BYBS and ... I did it - 30 posts in 30 days again!

NaBloPoMo - Day 30
Where did November go?

If YOU completed NaBloPoMo too,
you're welcome to snag & enjoy this NaBloPoMo award
and/or the one at Small Reflections today.
I'd very much appreciate a comment & linky-luv if you do so ;--)

This is my 28th BYBS ...
Gratitude abounds
in my mind & heart today ...
'tis the season of

remembrance & love.
May the Christmas Spirit bring
everlasting peace.

For others who 'Blog Their Blessings'

go to My Blog Rolls and/or click on the
Blog Your Blessings logo
above Really Good Things.

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

Blessed Be ... and so it is!

Thought for Today
"Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart." Washington Irving

Photo Hunt - Metal Marvels in Taos, New Mexico

NaBloPoMo-Day29

This week's theme is Metal

See also the Kokopelli metal sculpture in my sidebar
and my 'giraffe' Haiku Metal Photo Hunt too.

Click on the collage to 'embiggen' the images
and for other Photo Hunters this week.

If you're looking for this week's Haiku Friday Sky Watch
it's at my new WordPress site, Happily Retired Gal.
Haiku Friday #94 is below this post.
Haiku Friday #93 & Camera Critters are at Small Reflections

Thought for Today
"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today."
Cherokee Indian Proverb

Haiku Friday #94 - Sharing Awards

NaBloPoMo-Day28
Haiku Friday Sky Watch
is at my new blog - Happily Retired Gal
and Haiku Friday #93 is at Small Reflections

Blessed this week again
by my lovely 'bloggy' friends
with these 'kewl' awards ...

I would like to share
with my 'regulars' ... feel free
to enjoy & share

with YOUR 'bloggy' friends
as you choose, of course ... and if
time permits, check out

my new WordPress site
where you'll find a 3rd Haiku
in my Sky Watch post.

For others participating in Haiku Friday this week
go to A Mommy Story

Sandee of Comedy Plus shared all three (along with a few other awards that I've passed along previously & again yesterday at Small Reflections). She shared the following information about the Angel Award at the top (and I quote):

"Angel Baby over at Your Caring Angels is having her first birthday today. Happy Birthday Your Caring Angels. In honor of this milestone, she created the May Your Angel Always Watch Over You

I can’t believe that I have been working on this blog for a year. Boy, does time fly. I have made so many friends along the way. I think the friends we make here in the blogsphere are really special so in celebration of my First Birthday I am going to give away this award to all of my friends. This is the first award I have made all by myself so let me know how you like it. Please accept this award for all the love and support that you have given to me the past year, enjoy and be sure to pass it along to others with lots of love and a link back to me.

Here's all the folks that she gave this award to:

Wolfbernz, StarBaby, Trina, Bluedreamer, Barbara, Secret Simon, Bob, Coolingstar9, Bluecrystaldude, Colin, Mr. Viruz, Hye, Gimme A Dream, Larry, Stephen Levine, Lance, Billy Jack, David notes,Michael Lodispoto, Bluelicorice, Kimberly, Avee, RennyBA, Liara, Eastcoastlife, Ndpthepoetress, Mimi, NyteGoddessBoo, Sandee, Johnathan,Hanna, Posh Tottys Place, Sharin Gifts 4 U, Dickieboo, Surfaceearth, Eric S, Threio, Ice, Paula, Matt, Patty, Travis, Ly, FickleMinded, Ferd, Michael, Donna, MelissaQ, Shardana, Zhang, Sheri Angell, Paul.

I pass this award on to anyone who visits my blog. I appreciate each and every one of you and may your angel always watch over you."

Just like Sandee ... I hope your angels watch over you always too!

My friends Ivanhoe & Mike Golch gave a bunch of awards too and I believe I've passed them all along on each blog. I've misplaced the information about the middle 'lemonade stand' award, but will add the specifics when it turns up. I do recall it had something to do with making 'lemonade when life gives you lemons' ;--)

If you missed any, click the 'award' label under this post and/or here to find others. I'm grateful to each of my 'virtual' friends not only for the awards, but also for your visits & comments ... words of encouragement ... and the many wonderful posts that you create and publish on your blogs each day. I'm glad to have encountered you all!

Thought for Today
"The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you." John E. Southard

Counting my Blessings ... one by one

NaBloPoMo-Day27

On this Thanksgiving Day in the USA, I'm distressed by what's happened in Mumbai and am praying for all concerned.
Bobbie of Almost There posted the following on her blog:

"As we prepare for our Thanksgiving holiday, let's remember the people of Mumbai, India tonight. Today there are bombings, shooting, and hostages held in that city. Please pray for our fellow members of the Family of Man. ... I would encourage anyone who has email access to bloggers in Mumbai to send a message just letting them know that we care. My contact has twice sent messages telling me how much he appreciates knowing that people in other parts of the world know and care and offer their support. I'm sure that we would feel the same way if roles were reversed."

Although I don't have email access to anyone there, I'm passing her suggestion along ... just in case someone who DOES have such access might see this and respond. I hope you'll join us in prayer for peace in our world as we count our blessings on this day of remembrance.

Really Good Things

1. I'm blessed with excellent teeth (unlike my sister) and that's a very good thing because (like many others), I spent decades dreading visits to the dentist because of bad experiences when I was a child ... but after breaking a tooth several years ago (on a tortilla chip at a Mexican restaurant) and discovering my regular dentist had retired, I set about the task of finding a new one.

After checking with friends for recommendations & discovering their dentists weren't taking new patients, I said a prayer & decided to call 800Dentist as a last resort. I shared my previous unpleasant experiences & the anxieties I felt, then asked for a referral to a dentist with gentle hands, a kind demeanor and the best skills. That's how I found Dr. C ... (the best dentist ever), and I'm exceedingly grateful!

2. We've gotten some much needed rain (finally) in Southern California ... and fortunately it hasn't generated mudslides in the burn areas.

3. I'm grateful for 'bloggy friends & acquaintances' who have provided assistance during the 13 months I've been in the Blogosphere ... pointing the way for me to learn how to use basic HTML codes to modify my blogs, comments, and graphics. There's much more to be learned, but a year ago I had no clue what new skills & knowledge about blogging that this past year would bring ... and today (having just solved the 'comment visibility' issues at my new WordPress site), I'm delighted to have encountered all my 'virtual friends' and I wish each of you the best Thanksgiving Day ever (if you celebrate this holiday) or the most delightful day doing whatever you choose today! This is for everyone ... just because ;--)

Source: Tut.com

4. When time permits, you might enjoy some 'advice' on How to Stay Young that I received in email and shared at my new WordPress site, Happily Retired Storyteller, yesterday.

5. Finally, my "Giving Thanks Challenge' list of what I'm thankful for is my sidebar at Small Reflections ... currently at 27 and counting.
I plan to transfer the list from my sidebar to a post on the last day of the month, then start anew for December ... just because. I've also shared several awards there today for all my regular visitors on either blog. Feel free to drop by, snag, enjoy, & share any or all when time permits.

Thought for Today
"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds." Theodore Roosevelt

Wellness Wednesday and Thanksgiving Wishes

NaBloPoMo-Day26

I just returned from a
busy day away from home ...
and want to wish everyone who is celebrating
a very Happy Thanksgiving Day tomorrow ...
and to those who aren't ... have a delightful day doing whatever!

and after you enjoy that yummy traditional meal,
remember to take a pleasant walk ...

Thought for Today
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it." Soren Kierkegaard

Simply Kind Tuesdays - Self Compassion

NaBloPoMo-Day25

Week 4

As I explained last Tuesday, Claudia of Everyday Kindness has made some changes ... splitting the Everyday Kindness Challenge into two parts:

1. The original challenge to perform at least one act of kindness per day continues.
2. The new challenge is 'Simply Kind Tuesdays' ... the goal of which is to increase awareness of the kindness that surrounds us.

I invite you to participate in either or both challenges as time & energy permit. Clicking on the Simply Kind and/or Everyday Kindness logos at the top and bottom of this page will take you to others participating.

I happened upon a link to an article on 'self-compassion' at Mama's So Mindful recently and was reminded that until we're kind to ourselves, it can be difficult to practice kindness with others.
I commend this article and the accompanying website to you.

According to research by Dr. Kristin Neff, Associate Professor in Human Development at the University of Texas at Austin, there are three elements of self-compassion: Self-kindness, Common humanity, and Mindfulness.

The website provides information and tools for self-assessment.
Click if you'd like to find out how 'self compassionate you are',
for a self-compassionate exercise, and some suggestions to increase self compassion.


Thought for Today
"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble." Bob Hope

Monday Motivator and a chuckle or two ...

NaBoPoMo-Day24

On a lighter note ...

The Joy of Christmas Cards
A woman walks into the Post Office to buy stamps for her Christmas cards. "What denomination?" asks the clerk. "Oh, good heavens! Have we come to this?" said the woman. "Well, give me 50 Catholic and one Methodist."

(from Comedy Central. com)

Thought for Today
"Good instincts usually tell you what to do long before your head has figured it out." Michael Burke

Sunrise-Sunset#8 - BYBS#27 - Sacred Life Sunday

Scroll down for BYBS & Sacred Life Sunday
Click for Photo Hunt: Reflections and SkyWatch/Haiku Friday
Camera Critters & Unconscious Mutterings are at Small Reflections

NaBloPoMo-Day23

I took this sunset photo on
Saturday, November 15th, while the
Santa Ana winds were still blowing smoke
off shore and out to sea ...
conditions creating dramatic skies!

Click on photo to embiggen for better viewing.
Click for others participating in Sunrise-Sunset this week.

Blog Your

on Sundays ...

Really Good Things

1. I've thoroughly enjoyed keeping a cumulative gratitude list in the sidebar at Small Reflections this month ... adding one new thought each day. I'm definitely going to continue the practice during December.

2. After learning of a few unforseen 'disasters' with friends using Blogger and with help from Melissa at Part of Everything, I've managed to create 'backups of my blogs' ... sort of. The posts and comments show up, but not the 'widgets' ...

3. In addition, I've created a WordPress account and will be experi-menting with that platform as time permits. I've been wanting to compare the features & explore the possibilities for a while, but I have no immediate plans to make any significant changes. I just don't want to lose what I've created in the past 13 months or have
to start over from scratch if at all possible.

4. Although I've not had time to update Blog Rolls, Bling, & Blurbs for quite some time, I've received and shared several awards recently on this blog and at Small Reflections. If you missed them & time permits, check out An Autumn Award & a Blessing and HF#91 to snag, enjoy, & share them with others. Clicking on the 'label' award underneath those two posts will take you to other posts with awards I've shared officially but not yet added to my 3rd blog.

5. Interestingly, I've not found it difficult to publish daily on both blogs for NaBloPoMo. What has been challenging is keeping up with email & blog visits ... but as I continue to 'cull' the blogs in my 'reader' I suspect I'll eventually reach a more manageable number. In the meantime, I spend what time I can catching up with & responding to waiting emails.

Wishing all a
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

For others who 'Blog Their Blessings'

go to My Blog Rolls and/or click on the
Blog Your Blessings logo
above Really Good Things.

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

Blessed Be ... and so it is!

Thought for Today
"Thanksgiving is nothing if not a glad and reverent lifting of the heart to God in honor and praise for His goodness."
Robert Casper Lintner

Photo Hunt #31 - Rain Reflections

NaBloPoMo-Day22

Note: If you're looking for Sky Watch #21 or Haiku Friday #92 ... you'll find them below this post. Haiku Friday #91 is at Small Reflections.

This is my 31st

(My 29th for Together was at Small Reflections
& my 30th for Ruin(ed) at Sacred Ruminations)

This week's theme is Reflection

Remembering rain ...
I created this collage
with photos from a

storm from long ago ...
while anticipating that
predictions for rain

for So Cal arrive
in a gentle manner that
creates no mud slides

for five days next week
in the areas burned by
recent firestorms ...
.
Click for others participating in Photo Hunt this week.

Thought for Today
"To really enjoy the better things in life, one must first have experienced the things they are better than." Oscar Holmolka

SkyWatch #21 & Haiku Friday #92

NaBloPoMo-Day21

Haiku Friday #91
is at Small Reflections

Where has this day gone?
It's 4:49 pm ...
Friday's almost done

(Click for a larger view)

Better late than not
so I'm posting anyway
and hopefully I'll

have time tomorrow
to visit other Sky Watch ...
Haiku Friday posts.

Click for others participating in Sky Watch this week.

Haiku Friday #91 is at Small Reflections.

For others participating in Haiku Friday this week go to A Mommy Story. To see my previous Haikus, click on the Haiku Friday label below this post or in the sidebar.

In case you missed them, click for last week's posts:
An Autumn Award & a Blessing
What Kind of Helper are You?
Simply Kind Tuesdays - Giving Thanks
Monday Motivator
BYBS, Sunrise-Sunset, Sacred Life Sunday
Photo Hunt - Ruined by Wind-Driven Fire

Thought for Today

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair." Kahlil Gibran

An Autumn Award and a Blessing ...

NaBloPoMo-Day20

Thanks to Sandy of I Beati
for this lovely Autumn Award!
I'd like to pass it along to all my 'bloggy friends'
because I've 'Fallen' for YOUR Blogs too!

Thought for Today
"Friends are relatives you make for yourself." Eustache Deschamps

What kind of Helper are You?

NaBloPoMo-Day19

While clearing out my 'drafts' folder, I came across this post ... created last July (on the 12th apparently) and then forgotten about completely until I happened on it today ... so I've decided to change the date & publish it ... just because. Enjoy ;--)

After reading my Just for Fun (and perhaps a little insight too) post (that contains a different quiz ... equally intriguing), MPJ shared her responses at A Room of Mama's Own along with her results for this Quiz ...

You Are 5: The Investigator

You're independent - and a logical analytical thinker. My 'ex' and perhaps a few friends would laugh at the descriptor 'analytical' as related to me, so perhaps this part of my results are 'off' ... You love learning and ideas... and know things no one else does. This, however, may be more accurate, though there's much I don't know and probably never will. Bored by small talk, you refuse to participate in boring conversations. The older I get, the more true this is for me. You are open minded. A visionary. You understand the world and may change it. This one definitely 'resonates' with me ... At Your Best: You are sharp, inventive, and creative. You have the skills to lead the world. ... and so does this ;--) At Your Worst: You are reclusive, weird, and a bit paranoid. The older I get, the more reclusive I've become. I may be weird, but don't think I could be described as paranoid at all. Your Fixation: Greed This strikes me as odd, but I do have trouble letting go of things ... so perhaps there's something here for me to consider. Your Primary Fear: Being useless or incompetent. I'm not sure I would have thought this true either, but perhaps unconsciously there's a kernel of something in this as well? Your Primary Desire: Being competent and needed ... especially if this is true of me. Other Number 5's: Bill Gates, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Bjork, and Stephen Hawking. I certainly don't mind being included in this group, but i don't see myself as 'driven' enough to fit in here. ;--)

What Number Are You?

So ... are you ready to take this quiz and share ... either in comments below or on your blog? Perhaps you might also consider the quiz in my July post that started all this? If you share on your blog, please leave a link so I can follow along.

Thought for Today
"If you cannot be the poet, be the poem." David Carradine

Simply Kind Tuesdays - Giving Thanks

NaBloPoMo-Day18

Week 3

As I explained last Tuesday, Claudia of Everyday Kindness has made some changes ... splitting the Everyday Kindness Challenge into two parts:

1. The original challenge to perform at least one act of kindness per day continues.
2. The new challenge is 'Simply Kind Tuesdays' ... the goal of which is to increase awareness of the kindness that surrounds us.

I invite you to participate in either or both challenges as time & energy permit. Clicking on the Simply Kind and/or Everyday Kindness logos at the top and bottom of this page will take you to others participating.

I've written of this 'challenge' recently on both blogs, but in case you missed those posts (and because it's Simply Kind Tuesday today) ... here is something I'm doing that you might like to do as well as time permits.

I've posted this Giving Thanks Challenge Logo in my sidebar of both blogs & generated a list of things I'm thankful for underneath the logo in the sidebar of Small Reflections. I'm adding one more each day during the month of November.

I've written daily 'gratitude lists' in my journals for several decades and share periodically on this blog. After watching Yertle publish her 'gratitude lists' at Smile, Play, Dream over the past month or so, I've decided to continue this 'sidebar thankful practice' indefinitely ... moving each completed monthly list to a cumulative 'gratitude post' ... leaving a link to previous lists under new month's list.

Thought for Today

"Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all." William Faulkner

Monday Motivator #15

NaBloPoMo-Day17

"Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery.
And today? Today is a gift.
That's why we call it the present."
Babatunde Olatunji
"It is only possible
to live happily-ever-after
on a day-to-day basis."
Margaret Bonnano

If time permits, check out the 'Giving Thanks Challenge' ... and consider joining us. See my list in the sidebar at Small Reflections.

Thought for Today
"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties." Harry Truman