draggin' a little today... or a little dragon??...

Today I'm draggin' a little, so I thought I'd share my favorite little dragon with you...

...modeling all sides...
...turn...
... turn...
And here, checking out his cowgirl friend astride her horse...

...crawling around as dragons do...

...and that's that.

~the little dragon is my great nephew in MI, B, and the cowgirl is his friend, S

• the smiles of children (118)
• colorful costumes (117)
• active imaginations (116)

frost-ing on the cake, pt 2...

...and here, as I promised yesterday, is the frosted "green stuff"...

Frost is the greatest artist in our clime--
He paints in nature...
~Thomas Hood

...and a bit closer...


...a frosty fern...


...closer...


...CLOSER...

...and closest for true crystal enjoyment...


...a frosty fall leaf...


...and look at that cute cactus-like furry frosty leaf!...

...and a little bit of brown frosting, too...

('cause it's just too pretty not to include!)

The Frost performs its secret ministry,
Unhelped by any wind.

~from Frost at Midnight
by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

...several of these photos can be enlarged for detail-viewing by double-clicking on them

• the artistry of frost (115)
• ice crystals (114)
• a reason to get up early in the morning! (113)

"frost"-ing on the cake, pt 1...

I love the beauty of frost and snowflakes... the amazingly detailed crystals that are formed as the rain or dew freeze into incredible patterns and shapes. One morning last week when I was in Michigan, I awakened to a wonderful 27degree freeze and the glory of the frost-ing on the day. I, in pajamas and a jacket, ran outside with my camera and lost myself in the crisp, cool delight of the frost.

At first I focused on the grass and leaves and flowers with their edgings of ice (see tomorrow's post), but on my way to the garden, I passed a truck in the driveway. On the side of the truck bed was a metal ring, and the frost crystals on it were spectacular! This is what I saw...

The light of the sun was just right, and I was in awe!

The denseness of the crystals almost looked like a spiky fur coat adorning the ring...

...beautiful...

...and tomorrow, I'll show you the green stuff... : )

creativity...

We must accept

that this creative pulse within us

is God's creative pulse itself.

~Joseph Chilton Pearce

• God creating through us! (112)
• the joy of creating (111)
• our amazing Creator (110)
• being made in the Creator's image (109)

HOLY COW!...just for fun...

Today's post is a bit silly and wholly (ha!) for the purpose of a smile or two. (While cooking dinner tonight, I cut one of my typing fingers, and the bandage is making it extremely difficult to type...so, a short post is the result.)

When I was in Chicago last week, we ate at a restaurant called Harry Caray's. It is a fabulous steakhouse with delicious steaks. In celebration of the steak theme, there is a cow in the yard in front of the restaurant to welcome everyone:

You may think her coloring a bit odd, but well,

she is a holy cow.

Sort of.

In a way.

Well, see for yourself...

HOLY COW!

or, perhaps, more accurately...

HOLEY COW!

Now, that's one holey cow! : )

...And here, a rare treat for you... a photo of ME...

taking the bull by the horns!

(even though she's not a bull)

And, that's all we have to say about that!

(sorry, but she really must be moooving on!)

homeward bound...

Today I am homeward bound, winging my way 2500 miles across the country... my luggage is a bit overweight but then so is my heart --with the memories gathered over the past week spent with loved ones and with the emotions that go with the leaving. Whomever it was who said "Parting is such sweet sorrow" really nailed it on the head! (I also carry far too many photos home with me as well...many of which I shall surely be sharing with you as soon as I am back on DSL! There are just so many photo opportunities in the country!!)

(my plane flying over Michigan)

...Enjoy your Sabbath rest and worship...

• the mystery of flight (think about it!) (108)
• colorful views from above (107)
• having family and friends to miss (106)
• coming home (105)
• memories of time shared together (104)

sunset on vacation...

The sun is setting on my time in Michigan, and I am soon to be on my way home to California. I have had a wonderful time enjoying family and fall and will be sad to say good-bye. I have one last day to soak it all in.

A couple of days ago, my mom and I took a day-long road trip across the state and ended the day on the eastern shore of Michigan at Lake Huron. We were treated to this bit of sunset on the Saginaw Bay...

Thank you, God, for family and for the beauty of Your creation...

I am grateful for both this day.

a frosty heart...

Yesterday morning, I awakened to the coldest morning of the week. At 6:30am, it was a chilly 27 degrees F! When I got up at 8am, it was just a degree or two above freezing, and the ground was covered with frost! It was lovely!!

I, of course, threw my jacket on over my pajamas, grabbed my camera, and went outside to see what sparkling frosty treasures I could find. The sun was already beginning to warm everything, and the frost was melting rapidly.

One of the treasures I found was this frosty heart...

And, though this frost-tipped leaf was quite beautiful, I pray that my own heart would ever be too warm to gather such lovely icy crystals...

• frosty heart (103)
• beauty of frost! (102)

guest writer -- insight from anna...

Today, while I am still away from home, I thought I would treat you to a guest writer, my friend Anna. Anna wrote this a couple of weeks ago, and I really enjoyed her insight. I hope it blesses your day today as well...

One major perk from moving into this great home in the Temecula “burbs" is the fabulous pantry in our kitchen...it's grand. It's actually the size of our Master Bathroom from our old house in OC [Orange County]! ~no joke. So you'd think with all that space it'd be easy to keep organized. Yeah, right. You all know even our walk in closets are a cluttered disaster! (Well, at least mine is)

About a month ago my husband, Patrick, purged and organized the pantry for me. He had seen enough... In “Anna’s world”, unloading groceries is one thing…getting them put away in under a couple hours is another! The perishables I pack together at the store just so I can just toss them into the garage refrigerator from the trunk…the rest is subject to my energy level and toddler tantrums that take priority.

I think Patrick anticipated his superior deed to last a lifetime… it did not. To our dismay, the pantry needs daily maintaining. It needs a good purging every couple weeks. It reminds me of the kitchen sink but with a door so I can hide from it! But then I am exposed to it multiple times throughout the day, and the added chore puts a burden on me somehow.

When Patrick comes home from a long hard day and purges it for me I feel so refreshed. I feel an ounce of sanity return… does this sound crazy, or can you relate? Maybe it’s not the pantry for you… maybe it’s the laundry room or the car. Maybe it’s the toy room or the baby room that never really got completely decorated--and now that baby is a toddler (and has a sibling?!). Maybe it’s that scrapbook?!

On a deeper level, maybe it’s that guilt you’ve been carrying around, that promise you broke, or that tone you took with your little one this morning…

I just shut the door most days. I ignore it… but I know it’s there. I’ve built “organizers” to make room for more of whatever it is that keeps collecting and overwhelming me… Sometimes the literal purge comes as a gift from Patrick in a literal place- the pantry. But most days, the spiritual pantry of my heart and soul as a woman and mother needs a refresher. That gift (of a purge) I accept from The One above, Who gives freely and clearly, and allows me to be human, make mistakes, learn from them, and even repeat them. Most importantly, He (God) allows me start over--daily if needed.

Each day is a new one, and sometimes I have to even think/survive down to the very minute being better than the last… Go for it--find that place and PURGE AWAY!!!

seeing beauty...

Never lose an opportunity

of seeing anything beautiful,

for beauty is God's handwriting.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

blogging...

(...or photo blog or random thoughts blog or.... ) : )

chickens courtesy of Savage Chickens by Doug Savage, www.savagechickens.com,

used with permission

rainy days and Mondays...

Perhaps you remember that old song by the Carpenters that says "rainy days and Mondays always get me down..." Well, today is a Monday, and it is also a rainy day here in Michigan. Unlike the Carpenters, I don't mind a rainy day much at all...not even when it's on a Monday! Especially since I live in sunny, barely-ever-get-any-rain southern California, I rather LOVE a rainy day!

I also find the colors of fall to be more striking on gloomy days when they do not have to compete with the bright sun. Since I can only seem to upload a single picture (or maybe two, if I'm lucky), I thought I would post one of my rainy-day tree photos (can't keep a nature-lovin' photographer out of the rain!!)...

Many of the trees have already lost their fall finery, but there are still some dressed in outstanding oranges, radiant reds, and grand greens. When we're driving somewhere, I continually pull the car over to the side of the road when I spot a pretty tree. I simply MUST take their photographs! (my mom is quite used to it by now and is very accomodating of my stopping-to-take-a-picture habit!)

...so here's to rainy Mondays ... and these wonderful fall colors!!

• beautiful colors made brighter in the gloom (101)
• rainy days! (100)
• Mondays to start off a new week (99)

love is "in the air" ...on the Sabbath

As I was walking to the elevator in my hotel, I paused for one last look out the window at the trees on the lawn below (my glorious golden tree from a different angle). I was stopped by what I saw ON the window rather than THROUGH it: there before me was a paint drip... in the shape of.....

Yes, that's right! A heart! And so, today, celebrate the Sabbath by remembering and delighting in how very much the Father loves you!!

• paint-dripped heart (98)

a beautiful sunny fall day...

...for your viewing pleasure, and to contrast with yesterday's "post of gloom"--a few photos of the beautiful sunny and blue-skied fall day today in Chicago...
And here, from my hotel room window, is a teeny tiny view of the famous Sears Tower in downtown Chicago... far off in the distance yet still recognizable... And today, I went outside for a few minutes to get 'up close and personal' with that gloriously golden tree I showed you yesterday...It was quite lovely from underneath, especially in contrast with the brilliant blue of the sky and the wonderful fluffy white cotton-ball clouds... (I found a little surprise in the tree that I'll share with you another day!)
The leaves below were from yet another tree decked out in yellows... they were too marvelous to resist a few close-ups...

So, here's to another fine day of fall yellows, this time accentuated by a striking background of blue and white. Early tomorrow morning I'm off to the airport and Michigan where I hope to find some lovely oranges and reds in Michigan to share later this week!

room with a view... or view from my room...

I'm currently staying for a couple of days in a hotel near the O'Hare Airport just outside of Chicago. Today was a gloriously gloomy Midwest fall day...cool air and dreary skies. (sounds dismal, but it was a delightful change from sunny southern California!)

My room is a nice enough room on the fourth floor, which I like because I'm a windows-open-fresh-air kind of gal, and one can safely have one's windows open on the fourth floor. I was quite disappointed, however, when I opened the curtains to look outside--my view is of the freeway. No lush greenery or trees to really speak of... but lots of racing traffic zooming past. And, when I opened the sliding glass door to get a breath of fresh air, I was overwhelmed by the noise of the vehicles rushing by! So, I have the window open just a crack to get some air but to avoid most of the traffic sounds.

As I said, being 'blessed' with a glass-half-empty kind of temperament, I was disappointed by the view (or lack thereof) and the volume of the traffic sounds. Then I decided to practice what I preach and took a second look around... time to find the good things and to be grateful for the blessings in my day! ...I've got a GREAT bed (king size with giant pillows!!), and that's a wonderful thing! I treated myself to room service for breakfast since I had missed dinner last night... that WAS a treat! (I think I've only had room service once before!)

As I worked at the desk with the curtains open, I was able to watch some amazingly dark and dramatic clouds throughout the afternoon...


And when I stepped out onto my little (6" deep) balcony, I could see a freeway sign announcing the way to Chicago (for some reason, I really enjoyed that... proof that I'm in a land far, far away??)...

Look at the bits of fall colors behind the sign. AND, when I leaned over the balcony a bit and looked to the left, there was a gloriously golden tree (a walnut tree, I think?) within my sight:

Aren't the trees lovely?... The colors were all heightened by the gloomy, dark light today...

So, once again, I must ask myself the question..." On what will I place my focus today-- that which I do NOT have, or that which I DO?" I chose to be grateful and to have eyes to see the beauty and blessings God has placed in my path... He is good, and I am glad.

• a fabulously comfortable bed (97)
• the treat of a room-service breakfast (96)
• dark and dramatic clouds (95)
• traveling (94)
• beautiful golden trees (93)