These photos are from a couple of mornings back. I was up earlier than usual, finding the view breath-taking, I took photos. I’m grateful I was up early enough to witness this, because in a few brief minutes, the marine layer (otherwise known as fog) crept in and clouded the sky, obstructing the view. Everything about the view, changed.
These images are a reminder to me of how every day we are given a new start, the opportunity for a fresh attitude and the chance to find beauty — anywhere and everywhere.
Initial view of the western skyNortheastern skyCaptured the marine layer was encroaching–western sky
I’m grateful for these gentle reminders. What stirs those emotions in you?
While others are combing the shore and the small tide pools, I’ve found a rock where I can perch, allowing my senses to soak in the beauty of nature and the reality of being on the edge of land. The pelicans fly overhead in formation, scoping out the landscape below. They head over the open water then pivot coming back toward land. Multiple broods fly in their individual formations. Scanning the waters and shoreline. Their grace, combined with the perfection of their movements, is a beauty to behold. The waves roar toward the shore with one white cap straining to overtake another. The blue-green rolls over to form a churning white mass racing toward the shore as the roar intensifies. Beyond, the dark grey blue of the ocean continues until it creates a solid dark line against the horizon. Then the lighter blue grey of the sky rises to transition into a deep blue. Shades of blue fill my view.
The wind continues to blow, ruffling my shirt and blowing my hair. The air is cool on my face, with the scent of salt water filling the air.
Following the shoreline around the cove area, the grey of the water’s edge merges with the grey of the land, creating dull shadows of the buildings surrounding the water’s edge.
The churning waves keep moving further and further inland. Soon my vantage point will be immersed.
The sound of the seagulls laughing at the surfing crowd that has arrived to ride the wild waves of this afternoon fill the air. They’ve donned their gear and waded into the water with their boards. Slowly at first as they acclimate to the temperatures, then more quickly to position themselves for when they see the waves calling to them. Into the deep they paddle. A couple of quick runs and alas, they denounce. These waves are not for me today. Then they depart.
Slowly, I arise to explore activity in some of the tide pools. What a peaceful way to clear one’s mind!
2024 is groaning under the weight of all the happenings of the year.
Too many happenings to list here.
Are you groaning as well?
Here’s the cure…
Slip into your snuggly warm jammies, or comfortable sweats, grab a warm cup of your favorite steamy brew, take your preferred throw or blanket and settle in-front of the fire.
A big roaring fire.
Listen to the crackles as little sparks pop from the blaze. Watch the flames of the fire rise, rise to the sky or up the firebox.
Give your thoughts of the year to those flames.
Let the flames take the weight of 2024 with them.
Rising into the heights of the heavens, then dissipating in the air.
Allow the smoke to fill your nostrils like incense, purifying your soul.
Watch the flames licking the logs slowly turning the surfaces into glowing, red searing heat sources. Soak in this heat. Sit quietly and let the weight of 2024 escape from your body.
Soak in enough of the heat that you need to toss the blanket aside.
Quiet your mind. Think about the flames making the logs smaller. Let your stressful thoughts shrink as well. Breathe deeply. A new morning is coming. 2025 will arrive like a new babe. Welcome it into your life– Uncorrupted, Renewed, Original.
From the ashes of 2024, let something new be created in you this coming year.
Embrace the possibility of new beginnings. Wrap them around yourself like the blanket you previously tossed.
This tile was the reason for the slow project we undertook…
We’ve been in our house for four years. Love living here and love how much time we can spend outdoors. Like any house you move into, there are projects needing attention. Initially, we focused much of our attention on outside areas. In the house, there were a few things we couldn’t wait to change; and a few other things we didn’t like, but didn’t know what we wanted to do. The guest bathroom fell into that category.
What we had before any changes
Today, I can say that I’m glad we took our time with this project. Our house is older, so some features are older. Hahaha. The guest bathroom had not been updated in years. You can see from the before photo what I mean.
Yet, I loved the tile in the bathroom and did not want to sacrifice it for a remodel project. My preference for the tile made the process slow. It also meant we would have to live with the existing cabinetry. Now that we are on the backside of the redo, I’m glad we went slowly.
Hubby hated the old shower doors. Removing them allowed us to feel like the existing tub was workable. We each hated how the drop ceiling light box made us feel like the ceiling was right on top of our head. Removing the box and exposing the lights created the need to find something suitable. We are both suckers for lighting. So, the quest for lights was a fun part of hunting down materials for the bathroom. Tom cut out the existing sinks and found drop-in sinks to fill the holes and which allowed us to keep the tile counter tops.
We both found the wall of mirror to be too much. Finding a pair of mirrors to replace the wall took longer than we expected.
Paint colors were picked out, and the room was transformed. With all the major replacements done, the bathroom was shaping up. Yet the cabinets looked so old. I painted and antiqued them. Though it is said, this decorating trend is outdated, we have laughed. It may be outdated, but it is much more current than what we had.
Completed transformation
By taking our time, we ended up with a unique bathroom to enjoy for years.
After three glorious weeks on the road and over 5,000 miles on the car, we returned home tired, yet oh, so refreshed. We connected with so many friends and family, saw beautiful sights, and enjoyed one of the best Midwestern autumns! We’re home and have caught up on laundry, mail, appointments, household tasks and jumped into necessary holiday preparations. Now, we’re savoring the memories and reflect on them often.
I’m including a few snapshots from this epic trip.
I, however, seemed to have kept the vacation mentality, dragging my feet about stepping back into routine activities. All forms of writing have slipped through most of the cracks. My writing grounds me. It is how I sort my thoughts and feelings, and where I let my imagination run wild. So today, I’m tip-toeing back into my playground.
Thanks for joining me here.
I hope you are expectant about the upcoming holiday season and traditions important to you and those you care about.
I recently started a new project, as I felt my mindset had slipped out of some traditional thought patterns. I pulled a gratitude journal from the bookshelf as I decided I needed to get back into the habit of practicing gratitude.
Each writing offers a two-page spread, with the first page having some thoughts to ponder, some scripture reminders, and the subsequent page is for writing and a brief prayer for ending the session.
My writing will remain private, but I wanted to share the thoughts to ponder from one day. Day five, to be more precise.
Some of the truths I’ve known for years, yet somehow, allowed these truths to escape from personal practices. Sometimes we all need reminders.
Yet I was fascinated by the idea that one’s mind actually expands based upon our focus. I liked the examples they used and could see experiences from my past to support the statement.
The world we currently live in bombards us with information designed to grab our minds and cause us to be fearful or distrusting of others. Allowing such thoughts to occupy my mind creates the possibility for a stream of emotions and actions which I don’t want to be used to describe me. I can accomplish an alternative outcome with how I choose to think. When I ponder all I have to be grateful for, or the beauty surrounding me, I will become more optimistic and content. The prospect of becoming more optimistic and content is exciting; which should cause increased happiness, increased health and more fun for those I interact with.
So, I have started the “100 Days of Grace & Gratitude.”
Happy Spring! Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Between Life and Death
Spring 2020 by Linda L. Flynn
I cut my first bunch of daffodils before Easter.
It snowed during the night. The blooms left for later bent under the weight. Buds not yet open succumbed to the morning snow.
My bunch of daffodils in the living room brought sunshine and the promise of spring to come. I’ve enjoyed this bundle of blooms. I’ve watched the petals on these beautiful blooms first become paper thin. Still beautiful, but the truth of their fragility is now evident.
A few more days and the edges of those paper blooms are dry and wrinkled, some have turned a darker color, others just became more fragile.
How like us. We bud and bloom, bringing sunshine and promise to those around us. Our lives bring beauty to some. Like these blossoms, we don’t even recognize the gradual process of becoming more fragile. Our bones are more brittle, muscle strength steadily disappears, our skin becomes more translucent, and our hair thins.
Like my daffodils, we often fail to recognize these changes until something happens.
Last night brought one of those happenings. I feel like I should howl and be in dissent. Today, I’m weary and wonder, what is this time all about?
Traditions Just the word evokes many thoughts Different for each of us Impact of these thoughts is equally dissimilar Some individuals become melancholy Others upbeat and joyful
The word suggests something one can count on Yet in truth, traditions reflect change
My granny baked an abundant assortment of cookies Enjoyed by all, with each of us having our favorites I took my favorite and ensured it was made every year Thus, my children were introduced to my favorite for the Christmas season Then their children delighted in these same little delicate sweets
Each of these children have carried some traditions from my home to their own Adding new twists and turns creating something unique for their families
No littles at my house for the holidays Yet these little green trees still get pulled from the oven to be enjoyed by others An adult grandchild, with children of her own Requested her gift be a box of these cookies for her family
I smile How my granny would be honored to know These little gems she so readily baked Are still being enjoyed five generations later
Journey to the Heights 