The Art of Relaxation, SoCS

Max n Mimi 2 (2)

Good day. My name is Mimi and this other…’doginthehouse’ is Max, he lives downstairs. Do excuse his goofy look, he can’t help it, he is a basset. The humans think he is adorable…whatever.

Due to my human’s excessively busy schedule this summer, she has totally forgotten how to relax so when she saw what the prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday by Linda Hill was, she went straight to the back of the house and became unconscious for awhile. The theme of the Saturday prompt seems to have something to do with being conscious, so my goal is to give you proper instructions on the art of relaxation while remaining to be conscious at the same time…at least most of the time.

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To start you day off right, you need to relax with the morning sun shining to warm your coat and get your blood pumping. This is especially important in the winter months. Max doesn’t care much for the bright morning light but his large ears are useful in hiding his eyes while he himself, looks relatively unconscious.

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As the day goes, the sofa is a favorite place for comfort while allowing you to be ready for the occasion protection mode you may need to get in.

On those really hot days, there is almost no way to cool so you just have to get by yourself and do the best you can.

In the winter, the sofa where mom had been sitting is the best, still warm. Good for snuggling down.

But I guess if you have had a really tough day, being unconscious is always a option if there is not other way for recharging.

We hope you enjoyed our instructions on the proper way to relax. Have a safe and blessed day.

Oh, and always, always remember smile and to be kind as much as possible.

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Wall Beautification, TPC

I love how it has become so acceptable to turn old city building walls into works of art. One day this fall, when it cools a bit, I am going to take a walking tour to find as many as I can in our area. This weeks photo challenge from JansenPhoto was Wall so I went in the direction of refurbished walls.

The wall below is a newer street art on a local bar at one of the busiest sections of the street near the bridge. I wish I had taken a picture before and after because the wall was in bad need of painting. Well they painted it and the likeness for nighttime view is pretty close.

Pub Wall

I saw a few weeks ago a brand new one starting up right downtown on the back wall of the symphony practice building and I thought how very appropriate. It is being done by the Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Artist. It is not fully complete but I thought I would share so you really appreciate it when it is complete and I will repost it.

Symphony Wall

Art is a major form of creative passion and there are many forms that can be created from music, painting, photography, sculpting, writing, cooking, gardening… I could go on forever. Art is anything thing that is created by one person for others to enjoy. Think about the master creative artist…God, who gives out these gifts of creative arts because of his passion for creating. He created us and he wants us to share in his passion. So we should all enjoy these wonderful gifts and use them to encourage others to be happy and kind and to brings smile to all.

So remember to smile, be kind and enjoy all the beauty of creation and the art of those who enjoy creating art.

artflower — SHARE YOUR GIFT THROUGH KINDNESS

Busy Week, but Still in the Pink

Boy this week has been busy and next week…I don’t want to think about it. What happened to slowing down when you retire??? But at least I am doing things that are fun, guess that is the trade off.

This week’s prompt from Nancy Merrill is Shades of Pink, and finally my Lantana is starting to bloom. They need summer warmth and it was slow coming this year. Also with Cee’s Flower of the Day, I can hit two wonderful challenges at the same time.

I do enjoy all of you who gives us fun challenges with a camera – my goal is a real camera soon. The phone does okay but I really miss good shots of my birds.

As we enjoy being in the Pink, remember to always reflect the kindness you feel, so they can be in the pink as well.

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Trust, Obey and Enjoy

My morning devotion spoke to me today and so I am sharing my thoughts with you. When God was first laying down the foundational rules in Exodus, he told the people he was a jealous God and to worship no other God’s but him.

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In today’s world, we often sugar coat the gentleness and kindness of God and forget his powerful being – the ultimate rule maker, the mighty Father. We don’t want to believe he will ever punish us, we don’t want him being something we fear because fear is a negative aspect. God is never negative, right? Do you read the same old testament that I read? How many people were killed by the command of God. Why would you worship a being that does that? Be cause he loves me! And people forget that and lose his love.

When Joshua first invaded Canaan, the first town on agenda for God was Jericho. Jericho, who many many generations ago, forgot who God was now going to be punished for forgetting. So God tells the people to walk around the walled city and then come back to camp. The people – the entire nation of Israel – just walking around the massively walled city. So let’s think about that a minute. You are an Israelite, and God says you will conquer the land. How is walking around the city conquering the land. I am sure there were some in that group that were think, “what? is this how we are conquering?” And I am sure the people of Jericho, who were originally shaking in their boots with fear hearing all the stories of the Red Sea parting and the destruction of the Egyptian army, were wondering “what is this, why are we scared of this?” Evidently none of them knew the song called Trust and Obey.

Then on the 7th day, the walls miraculously just fell down. Walls that had been standing as a fortress for hundreds of year…just fell. And all the people of Jericho, all the people, were killed. Trust and Obey, for there is no other way….

In Sarah Young’s devotional Jesus Calling for July 11, she reminded us that today’s false gods are out of the realm of religion. Those of us who are practicing the Christian religion have a tendency to get complacent, especially here in the US. And sometimes that complacency can turn us to worshiping other things than God. Oh, it was not our intention and there may not be a physical thing we have set up in our home we bow down to, but any thing that gets in the way of our worship of God can easily become an idle; our jobs, more money, and a big one is our TIME.

24 hours in a day x 7 days = 168 hours, 168 hours in a week x 52 weeks = 8736 hours, 52 Sundays x 1 hour = 52 hours. Not sure 52 hours out of 8736 hours show a good representation of loving our God. How many hours do you spend with your friends doing fun stuff. If you spend an average of 5 hours a week doing fun stuff that is 260 hours, you see where I am going here. God does not want you to not enjoy going and doing fun stuff. He created a lot of fun stuff for you to do. He just wants to go with you. He wants to be part of your everyday, to share your highs, not just coming when the moments are low.

So as you go about your day, everyday, ask Him to come along smile with him at the funny ‘coincidences’ that seem to happen and realize – “I know that was You God.” And as you smile with him, remember to be kind like him.

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All Have Their Purpose; 1LinerWed, FOTD

“And we know that all things work together for good”…Romans 8:28.

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Mother nature is a finely tuned system to balance all parts of creations for the full support of the whole system.

Linda Hill’s challenge of 1LinerWed and Cee’s challenge of Flower of the Day are both pulled together here to show the beauty of the sun, blue sky, a sunflower and a bee – all doing their part in the system of nature.

And as always, remember to be kind to all things, even when its hard or if you have to run…

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Bicycling for Two; BOTD

She said: I told you this was the wrong way. You missed that turn back there.

He said: Last thing I need is a back seat driver, especially when you are still eating.

She said: No one said you had to leave the table earlier.

He said: You and your friends were crowding me.

She said: Do you want me to come drive?

He said: No, I’ll just turn around at the next corner.

Bikeride

Thank you for reading my silliness. He sat there for the longest time while she still ate. I had to write about it. It reminded me of many road trips. Granny Shot It has a Bird of the Day Challenge and while people are showing beautiful pictures of many different birds – I have my yard birds and firmly believe this pair of Goldfinches is a couple. They are always together.

I hope my quirky writing made you smile and if it did then share that smile and the warmth it brings to others. Not everyone is having a good day with smiles, so if you share yours, then maybe they will smile and create a contagious condition called smile-a-thon. So smile often and be kind and remember God loves you.

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Double Up for Cee, FOTD & #5

Since Cee has the wonderful lists for challenges, sometimes a single post could quality for multiple challenges. I am a major list person so I appreciate lists. So today my daylilies have really started blooming and this picture fits for two of her challenges, the FOTD and things of 5.

IMG_20190709_145531 — Five Yellow Daylilies

I do so enjoy my flowers. They bring me joy and happiness as they grow and bloom. Even the unexpected ones planted by my helpers, the birds. When life makes you smile, remember to share that smile to help brighten someone’s day.

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BOTD: Plural, Sharing

These are some of my favorite friends. They actually get along and share…better than some people I know. Today we enjoy another BOTD from Granny Shot It. Come share your lovely birds with others.

IMG_20190430_153652 — Male Goldfinch, Male Downy Woodpecker, Female cardinal

And if birds can share and be kind to one another, we ought to be able to be kind with all of creation as well. However, I do get tired of this one type of ground bird that hogs all the seed unless Mimi is on guard. She will bark at them for being pigs and run them off.

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Not Exotic, But Still Awesome, BOTD

A new challenge has been made from Granny Shot It about the Bird of the Day. Now the birds that come to my feeder are no way fancy as what I have seen posted so far but I do so enjoy them. They too have their own distinct personalities and watching them interact with each other is sometimes comical.

IMG_20190708_182543 — Black-capped Chikadee

It is fun watching these guys as they are small and walk around the edge of the stack eating from the sides. My camera is not fancy but I think it gets pretty good shots. Enjoy.

When you checkout each others pictures, think on the beauty of nature and how we all play a part in that, good or bad. And try to always be on the good side and be kind, even to wildlife.

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My Birds Flowers, FOTD, July 8

In joining in with Cee’s challenge of Flower of the Day, I present to you my guest helpers – the birds in my yard.

The birds have been most helpful this year in making sure I had sunflowers growing in the yard since I did not plant any this year. And they showed some variety as some are taller, some flowers are larger some have different color centers.

The one above has the largest leaves and flowers. It’s bloom is a bright yellow like the petals. You can see it is taller than my mailbox and shepherd’s hook.

These two are taller than the one by the mail box, their leaves are smaller and they themselves have different color centers and petal structure. One is orangey yellow with short fat leaves and one is brown with long skinny leaves. I still have others that have not quite opened yet so we will see how they come out.

Sunflowers are like a large version of a daisy – they are a happy flower. I hope you seeing these happy flowers today will bring you a smile. And if it does, then share that smile and make someone else’s days brighter.

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