Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day. ~Michael Josephson, former law professor and attorney
Another year gone
Twelve months in front of us all
Time to get it right
Category Archives: Seasonal
Nearly Wordless Wednesday
One kind word can warm three winter months. ~Japanese Proverb
Snow outlining maple tree
A snow-covered bush
More snow-covered bushes
This is an outdoor fireplace. I like the way the snow outlines the bricks.
Icicles dripping off a roof line.
Snow, snow … everywhere you look.
Last Leaf Hanging
Sometimes even to live is an act of courage. ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, and dramatist
Buffeted by winds,
Rain, sleet, snow, and loneliness.
Tenacious last leaf.
Wordless Wednesday
Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way. ~American Indian saying
Fall, Before It’s Over
Fall colors…. so bright and intense and beautiful. It’s like nature is trying to fill you up with color, to saturate you so you can stockpile it before winter turns everything muted and dreary. ~Siobhan Vivian, bestselling American novelist
The estimated peak time for Fall color in Central Illinois is mid-October, but I’ve found that estimate to be off by a bit this year.
Still, all one has to do is get outside — regardless of cold, rain, and the urge to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate! — and the trees are ready to strut their stuff. Take a look and enjoy!
A Rainy Saturday
The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet
Cold and rainy day
Good for cleaning out closets
Or taking a nap.
Note: No, I didn’t take a snooze. In fact, I was a whirling tornado, tackling some cleaning chores too long put off. I cleared away clutter; made stacks to be shredded, stacks to donate to charity, and stacks to be trashed; and I used Monday morning to parcel out my handiwork. I can see this is the tip of the iceberg, but already I feel amazingly free! Eliminating clutter is one of the principles of Feng Shui (the Chinese art of placement to harmonize individuals with their environment).
Walktober 2019
We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise our spirits by deep breathing in the open air. ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman Stoic philosopher and statesman
As the days get shorter and the humidity finally breaks, it comes time for the annual Walktober, a virtual group walk organized by Robin of Breezes at Dawn.
The dates for this year’s walk are Oct. 6-19, and the “rules” are simple: take a walk, post about what you see, include some pretty pictures, and link to Robin, who will round up the links so we can all visit each other’s blogs and enjoy walking together.
Let’s go!
This year (because the trees aren’t cooperating with Fall color), I’m taking you to Arthur, Illinois (the Heart of Amish Country), to visit The Great Pumpkin Patch, a working farm owned by the McDonald family who immigrated from Scotland in the mid-1800s. Six generations later (150 years!), it’s evolved into a business of commercial pumpkin production and the preservation of rare gourd seeds.
If you love pumpkins as much as I do, prepare to be amazed!
Pumpkins … rows and rows of pumpkins
Signs of Fall
Webs.
Silent
Like dew drops
Dotting my bush
And letting me know
The spiders were busy
During the night as I slept
Creating works that would rival
Some pieces that are in museums.
Silken treasures that speak softly of Fall.
Note: This poetic form is an Etheree, a 10-line poem that starts with one syllable and adds a syllable in each succeeding line until there’s a total of 55 syllables. It can go from one to ten or in reverse from ten down to one, or can even double up and down both ways. I had to challenge myself to write one since my friend Linda writes some beauties!
P.S. My son Domer will be home next week, so I’ll be playing hooky from the blog. I’ll try to catch up with all of you when I return. Don’t start October without me!
My Butterfly Magnet
May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish blessing
Last year, a friend gifted me a couple of stalks of something I researched and learned was Sedum.
Someone had given a bunch to her, and she had no clue what it was. Just that it was easy to grow, even for a person without a green thumb.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Sedum, here’s some in bloom this year at one of our parks:
New Day
Morning Glory vine
Greets each day with regal hue
Eliciting smiles.
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 