Plate at Zazzle.com

Photo of the sunrise over the pier was taken by me on a beach walk with my dog Tidbit in Carrabelle, Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico.


DISCLOSURE: Ruth Cox is a Zazzle store owner, designer, and associate as a means for earning online income through purchases made via product links in this article.