In the Bleak Mid-Winter: Music by James Taylor, Images by Me

"In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,  earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;  snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,  i…

Joy

The songs of the holiday season has always been a big part of the memories I hold dear of Christmas. I remember hearing songs on Christmas specials …

Christmas Cookie Exchange and a Keeper from the Recipe Box

I first posted this December 8th, 2007 on this blog. It is about memories of a cookie exchange. I will make these yummy cookies again this year. Chri…

Christmas Memories: Look Alike Nightgowns

As I prepare for the Christmas season I am flooded with memories of holiday seasons past. This month I am going to reflect on those memories and cap…

Thanks to John Updike

This poem spoke to me today about how moving into winter does represent a certain sense of loss. He also referred to the beauty of the bones of the g…

Moving Into Winter

Our seasons have a natural rhythm that is determined more by temperature, length of days, and precipitation than the dates on a traditional calendar…

Leaves and More Leaves

After our short visit with snow the leaves reemerged with their mix of autumn colors. I even discovered a rose still blooming. We may move leaves of…

Kindness

I love poetry and often return to those poems that have stayed with me for a long time. "Kindness' is one of those poems. I had a very upse…

Beauty of North Central Washington

I think where I live is one of the most beautiful corners of the state. We just returned from the Methow Valley in north central Washington state. It…

Simplicity of Nature

Even though the walk took me a longer time this morning, I decided to really concentrate on the small things of beauty as I walked with my husband a…

Time to Retreat

We work at trying to build some time away from home throughout the year to give us time to relax, refresh, and retreat. We try to go somewhere close…

A Nation's Strength

Such a powerful poem for today. A Nation's Strength by  Ralph Waldo Emerson What makes a nation's pillars high And it's foundations strong? W…

A House Divided

When  I met my husband I was smitten. He fixed my gate. He brought me roses and iris plants from a  construction site to replant in my garden. He li…

Part of the Fun is the Planning

I always enjoy planning Thanksgiving. Sometimes family has come to my house and as a group we have put together a fantastic feast. A few years mostl…

A Gift Outright

Today I am thankful that I live in a place that is free. I am provided with opportunities to explore the vast land any time I want. That is a gift o…

Remembering With My Camera

Today I am thankful for my digital camera. I am on my third one and these cameras have helped me create a visual timeline of my life the last few ye…

Thankful for Friday

It has been a hectic, crazy, busy month. I am thankful to have a job that I love, but today I am thankful for Friday with a short day at school and …

Thankful

Today I am thankful for the beautiful corner of Washington state where I live. Today sunshine, mist, and a rainbow.

Good-bye October

It must have been the combination of sunshine, clouds, rain, lack of rain, barometric pressure, lining up of planets, fog, and harvest moons that cr…