Tag: photo

Winter’s Joy

Lately I’m struggling a bit with inspiration. Could be the weather, could be the new meds. So I’m grabbing some December Prompts from my prompt jar just to see what happens.

Today’s Prompt: What Joy Means to Me

“Joy is what happens when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are” ~Marianne Williamson

Winter Joy

Winter mornings with cerulean skies
reflected on the snow and ice
creates a blue tinged aurora
while acres of diamonds
glint in the sunshine
my breath creates little puffs
of fog in the frigid air
and my face tingles
with snowflake kisses
Inside hot tea, biscuits and
a fire in the hearth lie waiting
to warm the cockles of my heart
I find a blissful joy in Winter
the sparkling beauty of nature
the coziness of home and hearth
Winter and Joy walk hand in hand
as Mother Nature sleeps
I slow down and recognize
how joyful life can be when
we stop and look around

Til next time ~Stop, look around, and be amazed ~JP

Morning – a Stream of Consciousness Poem

Linda’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt this week:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “morning.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Morning

I sit in the early morning light
of a cloudless sky just before
the sun begins to rise
watching the peculiar gray
give way to lighter blue
I am struck with awe
nearly brought to my knees
by the overwhelming sense
of gratitude
and I whisper my prayer
to the morning light
“Thank you”

BIKFOK (butt in chair fingers on keyboard) – 17 min

Til next time ~Peace ~JP

Walkabout Wednesday – A Day Without a Night

“As long as there is day and night. But three days hence, in Aquila, there will be a day without a night and a night without a day.” ~Imperius from the movie “Ladyhawke”

Our Sunday Stills prompt this week is “fleeting moments” and while I could certainly wax rhapsodic about the fleeting moments of life or love, I thought instead I’d take you on a walkabout through the photo archives of solar eclipses.

Here’s a shot from the 2017 total solar eclipse. The partially blocked sunlight creates interesting shadow patterns through the leaves. I was recovering from knee replacement and this was the best shot I got of the historic event ;-p

2012 solar eclipse – Southern Utah

A similar phenomenon from the 2012 annular eclipse. Annular eclipses are similar to total eclipses but leave a “ring of fire” as the moon passes in front of the sun.

2012 solar eclipse twilight

You can just make out the nose of that AWESOME Minnie Winnie as the light begins to fade to darkness. A day without a night.

2012 solar eclipse

and a night without a day, as the moon covers more and more of the sun’s light.

The next annular solar eclipse visible over the U.S. is due October 14, 2023, until then something to ponder “Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?” ~Neil Gaiman

Til next time ~Stay trippy hippies ~JP

Silent Sunday – Chose to Chance the Rapids

rafting on the Animas River in Colorado

“Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
‘Til what we put off ’til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don’t you sit upon the shoreline
And say you’re satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide…yes”

Inspired by Marsha’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday #29 – Rivers

Til next time ~Dare to Dance ~JP

I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts and an FOTD

We’re in a heat advisory here in the Bluegrass. Temps in the 90’s and high humidity create a heat index of 109 and chances of heat illness are much higher. The air outside is sticky and it’s like breathing through a wet sponge. People with chronic illness or over 65 are requested to stay in air conditioned areas as much as possible so we’re inside our nice cool little town home with the shades drawn (to block sun heat), the air conditioner running, and cool beverages consumed.

Although we generally consume tea and water until this passes we’ll be adding in the electrolyte balancing coconut water, which got me to thinking about well – coconuts, and of course, that led me to Hawaii and this shot of a coconut palm near our hotel. Ahhhh…. the thirst quenching goodness of a just popped coconut. In Kauai they keep young green coconuts in a bin of ice, you purchase one, they lop off the top, dig out the plug and stick in a straw. Voila, instant health food. High in potassium and antioxidants, coconut water is an extremely hydrating beverage brimming with electrolytes. No fat, no sugar and cholesterol free, coconut water offers more potassium than four bananas. The coconut’s sweet, nutty taste makes the water quite refreshing, plus it is great for replacing lost fluids. So here’s to you *raising a young green coconut in salute*.

Coconuts on the tree on the Island of Kauai

“I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts
There they are, all standing in a row
Big ones, small ones, some as big as your head
Give them a twist a flick of the wrist
That’s what the showman said”

~Fred Heatherton

Challenge Prompts:

Cee’s FOTD
Marsha’s WQW prompt “Water: oceans or lakes”

Til next time ~Stay safe, stay sane, stay hydrated ~JP

Something Wild — PPAC # 36 and Weekend Coffee Share

Shared with Marsha’s PPAC#36 at alwayswrite Wild Animals in Public, I can do that! Let’s dig into the archives and see what kind of public art I can come up with.

The extinct Moa bird in Queenstown, NZ

Greetings at TaoYuan Airport, Taipei Taiwan

Wood carving from Deadwood, South Dakota

Dragon waterspout at Kurama-dera Kyoto Japan

Tribute to the Omarama Rams and their beautiful merino wool.

Also shared at Natalie the Explorer’s weekend coffee share

If we were having coffee this weekend, I’d tell you that it feels kind of odd to not be traveling. It’s been years since I’ve done much international travel. I’m making the transition from “world wanderer” to “retirement living” it’s wonderfully relaxing, albiet sometimes a little on the tame side. But I’ve taken up new activities including new on-line classes and art projects, reviving my yoga practice. I’d ask about your world and what’s new in the blogosphere. 🙂

til next time ~Peace ~JP