Monday, September 28, 2020

Word for the Day - 2020

 Truth

 

 

From Wikipedia: Truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality.[1] In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that aim to represent reality or otherwise correspond to it, such as beliefs, propositions, and declarative sentences.[2]

I thought "what pictures would I choose for truth?"  Surely, a church teaches us truth. Then I thought of little white lies and found white flowers to represent those lies.

When I was a little girl my mother would get out the bar of Ivory soap and threaten to wash my mouth out with the soap if I lied.

These days there is a lot of mention of lies told by people in government and it sickens me just like that soap in the mouth to hear them lie to us.

Truth is a virtue I respect in others and myself.  Even if the message is a difficult one, I want the truth.

          My heart just feels clean and white when the truth is spoken. There is a pureness about it.

I feel like I can relax in the surrounding of truth.


 "The truth is rarely pure and never simple."  ~Oscar Wilde
 
"I am a firm believer in the people.
If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet
any national crisis.
The great point is to bring them the real facts."
~Abraham Lincoln 

Wow! There were so many good quotes on Truth and all so relevant today.
Let's not forget Truth in our words, it has so much power.

I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts. Abraham Lincoln
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/truth-quotes
I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts. Abraham Lincoln
Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/truth-quotes

 

 

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Move Forward, Change is Coming!

 "It's time to move forward."

~Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

Autumn has begun with Winter close behind.

The year has been a struggle for sure, but I know we can make it through the Winter of our soul.

We can walk side by side, upholding each other.

We can shelter in place with warm woolen mittens.

We can vote for change in our world.

We can dance with the raindrops.

We can savor the warm mug in our hands.

Can you feel it?

Change is coming!

I have to believe it!

Let's embrace each other in the warmth of our smile and a kind word.

And if our faces are covered with masks, definitely say loving thoughts and hand gestures

to get the message across. Maybe we should carry a sign, signs of love.

   
The place I was just one year ago today.
                                              
                                 Port Townsend, Washington is a place to walk and dream from.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQNbYdR4VdM&feature=youtu.be

Listen and Embrace a few moments of meditation.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Monday, September 21, 2020

Word for the Day - 2020

Amazement

"I want to spend my life married to Amazement.
Let me become notorious
For going around with my bridal veil tossed back
And my mouth saying "I do"!
Renewing my vows with life.
Every day.
A hundred times a day."

~Sue Monk Kidd 

Now if that isn't a wonderful description illustrating the word Amazement!
 
from Wikidata: Astonishment, stupefaction, amazement
Wikipedia didn't have any data on this word.
Astonishment definitely fits.
 
Do you find amazement in your days?
For me it is just noticing the changing of the season.
Can you believe tomorrow is Autumnal Equinox? 
It seems like overnight it is Autumn.

Welcome with open arms the delights of Autumn, the freshness of cooler air,
and lift your face to the sprinkles falling from the sky. Sing, twirl, and embrace with Amazement!
 
Top picture taken at Monticello Antique Mall with wedding picture in background.
I am imagining that fur stole tossed carelessly over a shoulder while we dance to a little night music.
Bottom picture taken of orange flowers blooming on my walk recently and spoke to me of Autumn in the air. 
Let's "notice what we notice" each and every day with amazement!
 

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Let's Chat over a cup of Tea

       Let's chat and have a cup of tea.  Sit awhile in this comfy chair. Embrace the stillness. Breathe!        

What tea would you like? This one is a Darjeeling from 2019 and quite light and delightful.
                                 On the side I have a rhubarb tea bread, would you like a slice?

                                             

Have you thought how life changes from birth to death, from a lost tooth to grey hair?
Life is certainly an adventure in change, sadness at times, and hopefully great JOY too.
I have thought a lot lately about just how we face these changes, how do we travel this road?
Do we become terrified, cry, laugh, or embrace each change with a joyful heart?

What shall we chat about, I say?

So much runs through my head these days as I sequester here in my little home.

The smoke remains for yet another day, but soon the rains will come. I do love to walk in the rain, so please dear rain come today and wash it all away. Wash away the smoke of sorrow, sadness and bring back hope and joy. Soon 2020 will be but a memory, soon I dream of new delights where we can walk freely outdoors, embrace each other, and feel love in our world. What are you thinking about these days? Is it heavy on your heart? I hope soon we all have a "singing heart".

Singing Heart

I woke up this morning

To a singing start;

I went about the live-long day,

A song within my heart.

"Sing before you breakfast;

Cry before you sleep, "

Is an old, old saying,

But never one I keep.

I sing, and I go dancing,

With music in my tread,

Until at length I've sung myself

To supper and to bed.

~Ethel Romig Fuller, Kitchen Sonnets

 

 Rest, embrace the adventure!

Happy weekend, dear friends!


Monday, September 14, 2020

Word for the Day 2020

Peace
 
Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups.

“We must concentrate not merely on the negative expulsion of war
but the positive affirmation of peace.”
~Martin Luther King Jr.

This first picture is the view from my cousins property last October.
Their beautiful trees and town are totally gone now.
I am trying to imagine what will come in the future as the earth renews itself.
Sitting on this bank was another kind of peace.
A peace that touches our soul.
I always had to stop to take a picture of this bridge when we would head to my cousins home.
It is a sight that also touches the peaceful core of my well being.
I have heard the bridge was saved and I am thankful for that.

One of the things many years ago that attracted me to the Quaker faith
was their stance on peace. They feel that there is a way of coming to a peaceful resolution
without lifting guns to kill others and cause destruction.
It is something still today that I appreciate.
 
So often during these times of turmoil the words of this song comes to me:
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be
With God as our Father
Brothers (Sisters) all are we
Let me walk with my brother (sister)
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jill Jackson / Sy Miller
 
I just can't help but think if we could all adopt that thought right now
our world would be a better place.

Peace I send to you this day!

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Dahlias

 

Last Saturday my "live-in gardener" and I took about a 40 minute drive south of town to see the dahlias

at Swan Island Dahlia Farm. There were too many people with the same idea, so we snapped a few pictures and headed home.

I hope you enjoy our quick peek at the dahlias for this season.

I always like the pink ones the best.

But there were so many beautiful colors. It was like a rainbow in the field.






Well online today I saw pictures of these same gardens and the light was bright red.   How sad to see, as the red was caused from the sun trying to get through the smoke of all the fires.
It is a very sad situation on the west coast of the USA. Fires are everywhere.      My cousin and his wife, plus their son and his family lost their homes to the fires.  Now my daughter and grandson are evacuating and will be with us for maybe one night or who knows how long. The smoke was really bad today and not advised to be outside or go walking.  Portland isn't in jeopardy at this moment, but we are not sure if they will be able to hold it back. Please pray for rain, no wind, cooler temperatures, and help for the fire people.

Take care dear friends and may you have a blessed weekend.
Hug each other and stay safe.

Monday, September 7, 2020

Word for the Day - 2020

Cherish

from Wiktionary: From Middle English charish, cherishen (to have affection for, hold dear, treat kindly; to esteem, respect; to cherish; to take care of; to greet; to entertain, treat hospitably; to cheer; to encourage, incite)

Cherish isn't a word I hear in my everyday life, but when it came to me it just had so much resonance with me.  What does it mean to be cherished, to hold someone so dear? How does it feel for the one giving the affection or to the one receiving and feeling the esteem and respect?  Does this just mean something on a person to person feeling or can it be for a non-animate object too? Is cherish just another word for love?

I cherish this one and only grandson. I hold him dear in my heart. A few days ago we baked an apple pie together. Now I didn't cherish the pie, but the memories of my mother baking apple pies is a cherished memory. The pie was delicious too, but not cherished.

So I think we can have cherished memories too. Memories that we hold close and dear to our heart.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this word.

What feelings does cherish bring to mind?

I hope each and everyone of you feels cherished by at least one person.

Thursday, September 3, 2020

This Week

Flowers from my garden with one of my vintage tablecloths in the background.
 

This week has blended into another week where each day seems the same while staying home.   One thing I am doing a lot of is reading. Here is my most recent books, some of which are still in process.

All of them really good.

When we Believed in Mermaids, by Barbara O'Neal, I want to read more by her.

Me and White Supremacy, by Layla F. Saad, still working my way through this. There's a lot of work to be done.

Simple Abundance, by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I started this in January and plan on finishing it at the end of the year. I have been through it before, but never quite finished it. September is about discovering the beauty around you. I look forward to that.

The Butterfly Room, by Lucinda Riley I have loved everyone of her books and this one didn't disappoint.

Tea in the garden with a book of wildflowers. Underneath it all is a vintage quilt piece.
Tea in the garden with a chocolate cupcake and cherry on top. I love this vintage cherry tablecloth.
Tea in the garden with another vintage tablecloth. Doesn't it have an autumn/fall feel?

I thought it would be fun to photograph my collection of vintage tablecloths; so every couple days I am setting up teatime in the garden. After-all, teatime in the garden is the very best while the weather is still cooperating. You know it will come to an end and we won't be able to play outdoors; so playing I am doing. 

Walking is part of my agenda most days too.

 And life goes on one way or the other with some creativity in our thinking it will be OK.


Happy weekend, dear friends!