Clear sky, quiet lake,

a busy day winding down -

          a half moon rises. 

In sidewalk buckets -

tomatoes and potatoes -

      deer eating them both! 

Birds chirp, squirrels cheep,

leaves flutter, thrash in the wind -

       darkness approaching!

 

Thunderstorm - the animals are nervous. Or is that just my projecting? 

Eternal God, 
I went to bed last night
with a pillow, not a stone,
and I had no dream of angels
going up or down a plain ladder 
or an elegant staircase,
but here I am in one more morning.
I pray that this day will take me
one rung, one stairstep, one morning closer to you.

As evening settles,
through the smoke, clouds, maple leaves -
     a red ball - the sun!

Haven't seen it for a few days.

For just a moment,
a break in the clouds, smoke thinned -
       a ray of sunshine.

Closed (1) - farmer's market,

band concert, Third Street music.  

       -  Lawn rabbit munching. (2)

(1) due to wildfire smoke.  Numerous other places and activities were/are closed - even the casino, for Pete's sake! 

(2) so I'm kind of struggling with this one.  I'm trying to think about all these human activities and events that are closed so we can all stay inside, and then out on the lawn is a rabbit munching it's way along - as if all were normal, with no place really to go inside and get out of the smoke.  Well, down a rabbit hole, I guess. I don't know how much protection that would provide.  All in all, I could have used a few more syllables.

Here's another try -

Walk, farmer's market,

band concert, Third Street music.....

    - Lawn rabbit munching. 

Would help if there was a more "smoky" strike-through option!