Heaven Hugging Earth
What creative brilliance to paint a sky every morning and evening.
A cycle of sameness, over and over.
Yet unbelievably different each and every time.
Every skyscape influenced by perspective and place.
Running ribbons of orange and mauve, swirled strokes of gold blended with violet and aqua.
Heaven hugging earth.
A Christmas Miracle
A Christmas miracle on November 25 for Kansas farmers in our county.
Narnia sprung to life!
Ten inches of snow to blanket our wheat and wish it sweet dreams as it dozes dormant for the winter.
WHAT A GIFT!
We haven’t had such a snow in the veriest longest of times.
Kansas is best known for wind and weather extremes. We’ve been dwelling in drought for around three years. Often our snowstorms come as pelting, blowing blizzards.
This gift of fresh powder, well, one can only pour out praise and gratitude with the utmost profound delight.
The Color of Gratitude
What color do you picture gratitude to be?
Bright green? Sky blue?
Sunny yellow, cheerful and warm?
Maybe a stunning sapphire that sparkles bright.
Maybe whatever color you need it to be on any given day.
Perhaps white and pure like unmarred snow.
Shiny gold like glass glitter.
Radiant red or a contented saffron.
Clear and sparkling like leaded crystal.
Emerald. Ruby. Garnet. Maybe gratitude comes in jewel tones.
Sepia. Cedar. Umber. Perhaps it appears in earth tones.
Coffee. Caramel. Chocolate. Might it show up in coffee tones?
Whatever way, whatever the shade, gratitude colors our days and outlines the edges.
The Recipe For Magic
Sometimes the recipe for magic includes:
β’ a powder snowfall to sparkle
β’ more than two million lights strung through themed gardens
β’ walking paths with luminaries
β’ a golden bright full moon lighting the sky above
β’ favorite people
β’ cozy hats
β’ music and light choreography
β’ carousel rides
β’ fireplace patio
β’ Christmas carols
β’ getting chilled through and clamoring in the pickup to warm up on the way home
The Surprise of Beauty
today
beauty beamed
in the covers of books
and wadded tissue
in pecan toffee and Reeses Take 5 candy bars
in questions pondered with no specific answers
and in words on mugs
today
beauty bloomed
on windowsills
in red ribbon
as baristas bustled creating art one coffee drink at a time
in the drip-drop tip-tap of melting snow from rooftop eaves
and beauty bespoke
by murmuring soft hellos
and showing up in the color blue
by waving from old photos
and wafting the scent of fresh laundry
for in each day there is gratitude and delight awaiting our notice
and we are granted the beauty of being people who pay attention
Where did beauty surprise you today?
Creativity
I collect them carefully from where they recline on my bookshelves.
Each art piece holds significant and specific delight for me.
Each created and gifted to me by a variety of artists and each one holds dual symbolism.
I place these favorites across my coffee table.
Flatlay photos are one of my creations as a visual artist.
I create art from art.
Drawing and painting aren’t in my wheelhouse, sadly. But give me objects, books, bouquets,
muffins, cookies, pie,
and my trusty Nikon and I love to play.
And there it is.
Little things in our lives.
Little things that spark big joy.
Little things that brighten bookshelves.
Little things that cultivate creativity.
Little things that light a quiet life.
What little things are you grateful for today?
