Wow! Moments

 "Honor the WOW moments in life!" and the Quiet moments too!

After looking through old pictures on my computer I realized the "Wow" moments come quietly, like the gentle way the sun shines on the petals of a flower in the garden or the water sparkles on the sea. Most often my WOW! moments are connected to nature or the arts, such as a beautiful painting, dance, or music.

Recently Instagram has decided I need more music in my life and they post things for me to notice. Some of the music has touched my heart. I find myself saying "Wow"!!!

Art always intrigues me. I wonder 
"how did someone actually do it and what was their inspiration?"

The light and darkness, the shadows delight.

How is it that the light just captures the three cups, yet holds the fruit in the shadow?

The sunlight enhances the petals of a flower.

I love chatting with the birds or animals that cross my path. This parrot enchanted me. But the cat that shows up on my patio at unexpected morning moments will pause when spoken to and I say "Wow" "you are comforted by my voice".

The water sparkles on a slightly foggy day.

Light guides the way. It says here I am, follow me, notice what you notice.

What makes you say "Wow"?

I am planning on some "Wow" moments in the next 2 weeks, as I adventure to Alaska. I am sure there will be some nature involved, but maybe even a song. How I would love to hear the songs of a whale, a bird, or the strum of a guitar.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Flowers I Buy Myself

There is an old song sung by Neal Diamond and Barbara Streisand, You Don't Bring me Flowers. that I was thinking of recently as I purchased a bouquet at our farmer's market. Even when I visit Trader Joe's I most often buy myself flowers.  They are a self love gift to myself and I enjoy each and every one of them.

This past Sunday I had a teatime date with two nieces. For some reason I later found out about I showed up, but they didn't. I waited awhile and decided I would treat myself to teatime alone. Then I saw this pillow sitting in the tearoom and knew I could buy myself tea and I could bring myself flowers.

Miley Cyrus also sings about Flowers, I can buy myself Flowers.

 What a treat to sit quietly and enjoy the moment of sweet indulgence with a pot of tea, two savory tarts, sausage roll, and a pavlova with fresh berries.

We don't need permission to treat ourselves with love or to bring ourselves flowers.

At the farmer's market in town, there were flowers. Though I didn't buy the flower in these two pictures, I did buy the bouquet at the beginning of this post.

Then today I walked in Lan Su Chinese Garden and shared tea with two friends. As you see the lotus were blooming and the flowers just touched my heart.

Aren't the pink lanterns beautiful too?

Flowers touch my soul, make me smile. Even if I don't buy them all, they bring me JOY.

Do you buy yourself flowers?

Do they bring you JOY?

Sending love,

Marilyn

Merry Christmas!

May you be blessed with the hope and joy of the season.

This song was sung recently at a Christmas concert I attended. It touched my heart. It reminds me of the dream of peace on earth, a song we hear at Christmas time.

 Someday at Christmas, men won't be boys

Playing with bombs like kids play with toys

One warm December, our hearts will see

A world where men are free

Someday at Christmas, there'll be no wars

When we have learned what Christmas is for

When we have found what life's really worth

There'll be peace on Earth

Someday all our dreams will come to be

Someday in a world where men are free

Maybe not in time for you and me

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas, we'll see a land

With no hungry children, no empty hand

One happy morning, people will share

Our world where people care

Someday at Christmas, there'll be no tears

All men are equal and no men have fears

One shining moment, one prayer away

From our world today

Someday all our dreams will come to be

Someday in a world where men are free

Maybe not in time for you and me

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmas, man will not fail

Hate will be gone and love will prevail

Someday a new world that we can start

With hope in every heart

(Someday all our dreams will come to be)

(Someday in a world where men are free)

Maybe not in time for you and me

But someday at Christmastime

Someday at Christmastime

Songwriters: Ronald N. Miller, Bryan Wells. For non-commercial use only.

Merry Christmas!

Sending love,

Marilyn

Flowers Speak in Songs

 

Flower season is my favorite season of the year. And you know I take an adventure to LanSu Chinese Gardens with each season to find the blooms. This is camellia season at the gardens. They sing to my heart.

This single camellia laying on the ground reminded me of a story I saw recently on social media. It was a stray cat that would bring these fallen camellias to a woman each day as a gift. Finally the woman realized she needed to adopt this cat. And now year after year the cat still brings her flowers. 

Often I am reminded of songs to tell a story.

"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" is a song written by Neil Diamond with Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It was sung by both Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand.

You don't bring me flowers
You don't sing me love songs
You hardly talk to me anymore
When you come through the door
At the end of the day

I remember when
You couldn't wait to love me
Used to hate to leave me
Now after lovin' me late at night
When it's good for you, babe
And you're feeling alright
Well, you just roll over
And you turn out the light
And you don't bring me flowers anymore

It used to be so natural (Used to be)
To talk about forever (Mmm)
But 'used to be's' don't count anymore
They just lay on the floor
'Til we sweep them away
And baby, I remember
All the things you taught me
I learned how to laugh
And I learned how to cry
Well, I learned how to love
And learned how to lie

So you'd think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye
(So you'd think I could learn
How to tell you goodbye)
You don't bring me flowers anymore

 

Sad song Neil wrote to his ex-wife as they were going through divorce. Flowers and a song can speak of so many stories, from love, devotion or a broken heart. The cat spoke of dedication and love to her owner. Neil spoke of the ending of a story shared together.

 

To me they speak of JOY.

 

It was a beautiful day when I visited the gardens. Then I left my car parked by the gardens and walked a few city blocks to the river. At the river the cherry blossoms were blooming. Again I thought of a song, "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" which celebrates young love and the beauty of spring. Cherry Pink symbolizes the passionate blush of young love, while Apple Blossom White represents innocence and purity."

I think sharing these songs shows I am remembering old songs, but they are still sitting in my head and heart after all these years.

 

Do you have songs pop in your head as you go about your day? Do the songs and sights bring you JOY?

 

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

 

"The best way to make a difference is to get up and do something. Don't wait for the next election. Go out and make a difference right now. Because through your action, you will fill others with hope. And you might just fill yourself with hope." Barack Obama 

You can switch out the word "election" to what ever is making you wait. Maybe you are waiting for a check to come, a baby to be born, or a break in hard luck to come. There is a time to rest and a time for action. When the time for action comes, move forward with hope and a light in your heart.

I am reminded of the song, Turn, Turn, Turn:

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn

And a time to every purpose under Heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

To everything turn, turn, turn
There is a season turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under Heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rain, a time of sow
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Peter Seeger

 

 

For me I find that when I pay attention to my time to rest and my time to act there is a lightness in my heart. I would encourage you just to pay attention to those times, embrace them, and send out love to others in small ways.

 

 Sending love,

Marilyn

 

Midwinter's Song

 

In the Bleak Midwinter

Song by Christina Rossetti and Gustav Holst

 

In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen
Snow on snow, snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long, long ago

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ

Enough for Him whom cherubim

Worship night and day
A breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay
Enough for Him whom angels fall down before
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore

Angels and archangels may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air
But only His mother in her maiden bliss
Worshiped the Beloved
With a kiss

What can I give Him
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man, I would do my part
Yet what I can, I give Him
Give my heart

 

 

For some reason this hit my heart this year at Christmas time. Hoping your Christmas season is magical and full of love.

My "live-in gardener" and I move the first week of January; so I am in the throes of moving, packing, clean, and preparing.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Starry, Starry Night

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk

Happy Kindness Day!

Looking back at posts I had started, but never finished, this song had been bookmarked. It is rather sad, but beautiful to me. It speaks of starry, starry nights, how people didn't listen until it was too late. I am planning to focus on those stars with more to come on that next month. I hope you will continue to follow along with me as I look to the stars, as I speak my truth, and as I continue to travel with kindness and joy.

I noticed the moon shining through the clouds as they rushed by during last night, as I woke up to enjoy a couple hours where I couldn't sleep. There were no stars, but I could see that moon, the clouds, the rain, and the shadows in my yard. I could imagine the beauty of the sky and grounds as the sun rose to see another day.

My tea plant (camellia sinensus) is blooming, hope for new growth.

The leaves are puddling on the greenhouse roof. I think they are beautiful.

And if I look closely, I find new blooms still shining on a dark day.

As the sun goes down, the evening sky from my back door.

In the song it mentions a blood red rose. This is the closest to that in my garden each spring.

I pray people wake up and listen to each other, love each other, and show kindness in little and big ways. I need to believe it isn't too late to listen and embrace each other. Notice those starry, starry nights and wait for the dawning day light hours. Be awake, alert, and notice what you notice. Be Kind!

Sending love,

Marilyn

Lazy, Hazy Dayz of Summer

Summer is almost over, but I wonder what have you done with those "lazy, hazy dayz of summer"?

Dipping toes in the water of a pool or shore.

Walking down a sun lite dappled lane.

 Sitting by the shoreline to watch the sunset.

 

Letting peach or apple juice run down your arms as you savor.

Read a good beach book. I enjoyed The Women by Kristin Hannah

Listen to some mellow, slow jazz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBHVKCfntZs&ab_channel=JazzyRelaxBMG

Walk with a friend.

Have dinner out side under the moonlight.

What did you do?

Sending love,

Marilyn

Southern Oregon, A few more Glimpses

 Across the street from the Orth House, where we were staying was a beautiful garden shop. I loved the look of this garden table and chairs, though it doesn't look that comfortable.

The main reason for this small adventure was to attend a garden party and concert at the Britt Festival. The Britt Festival is an open air summer concert venue. Right before Covid hit in 2019 we were thrilled to hear Diana Krall in this venue. Funny, but even in Oregon many people don't know it exists. We have been to several concerts over the years and each one is a delight. They have never had a garden party before. The garden party had finger food and live music out on a patio. Isn't their cake pops cute?

The garden party theme came from an album in 1967 by the guest performer. 

And then there was the concert. Do you recognize the musician? It was Judy Collins. At 85 years old she entertained us for an hour and a half, along with the local orchestra. I was amazed how well she did, her voice was angelic.

Walking through town is so beautiful. Here are a few sights.

Several buildings looks like this. The La Fiesta Restaurant had really delicious Mexican food.

One more sight we decided to visit was the historic cemetery. Do you like visiting cemeteries?

 

We found Mr. Orth's burial sight. We also found a James Miller, which is my "live-in gardener's" name.

He had traveled there by wagon train and purchased 35 acres at the top of the hill at the edge of town, where he set it aside for a cemetery right where we were standing.

That tree was fun to see all the mistletoe.

With a brief stop to enjoy Lithia Park in Ashland, we were on our way home.

Others were enjoying the park too.

Hope you are finding ways to stay cool on these hot summer days.

It was 101 degrees here yesterday and about 91 degrees here today.

I no longer enjoy hot weather, but putting my feet in some cool water does help.

Sending love,

Marilyn