day is done

love a gorgeous sky as the sun prepares for sleep on the horizon before me and somewhere in the rearview the moon is tapping on my shoulder…

 ...a signal that day is done, so...

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stuffing

My message at Thanksgiving is always the same...as you enjoy the holiday of giving thanks, remember to give. However this time, based on all that is happening in our world, I will add that we should pause for just a few to think of those who have lost loved ones so suddenly for no other reason than they were at the right place and were wronged.

As we gather to celebrate, ask the universe and/or whatever Higher Power you believe in to provide a huge spread of peace, love and hugs for us to stuff ourselves with and by all means, have seconds then share the leftovers.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and...

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brown is the new grey

I can’t say that I remember when the warmth of summer extended so far into November but lately, here on the east coast we have enjoyed several days of spectacular weather in between the chillier ones. Sneakers, sweater and stretch pants, a stroll anywhere on those days is pure heaven, a treat to be cherished. I love watching the earth transform from autumn to winter and this time of year, I zone in on seasonal beauty, i.e., flowers and leaves edged with sepia, full spreads of golden caramel, washes of pecan tan, or flecks of chocolate sprinkles. Unlike what happens with humans, Mother Nature uses shades of brown to gorgeously age all that surrounds us as winter awaits its debut.

Brown is the new grey…at least when it comes to the outdoors so…

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things we do

Sunday before last, I awoke feeling refreshed after a tough week and remembered I had agreed to help a class of third graders with a geography lesson. I have to admit, it was not my favorite subject when I was younger but I had given my word so I bounced out of bed, bundled up, and at 7:00am (before the tourists hit the sights), I buckled Flat Stanley into the passenger seat of my car to take him to some of the memorials. You see, what I had promised was to send a postcard from my city to the class then ensure that this character would be mailed to someone else who would then repeat the process. But there was something that compelled me to get a bit more creative with this hence my decision to take photographs and construct a simple book to glue them into instead of buying a postcard.

It turned out to be a most exhilarating 30 minutes as we rode close to the sites and parked illegally for just the amount of time it took me to hop out to snap a picture, pictures that once viewed during the download made me pause in awe. I’m not sure if it was the time of day, my desire to capture the majesty of the Nation’s Capital, the childlike glee that comes with play (I held the paper construction up to see each place we stopped) or all of the aforementioned, I just know that the photographs evoked a feeling that I believe the students will relate to. It gave me great pride as I typed the name of each location onto the photo and I giggled while crafting the book using an old map of Washington as the background, glue everywhere!

Sometimes it’s not important to know what drives the good things we do. I just hope the class in a school somewhere in GA will feel the loving energy that went into making a memory not just for them but for me too. Still searching for a responsible friend somewhere in the world so Stanley can continue on his journey, so heads up friends and…

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paix

let us pray

the force

Peace is always beautiful. - Walt Whitman

There are times in life when the body demands that we be still. As good as I am with taking moments of quiet, every now and again I am so off balance that a force beyond my control shows up with no or very little warning. I have no other choice but to give in, completely stop and wait for harmony to be restored within, a welcome feeling of bliss that is beyond beautiful when it arrives.

Seek serenity and be sure to…

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PS - Happy Birthday to my niece!

water & wood & ...

on wood water absorbs light beads of shade falling over sparkling aura shadows above speak brightly that some days, only pictures are necessary so…

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the umbrella

…imagine strolling through a lush forest on a warm afternoon late autumn a soft breeze lifting the smell of crisping leaves to your nose when you suddenly come upon a relaxing place that seems like it was set just for you...

…sit down, breathe, rest a moment or more as I will today and while I do…

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fall back

Fall is definitely back in full paint box color regalia!

Actually, I believe paint colors take their hues from nature but regardless, outdoors is just spectacular on this day after spook-tacular when we set the clocks back…did you remember? Be sure to check and…

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