Moon Phases

Tonight is 100% full moon. While we won’t see our first super moon until July, the moon seems to be really bright this month. Probably because winter can be so cloudy, we forget the beauty of our night light. No leaves on the trees adds to the mysteriousness of the light.

This shot was taken later in the evening on March 5, waxing gibbous 96%. It had been a cloudy day so it was fun seeing the moon shine through the wispy clouds and trees. This shot really shows the upper portion of the tree that got broken in a storm a couple years ago. Its still hanging there waiting to break free.

This shot was taken early in the evening of March 6 as the moon was just cresting over the hill from the house across the street, phase waxing gibbous 99%.

And of course, today, the full moon day…it’s cloudy. Go figure. Well, at least we had a couple of evenings where the moon showed through.

In August we will have a Blue Moon – meaning two full moons in one month, August 1st and August 31st. I have always been fascinated about the views of the moon and how it lights up the sky on a clear night but I did not realize until recently(probably knew as a kid but forgot) that the full moon occurs when the moon sits exactly on the opposite side of the earth from the sun. And the gravity of this occurrence creates higher than normal tides. Living in Florida, I knew that was true. It also makes animals do weird things, or maybe its just my dog?!? And more babies are born on full moons – yes, that it true. Just ask any nurse on the maternity ward.

Everything has its purpose and it is fun seeing how it affect us on any given day. In closing, remember the affects of Kindness and use it often.

Tuesday Writing Challenge

Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge which was started by our star writer Christine Ray. We hope to offer all of you something that will spark your creativity and willingness to participate.

Todays prompt: Write a poem using the words “crescent”, “timeless”, and “sliver”

Crescent Light

Crescent moon rising over the Tokyo bay area by Kyoshino

I stare above at the crescent of light

Beauty so timeless if gives me freight

It reflects on the water as a silver light

With stars of heaven that seem so bright

Shining like diamonds on the darkest of night

I relax in peace at this magnificent sight.

Anita Neal

There are many things we see in the journey of life that makes us pause, staring at the beauty arounds us and make us grateful for where we are at that one moment. May we never get bored of the beauty we see. And as always, remember to always be kind. It has a beauty all its own.

The Sunday Moon

Sundays during the summer are busy for me as I help with the riverfront concerts. We only have one left for the summer as school starts soon but this Sunday I was reminded of a childhood poem.

It was a still windless night but the sky was amazing. I was reminded of a silly poem from childhood about “I see the moon and the moon see me” but I don’t remember the rest.

If we take the time, we can really see how beautiful nature can be if we will just look. Have a great week and remember to always be kind.

Tuesday Writing Prompt, 8/4

foggy night

BENEATH

The fog creeps in beneath the surface of the night

Leaving a chill that can bring on a fright

As the moon shines high with its blue eerie light

It keeps you inside in fear of what might

The sound of the stream rushing at its low height

Running through the quiet valley as though to take flight

The sound of the owls as they beckon for a fight

Keeps us inside beneath the surface of the night.

Anita Neal

Today’s prompt: Beneath the surface of the night

And as always, I close with encouragement to spread kindness in all you do. It helps the world be a better place.

kindness peace

Tuesday Writing Prompt

Moon forest

Behind Moore’s Hill

The mystic moonlight behind Moore’s Hill, can infuse you with fear and leave you a chill. Its light will woo you deep into the forest, where you hide behind the trees to find no rest. The eerie breeze moves and slips through your hair, as it chills your soul with the cold night air. The light reflects brightly on the new fallen snow as you search frantically on which way to go. Far in the distance a light seems to glow, it is for real or a reflection in the snow. I have traveled so far, how far can I go? There is no way of knowing for it is onward I go.

Come join in on Go Dog Go Cafe Tuesday Writing prompt. Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge which was started by our star writer Christine Ray. We hope to offer all of you something that will spark your creativity and willingness to participate.
The prompts are designed to be quick challenges that can be written in 10 to 15 minutes, inspire you creatively, are fun, and get everyone interacting.

And as I always remind you, sometimes in this seemingly cold hopeless world, if we show kindness a great thaw will occur. Try to always be kind.

Kind snow

Memory Prompts

Do you have things you see that bring back an instant memory from the past…preferable a good memory. It is a shame that bad ones come around as well but lets focus on the things that make you smile or laugh.

One in particular for me is a bright moon. When my oldest was about 2 1/2, we lived in Asheville N.C. A beautiful place. We had friends who knew rangers who allowed people onto the mountain fire trails to pick up felled trees for firewood. It helps the people and aides in forest cleanup.

So off we go in search of firewood and it was right chilly. I had my son all bundled up like an Eskimo and we got enough wood to last all season. Coming home it was a clear cold cloudless night and my son spotted the moon. He had just started talking so when he pointed at that bright light in the sky and said moon as only a two year old can, it was a precious time for me and a memory shared in the family through many years.

I thought of that night last night with a clear sky after several days of damp dreariness. As I was walking the dogs, the moon was perfectly framed in my neighbor’s tree and Venus, I think, is located just to the right. So I thought I would share that spot of peace and a memory that makes me smile.

IMG_20191031_183303

The world can really be beautiful if you still the madness of the day and try to look through God’s eyes at His creation. I envision God as He was creating all of this for US with him thinking…’Wait until, they see this,” and 90% of the time we miss the gift. I fully believe He knows the trials we are going through and throws little things our way to distract that trial, for a brief moment to bring us a moment of peace. If we can focus on the brief moment of peace, the moment can stretch and become bigger, allowing us extra peace.

May you all find the small gifts of love thrown in your path that make you smile and for a split second forget the pulls of every day life. And as you smile from these tiny gifts, may they grow exponentially allowing you to share you the gift of peace you feel which will bring you more happiness, more memories and more peace. With the added peace you feel, may you also add kindness in all you do.

kindness radiating

A Moon Haiku

How bright your light shines

In the darkest evening sky

Your light shows His love

My small camera can not show the beauty I saw as the moon rose yesterday with a clear sky after several days of rain. The ‘man in the moon’ was easily seen. It was a welcome sight.

Never forget the love God has for you. He even shows you in his night light. Enjoy its beauty and spread His love by being kind.

kind moon

It’s This Big… #JusJoJan #17

In trying to visualize to someone how big or small something is, we will often use our fingers…

While that may look really small, if you are describing the size of a mouse dropping found in your cabinet that is a BIG mouse. And using that method again, I don’t care if the snake is only that big…he is too big for me. Just sayin’.

Alrighty then, let’s think on things that we are told are really big, like the moon at 2,159 miles in diameter. That seems big but not compared to some other moons. Jupiter has the largest moon, Ganymede at 5,262 km. Those of you who live in the US, that is more than 3,629 miles so our moon does not seem not that big. Of Jupiter’s 79 moons, it is also credited with the smallest moon at 2 km equaling 1.25 miles. Now how in the world can you see something that small from a roaming satellite. Amazing.

I saw this picture I am enclosing today that I thought was fabulous. I don’t know the photographer but the tree seems to think our moon fits right in between it’s fingers. So I thought I would share.

Sizes are always relevant to your measuring device. Like guys that go fishing and tell stories of the one that got away.

In the 70’s there was a quirky little figure with his arms spread wide showing you he loved you this much. The 70’s were the love generation but they just kinda forgot some of the other things that needed to go with that love…but I digress. It is the symbol of measurement I want to focus on. That symbol is still used today and will always remain true.

jesus open arms — He loves you this much

What an amazing measurement. Many songs have been written about this amazing amount of love. And even though we can not fully understand this amount of love, we can still measure out a reflection of this love by being kind to those who so desperately need it. Sometimes you may not even realize someone is hurting but your kindness may be the one thing that day that releases enough pain to be able to go to the next day. So remember to ALWAYS be kind.

kindness5

Linda’s Just Jot January prompt is being lead by John Holden of One Hand Typing. And that prompt is “inch”. And while I did not use the actual word I did measure it out. Come join in on the fun.