Author Archives: Debbie

Merry Christmas!

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I am grateful for the silence of winter mornings, for the beauty and wonder of the glint of sunlight in frost melting to dew, for the early-riser’s peaceful solitude that sets a mood of thankfulness, hope, and calm for the dawning day. ~Terri Guillemets, American quotation anthologist and author

First snowfall, winter 2017

I’m taking a few days off to do holiday things with my family, but I’ll be back soon. Love to all, Happy Christmas, and thank you for coming along on this blogging journey with me! I’ll leave you with an Irish Christmas Blessing:

The light of the Christmas star to you,
The warmth of home and hearth to you,
The cheer and good will of friends to you,
The hope of a childlike heart to you,
The joy of a thousand angels to you,
The love of the Son and God’s peace to you.

Sunday’s Gem — Unakite

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Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

With the reds and greens of Christmas all around us, I thought it was time to discuss the beautiful salmon and green colored gemstone called Unakite.

8 mm round Unakite beads

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Learning Something New

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Without music life would be a mistake. ~Friedrich Nietzsche, German philosopher

I knew from a young age I was going to play the clarinet.

That was my mom’s instrument, and I thought following in her footsteps would win me a ticket to joining Band with my friends in fifth grade.

No dice.

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Got a Blanket??

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Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. ~Gerard de Nerval, pen name of French poet and author Gérard Labrunie

Little Snapdragon

Wild, free, and unprotected

Winter is coming.

 

Note: After highs reaching 60 degrees Sunday and Monday, temps here are expected to take a nosedive by the weekend … down to the 20s and low 30s. Brrr! Hope this little flower finds a way to survive an Illinois winter.

The Importance of Being Kind

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Instead of complaining that the rosebush is full of thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses.  ~Proverb

A friend of mine says you can’t fix stupid, and she’s 100 percent right.

But maybe it’s possible to fix pettiness.

Like the other day in church.

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Thanksgiving 2017

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The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer

We need a real Thanksgiving
More now than ever before
With families ’round the table
Instead of at the store.

We need a real Thanksgiving
More feast and family gladness
More charity and good will
Less Black Friday madness.

We need a real Thanksgiving
With football and post-meal naps
Fewer sales and frenzied shopping
More hot cocoa and night caps.

We need a real Thanksgiving
A full day without bad news.
No phone, TV, or Internet,
Nothing to give us the blues.

We need a real Thanksgiving
Who’s with me on this thought?
A day of peace and gratitude
And celebrating as we ought.

Note: Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! My son Domer is home to help me prepare the feast and yes, we’ll probably do a bit of shopping … after the holiday! I’ll catch up with you all in a few days.

Sunday’s Gem — Clear Quartz

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Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

Composed of one part silicon and two parts oxygen (silicon dioxide), Clear Quartz (from the Greek “krystallos,” or “ice”) was once thought to be made from water frozen too hard to ever melt.

Quartz cluster, thanks to http://www.soulfulcrystals.co.uk

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Farewell to Fall

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Autumn is the season of change. ~Taoist proverb

Anticipating a wicked storm followed by a cold front on Sunday evening, I decided to get in a walk so you all could enjoy what might be our last taste of Autumn this year.

Temps were in the low 70s (!) on Sunday, but fell to the 40s overnight. And while this hasn’t been the prettiest Fall we’ve had, it’s had its beauty. Take a look and see if you agree:

Maple turning shades of yellow

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Happy Halloween 2017

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The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler, English author

Seriously, Mama? Domer’s Karate Kid outfit?

This is the best you can come up with for my Trick or Treating costume?

Okay, fine. Now bring on the cookies!