"We become what we think about." ~ Earl Nightingale

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I hope you'll look around & leave comments
then visit me at my new blog ...

Giraffe Journal

and/or website ... Labyrinth Journal
both self-hosted at WordPress
where I publish as myself
rather than under a
pseudonym.

I've not had much time for posting or blog visits, but if you're interested I hope you'll find time to check out my new blog, Giraffe Journal or my Labyrinth Journal website ... both self hosted at WordPress.

Thanks for your visit and have a delightful day ;--)
Hugs and blessings,


Sunday, November 16, 2008

BYBS#26 - SunriseSunset#7 - Sacred Life Sunday

Scroll down for BYBS & Sacred Life Sunday
NaBloPoMo-Day16
This morning's sunrise ...
taken as I walked home from
taking the photos in the 1st collage below.

Click for others participating in Sunrise-Sunset.

Southern California Firestorm Update
Although it's smokey where I live, the closest fires are 30-40 miles away ... burning in Corona, Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, Chino, & Brea, and Diamond Bar is threatened this morning. I am safe where
I am, but my heart goes out to & my prayers are with all those affected by this disaster.


Earlier this morning (around 6:30) I walked to the ocean with my camera and took the photos in the first collage. Around 7:15am
I drove to Bolsa Chica to take the photos in the second collage.


The smokey conditions today are quite different that yesterday when I drove along Pacific Coast Highway. Then (unfortunately)
I neglected to bring my camera when I left home. Yesterday dark black smoke billowed upwards and swirled around in ominous shapes, but today the smoke is gray and hovering low on the
horizon with blue skies above.


Smoke from the wild fires ...
hangs over the ocean off the So Cal coast ...
and inland too ... looking from Bolsa Chica Beach
northeast toward the Triangle Complex Fires
in Orange & Riverside Counties.

Collaged with PSE6 using my own photos taken this morning.

The Triangle Complex fire is just 5% contained as of 11:00am ... winds have lessened making it possible to use fixed wing planes & helicopters to assist fire-fighters on the ground. Overnight the winds in the canyons were at 25mph ... gusting to 45mph.

Apparently 10,500 acres have burned since yesterday morning ... more than a hundred homes destroyed ... 3500 homes are threatened ... 7 fire fighters have been injured ... 26,000 people evacuated, and currently the city of Diamond Bar is threatened.

I found this map on the Internet ...
it provides a view of the areas affected.
Source: KNX1070

Please pray for quick containment and for everyone affected ... especially the fire-fighters facing dangerous conditions on precarious terrain.

Blog Your

Photobucket
on Sundays ...

Really Good Things
This week I have much for which to be grateful.

1. I'm delighted that Mary, the teach, at Work of the Poet
shared a link to the Giving Thanks Challenge hosted by South Breeze Farm. I've checked it out, decided better late than never & invited my readers at Small Reflections to participate. I encourage YOU to check it out as time permits and join in on your blog ... inviting all to participate as well ... just because.

2. I've posted the Giving Thanks Challenge Logo in my sidebar & generated a list of things I'm thankful for in the sidebar of Small Reflections and am adding one more each day during the month of November. I may continue this practice indefinitely ... perhaps moving each monthly list to another location & leaving links in the new month's list.

3. I'm grateful to my friend, Jackie, who shared great holiday idea. I included it in Saturday's post at Small Reflections and want to share here too ... just because. After checking with Snopes Urban Legends Reference Pages, I learned about a Holiday Mail for Heroes program sponsored by the American Red Cross that I believe is a wonderful project. If you decide to participate, take a minute to check out guidelines & details at the Holiday Mail for Heroes link.

4. This morning I had a wonderful conversation with my Taos Writing Buddy on the phone. I shared with her (and am now sharing with all who pass by) that I've made a commitment to myself to work a half hour mornings & afternoons on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays and a half hour in the afternoons on Tuedays & Thursdays (while I'm attending PSE6 classes mornings on those days) for as long as it takes to get rid of 'clutter' downstairs in my home.

Although I have no specific time frame for completion of this task ... as a reward to motivate myself, when I've finished, I plan to hire someone to clean the downstairs for me. I intend to use the same schedule to get the upstairs clear of clutter. I'm hopeful that committing to this plan & making it public will help me finally 'simplify' my life & surroundings as I've wanted to do for quite a while now.


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
"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live." Jackie Windspear

8 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

Oh my gosh storyteller....I love the sun photo...with all the palm trees! Just gorgeous.

Joyce said...

Hello, Storyteller,
So much to which I could respond! First, as always, the quote really 'spoke' to me. It goes along with the Giving Thanks Challenge, I think. A heart full of God's grace is a THANKFUL heart. In fact, that's what our sermon this morning was about, in great measure.

Thanks for the map of the fires. I'm continuing to care and pray for the folks in So. CA.

Stay safe!

SandyCarlson said...

These are wonderful blessings. I will have to check out the link that Mary sent you. Her info is always very worthwhile. I love the warmth and energy that comes through your posts.

CyberCelt said...

Wow, you have some plans! I work on clutter one small area at a time, when I do it. Otherwise, I just get overwhelmed.

Have a great week.

Maude Lynn said...

I'm so glad to know that you're safe. I've been thinking about my California friends!

Dianne said...

I have been watching coverage of the fires and it is heartbreaking and frightening

my thoughts are with everyone

glad you are OK, your photo collage is lovely

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

I pray that those fires are contained quickly.....and I hope that you remain safe.

Unknown said...

It doesn't seem right for the skies to be blue while things are ablaze now does it. :( Does the gray smoke mean things are getting under control?