Cut back just last week
my rose bushes have begun
to regenerate

Delicate white blooms
opening already on
this ‘unknown bulb’ plant …


I’d appreciate
knowing what it is if you
recognize the bloom

Click to embiggen for better viewing and for others participating
in (my belated) Macro Monday, Ruby Tuesday, My World,
and Outdoor Wednesday

Thought for Today
“A faith like Lincoln’s would transform the world.” James Oppenheim

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

I confess I don’t
know the name of the lovely
pink blossoms below

but I’m sure that the
orange and purple ones are called
Bird of Paradise.

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Pink Saturday
Color Carnival and Today’s Flowers

Thought for Today
“As you grow older, you’ll find the only things you regret are the things you didn’t do.” Zachary Scott

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

Mellow Yellow Monday
(along with Pink Saturday & Today’s Flowers)
is in the next post


More views from my walk
on Balboa Island
this
weekend with my sis …

Kewl ‘ruby’ brick work,
blossoms, and ‘accents’ on the
yard’s ‘inhabitants’



More ‘rubies’ below …
Cyclamen blossoms I think,
if not mistaken

Click to embiggen for better viewing and for
others participating in My World,
Ruby Tuesday and Outdoor Wednesday

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.” Thich Nhat Hanh

gratitudelogo-daisies

givingthankschallenge-southbreeze

South Breeze Farm hosted the Giving Thanks Challenge and I participated at Small Reflections in November of 2008 and decided to continue indefinitely … generating the following list one day at a time throughout the month of August. I’ve decided to transfer the lists at the end of each month from Small Reflections to Happily Retired Gal … just because. Click to see previous lists already published here.

1. for all the new & old friends in the Blogosphere who visit and leave comments on each of my blogs. Thank you all ;-)

2. I managed to successfully transfer my December Gratitude List to Happily Retired Gal this morning on the 4th try. I’m not sure why, but I kept losing my sidebar there this morning … but all’s well that ends well, right? Right!

3. Molly got to play with the 3 pugs (Jake, Alle, & Noah) this morning … see Pug Invasion if you’ve forgotten or missed this post from mid-March.

4. I opted for the extended warranty when I purchased my Nikon D60 & Tamron lens last January at Ritz Camera. I should have them back in less than a week since I chose to drop them off at the camera repair shop this afternoon (rather than the one remaining local Ritz store in Fashion Island) to be cleaned & adjusted (something I was advised to do at least yearly).

5. I found my old Casio Exilim camera and it held a charge, so while I’m experiencing a bit of ‘withdrawal’ without my Nikon,
I have something to use in the meantime.

6. for time to create a mosaic with Monday’s surprise sunrise photos and to publish it at Small Reflections before leaving for class tonight.

7. to be home after spending the day at my sister’s house making 247 tamales (about a hundred more than usual) … I’ll be catching up on blog visits tomorrow and sharing photos from the day soon since she let me use HER camera since mine’s in the shop getting cleaned & adjusted after it’s first year of almost continual use.

8. for a day at home to catch up on blog visits, create multiple ‘tamale and critter mosaics’ then write Haiku reflections to share at Sacred Ruminations as a follow-up to the ‘big day’ of tamale-making.

9. I added to yesterday’s tamale post … (Blogging my Blessings there and providing a bit more info in response to questions). Spending time with my ‘reader’ last week … cleaning house (eliminating blogs no one has posted on in a long time), marking older entries as ‘read’ & reorganizing entries into functional categories is helping me manage time for blog visits more easily already.

10. my sister & her husband met me at the Harbor House Cafe in Sunset Beach for ‘brunch’ this morning. Since my ‘all-in-one’ HP printer still doesn’t work, my BIL is going to scan my sister’s tamale recipe then email it to me so I can share it with those who asked for it.

11. the camera shop called to say my camera & lenses are ready for pickup … HOORAY!

12. for Tuesday with my sister. We had a wonderful time together. I’ve shared ‘fountain photos’ from the Shops at Mission Viejo at Happily Retired Gal.

13. her husband emailed the tamale recipe to me so I could share it with those who asked for it.

14. that I’d saved often while creating my Thursday Thoughts … so that when Mozilla crashed this morning (as it does all too often due to a problem with my wireless card and/or driver that no one seems to be able to find or fix) … I was able to pick up where I left off rather than starting over.

15. for the ‘free ticket’ (worth $10) for a Friday Class at Adult School … (apparently M-W classes got these because of the Monday holidays making the courses shorter than T-Th classes so this was how they ‘evened things up’.
I used it this morning to learn about Facebook. I don’t know that I’ll find time to actually USE the information, but at least I understand how Facebook works now … sort of. LOL

16. we’ll be getting some much needed rain in the coming week. I’m hopeful the folks in the recently burned areas won’t suffer mudslides however.

17. I remembered to answer the Simple Woman’s Daybook questions to share with my Blues & Mosaics at Sacred Ruminations and to publish Macro & Monochrome photos at Happily Retired Gal … so I’m ’set’ for Monday.

18. my DVR recorded the Day One tennis matches overnight at the Australian Open … so I can watch today as I visit blogs.

19. there were breaks in the rain so Molly & I could get outside for some much needed exercise.

20. for this afternoon’s (much needed) appointment to get my hair cut … and I’m hoping for a break in the weather to drive into Long Beach … then on to my sister’s in Cerritos and back home to feed Molly before my Adult School class tonight at 6pm. I’d kind of like to just stay home in this kind of weather, but I’ll drive carefully and hope for the best.<

21. last night’s class was canceled … (because the HB police asked yesterday afternoon that residents not drive for the next 48 hours unless absolutely necessary ) … so I didn’t have to go out in the storm again … at night.

22. that I took the initiative and drove to the local Social Security office (in the rain) to get my paperwork scanned into my file rather than continue to wait for the ’secure envelope’ to arrive. Wish I’d done this a week ago!

23. the rain seems to have stopped this afternoon and it’s supposed to be clear on Sunday.

24. the laptop still ‘boots’ after multiple ‘Blue Screen of Death’ crashes this past week … so I’ve had time to back up my recent files & photos before I call Dell again, but the crashes have been frustrating when I try to visit blogs and leave comments!

25. I was able to help my sister get started on a computer related photo project over the phone and still get myself to class last night to learn some kewl new ‘digital media’ techniques.

26. my faulty wireless LAN card & Mozilla let me visit some blogs this morning before crashing …

27. for the ‘kewl’ new skills & techniques presented in tonight’s Digital Media class. Now what I need is time to practice ;-)

28. my persistence paid off with Social Security. After spending MANY hours on the phone with multiple calls (asking many questions until I connected with the right person), I finally have my ‘claim number’ for Medicare, allowing me to finish signing up for a ’supplemental care’ & ‘drug plan’ … so coverage should begin on February 1st (barring any unforseen issues).

29. I rewarded myself for a challenging week dealing with Beaurocracy by spending the day with my sister today and signing up for two ‘review’ Digital Photography classes with her tomorrow … one in the morning & the other in the afternoon.

30. for the Digital Photography 1 & 2 classes at Ritz Camera in Fashion Island letting me get my settings right again … and learning a few new things about the Nikon D60 to practice in the future.

31. to watch Roger Federer play well to win his 16th Major Championship in straight sets against Andy Murray at the Australian Open … regaining that title after losing there the last two years, putting him at #1 again … the first father to win a Major Championship since Andre Agassi did it in 2003.

Thank you Joy

FYI – My previous Gratitude Lists can be found at Happily Retired Gal, my new WordPress site. It is my intention to keep this ‘Daily Gratitude List’ in my sidebar indefinitely because I believe it makes sense to focus on what’s right in our lives regularly. Click for:
2009 Lists – December, November, October, September, August, July, June, May, April, March, February, January
2008 Lists – December, November

Thought for Today
“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?’” William A. Ward

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

Weekend Reflections and Window Views are in the next post
I’m having computer crash problems still …
please bear with me … I’ll visit as I’m able
and catch up eventually.

Pink and yellow blooms
Lantana by name (I think)
… if not mistaken

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Pink Saturday
Mellow Yellow Monday and Today’s Flowers

Thought for Today
“All things are difficult until they are easy.” John Norley

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

13 photographs
Dramatic skies … Window
Views and Reflections

113-hfskywatch-hrg






Click to embiggen for better viewing and for
others participating in Thursday Thirteen, Midweek Blues,
Sky Watch, and Haiku Friday





Click to embiggen for better viewing and
for others participating in Window Views and Weekend Reflections

A playful bonus … just because
cropped then ’screened with exclusion’ and lightened

Thought for Today
“To repeat what others have said requires education; to challenge it requires brains.” Mary Pettibone Poole

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)


Sorry to be late this morning
but I had issues with Photoshop and Mozilla …
Weekend Reflections and Shadow Shots
are two posts down from here

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Pink Saturday
and Today’s Flowers

Thought for Today
“All things are difficult until they are easy.” John Norley

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

muted blues from my
drive in the rain yesterday …
captured through windows


of my Explorer
wet and wildly windy
I’m glad to be home

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Thursday Thirteen,
Midweek Blues, Window Views, Haiku Friday, Sky Watch

Bonus … three shifting views from this morning
snapped through my French Doors looking East …

Thought for Today
“All was silent as before -
All silent save the dripping rain.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

My World, Macro Monday and Monochrome Weekend
are in the next post

Enjoying the rain
here in California …
watching TENNIS too ;-)






Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday
Ruby Tuesday, Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday,
Color Carnival, Weekend Reflections, Shadow Shot Sunday

Thought for Today
“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

Scroll down for Monochrome Mania & My World

Enjoying the rain
Might the termites wash away?
Wishfully dreaming …

Click images to embiggen for better viewing
and the links for others participating in Macro Monday

Not our usual
Southern California skies …
lovely anyway

Click images to embiggen for better viewing
and the links for others participating in
My World and Monochrome Maniacs
Hmm … I see it’s become Monochrome Weekend
making this post late … sigh! Such is life.

MonoWeekend.jpg

A playful bonus … just because

Just for Fun … Creative Experiment
’screened with exclusion’
(original is below)

Thought for Today
“A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.” Eudora Welty

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

Weekend Reflections is in the Next Post

Colorful blossoms …
subtle shadows photographed
on a recent walk


Straight out of the camera above and Poster Edges below

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in
Pink Saturday and Today’s Flowers


Straight out of the camera above and Poster Edges below

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in
Color Carnival and Shadow Shots

Thought for Today
“Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.” Walt Whitman

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

ALMOST

Scroll down for Wordful Wednesday and T-13

I spent yesterday
with my sister walking and
taking photographs

“Walking gets the feet moving, the blood moving, the mind moving. And movement if life.” Carrie Latet

“Walks. The body advances, while the mind flutters around it like a bird.”
Jules Renard

I intended to take and share additional photos this morning (since steady soft drizzles are falling outside) and add a brief update about yesterday with my sister as a follow up to my Wordful Wednesday post at Sacred Ruminations … however methinks I’ll allow the two quotes about WALKING augment the eleven watery reflective photos to make ‘requisite’ thirteen. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the disastrous earthquake in Haiti.

9:30am Addendum
While visiting blogs this morning I found this lovely award at Hootin’ Anni’s. Since she shared so generously … I wanted to pass it along as well to all of you who bring ’sunshine’ to MY life by visiting and sharing your thoughts. Hope you’re having a lovely day.

Thought for Today
“Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it.” Soren Kierkegaard

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

Click for my Weekend Reflections,
Camera Critters and Pet Pride this week

113-hfskywatch-hrg

… not as beautiful
as the sunrise mosaic
at Small Reflections

of course I’m using
my Casio Exilim …
(Nikon’s in the shop)


yearly cleaning and
‘adjustments’ … recommended
by those in the know


suffering a bit
of ‘withdrawal’ and I hope
they’ll be finished soon

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Color Carnival,
Sky Watch, Haiku Friday and Pink Saturday

Thought for Today
“Freedom is the oxygen of the soul.” Moshe Dayan

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

ALMOST

Each day at the beach
just a wee bit different …
always beautiful

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Outdoor Wednesday,
Watery Wednesday, Midweek Blues, (Almost) Wordless Wednesday
and Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus

Thought for Today
“By all means use some times to be alone.  Salute thyself; see what thy soul doth wear.” George Herbert

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

Weekend Reflections is in the Next Post

Neighborhood blossoms …
pink flowers I photographed
on a recent walk

Straight out of the Camera

Poster Edges, lightened just a bit

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in
Pink Saturday, Today’s Flowers and Color Carnival

Thought for Today
“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” Hal Borland

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.” Thich Nhat Hanh

gratitudelogo-daisies

givingthankschallenge-southbreeze

South Breeze Farm hosted the Giving Thanks Challenge and I participated at Small Reflections in November of 2008 and decided to continue indefinitely … generating the following list one day at a time throughout the month of August. I’ve decided to transfer the lists at the end of each month from Small Reflections to Happily Retired Gal … just because. Click to see previous lists already published here.

1. for all I’ve learned about blogging … especially HTML codes that allow me to transfer my gratitude lists to Happily Retired Gal more easily these days.

2. I managed to stay awake all the way through my computer class from 6-9pm last night even though I’d been up since 2am.

3. that (with the information I’ve learned in my ‘Fix Your Own Computer’ class) I’ve managed to speed up my old laptop considerably … and hopefully make the newer one more ’stable’ (crossing my fingers that I won’t get the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ several times a day any more)

4. for a pleasant ‘catch up’ lunch with a good friend and phone chat with my sister who is gradually headed home for the holidays

5. I attended the wonderful Vanguard University Christmas Concert last night at St. Andrew’s church in Newport Beach … what a glorious way to get me in the holiday mood ;-)

6. for my many ‘virtual’ friends sharing their thoughts and photographs in the Blogosphere.

7. it’s RAINING … finally ;-)
8. there’s a break in the rainy weather so Molly & I can take a long walk together, but more of the ‘wet stuph’ is on the way.
9. I’ll be getting a new perm this afternoon.

10. I’m registered for 3 new Adult School classes in 2010 with a good friend. It’ll be fun to have this regular time to connect twice weekly for the next few months as we learn more about Photoshop and collages.

11. for another day of light drizzily rain.

12. I was able to share Satsuma tangerines from my sister’s tree with friends and attended a Buon Natatle Party last night … catching up with friends I’ve not seen for many years.

13. I finally figured out (with the help of Google) how to change the letter of my 1TB WD ‘My Book’ drive with the Vista OS after one got accidentally changed (wreaking havoc with the PSE6 ‘organizer’) when I installed a new WD Passport drive to back up photos for safety’s sake.

14. I remembered that today’s the 2nd Monday of the month so I didn’t miss catching up with friends at Retired Ladies Lunch ;-)

15. that after spending the day successfully backing up my photos on a WD Passport Drive, finally I managed to create and publish my Almost Wordless Outdoor Watery Wednesday post with photos from the Bolsa Chica Wetlands after the Rain before heading to my Fix Your Own Computer class tonight.

16. that I’m able to access the Internet with my ancient laptop while dealing with connectivity issues on the newer one … even though it’s E X T R E M E L Y
S L O W going to access & comment on blogs!

17. that this afternoon I was SUCCESSFUL finally in getting my newer laptop (a Dell running Vista) to access my encrypted wireless network … so I’ll be able to visit blogs more easily again, however I’m leaving for class soon so those visits will need to wait until tomorrow.

18. for all I’ve learned about fixing my own computer in my Adult School class and that I’ve got the rest of the year off for the holidays!

19. My sister and her husband have returned home and we’ll be able to celebrate Christmas together with extended family!

20. for a delightful day spent with my sister yesterday starting with a delicious meal at Z’Tejas (I’ll share photos another day), followed by a long walk (enough to make my feet hurt) with good conversation, late-afternoon coffee at Starbucks, and topped off with a lovely Christmas concert at the OC Performing Arts Center’s Segerstrom Theater.

21. I created my Christmas cards to send to family & friends.

22. after spending more hours than I care to admit trying to make my printer work, I’ve decided to send New Year’s cards this year in order to cut myself some slack and limit stress.

23. for all those who offered suggestions and/or support as I worked on printer issues … as yet unresolved.

24. to spend the day with family in Hemet … celebrating Christmas Eve with my sister, her husband, their two sons (age 30 & 28), my brother’s widow, their youngest son, his wife, their two daughters (age 5 & almost 4), and their son (age 2).

25. that I woke early enough to visit many of my virtual friends leaving Joyous Christmas wishes before taking Molly for a walk then heading to my sister’s house for traditional strawberry waffles.

26. for a good night’s sleep ;-)

27. I may be able to get my belated Christmas cards printed with an OLD Photosmart printer if I can get the driver’s installed & functioning on my laptop running Vista.

28. for last night’s holiday gathering at a dear friend’s house providing the opportunity to connect with folks I’ve not seen in a long time & to meet new people.

29. for glorious ocean views & sunsets ;-)

30. this entire day of gentle drizzily rain soaking the soil rather than running off down the street.

31. for good heath during 2009 and the many ‘virtual friends’ I’ve encountered in the Blogosphere.

Thank you Joy

FYI – My previous Gratitude Lists can be found at Happily Retired Gal, my new WordPress site. It is my intention to keep this ‘Daily Gratitude List’ in my sidebar indefinitely because I believe it makes sense to focus on what’s right in our lives regularly. Click for:
2009 Lists – November, October, September, August, July, June, May, April, March, February, January
2008 Lists – December, November

Thought for Today
“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?’” William A. Ward

Click for comments at the TOP of the post under the title, rather than at the bottom ;–)

My Avatar

I'm a happily retired teacher. You might recognize me from one of my three original Blogger-based sites:

Small Reflections

Sacred Ruminations

Blog Rolls, Bling and Blurbs

If you don't, click to learn more about me.

Welcome to my first WordPress site. I hope you'll look around, leave me a comment or two, and check back as often as time permits. Hugs and blessings, storyteller

Copyright

All words, images, and art on this site (unless otherwise noted) belong to storyteller, a most Happily Retired Gal. Please ask for written permission before using anything here. Thanks ;--)

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6th Blog Blast for Peace November 5, 2009

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Camera Critters 1st Anniversary