A "Little" Novel

This falls right in line w/my love for 'little' books. I have enough 'little' inspirational books to open my own little store.

So imagine how I collapsed when I saw this at the library. It's called a "Playaway." How cool is it, really? Since I've been addicted to audio book driving to/fro to work, I might as well listen to a book while I do dishes & other exciting shit like that.

I haven't been able to focus enough to read a book in a while now. I keep checking them out - I still haven't touched the FOUR I bought from the book club. Am I part of the 'rushed' world where 1 of my favorite past times gets inched out in favor of the electronic?

Is this another part of 'inching out' books in favor of the Kindle's, Nooks & eBooks?
Sigh... it's looking that way.


But anyway, isn't this nice how you just plug in your own headphones & off to storyland? They even supply the AAA battery for you.

I got a different one, too, in case I breezed through this one. I'll keep you posted.

"Happy listening," indeed :-)

Soulful Surroundings

“Architecture, of all the arts, is the one which acts the most slowly, but the most surely, on the soul” Ernest Dimnet

I took these pictures back in August during a self-imposed photo walk. it was a BEE-U-T-FUL evening for it. The church is the fantastic St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. We have quite a few very historical, ornate churches in the City. Hmm.... I think I just sparked a photo project... (wheels turning). The carvings & details amaze me.

Otherwise, I got a few more things for Thanksgiving dinner. So much smarter than waiting till the last minute. I feel a little self-conscious when I 'entertain' @ my house - I'm always seeing what's 'wrong' with my place as opposed to just enjoying inviting folks over.

At the last minute, I also decided to send out Thanksgiving cards. I usually don't do that, but buying one for a friend lead to buying one for all. Just as I finished a batch, the mailman came, so I was able to get those right out the door.

I'm truly thinking of sending a random card to my neighbor whom I haven't spoken to in nearly three years. She is an old crab (LOL!), but I don't like not being neighborly. You know, that whole 'love they neighbor" thing....

Pictures by: me :-<>

"Quiet Signs" Friday

“Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it. - Amir”

Happy Quiet Friday, friends. Have safe, warm, blessed, peaceful, restful weekends filled with love :-)

Pictures by: me ;->

Thankful Thursday

11/15/11 "398" Photo submission

Good morning & Good Thankful Thursday. To think, this time next week, we'll be up to our necks in delicious food, surrounded by loved ones & blessings!! Time is flying by so quickly, I can barely keep up!!

Today's thanks: I don't have a list or anything, but I am thankful for the overall joy I am feeling today. I don't know why I am feeling like this, but I'm glad I do. I feel happy in my heart, mindful of others, friendly, and kind. It could be that instead of getting online with my coffee this morning, I chose to have meditation in the Word.

It clearly is the way to start the day. :-) See ya next time & stay thankful & blessed.

Think quick

The day was getting away from me & I didn't have anything to submit to the "398" photo challenge in my county. But at the last minute, I thought of this little spot that I drive past every day. I left work early so I could catch the daylight since it now gets dark at "after work '0 thirty." (it amazes me that I wanted to leave for that reason - the light. Hmm.... & also, Son had basketball practice & he needed dinner first).

I already have another thought of what to shoot for submission tomorrow. I love how this challenge makes my brain work constantly. I am forced to think ahead as the rules are: use only photos taken THEE day of submission.

The world is a photo! :-)

The Good Life

This is karma; I was having this very thought all day today, and here it is.

Since today I was blessed with:

• waking to good coffee, then having super early energy
• making pancakes & bacon (the official weekend breakfast)
• thoroughly having the dreaded bathroom cleaned by 10:15 a.M.
• and the kitchen, by 11:30
• and 1/2 the laundry by 1:00
• spending a couple of hours w/mom & sis, Paulette (SURPRISE!!) hitting up the craft & junk stores
• "D" working 11 hours today leaving me blissfully alone
  
• finding "Pumpkin Spice" incense
• cooking a damn fine pork roast w/garden rosemary, tiny onions & balsamic vinegar
• listening to LOUD hours of Pandora radio w/the football game on "mute"
• having a heart-to-heart talk w/my son, the peaceful angel, on the shitty subject of "bullying" (mama hairs' raising!!! Grrr.....)
• grabbing the camera & appreciating the sunset

... I can say Life Is Good!

Pictures by: me :-)
Sunday Scribbling word prompt: "life is good."

"Quiet Signs" Friday (with words)

Happy Friday, all! It's getting really chilly here in our corner of the world, but the weatherman promised next week, we'll have a couple of days of 60 degree weather. With the weather change, and now the time change, it really makes me want to stay inside and bake.

I made this creation out of the 'red leaf & berry' bush outside the door here @ the office. Creative, no? I call it "leaf love." :-)

The bug you see here followed me inside; don't know where he came from, but he landed on my desk. I had to take a pic of him resting before I shooed him away (... okay, truthfully, I smashed him. I tried 'shooing' but he was resisting so.... sorry, bug lovers!)

This is the how the skies look at about 6:00 a.m. since the time change. I love watching the sky how the sun battles for space, but the clouds usually win.

And lastly, the church photo is of St. George's Serbian Orthodox Church. I've entered the "398 - 11/11/11 thru 12/12/12" photo contest to submit a photo per day. Only photos can be submitted that were shot the same day. Dammit!!, cause I have a ton from the past couple of months that I would've loved to use, but rules are rules. After I submitted, the website sent me a big thank you - I was the "first person to get the contest rolling!!"

Yay, me! Happy Friday. Safe, warm, blessed weekends to all of you :-)

Pictures by: me :-}

Thankful Thursday

Good afternoon - another day to be thankful. Things I'm giving thanks for:

• Thursday lunches w/mom. Who gets a chance to laugh for sixty minutes in the middle of the day, then get a hug from your mom?
• For God working out a financial situation in his own way; in his own time. A lesson in trusting in my faith that I need to constantly practice.
• My 10-year old great nephew in Florida telling me the cards I send him "makes him teary!" (lol! he's quite mature for 10 years)
• The four weeks of vacation I now have after 10 years of service here @ work. I'm wanting to really make my dream of visiting the Coastal Islands of George a dream come true. Plan, save, DO!
• That my boss was able to laugh & come closer to closure on the anniversary of her son's death (yes - it has been a year since my buddy, Patrick, died. Time flies, wounds heal, memories stay embedded in our hears forever)
• The excitement my 2 dogs display when I as much as walk in the room. Now THAT's some real, true love. Thanks, boys :-)
• That I made the decision to put my self-worth above a matter of the heart (yay, me!)
• And lastly, I'm thankful I have my camera so I can continue to share the beauty around me with everyone!

And that's all I have for now off the top of my head. Have a good evening and stay thankful, always!

Pictures by me (taken in the last 2 weeks) :-}

An Uncelebrated Day

Good Sunday, all. Peace & blessings.

Yesterday was Son's 24th birthday. Like all birthdays prior to this, there was no celebration. With his autism, any type of attention focused on him is all for naught. His shyness won't allow the "happy birthday" song to be sung.

He never asks for anything but the necessities. I've tried over the years to make his day special, but there is no participation from him. I offer to go the movies, out to dinner - all to no avail. So Friday night when it hit me that Saturday would be his birthday, I felt kinda empty. I didn't have anything prepared or planned because, well, he simply doesn't want that.

He is unable to read, so cards are fruitless. He got one card that his co-workers made for him. I, myself, am the one who insisted that he at least let it stand on his dresser for the day. This morning, it was in his trashcan. When I asked why, he said 'because it's over now."

So, now he's a year older, hopefully a litter wiser, while he walks into an adulthood that he is totally unaware of with me as his "link" to the world (the counselors say). It makes me a little sad that such a wonderful person goes uncelebrated, but I guess in perspective, it's really not a big deal.

If it isn't a big deal for him, than I can't make it a big deal for myself. Happy Birthday, Son.

Exhale.

Quiet Signs Friday

Happy Friday All! These shots were taken @ my second home (the park near my house) @ "the blue hour" (one hour before/after sunset). We're still enjoying the fall weather so I try to take advantage every chance I get.

On this Quiet Signs Friday, I quietly reflect in prayer for : Cassie, Theresa Mayes, Elaine Doll, Marcy the Artist, Shawn West, Nancy Martin (can't believe Pat's been gone a year already), you that are reading this, my family & friends.

Amen. :-)

Thankful Thursday

Good day, all. Happy Thankful Thursday!! Suffering from "life burnout", but all the same, I'm thankful for the colors that came with sunrise on the trees. We're in the gold & red stage that happens before all leaves are gone for good. I'm gonna miss 'em, until next Spring.

That's about all I can muster today. Blessings. :-)