Dogs

4 02 2014

One of the best!

  One of the best!

“Having a good dog is the closest some of us will ever come to knowing the direct love…of God”
Ann Lamott
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

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Floating Island

5 06 2012

An island floats on the horizon

surrounded by exquisite  blueness.

Sea and sky perfectly blended

on earth’s palette.





Island Summer

22 05 2012

Like a long stretch of beach, the solitude of summer beckons  me.  I know from experience that the grains of minutes will go by too quickly, that my plans for relaxation and creative expression will bud, blossom and fade with the August doldrums.  Still, my excitement builds.  So many choices unfold.  Will I slip out of bed early for a sunrise stroll, or laze sleepily on soft sheets while the whirring ceiling fan stirs my dreams?  Will the sparkle  blue of the pool draw me in for some lap swimming,  or will I drag my bike down the stairs and pedal off to look for feeding eagle rays beneath the seven mile bridge?  Perhaps my kayak will invite me for a paddle among the mangroves where I’ll listen for the huffing breaths of manatees and see snowy white herons feeding in the shallows.  Hubby and I will spend weekends on photo adventures or snorkeling in clear ocean depths.  The joy of summer lies in the breadth of choices or the option of doing nothing;  in the grains of minutes that trickle and then cascade, that roil in the gentle surf, and finally come to rest on a long stretch of beach.





Solitude

12 05 2012

When I walk into my bedroom at night, close the door and absorb the silence, I feel enveloped in the positive space of solitude.  The world is at bay, the television  a muffled, distant drone.  I float through currents of cool air, as the ceiling fan blades quietly whir, carrying me to the king-sized expanse of crisp sheets and soft pillows.  I give prayerful thanks for the peace and comfort of my home, and this sanctuary for sleep.  Most  nights, the whispering palm fronds sway, or even whip, in the ocean breezes outside my windows.  Some nights, the glow of my Nook illuminates my face, while the words I read (hopefully!) are illuminating my mind; or at least lulling me into the softness of sleep.  Other nights, the dark silence is all I crave, lying there with my thoughts soaring, crashing, sparking odd connections and finally drifting into sleepy peacefulness.  Solitude is both a necessity and a pleasure, a thing I occasionally  seek and sometimes stumble upon, but always relish.





Friends

13 04 2012

This week I’ve been inspired by friends.  The joy of companionship with good friends is a daily blessing for me.  Like many people, I’m lucky to work with some of my best friends.  I appreciate shared interests, thoughtful gestures, laughter and professional discussions.  Coming home to my number one best friend, my husband, is what I love best.  And while friendship is very important to me, solitude is equally relished.  I love to be alone sometimes, and am refreshed by silence and time to myself.  Balance is not always easy to achieve.