The air is crisp, which is good because we are needing more than a shot of espresso to motivate us this morning. We arrived in New York City late last night and today we are heading into Manhattan with my brother-in-law. We are still on west coast time, but today we are experiencing the Big [...]

We sat in bed on New Year's Day, reading the paper and enjoying our coffee. An everyday, beloved and luxurious start to our day, we were comfortable and cozy. I turned the page and a small article caught my eye. As we celebrated the beginning of a New Year, our friend had watched her house [...]

The seeds we plant in the soil of our minds are what we grow in our mental gardens. If I think that I am sad, sad, sad; then the seed of sorrow grows and blossoms, bringing to me more sorrow; a field full of sorrow, sadness and tears. If I plant the seed of joy [...]

Ever made that choice to step outside your comfort zone? To take a risk and walk into uncharted territory? I was in an aviary recently, surrounded by amazing birds from all over. An egret, the classic beautiful white bird common in many areas, stood regally; every feather in place. Suddenly, he hopped upon a slender [...]

Living in California for so long, it continues to astound me that there are places in the world where it rains during the summer. We headed for Ohio during the last week of June to help my mother-in-law celebrate her 70th birthday. What a party! (It rained.) After the guests were gone we decided to [...]

My husband is slender and to me: tall. I am 5’3" and he is 5’10". But in his family, he’s the shortest except for his mom. Both his brothers are tall, well over 6 feet. His nephews are even taller: 6’7" and 6’9". Naturally, good natured teasing goes along with this disparity. Recently, the eldest [...]

In an art museum in the Twin Cities I found a sculpture of grace and poise. The face was in repose, in bliss. In that quiet still place, connected to All That Is, it was a face of serenity. The calm that surrounded that sculpture was palpable. It stood at the end of a long [...]

From my second story studio window, through the branches and last year’s leaves, I spy my doxies enjoying a chilly day by doing a bit of sunbathing. If I were wise, I’d go join them and dream little dog dreams. But instead, I photograph them for the time when I can create a digital scrapbook [...]

In a dark forested glade a column of sun light briefly illuminates a wild iris. As I head down a path in the early morning along the Northern Californian Coast, I smell the damp ground litter and hear the ocean’s waves pounding into the shore beyond. It’s a bit chilly but the birds are already [...]

I’m watching people around me struggle with life’s challenges and I am reminded of a poem. It speaks of the darkness of the night, the darkness of people’s moods and attitudes. The darkness we can get caught up in easily as the media broadcasts failure, foreclosures and fear. But this little poem also speaks of [...]