The storm forecast was not pretty.
The radar image of a shark with his mouth open was amazing.
The beauty of the sunrise was a relief.
Debbie Smyth of Travel with Intent invites us to play along with Six Word Saturday.
Beauty of Sunrise after a Snow
Category: Mother Nature
Living Art…#JusJoJan & #SoCS
Art is very objective and life is ever a challenge so when you put the two together you get living art and living art can be terrifying or the most beautiful thing you could see. Artist over time have tried to capture the beauty of life as they see it but for me I have reconnected with the medium of photography now that I have retired. Many photographers here in this blogging world have exquisitely captured the beauty of this world and life as they see it and they share it with us.
I love the beauty of nature and thank God for His handiwork to awe us sometimes or make us giggle sometimes as nature like other mediums of art is tied to our emotions.
Today it is snowing. The first winter snow. Now in November we did have a freak snow come through with 14″ of wet heavy snow but that was in the fall. And after that storm, weather has been really mild. Just last week it was in the 40’s and for January that’s unusual…and weird. I fear we will pay for that mildness for the remaining of winter. This week temps have been in the teens but even with cold temps nature’s art was available to see if you looked for it. Below are a few pictures to share of what I saw first thing this morning. With a better camera than my phone, I am sure the art of snow would be more breathtaking. But it beautiful and peaceful to watch.
Everything looking pristine and fresh…and cold. Although the bird feeder is completely covered so the birds are having to did out their treats.
So very glad it is Saturday and I am not expected to go anywhere in this. Even though it is only a few inches, still, I am glad I don’t have to get out in it. I also want to thank Linda G Hill for a fun way to share the snow today with “art” being the theme word for Just Jot January and Streams of Conscious Saturday.
When going through the art of life, remember to paint to paint gently. Paint with encouragement, love and with an abundance of kindness. Kindness is felt in all of nature and can make your painting shine the beauty that God has intended.
November Thankful Challenge, Week 4
I did not get this posted yesterday so I am a day late for week 4. The month of November is where we focus on things we are thankful for so I am posting this weekly during the month to share all that I am thankful for. Some overlap a bit but thankfulness has a way of doing that because life overlaps in many ways as it should. If you didn’t see the others and would like to, they are listed here; week 1, week 2, week 3.
- Nov 19 – I am thankful the Lord has given me yet another day. Hopefully I use each day as the gift it is.
- Nov 20 – I am thankful that although the pain in my foot is minor as I recover from surgery, at least I still have a foot that is healing nicely. Now both are done.
- Nov 21 – I am so thankful for God’s light that shines on all of us and for the many artist that use their talents to remind us and lift us when we need that lift.
- Nov 22 – I am thankful for what this day remind us of and for the love of family and friends that surrounds at this time. Also for the many memories of this day, the “Wow” moments and the “Oh, Really” moments.
- Nov 23 – I am so very thankful that I do not have the shopping bug so that I do not have to get out in the madness of Black Friday.
- Nov 24 – I am thankful for the fun I have with college football and super excited that my team won and is headed to the conference championship, Go Dawgs!
- Nov 25 – I am thankful for all the blessing I have received and the ability to enjoy sitting on the couch watching the birds eat as much as they can before the snow gets too thick on the feeders. Then of course it did.
- Nov 26 – I am so thankful that I have a daughter that is taking care of me as I heal and that she took care of all the snow removal since I am still on the knee walker from surgery. Don’t think it would do well in 13″ of snow.
And remember as always, especially when times, weather and situations get trying, be kind. It can be the greatest gift you could give.
Good Night, Sleep Tight
Super short post. Just wanted to share my front yard illuminated by the street light. I got tickled by the chair as you can see how high the back and arms are vs. how high the snow is…and still snowing. We are expecting 8-12″. It is beautiful but hope it doesn’t damage the evergreens that are bent under its weight. Hope all have a warm snug-as-a-bug sleep tonight.
And remember…
Flood in the Midwest, #FOWC
With the current disaster of California going up in flames, it reminds us that Mother Natures periodically goes on rampage.
This past summer the midwest got hit with 2 severe storms that were residuals of hurricanes from the gulf and we were not really prepared for that onslaught. The power of water in an uncontrolled state is terrifying.
Even in disasters or especially during disasters, let us always remember the value of kindness. That is when it is needed more than ever in so many ways.
November Thankful Challenge, Week 3
Welcome to week 3 of my November Challenge to help me remember all that I have that makes me thankful of all my blessings. We should not wait until a certain time of year to bring all of those wonderful gifts to mind. At lease during the holiday season we bring them to the front all the wonder things we are thankful for and try to share the joys of love and kindness throughout the season.
- Nov 12 – I am so thankful for the guarding of an over protective hound who actually has kept some door-to-door bothersome’s away from my front door.
- Nov 13 – I am thankful for the extraordinary vision given by God to enjoy the beauty of nature.
- Nov 14 – I am thankful for the beauty of hearing the wonderful sounds of peace and power from the same substance – water.
- Nov 15 – I am thankful for this season to remind us of all the wonderful things to be thankful for.
- Nov 16 – I am thankful for all the small things in this life that makes me smile.
- Nov 17 – I am thankful that again my cactus is going to bloom for the season. It looks like an ornament on the tree.
- Nov 18 – I am thankful that even though it snowed(again) last night, the ground is still warm enough where the roads are still clear.
So I challenge you regardless of where you are in this season to remember the love, gratefulness and the kindness of this season.
And remember the value of kindness during this season of thankfulness. They go together like toast and jam.
Roles, Even with Birds?
We know that the animal kingdom has survival of the fittest but what about the birds. Do roles or superiority exist there as well? Yesterday, I saw an actual fight between 2 sparrows at my feeder. One bird had the other bird by the beak and there was lots of screaming…or loud chirping. I am sure to them is was screaming. I thought it was funny at first but then in their world this was serious business of “my food, my territory.”
When the larger birds show, the smaller birds scatter. That is why I put the feeder near the evergreens, a safe hiding place. It’s funny how when they all get spooked, they all head to the trees; cardinals, blue jays, woodpeckers and all the little guys. It’s kind of like people, when we get scared we all want a safe zone and our perceived roles of superiority go out the window.
We woke up to about 1″ of snow already on the ground this morning and it has been lightly snowing all day. Fortunately the ground is still warm keeping the streets clear but the trees are beautiful.
And of course there is the yard pest that I don’t want on the feeder that climbs the pole then pulls himself up using the suet feeders. So a rearrangement of suet feeders is in order and maybe a good greasing of the pole. It will be end of December before I can get out to rearrange things so everyone will just have to depend on mother nature to keep them feed for now once this round is empty.
The role of the bird feeder is to feed the birds, not the yard rats. But I guess when you are trying to take care of a little bit of nature you don’t get to choose which nature takes advantage of your goodies.
For us in the US, it is Thanksgiving week so I wish all here to have a great Thanksgiving. For those not in the US, I still wish you a wonderful week. And in all that you do, remember to be kind. The more you try to be kind, the more it may change your mindset in different ways of being kind. Kindness can radiate encouragement and that may be all a situation needs to get turned around to a positive outcome.
Linda G Hill gave us a Saturday prompt of “roll, roles” for #SoCS, Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Come join in on the fun.
The Yard is Done, #1Liner Wednesday
Fall brings about a flurry of cleaning projects to get ready for winter and I am on a time schedule. So the last 2 days I have not touched my computer much other than to read some of your wonderful stories. But alas, it is all done….outside. Thanks to Alternative Design Landscapes Specialist out of Bettendorf Iowa I have new steps and a new wall that were rotting railroad timbers and a new mailbox to keep the mailman happy and Mimi less stressed.
And while that was going on, the plumber came out to fix a leaky outside faucet before it got cold and I got all the flower bed cleaning done. All in all a busy but productive two days. Now I can sit on the sofa and play on the computer while watching the birds eat and fight over the new bird feeders. They are so fun to watch. The feeder is close to the evergreens where they zoom to hid when spooked only to peek out to make sure all is clear before heading back to the feeders.
Mostly what I have are chickadees but this big fella enjoys the sunflower seeds as well.
I clean the windows about every two weeks as Mimi loves looking out as well and leaves her nose and slobber marks. And of course we have to warn about the dreaded mailman. The ice box was added as an incentive to save the window seal.
She is so funny as she looks around at me while she is barking like “Do you not see this?” In reality she is just a silly old lapdog baby.
And in closing I remind myself and everyone else to be kind. It is a inexpensive gift from God that reflects His love.
Come follow along with Linda G. Hill’s One Liner Wednesdays and enjoy the fun.
Its Yellow’s Turn, #1 Liner Wednesday
Last week I showed pictures of the leaves during the first show of change and the colors were red. Now yellow is making it’s appearance and this area has lots of yellow to enjoy.
I was finally able to go walking through the local state park and the yellows were exquisite. There were a few reds still trying to hang on of which I was surprised with the winds that came through here last Saturday. With the sudden cold air on Sunday and Monday, the yellows are really showing off. This is a response for Linda G Hill’s #1Liner Weds.
Enjoy the colors.
The Black Hawk State Park is a small park inside the city limits of Rock Island Illinois, one of the cities of the Quad Cities metro area between Illinois and Iowa with the Mississippi running through them. It a beautiful park with walking trails. When we first moved into this metro area I was shocked to see deer just walking through the yard but its because of the preserve and they are protected here.
So as the season is changing again, enjoy this time as nature prepares to rest for the coming winter of cold and white. According to Farmers Almanac, the mid-west is in for a rough one. https://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather-outlook/2019-winter-forecast
If we could just have summer for about 1 month, and one month of winter and the rest divided between spring and fall I would be a happy camper. But alas, they each have their purpose. Ok, fine.
And as reminder to me and everyone else, please be kind. There are times when it is really hard but those times can sometimes bring the highest rewards.
Beauty of the Ocean…in Iowa
I currently live in Iowa on the Mississippi River. When I was a kid, when trying to learn the state locations, the center of the country was always easy because of the man in the middle. For those not familiar with that teaching, I will explain. The foot or boot(purple) of the man is Louisiana, his pants(green) is Arkansas, his shirt(blue) is Missouri, his head(green) is Iowa and his hat(tan) is Minnesota. Now the face of the man is carved by the Mississippi River and where I live, the river comes across sideways forming the nose. I tease my grandchildren saying I live in the nose of the man in the center, so you know what that makes me. The point I am trying to make is the location of this state. Iowa is one state down from Canada, 4 states from the Pacific ocean, 5 states from the Atlantic Ocean and 3 states from the Gulf of Mexico, so basically we are land locked with the river being our main water attraction, several lakes scatter about. We are one state away from Lake Michigan which acts like and ocean but what ocean freezes over hard enough to drive a truck on in the winter. Oh, and just to throw this out there, I am 4 states away from my home state of Georgia which borders on the Atlantic. I do miss the ocean.
But this area seems to be fascinated with the ocean life, I guess because they don’t get to see it unless they go on vacation.(there are even Christmas tree ornaments) I posted some pictures in an earlier blog about the ocean street art on the railroad bridge in the center if the city. If you missed it, it is here. But last week when coming back through a section of town I don’t go in often I found several buildings of street art, one dedicated to ocean life, real and imaginary. So I though I would share those with you today. I find street art very fascinating due to the image painted and the enormous size.
Then you have the whale, porpoises and the mermaids. Architecturally speaking, I find it interesting how the windows are at angles and protected from the weather.
Below are wonderful pictures, thank you internet, that give a glimpse of true ocean life, an area of life on this planet we have only begun to understand. Enjoy.
And as a daily reminder to myself and anyone else, always try to be kind. You would be amazed how it makes you feel as well as those you are kind to. And staying with the ocean theme, I show you that even ocean animals understand the process of being kind.
For the Love of 