Lights of All Kinds

 Off I went to the bridge...

There was a family at the bridge, taking a Family Photo. A large family: grandparents, parents 3 teenaged grandchildren...then the rest of the family arrived: more parents, more grandchildren (younger, maybe 4 & 6 years old). All of them in black and deep wine, hair and makeup done. Chattering, smiling...talking to the photographer.

It was such a delightful thing to see.

There were so many out on a Saturday afternoon, including many bike riders. After hearing a strange sound over the river...a noise louder that the singing toads...I notice a drone flying around. I never did see the operators, but that thing seemed to have the same plans as I did. Mmm...

Later, closer to home, there was a beautiful sundog. It was long enough to read as part of a rainbow. My photos don't do it justice.

*NOTE: All of the strange floating things on the photos are the result of an old camera lens.

I played around with the first sun pic when I uploaded it into my computer. Isn't that fun? A big fiery sun!

At day's end, after lighting the menorah, I thought a photo would be nice. I took one with the flash and not liking it much, I took another without the flash. 

When I took the second pic, I tried to hold my hand very still (impossible to do)...and look what I got...now, this is a message of Love if ever I saw one! Isn't that grand?!

How do you see an average day? Is it really average?

May you seek the light

May you bathe in the light

May you be the light to yourself and others

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2024 

#goodenough

A Day of Waiting

 Gathered together

Small groups of two and large groups of so many

We wait

A thin layer of clouds, shields those below, including me.

Today...my perspective was from the back side of our building...on the other side of chainlink fencing and cinderblock walls...the sky remains, power lines remain. Sky - power...

As we wait, the world carries on...the flowers bloom, the bees buzz...folks go about their business. Everyone I know has voted, but I know across the land many are out there today voting for a better America. Voting for our futures. Voting for ourselves and one another.

May better days come quickly.

May you accept the waiting

May you accept the shield

May you accept your own power

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2024 

Finding Beauty

 ~ → ~  ~ → ~  ~ → ~  ~ → ~ →

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

I finished "From the Mixed Up Files..."...a book I hadn't read since I was in grade school! I even found a desk name tag and a note in it from when my daughter had a turn reading it.  I remembered the basic outline of the book and the fact that my absolutely best girlfriend and I loved this book so much. We wanted to hide out somewhere and solve some grand mysteries. haha

I am part way through "Dr. Doolittle", which I very little actual recall about...except the memory that I loved it as a kid, wanted to have a zillion animals too and the fact that I learned to play "If I Could Talk to the Animals" on the xylophone in 4th grade summer music class - which is also where a I met a new friend, who would go on to become one of my best friends all of the way through college. Who knew that standing side by side, playing that song who become so much more.

On this day, Wednesday, there was so much beauty in the prickly!

And on that same day and the days following...there has been much beauty in the light as well.

The rock rose below was fairly glowing, it shone so brightly in the afternoon sun.

Along with the prickly and the light, there was much beauty to be found in the very well watered, sunlit greenery!

This week I broke into my big bag of old jeans. They've been too small for a long, long while. But, many of you may agree that jeans shopping is not as easy as it was when younger! So I kept them.

Now, they all fit again. A couple of the pairs had holes in the knees, which could be left alone or mended. I plan to mend them. I pulled out my Deb fabric and threads. Some choices will be made. Since it is knees on jeans being patched, I pulled out the fabrics that seemed the most sturdy. I'm considering more stitches than needed to just hold patches in place. I'm also considering leaving the pieces as is, in their organic, came this way to me shapes. I'd like to sew the edges in Liz's oft used herringbone stitch, as I like how secure and dense the stitches are. However, I hesitate learning it in this tight space. We'll see.

Back in 2013, I posted my jeans patch and the charming comment from a toddler. I patched from the inside that time. 🙂 

NOTE~ It was interesting in that 2013 post I was whining about my computer functioning. While today, I intended to add a note here about the odd happening I noticed the other day. When checking for any new comments, not gone through correctly and landing in Spam. I found a handful of them, where I usually find none. I think they have all already been published, as they go back years. How odd. Anyway, I'll hit publish, but most likely will not go back in time to find them and post answers (if I haven't already). We can just move forward, yes? Just, please know how much I try to answer the comments that folks take the time to place here. You are important to me.

May beauty show you the way

May  all of your choices be worthwhile

May you shine

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2023

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2023

December 21, 2022

 

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Today is a good day to Solstice, to feel the light...

to celebrate...to pause in gratitude

🕯️

* tonight would have held a Circle of Friends candle photo and the lit Menorah in the same photographic frame. But, alas, we were too tired to light either, so we rest in the memory of that light and look towards tomorrow. Perhaps a silly post for this day, but a marker post felt needed.

🕎

May we hold the light, together

May we move through the darkness, together

May we be together

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2022

December Heads to a Close

Here we are, now, heading to the close of December and the year of 2022.

Hard to believe.

~~~~~

LINK

I start with the unfortunate passing of SoCal's beloved P-22. After the many news reports the last week or so, one could only guess that something was not right with this big cat. While, I may fear meeting one on a hike around here, P-22 has been loved from a distance. An old man of 10. You can read more HERE.

Goodnight P-22, rest well.

~~~~~

This bare-bones tree, near our local community college, is a favorite of mine. Every time I go past, I look for the resident Hawk. He was there on this day, so I stopped for some photos.

One of those moments when I wish for a really good camera!

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I've been out and about at different times and places recently, which allows me new looking in different light and time to pull over for photos. Can't complain about that! This is why after so many years, I could finally capture the Hawk (above). Or this 'cowboy' - which I pass every commute day. I can't tell you how many double takes I've done at 40MPH, thinking he was real! haha

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The morning light continues to hold my heart and my imagination.

Driving towards the light

Yesterday there were watercolor clouds

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12/13/2022: In the First Two Hours

Out front: Hawk calling, evades being spotted

Murder of crows circle in ring-around-the-rosies nearby

Agitated by the Hawk? Perhaps

Few miles away, another Hawk sits motionless, for an extended period

Walking out of building, flock of ducks flew low overhead, quacking, stripes on necks clearly visible

Man in waiting area wore sad clown face mask, red nose included

Blood pressure, fine

12/13/2022: Next

Questions come

Answers will come soon enough

I will "live the questions"

~~~~~

Dear Friend of the Perfect Books, also sent a perfect sticker.

I placed it on my computer to see it daily.

I like how 'Hope' is held in light in this photo.

Thanks friend

~~~~~

12/15: Trust Time Thursday

Focus would not come

Mind in circles

Thought: Is trust circular in nature?

Conclude: Isn't everything a circle?

Watched leaves fall through an oversized window

Looked at lines, reflections, patterns...

Forgot to consider 'Faith'.

Later I heard this song, actually an even faster version, which I can't seem to find. Anyway, an old song, more religious than I, but with lines that still speak to all. There are many versions, even acoustic. But, that super fast part I'd hear had me wondering what it would be like if auctioneers sang!

LINK

I bought myself a treat yesterday. I spiral datebook for 2023 and a two section spiral notebook.

They will be good companions to my free Hallmark calendar, which I've already picked up of course.

I like that it looks like cloth Glennis would make 🙂

I also like that it has big boxes for the dates and also big spaces for the weekly days pages and then room for 'notes' too. Lots of space to write, draw and keep information all in one place. Now I have to remember to use it and not scraps of paper or the backs of envelopes!! haha

Today the treat will be new pajamas of some sort. It's been years! lol

~~~~

I already did some doodling yesterday...

😁

Today we look at our 'jungle' noticing how huge the plants have become. We joke that they'll find us one day in here, suffocated - strangled by houseplants!! haha

May you have what you need or the ability to get it

May you enjoy what you have

May your needs be simple and good

xo

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2022

Pondering

 

Last Sunday morning, the Hawks call me out onto the patio, the light on the tree has me stay a bit.

~~~~~

Sun, always the sun - or so it seems.

Next 10 days predicted to be in the 80's. So cooler for sure, but still hot. Our apartment stays between 80-83 at all times.  Just HOT. I remember years back, how I used to joke with a friend how it is "always 80 something" - now 80 is a cooling spell. sigh

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Trust Time Anytime

SUNDAY 10-9-2022: J. watching The Addams Family. when Morticia says, "Trust me Gomez". My ears perk up and I think: There's that word again! Then I think: If one prefaces something with trust me, "you can trust me..." - you can pretty well be sure they are not to be trusted! Ha.

~~~~~

Thursday:

So, trust...the phrase 'trust and abandonment go hand in hand' comes to me whole.

I ponder it. I ponder another spontaneous thought that one has to 'trust others to do it right'...I ponder that too. What is right anyway? So are we back to trust and control? Is there only right and wrong? 

Then comes: trust = relax ...and more pondering

As I drive I consider how I usually begin my TT on the Canyon Road...to the Road that Wraps Around the Mountain...to the Over Road...to the top (North) of the street corner with the Long View. I usually end when I've move a mile or so down that road and begin to drive through more 'civilization' (as I consider it). I consider how it may not be 7am, so at my own time & place..and pace. I consider how because of my drive "trust becomes a distance". It becomes a distance, not a time.

And lastly comes: "trust & healing" - so there's that.

and that can be a long road.

~~~~~

This was in author Katherine Center's 3 Good Things email newsletter.

Enjoy!

LINK

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At the "man's shrine hill used to be"  - "trash" corner, the couch someone slept on, now tagged.

Observations

There is a man with matted and coarse and wild brown-gray hair, who sits in his wheelchair in front of the church a few doors up. Sometimes he sits at the first corner, on the side of the street - in the dirt. He sits in his chair, his plastic grocery-type bags beside him...talking to no one seen. There seems to be a lot of that these days. Anyway, there he is in his chair as I head out to work or come home late in the evening after my workday. One time J. waved at him. He flipped J. off in return. These are the days of now. Going nowhere.

I saw a large wooly human walking down the road, wearing clothes of brown - hair covers face almost entirely...head tipped to the far left - ear on shoulder. Teeny, close together steps. Eyes blank. Moving forward.

Man in soft, baggy clothing shuffle steps down the sidewalk. He pauses to look at...something, before shuffling some more. After several steps his tiny steps become a trot...a small stepped, shuffling trot. Moving forward.

~~~~~

To the left of the couch, across the driveway, this photo shows the group of men that come every morning to sit in the parking lot and hang out, talking, whatever. You can just see them there by the truck. I wonder who they are and how this corner became the meeting place.

~~~~~

Still thinking about words. Still thinking about "once". Went looking for other choices of "once" words to use and found lots of language to play with (in the link above). Nice, a little word play.

~~~~~

Sing it out, sing it loud!

FREEDOM'S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE!!

LINK

Morning Crow

~~~~~

It took me some time to recall enough about Grace's often used phrase no te rindas to look it up and recall the meaning (which I had gone totally blank on!). I finally found it and added bonus - got to hear it too!

Don't Give Up

I wrote it in Spanish on my arm last Friday to help me remember it.

No te rindas

The thing about writing something on your hand/arm is that it washes off and you can write at will, depending on your mood! Isn't that grand?!

~~~~~

Lunch break, looking at the trees again...what is this white part? Mmm...

Long view and close ups are below.

~~~~~

Things I question. Is the above sign appropriate for a senior building?

Is the below label enough to scare you off of this treat?

~~~~

Friday I watched a very large hawk land on the top of a power pole. It immediately hunched forward, eyes down looking for prey. I drove on and drew it later. I drew a Volcano too, but did not get a good enough picture of it. It was titled: Volcano Life.

I made notes about the most recent 'church signs'. I always wonder what direction the sermon is going to take with each one of these signs.  It is all a mystery to me!

~~~~~

Almost last thing...I told J. the story of seeing this movie as a kid and how thrilling it was to see all of my neighborhood streets on TV! Even though it was supposed to depict a cross country trip, it was all filmed close to my apartment building. It is an odd movie to say the least. Even odder is I read about it (see link below) and discovered that it was Sally Fields as the lead and Linda Ronstadt singing the title song. Who knew? It was interesting to watch it again as an adult. Putting it here to remember, watch if you wish.

READ HERE

It ended up not being super hot this week and Cooling Off today!! Cool enough to want socks on. So I wore my Alaska Wolf/Moose socks. The thin, colorful, comfort of this thrilled me way more than one would guess. The toes look like Jude's "B"!! Don't you love simple pleasures?

~~~~~

I close with words not my own this time, but heartfelt just the same...

xo

May you always have
Walls for the Wind, 
A roof for the rain, 
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you, 
And all your heart might desire
~ An Irish Blessing

Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2022