WW - One Single Impression #9 - Flowering

ALMOST

The prompt for Week 9 is Flowering

This apricot rose
flowering amazes me
every year in Spring

as do ancient bulbs ...
irises and daffodils
after 30 years

in the ground still bloom
as I now await return
of hydrangea

tiny buds begin ...
this 'Endless Summer' will soon
colorfully burst

forth in reddish pink
whitish purple lavender
clusters ... gorgeously ;--)

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Others participating this week:
Wordless Wednesday
One Single Impression - Week 9

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My other Week 9 OSI post at Small Reflections
200th post - (Almost) Wordless OSI: Flowering


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Thought for Today
"One way or another, we all have to find what best fosters the flowering of our humanity in this contemporary life, and dedicate ourselves to that." Joseph Campbell

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Blog Your Blessings Sunday #1

I missed Sacred Life Sunday last week for the 1st time

since I started this blog ... and meant catch up all week but didn't,
so today I'm doubling up with this new thing ;--)

Gratitude Posts are my Favorite Kind
I found this group recently whilst
wandering the Blogsphere
and decided to join
sharing ...

Five Really Good Things

1. Last Sunday afternoon my Red Hat sisters attended a wonderful 'live' performance of 'Gypsy' at a local college theater and visited over dinner afterwards. I'm grateful for this group of 13 women whose company I enjoy.

2. Although my irises & most of the daffodils are spent due to a recent 'heat wave' ... my roses have burst forth with blossoms and my Amaryllis just keeps on blooming (time after time) along with an assortment of other colorful flowers..


3. I've continued participating in a variety of new blogging activities mentioned in a previous gratitude post and tried a few new ones. In addition to Blog Your Blessings Sunday ... Camera Critters and Photo Hunt are my latest two additions.

4. The weather in Southern California has been warm enough for Molly and I to walk on the beach together several times ... and, of course, she loves to meet up & play with her 'fur-friends' on the sand and in the surf.


5. Betty blessed me (along with other blogging friends) last Sunday with this lovely rose award, and I'd like to pass it along to my 'regular' readers and all who visit and comment on this post (or any other) this week.

For others who 'Blog Their Blessings'
check the BYB Sundays Blogroll near the bottom of my sidebar here
at Sacred Ruminations or click on the logo at the top of this post.

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For those who participate in Sacred Life Sunday
click the logo below:

Daily Meditation from
Keepers of the Wisdom
Reflections from Lives Well Lived
by Karen Casey

"Now I can let my imagination take flight as I sit and do some thinking, pondering. After a while, ideas begin to come to me ... and I hve this tremendous energy." Monty Cralley

"Asking the inner voice for direction each day guarantees it, as long as we are quiet and patient. And the ideas that flood our quiet minds perfectly match the talents we have been given. What we have done with our lives and what we are still destined to do reveals our purpose. It's easy to discern it when we are quiet and hopeful.

Having the energy to pursue our passions will always come if that's our wish. Most of who we are, what we do, and where we are going relates to our attitude. Being tired, bored, scared, or unhappy are decisions, nothing more. Coming to grips with this reality has the potential for changing every aspect of what remains of our lives.

Those among us who are having fun are our guides. We can follow their examples. They haven't been given better lives; they simply are better at using their minds. We can copy them and laugh more too."

"My mind bestows energy on my body.
I'll do as much or as little as I please today."

Haiku Friday #34 - I up and did it yesterday!

Many of you know
I've been 'happily retired'
almost seven years.



I've not entered a
school house now for quite some time
until yesterday

when I decided
I am ready to take a
class or two myself.

My neighbor has been
talking about Adult School
for a year or more

so when the brochure
arrived in the mail I looked
at the courses and

discovered a class
on 'Photoshop Elements' ...
a program I've owned

several years ... in
fact I bought one, two, and three
on advice from friends.



This class teaches "six'
so I'll probably decide
to buy it as well

but first I will learn
how to use the features ... then
use that knowledge here ;--)

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Volume 33 - Baby Beagle Update
(Published today at Small Reflections)

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For a Mr. Linky to other Haiku Fridays
go to A Mommy Story or
Playgroups are no Place for Children.

To see more previous Haikus,
click on the Haiku Friday label below this post
or in the sidebar under About Me.

Thought for Today
"The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live." Morris Adler

Color Images of the Mind Revealed

Week 8's prompt is COLOR

imaginative
artists see what others don't ...
then share honestly

images like these
amaze and delight as I
seek and find online

I wish my mind could
envision and create such
vivid imag'ry!

Others participating this week

My other Week 8 OSI post at Small Reflections:
Colorful Comeback

Thought for Today
"Colour helps to express light, not the physical phenomenon, but the only light that really exists, that in the artist's brain." Henri Matisse, 1945

A Hug for Everyone

ON SATURDAY!!!
(and all weekend long)

Ornery's Wife at Thoughts From Miller Manor recently celebrated her 1st Blogoversary and signed off with a link to this HUG. I couldn't resist passing it along today. Enjoy and pass it along ;--)

In addition, she passed along a nifty award created especially for her by Nap Warden and offered to to others to enjoy and pass along to our thoughtful commentators, so I've 'snagged' a copy to share with all who pass this way and leave me 'thoughtful' comments too ;--)

In case you missed them ...
some handy links to this week's posts
here at Sacred Ruminations
Seven Really Good Things
One Single Impression -Glorious
Haiku Friday #32 (with linky-love)

and at
Small Reflections
Unconscious Mutterings and More Poetry
Fun Monday - Double Nickel Challenge (with awards)

Heads or Tails - Tip of the Iceberg
One Single Impression - Glory (with awards)
T-13 #20 - Imaginative Literary Masterpieces
Haiku Friday #31 - A Little Link-Love

Thought for Today
"Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism." Leo Buscaglia

Haiku Friday #32 - Musings of my Mind

(with a little more linky-love)

Earlier I shared
Haiku'd linky-love on my
other blog and now

here I go again ...

One Single Impression has
more Haiku that is

written weekly to
a specific 'prompt' and thus
far I've published nine

OSI posts. Two
at Small Reflections also
seven more right here.

Recently I've shared
awards and 'bling' I've received.
If you've not seen these

take a moment to
check them out because there might
be something for you ;--)


Greatfullivin at
her blog started 'Greatful Gals'
Gratitude Journal.

I am grateful for
so much in my life and hope
you feel gratitude

daily for we're all
blessed in little and big ways.
Counting blessings in

writing daily does
make a difference in my
life and possibly

you ... take time to record
yours in 'journal' form (or not)
but I hope you do.


Finally I wish
to share this award from Phyl
to all those who leave

comments here today.
Please feel to pass it on
lovingly as well.

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For a Mr. Linky to other Haiku Fridays
go to A Mommy Story or
Playgroups are no Place for Children.

To see more previous Haikus,
click on the Haiku Friday label below this post
or in the sidebar under About Me.

Thought for Today
"Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars." Henry Van Dyke

One Single Impression (WW) - Glorious

The prompt for Week 7 is
'Glory'

breaking through the clouds
glorious sunrise inspires
hope in a new day

(Source: Photobucket - by camoslayer)

Click for other's participating this week in
WordlessWednesday
One Single Impression
my 1st Week 7 (almost wordless) OSI post
at Small Reflections

Thought for Today
"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sacred Life Sunday - Seven Really Good Things

I'm counting my blessings today

feeling grateful for my real world and 'virtual' activities

1. As many of you know from previous posts here and at Small Reflections, Spring arrived a couple of months ago here in Southern California ... and this weekend it feels like SUMMER with temperatures in the mid 80s here at the beach and mid 90s a few miles inland. If you missed my garden posts the most recent ones are: Joyful Burst of Color, Colorful Spring Flowers, and A Colorful Offering

2. With Hootin' Anni's assistance, I was able to get this blog added to the Bloggers Over 50 Blogroll by adding the Official Logo and a link in the sidebar here. I've not yet visited all the folks on that Blogroll yet, but I have made some interesting connections in the past few weeks. If you're looking to expand your online connections, there are many excellent bloggers out there and you don't need to be over 50 to read their blogs.

3. I've enjoyed several 'fun reads' ...(as in 'real' books)... and that helps explain why I've not been visiting your blogs as often lately. I'm currently reading David Baldacci's latest in the series about Oliver Stone & friends entitled STONE COLD ;--)

4. Greatfullivin of Gratitude Journal shared this award recently, and I'd like to pass it along to some friends (both old and new) who 'Make My Day' by commenting on my posts here ... including (but not limited to): Sacred Life Sunday, One Single Impression, and Haiku Friday. I appreciate you all so very much! Feel free to snag yourself a copy to enjoy and pass along to others.

5. Although I've cut back posting here at Sacred Ruminations, I've discovered one 'new' activity I intend to add to my repetoire here once a month ... and that's Pensieve's Poetic License. I did 'double duty' this week with Friday's Spring Haiku post and met many interesting bloggers who participate monthly. At Small Reflections, I've discovered Fun Monday, Heads or Tails and Unconscious Mutterings ... among others.

6. Just this morning Phyl of Scrappy and Happy in Ohio placed this lovely new award in the Blogosphere ...

I'd like to share it with the following friends:

Andrée at meeyauw's Barton Daily Photo
Joyce at Mom's Musings
Lucy at Diamonds in the Sky and Lucy Creates
Karen at Journey to Authenticity
Mama Zen at The Zen of Motherhood
Greatfullivin of Gratitude Journal
Mother of Invention at Spilling Out!
MPJ at A Room of Mama's Own
Sandy Carlson at Writing in Faith
Yertle at Smile, Play, Dream
Yolanda at Perfectly Imperfect

I'll be sharing it with others at
Small Reflections
soon ;--)

7. In addition to gratefully accepting awards and adding them to my sidebars (along with my 'Bling' collection) ... I've tried to create a handy series of 'links' in the About Me section of each blog to help new readers find posts of interest and get acquainted more easily.

Thought for Today
"Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving." Kahlil Gibran

Haiku Friday #30 - Joyful Burst of Color

"Earth laughs in flowers." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring burst forth last month
and continues to produce
flowers everywhere

first irises were
purple ... then the 'yellows' came
now I've got these 'white'

blossoms ... looking close
you might catch a faint tinge of
lavender highlights

just when I believed
daffodils had given up
this one bloomed ... and now

more are popping up
so I guess they were just a
little 'late' this year

this pink rose was first
to reveal it's beauty ... then
much to my surprise

amaryllis chose
next to show itself ... like this
though it took a while

I may create a
collage of it's gradual
evolution soon

now my favorite
apricot rose is in bloom
finally ... what joy!

apparently we're
in for a 'heat wave' of sorts
85 today

nineties over the
weekend ... so I'll need to keep
an eye on how dry

the yard gets and spend
time to keep these blossoms well
hydrated or else

they might not survive ...
always 'something' isn't it?
A 'problem' I'll take ;--)

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Doing double-duty
by participating in this
for the 1st time!

Click for other Poetic License
participants this week.

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Find Volume #29 "Of Oddities & Change"
at Small Reflections

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For a Mr. Linky to other Haiku Fridays
go to A Mommy Story or
Playgroups are no Place for Children.

To see more previous Haikus,
click on the Haiku Friday label below this post
or in the sidebar under About Me.

Thought for Today
"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." Audra Foveo

Almost Wordless Wednesday - One Single Impression

Almost

The prompt for Week 6:
STRANDED

Photograph by John J. Greskovic, Jr., 1955
(found at National Geographic Vintage Photos)

Pennsylvania ...
Air Force heliocopter
saved hundreds when two

storms ravaged Scranton ...
August 1955
'Connie' and 'Diane'

yet 200 died
in these hurricanes ... stranded
by the flood waters.

Click for others participating this week in:
One Single Impression
and/or
Wordless Wednesday

Thought for Today
"We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth." Virginia Satir

Sacred Life Sunday - Pursuing Our Interests

Daily Meditation from
Keepers of the Wisdom
Reflections from Lives Well Lived
by Karen Casey

"Life is getting to be different, but I still have goals set and projects. I've got a closet full of them." Alice Merryman

Laziness is the prize some claim when they get old. That's okay if it really pleases them. However, most people feel better when they are involved in something beyond themselves. One of the most treasured gifts of older age is that we have the freedom to pursue whatever draws our interest. While working long hours and raising a family, we had to shelve some dreams for a better time. The better time has arrived.

Not everyone has a closet full of projects, but we all have one or two ideas we've thought about pursuing. Maybe we've considered taking a drawing class or chronicling the history of our family. Gardening is rewarding for those who do it. Agencies of all kinds need our help as volunteers. We still have our wisdom to contribute. What's most often needed is mere common sense. We don't lack for that, certainly, or we'd not have arrived at this rich old age."

"I'll talk with a friend about my life today.
New ideas will come to me.
New ideas mean new directions, too."

Haiku Friday #28 - Women's Tennis Update

Sony Ericsson Miami Tennis Tournament

Quality Tennis ...

Women's Semi-Final Match
Serena Williams

and Kuznetsova
split the first two sets then played
such a close 3rd set!

Physical trainer
certainly deserves a raise
helping Williams move!

All the games were long.
Many break points 'held' by each ...
Such intensity

and excitement as
neither faltered ... staying strong
clearly champions

both competing with
skill and determination!
On the other hand

(Photos found at Yahoo Sports)

the matches played by
these four women weren't the best
so I am hoping for

one more quality
match between Jankovic and
Williams Saturday.

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Click for the exciting
Men's Tournament Update

For a Mr. Linky to other Haiku Fridays
go to A Mommy Story or
Playgroups are no Place for Children.

To see more previous Haikus,
click on the Haiku Friday label below this post
or in the sidebar under About Me.

Thought for Today
"A successful person realizes his personal responsibility for self-motivation. He starts with himself because he possesses the key to his own ignition switch." Kemmon Wilson

Happy April Fools Day - One Single Impression

Week 5 - the prompt is Laughter

Even when there is
nothing clear to laugh about
choosing chuckles can

make the difference
turning things around because
laughter heals us all!

Click for others participating this week.


Because I love this topic ... I can't stop sharing!

Victor Borge thought
"Laughter ... the shortest distance
between two people."

Thought for Today
"the most wasted of all days is one without laughter" e e cummings