Category: Nature

day is done …

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…seems I was up before sunrise – now, the sun’s set, the moon glows and I’m wondering : “where has the day gone ? what have I done or not?”

In the done column:

  • shopped for groceries – 2nd day in a row …
  • walked to/through the park – my first time all week …
  • cleared off the tops of the bookcases on the second floor landing …
  • played with scraps of card stock during the Daily Pages session today …
  • and it is time now to make my 23rd LOAD layout – it is destined for my 2020 December Daily album

I went downstairs to take chicken out of the oven and stopped to look out – the moon was gorgeous, begging to be captured :

~ a perfect ending to this October day ~

Have a great weekend!

Cheers~

PS: Next Tues, October 27, is the one little word roundup.

summer’s end …

Published on by Honoré9 Comments

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Bright blue cloudless sky. Birds sing ” caw caw caw” … September’s air feels good against my face. I’m wearing my winter coat and I have on no hat – but that’s OK !  Despite the cooler temps, it is beautiful!  I  stop, take a look around, capture the sky, sun and also the sound : quiet.

I’ve reached the park. Children’s voices permeate the air along with the sounds of lawn mowers and leaf blowers. I hear the creak, squeak of a swing or two. I’m trying to decide which way do I go:  my usual route or forge a new one? Lotsa children at the playground – don’t see too many adults but I do see a rather large dog.

I  decide to take my usual route and trek up the hill, gathering  just enough speed to get my momentum going. Other than the children, not too many people in the park –  usually there are one to four parked at benches, shooting the breeze; others, at a table: writing; reading; sometimes napping …

Tomorrow is the first day of an astrological event: Autumn.  It feels good to walk through this park on this last day of summer. In a way, it’s a sanctuary. A sanctuary.

Autumn. My favorite season of all.

walk 20 in 2020 | 5.4.20 …

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#walk20in2020 is a challenge Gretchen Rubin began this January ~ you can learn all about it here . Tho’ a tad breezy, today in the nation’s capital, the weather was pretty durn near perfect – for sure an invitation to start the week off on a good foot. And since it’s never too late to start and/or strengthen this habit/practice, I took full advantage of  Mother Nature’s bounty.  I

  • held onto my hat,
  • clocked 54:54 minutes /1.88 miles,
  • easily snapped ten+ pics of bright colorful flowers and
  • relished every minute out in the nature under bright blue sky!

Would that we had many more of such wonderful days, but alas, not to be!

 

 

 

collecting march 2020 …

Published on by Honoré13 Comments

 

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Better late than never! I realized one day, a week or so ago, that I’d not posted my March photo collage.* As I reviewed my photos, I discovered that most – likely the result of social distancing ( e.g., photo 26) and Covid-19 –  are of nature. Most definitely thankful for Mother Nature, especially during these times.

Cheers~

*For whatever reason, I cannot remove the subtitle “collecting Fall 2019” from the collage…gonna try another technique for April. If anyone knows the trick for unchecking the tag, do let me know…online help N/A…

 

spring preview …

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In just 10 days, the Spring Equinox officially arrives at 11.50 PM, ESDST. Today’s warm temps, sunshine and bright blue sky, were an invitation to journey out for a preview of delights to come. I accepted and out I went. I was not disappointed. Greeting me:

bright yellow daffodils
tulip tree buds about to blossom
and I’m not sure what this flower bush is…but it’s bright red flowers called out.

Hurry Spring! So looking forward to spending time with you!

sometimes mondays | 1.6.20 …

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… are bright, sunny, even tho’ a tad bit cool (temp range 37° to 47°) , and just perfect for a brisk mid-afternoon walk on my favorite route: through the neighborhood park.

During MSQT, I played a bit with watercolor pencils and made a quick drawing of the sky and a tree. I hadn’t used the Watercolor app in sometime so I thought it’d be fun to revisit. Me thinks I’ll play some more, a lots more…

Preset Style = Bold Lightness = Auto-Exposure Size = Medium Border = No Border

The dryer just shut off – a signal that laundry (an all day affair, it seems) is done…and time for dinner before I wind down for the evening. Tomorrow’s another day and there will be left-overs from today’s agenda plus new items that need my attention…

Cheers~

 

sunrise and naked trees…

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~today, 29 november, 6:55 am~

I often forget to look out the windows at the front of the house, especially in the morning. When I do, I see a totally different view of sunrise than when I step out on the deck. I happened to glance out the window this morning and saw the sky with its varying shades of pink, blue and a translucent grey/white? I quickly threw a coat on over my robe, exchanged my slippers for shoes and grabbed my iPhone and keys. Out the door I went  – for sunrises change with every passing second.  Click, Click, Click.

I have long had a fascination with naked trees. This photo reminds me of an oil painting I did when I was in high school. I often tell myself I should try my hand at recreating it. In fact, I’ve been thinking about doing a series of naked trees against the sky and sunrises/sunsets for quite a while now. Quite a while… By golly, I think I’m adding doing so to my “20 for 2020” list.* Never too early to start thinking about that.  I also want to thank Bonny for her post today that reminded me of this morning’s sunrise treat.

Have a grand weekend.

Cheers~

*and quiet as it’s kept, there’ll undoubtedly be some carryover from 2019, 2018.

PS. In case you missed this: starting Monday, Michelle GD is hosting Just Five Things – Holiday 2019 edition. It’s probably not to late to register.

 

welcome autumn | 9.23.19…

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The Autumnal Equinox officially arrived this morning at 3:50 am, EST. Despite my desire to be wide awake then, I wasn’t nor did I make plans to get up quite that early. In fact, I even overslept, getting up about 7: 15 am… AND, I actually spent MSQT in my craft studio rather than the Great Room (aka dining room/kitchen). Why? Today was the first Mindful Monday session  – a 10 week’s program created and led by Jamie Ridler, the convener of Friday afternoon Journal Club – which resumes this Friday, Yay! Actually, I have spent most of today at the computer – between two sessions with Jamie and catching up with email, etc. We did take time out to bag leaves for tomorrow’s pickup…and you know, it’s hot out; currently 91° F. Yuk! Plus, looks like it’s going to rain.

Yesterday was our monthly Friendstitching gathering…and we celebrated Pat’s birthday! Lunch was delicious: shrimp, rice, salad, breads, fruit and mimosas plus delicious dessert. It is our practice that the hostess gives us each a tchotchke; we got that delightful fall  dishtowel… On my walk yesterday evening, I ran across the sidewalk chalk art and thought of the towel. Pretty close match.

To quote Dee: It’s Finally Fall Y’all *

Cheers~

*Do drop by her blog to see the delightful piece she just finished.

Currently| 6.28.19

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5:41 pm | 91 degrees |unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups

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Hearing a clap of thunder…

Seeing tree leaves sway a bit more and birds dart across the sky …

Watching the sky change from sunny and blue to grey as rain clouds are ushered in…

Listening to jazz vocal hits …oldies and some new …

Taking a loooong sip of ice cold water …

Laughing at Norman who just suggested that we could “turn the AC off; it’s cold in here.” I responded: “It’s not cold in here. Would you like a blanket?” And we both laughed …

Thinking I’d best wrap this post – the thunder claps are getting louder and closer, the trees swaying even more and the sky, greyer…me thinks the storm’s just moments away!

Enjoy the weekend and the last two days of June!

Cheers~