Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot little puppies. ~Gene Hill, American columnist
It’s been a long, hard year, but things are finally looking up:
Breeder friend holding Puppy aloft
Introducing…
Buried in White
Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories. ~An Affair to Remember, 1957, screenplay by Delmer Daves, Leo McCarey, and Donald Ogden Stewart
The weather experts said we got 11.5 inches of snow over Presidents’ Day weekend.
And, with temperatures not expected to reach 32 degrees until at least Sunday, it’s going to stick around a while.
So I decided to share some of it with you here (sorry I can’t scoop up a few inches and ship it to those of you who want some for reals!)
Please enjoy:
Critiquing a Painting
Let me ask you something, what is not art? ~Author Unknown
Take a good look at the following picture and tell me if something seems amiss to you:
Tangible Affirmations
Never deprive someone of hope — it may be all they have. ~Author unknown
Recently, it occurred to me that, rather than suffer through negative feelings over the lack of a puppy in my life, I needed to do something positive to prepare the way for a new wee one to arrive.
An affirmation, if you will.
So I went to the store and purchased these:
Wordless Wednesday — Ice
One kind word can warm three winter months. ~Japanese proverb
Ice coating on the branches of this bush
Holly bush covered in berries and ice
Icicles growing on this variegated plant
Different view of Holly covered in ice
For those interested in the fate of my baby tree (https://domermom.com/2020/12/17/tree-as-teacher/), you can see it’s still growing. How do you like its red scarf?
Seeking Some Advice
Parting is such sweet sorrow….~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Saying goodbye is never easy.
Most often, it’s downright messy.
And painful.
Starting with last year’s loss of my beloved Sheltie to the Rainbow Bridge and continuing this year through the swift decline of a longtime personal friendship and the recent notice my publisher is turning me loose….
Sunday’s Gem — Tourmaline
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein, German-born theoretical physicist
Are you suffering from fear and anxiety? Need a dollop of self-confidence? Or maybe something to absorb the negative energy all around you?
Then find yourself some Tourmaline.
Some of the colors Tourmaline appears in. Image courtesy of the Jewelers of America.
A Fresh Start
Hope is the physician of each misery. ~Irish Proverb
We kick off new years with hope in our hearts,
Promising ourselves this one will be fine.
But always there remain the unseen darts
From the previous year that made us whine.
Shrug off past misery; try a new line;
This is the time for a fresh burst of hope!
We’ve more than shown that we’re able to cope.
As new growth springs from the cold ground below,
Don’t look for someone to throw you a rope.
You can do this. Just go with what you know.
Note: Happy 2021! This poetry form is Dizain, a style 15th and 16th Century French poets were fond of. It consists of one 10-line stanza, with 10 syllables per line in an ababbccdcd rhyming scheme.
This Christmas
Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder, American writer
To be a child at Christmastime!
To once again behold this world
With awe. And joy. And hope. And love.
Or to be an adult at Christmastime!
Shopping for gifts and wrapping them, too.
Cooking the meal, cleaning up, and sneaking a nap.
Or to be a bush at Christmastime!
Covered in white, listening to the universe.
Perhaps shivering a bit under the snow.
Note: Whatever your role this holiday season, I wish you and yours a most blessed Christmas, with a happy and healthy 2021 to come! I’m taking a wee blogging break — back soon.
Tree as Teacher
If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees. ~Hal Borland, American author
I woke up to snow on Wednesday morning!
