Tag Archives: enjoying life

Sweetness

Light Hearted Living..., , , ,

Late afternoon walk on the land
finds us checking new growth on plants,
contemplating irragation schedules.

The orange globes dot the tree.
We know, soon they will be ready
for harvest.

Suddenly the air around is filled with
heavenly perfume. The little white
stars of the tree are releasing their fragrance.

Orange blossoms, with the promise of
next year’s fruit, fill the air with the
scent of sweet perfume.

We forget all else as this lofty
scent fills us up. A great promise of
hope and good things to come.

Such a welcome treat for us.
A reminder to savor the
natural gifts of each day.

A Different Perspective

Light Hearted Living..., , ,

This is one of our property lines, yet we seldom see it from this perspective. I love all the arching branches. During the rainy season, there may be water in the depression. Not at this time of the year.

A grand view from the neighbor’s property.

Card Creativity

creativity, , ,

May was a busy month for making cards. Many were needed for June events. Here are a few of my recently completed creative pieces.

What has been your creative release?

Staycation Delight: Unforgettable Memories with a Friend

Things to ponder...., Writing Projects, , , , , ,
Beautiful Together


We do not remember days
We remember moments
Cesare Pavese

July has been my staycation month, which has been great!

From beaches to garden spaces

From tourist spots, to less known beautiful locations

From bustling to quiet…

Sharing time with a friend is a gift.

The moments of the last few days have provided many memories.
Time spent with friends is refreshing to the soul.

Joy

Light Hearted Living..., , , , , , ,

Summer is running,
already running away
It just arrived…

We spent a day at the county fair,
what a day it was

On a whim 
we entered the Butterfly Farm exhibit
Enclosed environment filled with 
beautiful
fragil
graceful
free
curios
butterflies

And people
All captivated or standing in awe

Numerous varieties of butterflies
each with their own colors and markings,
different species were drawn to various colors

They were emboldened and landed on whatever drew their attention.
The people moved among these winged creatures.
Enchanted by their movement,
their color,
their beauty.

We left the butterflies
Enjoyed other exhibits
Went out to dinner with friends
Returned home, contented

Reflection afterwards
brought the realization
most were smiling in this butterfly environment.
Leaving one wondering 
when and where was the last time so many people were visibly happy?
why does it not happen more frequently?

Yes, we left the butterflies
yet a part of their spirit remains within me.
I say,
Bring on the butterflies!

Handstamp

Light Hearted Living..., , , , ,

A weekend at the shore

Seemingly at the very edge of the world,

Steps from the deck descend the rocks

Then end.

High tide rolls in

Obliterating the bottom steps

And sand below.

Waves crash upon the rocks

Spraying high into the air

Then dropping on the deck

before returning to the sea.

Other waves role in splashing against the house.

The tide recedes

and the ever-constant cycle repeats.

The sun comes up and then,

The sun goes down with

God’s majesty on full display…

As his hand stamp sunset ends each blue day.

February Sunset at San Clemente

Natures Preparations

Things to ponder...., , ,

Packed and prepared to leave

Blurry-eyed I grabbed my purse

Sat and buckled in.

Relative quietness hung upon the town.

Entering the freeway

Ribbons of white or red lights

Streamed down the roadway.

Who would have known so many

Would be on the road long before light?

Dawn presented first signs of the day to come.

Heavy clouds hung on the mountain tops.

Light peaked through revealing the foothills 

beneath the shrouded peaks.

Spots of pink adorned the clouds.

Traffic intensified.

At times its pace was a crawl

Resembling more of a parking lot than streamers.

Drawn back to the coast—

We stand on the rocky shore

Listening to the crashing waves

Watching sea lions bob and play

Surveying crumbling walls

Succumbed to an earlier hurricane.

The air, the light, the beauty of the sea

on such a day as this.

To town we travel

Where we traipse from one art shop to another.

Early dinner on Main Street, then off to the lodge

Where we enjoy a hot drink, a fire and live entertainment

With other guests of the establishment.

We fall into bed, drifting off to sleep.

Morning comes.

Opening the shutters, I find the marine layer

And local ecology all decked out in preparations for

Halloween.

BOO !!!

In Between

Light Hearted Living..., , , , , ,

The Beginning

Dinner in Milwaukee

Stage set for five days of non-stop activity.

Trip was planned around a family wedding.

Sister provided our resting location.

Visited with as many family and friends as time allowed.

Good times and memories abounded.

Last sight in Milwaukee

The Ending

Reflections from home…

England, Haiti, , , , ,

We’re home. Landed, unpacked and adjusted to another time change. We’ve had time to process the early months of 2022. It feels good to be home. We returned changed; different from when we left in January. We immersed ourselves in the Irish culture of County Kerry; we reconnected with old friends and made new. Any time one opens themselves to another or something new, they change.

Our return in 2019 and again in 2020 started me thinking I needed to slow down and not rush through life as I was. I had no plan for implementing this change, but recognized it was something I needed. (Enter Covid), which made the change possible. Ha-ha.

The Pandemic left me (Linda), believing God was refining his church. What Ireland revealed to me convinces me of this belief even more. Pastors would tell us they lost some members, they gained some members during Covid. We saw them last in January/February 2020, just prior to the world closing its borders because of Covid. The difference in those congregations/fellowships between 2020 and 2022 was discernable, and so encouraging. People appeared more committed to their faith, and so much more compassionate and committed to their fellow believers. Covid did not surprise God, nor has he stopped working in the hearts of believers around the globe. These communities were more confident in themselves and what they believed. I returned to America with hope in my heart. Hope that we too in America will draw strength from our faith, that we’ll become more committed to the basis of our faith and that we’ll have more compassion for those around us.

When I think of the friendships in County Kerry, my heart is overflowing. I’m grateful for the time I spent with fellow believers, fellow writers, friends of mine.

Between Ireland and home, we spent a week with friends/family in Dorchester, England. It was a time of relaxing, refreshment, and renewed friendship. Sometimes I wish the Atlantic Ocean was not between me and my friends.

There may be more thoughts later, but for now, I’ll just share some of my favorite photos.