Sunrise-Sunset#5 - BYBS#23 - Sacred Life Sunday

Thursday's Sunrise
from my front yard ... as promised on Friday

Click photo to 'embiggen' for a better view ...
for others participating in Sunrise-Sunset today.

Blog Your

on Sundays ...

It's been a while since I've shared 'Really Good Things' so I thought I'd do that today ... just because ;--)

1. The sunrise on Thursday was spectacular! I shared a few 'pink sky shots' from that morning on Friday, but saved the 'sunrise' photo at the top of this page (and a few other shots to be shared in future weeks) to publish separately. Isn't it magnificent?

2. Did you see the photos of the new baby reticulated giraffe born at the Memphis Zoo on August 29, 2008? Aren't these photos too amazingly precious for words?

Photo source: Memphis Zoo
Photos in collage are sequenced clockwise
and clicking on the collage will make it larger for better viewing.

"Giraffes give birth while standing, resulting in a slight fall to the ground for the baby upon its arrival. It typically takes 30 minutes to an hour for baby giraffes to begin walking" ... and they grow to be between 15-17 feet tall. Females can weigh up to 2500 lbs and males a ton or more. The first successful giraffe birth at this zoo occurred on November 5, 2006.

3. I was blessed by Hootin' Anni with two gifts of Halloween graphics lately. She's held 'drawings' at her blog all month for those who visit & leave comments ... and created different 'holiday thank you graphics' each week just for the winners. I acknowledged receipt of each at Small Reflections (the 1st in HF#79 and the 2nd today), but didn't mention them here ... until now. They're both 'kewl' and oh so creative. FYI - the first isn't up for grabs, but the second is a 'party favor' ... so if you have time (and haven't yet dropped by) ... do give her a visit to collect your copy by clicking this Halloween Manor link to see & enjoy all her nifty holiday stuph.

4. I want to thank Mike of MJG's Rambling Thoughts for the 'I love your blog' award that he received from Sandee of ComedyPlus ...
It comes with these rules:

1. Those who have received this award, can add the picture.
2. Add a link to that person’s blog who awarded you.
3. Choose 7 others to receive this award and add links to their blogs.
4. Leave a message to their blogs so that they know about this.

but since I have trouble following rulez ... I'm giving it to everyone who is 'following' either of my blogs & my 'regular bloggy buddies' ... (you know who you are, but I'll try to drop by and leave you a message letting you know it's here) ... because I love YOUR blogs too!

5. Thanks also to Mary of Mary's Writing Nook for this 'kewl' animated award! I need to learn to do this thing myself. In the meantime ... I would like to present all of my friends with this animated friends button. Right click and "save as." Since blogger doesn't like animated graphics, upload it to Photobucket, copy and paste the HTML code that's provided there to place it on your blog.

6. This past week was an incredibly busy one ... (so that I was away from home more than usual) ... but I was able to connect with friends in the 'real world' that I'd not seen for a while, get my hair cut & permed, catch up on the phone with my sister (who's currently traveling in the Florida 'Pan-Handle' ... headed for New Orleans next) several times, and still managed to publish daily at Small Reflections in addition to sharing four posts here at Sacred Ruminations. What I didn't have was nearly as much time to visit other blogs. I'm hoping next week won't be quite so rushed and that I'll have more 'discretionary' time for such things.

7. I'm grateful that the Santa Ana winds have stopped blowing and that the wildfires are under control (and/or extinguished) locally. It's hard to fathom that it's been almost a year since I started 'blogging' ... (while more than a dozen fires were burning in Southern California) ... but I'm thinking about how to celebrate my 1st Blogoversary at Small Reflections in 3 days and here at Sacred Ruminations in 4 days. I've made no firm decisions yet, but hopefully inspiration will strike and things will come together between now and then.

For others who 'Blog Their Blessings'

go to My Blog Rolls and/or click on the logo
at the top of this post.

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

Blessed Be ... and so it is!

Thought for Today
"As each day comes to us refreshed and anew, so does my gratitude renew itself daily. The breaking of the sun over the horizon is my grateful heart dawning upon a blessed world." Adabella Radici