Heading South

I find the Canadian geese that are heading south for the winter fascinating. I love seeing their formations and hearing them honk as they fly overhead. Our neighbor tells us that, at some point, we will see thousands of them in different formations* ... all heading to a warmer climate for the winter. Good for them. As for me, I'm quite content to be here with our crisp mornings and evenings and beautiful sunshine during the day. Yes, we had a good soaking of rain yesterday but I'm glad for that, too.

*She also tells me that it's a good idea to wear a hoodie when out walking ... just in case I'm in the line of fire for their poop. Yikes! A hoodie it is. I was the recipient of some seagull droppings once in California, so I'm heeding her warning. It wasn't a pretty picture!

I'm grateful. Take good care of yourself and each other. Namaste'

Lingering

Just out on a walk today with Daisy and I captured this bed of leaves with my phone camera. Then I noticed one lingering sprig of green peeking through. Die hard.

Autumn is spreading her blanket of beautiful leaves, crisp air, and Canadian geese flying south for the winter ... but the geese are another blog post.

My Mom loved Autumn leaves, so these are for you, Mom.

Take good care of yourself and each other. Namaste'

Backlit Beauty

For those that know me, you'll remember that I've often said that no flowers come into our house without me photographing them. This one is no exception. She is from a bouquet that I picked up yesterday when my daughter and I went to the Farmer's Market in Salem. This one is available for sale at my gallery: reginaarnold.com without my watermark signature.

Take good care of yourself and each other. Namaste'

White Magic

I found this beautiful bloom in the back yard and thought it was quite magical. The petals are soft and a beautiful white; almost transparent, with the center having delicate red stripes. The camera just doesn't do it justice.

I wish I knew what it was. Not a clue! It grows on a vine that just started growing in the last few weeks. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was Spring instead of Autumn.

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste'

Grand Opening

I call this one the Grand Opening because we've been watching its progress day by day. The last few petals are now opening to the Divine.

We planted these giant sunflowers because I believe they are so spectacular. (The birds love them, too). Hopefully when they go to seed, the birds will spread them around. It's wonderful that it's early October and we're seeing these blooms. Love, love, love them!!!

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do." ~ Helen Keller

Be good to yourself and each other. Namaste'

Coloring Therapy

Sometimes you just need to find a way to feel good and for me that most often means creating something. (Although sometimes it's just simple silence ... ahhh). Sometimes it's getting lost in a good book. Don't you just love a good adventure novel that allows you to travel to places you may never see in this lifetime? Especially if the author is a skilled and "tuned-in to emotions" writer? Sometimes I just like to listen to really good music. Like right now, I'm listening to one of my favorites: Jackson Browne & Clarence Clemmons singing "You're a Friend of Mine." In my opinion, no one plays the sax like the late Mr. Clemmons. Wow! 

As a kid I loved to color. My Mom would buy me a coloring book and I would be in kid heaven! And I'll never forget my first box of 64 Crayola crayons. So many choices that, at first, I relied on the primary colors. But that didn't last long once I discovered I could blend colors and create my own spectrum. 

Someone, in their infinite wisdom, realized that we adults needed to have that "feeling" associated with coloring again so they invented coloring books for adults. They're being marketed as therapy, stress reduction, boredom killers, and even used to help combat depression. So I decided to give it a try. Yes, Virginia, it's all that and more. Of course, traditional therapy might be needed in some cases and traditional therapists might argue that this is just a fad and there is no benefit. I disagree but, again, that's my opinion and I get to say what I think because this is MY blog after all :-)

The image below is a shot of one of the coloring pages I just completed. I used colored pencils but one can use watercolors, colored markers, oil pencils, etc. 

So what can you do with these pages once you've colored them? Well, you can fold them up and mail them to people you love. Or you can use them to wallpaper your bathroom. Or use them to line the bottom of your parakeet's cage. Your choice ... your creativity. Surrender to the process. And most of all, have fun with it. Coloring is fun ... remember?

Take good care of yourself and each other.

Everyone Has an Inner Artist

Something New

While roaming around outside today, I discovered this little beauty. Isn't she lovely? I've never met a flower I didn't like! Take good care of yourself and each other. Namaste'

Don't Bug Me

The scientific name for these insects is Tipulidae also known as the Crane Fly but I've always called them mosquito eaters. Ha!

Do they really eat mosquitos? If so, this one has fallen down on the job because as hubby and I were walking last evening, some of those pesky varmints were buzzing me. I guess we'll have to walk earlier from now on.

Take good care of yourself and others ... Namaste'

Fur Baby

I happened to have my camera out in the yard the other day and as I was walking in, look who was there to greet me ... our little black-faced fur baby! She's eight years old now; starting to get a little gray around her muzzle but still spunky and oh, so sweet. We love you, Daisy!

Namaste'

Saying Good-Bye to the Dog Days of August

Some of my rose bushes are wearing the blush of Autumn already. Won't be long now until the crisp air is upon us. Have you noticed how the light is changing everywhere?

Saying good-bye to August. Namaste'

Strange Clouds

Last night as the sun was going down, I noticed these clouds directly above the "normal" clouds. They seemed very odd looking to me because I'm always looking up into the sky and have never seen cloud formations like this before.

Has anyone else ever seen these?

Namaste'

Big Blue

Update: Apparently the image didn't show up in this post for some reason, so here it is ...

 I took this image at a car show in Tucson and this car was my favorite. If it was mine, I'd put the top down and spend my evenings just cruising under the stars.

It's really fun to see how these vintage cars are restored and given such loving care. When I was in high school, my boyfriend loved to restore older cars like this. In fact, I learned to drive a stick shift in his '34 Ford pickup. Those were the days ...

Namaste'

Jazz

As I was looking through my images today, I came across this little guy. His name is Jazz and he belongs to the daughter of the late great jazz artist, Miles Davis. My sis-in-law has a pet sitting business and she's lucky enough to take care of this little guy pretty often.

I shot this image when we visited them at their home a few years back. He's so cute and lovable!!!! If I ever have another dog, I would love it to be one like him. Here's to you, Jazz!