• desert,  landscape,  mountains,  quotes,  sunrises

    Predawn Sky

    Predawn sky along Peralta Trail from August 2012

    Violence is what happens when we don’t know what else to do with our suffering.

    Parker J. Palmer

    My sister Sheree and I arrived home about 1:15 pm yesterday afternoon. We left on Tuesday morning, stayed the night in Raton, New Mexico then finished the trip yesterday. It was a good day of travel. We had a near miss with a deer just outside of Raton, New Mexico yesterday morning and then one driver almost swerved into us somewhere in Denver a few hours later. Seems road construction was/is everywhere! Both of us were tired by the time we got home. My sisters keep different hours than I do, staying up later but on this trip I did also. So I was even more tired. I emptied the car, unpacked everything and then sat for some meditation and quiet. I slept in this morning. In spite of the fatigue, I had a wonderful time with my family.

    It’s been a cloudy and cool with a 40% possibility for rain. Because of the possibility for rain I drove to coffee this morning. At the present time the possibility of rain has been about 23 1/2 drops of rain. Well, maybe 25. Guess I need to dance faster. The gray skies offered a day to relax, journal, and read. I have also been going through some of the things belonging to mom and dad that we brought back. I have already discovered some jewels and shed a few tears. All good stuff! I still pray for the end of violence!

  • Family,  flowers,  gratitude,  love

    Thank you!

    Flowers from Christine and Cody on my dad’s casket

    I dropped off both Monica and Sheree and was home by 8 pm last night. It was a good trip with lots of car time that offer good conversation time. We left early Tuesday morning and had a wonderful family gathering on Tuesday evening with lots of sharing of memories with cousins. We had dad’s Celebration of Life on Wednesday morning at the gravesite where we had warm sunshine, more sharing and our shared tears mixed with laughter. I would like to thank everyone for all your thoughts and prayers you may have offered up for my family.

  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  quotes,  reflections

    You’ll learn things you never knew…

    Beaver Pond at Arapaho Bend Natural Area

    “But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
    You’ll learn things you never knew, you never knew.”

    Lyrics from Colors of the Wind

    Yesterday I came across a song from Pocahontas called Colors of the Wind. I discovered a flutist playing the song and liked it. So I searched for copies of the music, thinking I’d like to learn to play it. I downloaded a copy of the music which also had the lyrics. I have heard the song before but never seen the movie. I was surprised how the lyrics impacted me. I began to cry because it hits home to the arrogance and contempt of much of the world, and especially in this country. I have continued to be emotional today, partly because the lyrics explain so much of our troubled world but also because there has been a lot of loss in my circle of friends and family lately. I am now inspired to really learn the song on my flute. Even if you’ve heard the song before I suggest you listen to the song. And I hope you had a wonderful day.

  • flowers,  haiku,  Plants,  Uncategorized,  writing/reading

    Tears of Joy

    like tears of joy
    dewdrops cling to petals
    nature at its best

    ms

    A fog sits in the low lying areas and along the pond this morning. Almost expected after two days of clouds and intermittent light rain. Sunshine and clear skies have begun to dominate the day. Laundry is started, one of those much needed domestic routines. Couldn’t help but notice one the last hibiscus flowers for this year coated in tears of joy and thanksgiving after the rain. Happy Friday!

  • Family,  lifestyles

    Saying Goodbye

    I’m in Phoenix. They put my mother in hospice on Wednesday so my sister and I flew down on Thursday. She is hardly eating and drinking. Getting weaker, sleeping a lot. In moments of awareness she tells us she loves us. All four of us kids are with her and dad. This image is my dad holding her hand. We are each saying our goodbyes.