red glove drama

Losing gloves and umbrellas is such a nuisance! I can’t begin to recall how many of either I've lost in my lifetime!

While out for a walk this past week, I stopped to take a photograph. As I walked away from the subject matter, something urged me to turnaround; about 300 yards from me I spotted a red glove and yes it had to be mine since I now only had one in my hand. I retraced my steps to retrieve what could have become yet another lost article and when I looked down, I had to snap a picture; my red glove lay on the ground with such dramatic flair in the way that it fell, as if absent fingers were curled over in a "clutch the pearls I can't believe this is happening" position. Really? 

Dropped and found, I bent over to pick up my glove leaving all that drama behind as I went on my way.

Listen to that small voice whispering to you as you move about and…

keep your peepers open!

#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #redglovedrama #drama #gloves #winter #photographer #photograph #photography #lostandfound #keepyourpeepersopen

seasonal warmth

feeling tranquil this morning as I bask in seasonal warmth, a cup of tea at beside, candles lighting the room, stillness surrounding me…not much to say except may your day be magical and…

keep your peepers open!

#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #tranquility #stillness #mindfulness #winter #seasons #photograph #photographer #magical #gardenia #keepyourpeepersopen

lady bugs & lottery tickets

One morning last week, I noticed a ladybug perched on the outdoor intercom panel. As I leaned in for a closer look and spoke to her, she flew onto my forehead! A ladybug kiss is a blessed occurrence; I put my finger out to let her crawl onto it before she went on her merry way. 

Later, I looked up from my laptop to admire the yellowing tree leaves beyond my balcony. Suddenly, a bright streak of red flew across my gaze; I sensed it was a ladybug and got up to affirm my suspicion. There crawling on the bricks was another little lady different in coloring from the one I’d seen earlier. I watched her moving around in the sun until she turned the corner disappearing from sight.

The next day, I was walking home from doing a volunteer shift for the Thanksgiving annual feast of sharing. I suddenly found myself thinking about ladybugs and when I looked up, I had wandered into a store to purchase lottery tickets. Ladybugs are a symbol of good fortune after all, maybe the two that visited me the day before would bring me some. Indeed they did! I happily cashed in my Powerball ticket the next morning collecting $4.00; regardless of the size of the prize, I was (and am) a winner each and every day in more ways than one. You are too, so...

keep your peepers open! 

ps…Ladybugs also symbolize living life without boundaries. As a highly creative person, I subscribe to that line of thinking which in part may have prompted me to create my own picture rather than selecting one of my photographs to post. Using watercolor pens is so non-restrictive for me. I experienced as much delight in making each stroke of color not quite knowing if it would bleed into the paper or other colors as I felt when the real thing landed on my face.

#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #ladybug #lottery #gratitude

thanks

Woke up with no idea what I wanted to write about. A word popped into my head one second before I opened a reading for today with that same word as the title for its message.  

It’s a few days before Thanksgiving and this year I will volunteer at a huge event held here in DC that provides a meal, clothing, and gifts to those in need. While I won’t be sitting down to feast with family or friends, I will be feeding my soul and spirit doing something I have chosen to do instead; I will be giving thanks as I serve others. 

Gratitude, the word that came to mind this morning and revealed itself on paper, is what I feel more than ever, every day this year, so be grateful this holiday season. GIVE to a charity of your choice in dollars or time even if you too are in need and…

keep your peepers open!

#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #thanksgiving #gratitude

catching time

It’s a good probability that we’ve all spoken or at least heard the words, “time flies,” and indeed it does! Let me add to that thought, “it’s up to us to catch as many moments as we can” so…

keep your peepers open!

#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #mindfulness #photography #sunshine #timeflies #quoteme #quote #keepyourpeepersopen

radiance

I went on an art crawl and wine tasting yesterday in Middleburg, VA. Totally enjoyed a sun up to sun down day; woke up this morning with my deep “had a few too many glasses” voice that cracks me up as soon as I speak! 

One of the more memorable moments yesterday was the viewing of posters that told a brief history of Black horsemen in racing, a story that needs to be heard as horse racing originated as a pastime during slavery. The first Kentucky Derby was held in 1875; 13 of the 15 horses were ridden by Black jockeys who would go onto to win half of the first 16 Derbies. Enter Jim Crow in the late 1890’s, ushering in the ousting of Black men from a profession that they not only helped build, they also had dominated.

A second moment, one much more personal to me, was when the bus turned into a property that I’d visited before. It was next to Boxwood Estate Winery, a destination I had not noticed back in 2014 when I was relearning how to take one steady step at at time after hip surgery. I chose to do my last days of recuperating coupled with a birthday celebration at the Salamander Resort and Spa. One afternoon, I decided to get in the car and just drive; a wide vista of countryside stretching out in front of me made me pull over to take photographs, breathe, and appreciate the fact that upon my arrival at the Salamander, I left in the car the cane that had been giving me support and was once again walking, carefully, by myself! 

Yesterday, I stood on that land again, the sun shining on my face, shivering in the cold air, grateful for the ability to move about on two strong legs that propel me forward every day in this my life. As always when out and about, I had my camera. Of all the images captured, this one is my favorite so here’s to shining light, triumph in life, and radiant energy as you…

keep your peepers open!

#sunday #sacredsunday #blogpost #blogging #blogger #blackjockeys #artcrawl #winetasting #recuperating #radiance #light #mindfulness  #boxwoodestate #salamanderresort  #millenniumartssalon #keepyourpeepersopen

etsy finally!

For some reason, I can't post a picture...go figure. So I'll just say, after lots of thinking then procrastinating, I finally did it!

Come shop my new shop artfullyTSL on Etsy and...

keep your peepers open!