Molly's New Playmate and Morning Musings

Early Camera Critters too?


13 photographs
of three doggies having fun
early this morning

unplanned 'play-date' with
a new fur-friend & Layla ...
makes Molly happy

Meet 'Tripper'
the Catahoula Leopard Dog-Coon Hound Mix

Click mosaic to embiggen to see better
... for others participating in Thursday Thirteen
and Camera Critters too ;--)
See also Farewell Playdate at Happily Retired Gal

Morning Musings ...

Morning Musings ...

Click to embiggen if you wish to
read the text of my Morning Musings ...

Thought for Today
"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Pablo Picasso

My World - Sunday Evening Concerts in the Park

Belated addendum: Scroll down for my first ...

Sunday evenings folks
gather in the park to hear
free summer concerts.

Click to embiggen for better viewing






Click images to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in My World

Morning Musings ...

Doodled in this book
just about 12 years ago ...
lessons recycled.


Click to embiggen if you wish to read the text.

Doodled yesterday
sorting out what's in my mind
before setting forth ...



Afternoon Addendum
I just encountered PseudoAnonymous High School Teacher
and learned of Random Tuesday Thoughts

I'm wondering if my 'morning musings' qualify?
Click 'doodles' to embiggen if you wish to read the text.

Thought for Today
"What keeps nagging at you to take action that you keep holding back on, postponing? Don't wait. participate, risk, and grow now. The longer you hide out in the attempt to remain safe, the more you become fearful, nervous, hesitant. You will not be present as a participant in birthing a new world, a world that very much wants and needs the contribution of your consciousness."
Michael Bernard Beckwith from Spiritual Liberation

Early Morning Musings and Camera Critters

Morning Musings ...
shared in the Late Afternoon

Old Lessons Revisited Anew

I'm reading Wally Lamb's 3rd novel ... THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED. I started over at the beginning yesterday because it had been a while since I'd picked it up ... and I couldn't pick up the threads easily.

After reading the first 119 pages again, I set the book aside and did other things. This morning as I sat down with coffee & my journal, I realized that starting as he did with a compelling story line made me willing to read carefully through his 'stream of conscious' style childhood memories in Chapter 4 that I might otherwise have skimmed.

Although different in particular from my own childhood recollections, the ESSENCE of many RESONATE ... leaving me wondering whether such happenings are common to childhood per se ... and that led me to wonder ...

How much residual GUILT fuels my STUCKNESS?

What PRETENSES interfere with CLOSENESS even today?

In Lamb's story, the character Velvet Hoon 'sabotages' her writing success and 'wrecks' her relationship with Caelum. His silence adds to the shame through secrecy ... and with this in mind I picked up my pencil and wrote in my journal as follows:

Click to embiggen if you wish to read the text.

After writing, I took Molly for a walk and when we returned 'the pug trio' (shared previously in a March Camera Critters post at Small Reflections) stopped by for a visit.

When I came inside there I found a phone message from a friend and we made quick plans to walk down to the pier to watch the US Open Surf Championships for a few hours.

This afternoon, I spent a few hours reading the next 100 pages in Lamb's book before sitting down at the computer to create today's post ... hence my 'Morning Musings' showing up in the late afternoon rather than earlier today.

This is my 84thMisty Dawn started the meme and explains the rules here.

Jake has his eye on the smaller ball Molly's chewing on ...

but settles for this bigger tennis ball

surprising us all by being able to carry it in his mouth.

Meet Noah & Alle ... elderly pugs who

observed Molly & Jake from a distance ...

Ms. Kitty watched the doggies play

hidden safely behind the patio chairs ...

Molly & Jake wonder if Layla might come join them ...

while the neighbor's cat Daisy watches from her bench.

Click images to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Camera Critters

Thought for Today
" Opportunity is a parade. Even as one chance passes, the next is a fife and drum echoing in the distance." Robert Brault

Thirteen Thoughts on Thursday

Thirteen ...

What I know is true
(though I often forget & need to remind myself)

1. Our internal dialogue has power and energy.

2. We can choose our thoughts ... releasing that which no longer serves.

3. Thoughts can help or hinder progress ... making things simpler or harder.

4. Some habits serve us well ... others don't.

5. Change requires acceptance of what is and thoughtful consideration of 'what might be ... if only' ...

6. Resistance is futile & frustrating ... (Are there any other Trekkies out there?)

7. Distractions are inevitable ... they can be useful and/or laughed at & released when we're aware and focused on the highest good for all concerned (including ourselves) ...

8. Judgment keeps us (and others) stuck.

9. Discernment opens up possibilities and creates options ... alternatives.

10. There are MANY right answers to most questions and unlimited possibilities available in each moment.

11. The point of power exists in the present ... and choice is a gift from our creator. We must give that which we most long to receive for giving and receiving are the same.

12. God loves us just as we are ... sees the perfection even when we don't ... and is with us always.

13. Whatever the question, love is the answer. (Thank you Jerry Jampolsky)

Click mosaic to embiggen to see better
... for others participating in Thursday Thirteen
and for 13 Healing Affirmations at Small Reflections today.

Frequently my thoughts
spill upon the page in most
convoluted ways.

Click to embiggen my convoluted morning musings ...
What are YOU thinking today?

7-24-09 Addendum:
You might enjoy these wonderful Life Lessons shared by Sylvia ... encountered yesterday after sharing my T-13 lists.

Thoughts for Today
"A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on." Carl Sandburg

"If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children." Mahatma Ghandi

"As a child lives today, he will live tomorrow." John Dewey

Monochrome Mosaic - Morning Musings

Shared this morning at
Small Reflections ... converted
to black & white twice.

Subtle differences
leave me wondering which one
is my favorite.

Urban Landscape

Scenic Landscape

Click to embiggen for better viewing

for the original Mellow Yellow version ... and for
other Monochrome Maniacs.

Perhaps you'd be kind
enough to share your views in
comments to assist?

Fog obscured this morning's sunrise so it's not as pleasant to sit on the patio today ... though the chill in the air belies the heat to follow later. Beach life is more variable than 'inlanders' might realize. This morning's stillness reminds me that even though local birds aren't yet active ... occasional engines indicate folks are headed off to begin their day elsewhere. I'm grateful to be retired ... without a set schedule ... free to use the day as I choose.

Palms drip dew ... staining the sidewalks below.
African Lilies in my yard
open wide yesterday, have closed up ...
folded inward
yet in JP's yard they're in full bloom
while totally 'finished' at M & J's.

Everything in it's own time ;--)

Louise Hay reminds us that RESISTANCE is a point of entry!
I know that FEAR is another.

Prosperity is not a problem for me ...
FLOW is!
I block flow by holding on to that which
I no longer use, need, or want
simply out of HABIT
and FEAR ...
even when I know from experience
the habit no longer serves me well
and that the fear is unfounded.

I survived the loss of
Dad
Mom
my marriage
friends moving away
my big brother
and a significant betrayal of trust ...
the loss of fur-friends Ralph & Charly

I lost nothing but the ILLUSION
the perception of what was
for love remained ... steadfast.

LOVE lifted me
held me
comforted me
even through the loss of my health
and led me to recovery.

Action and inaction require BALANCE.
Paying attention helps me shift appropriately between the two.

Knowing WHEN to be still and listen
when to move with bold purpose
takes practice
and a willingness to ERR
in the service of learning.

There's no need to BE perfect.
Perfect is BORING and DANGEROUS
limiting to self
irritating to others.

Perfection is in the imperfection
the willingness to make mistakes
and to learn from them.
It takes as long as it takes ...
and even THAT is perfect.

Feeling the fear and moving forward anyway
I take one step at a time
remembering that FEAR (like resistance)
is an old friend
rather than the enemy ...
and I welcome the familiarity with gratitude
as I step out in faith.

Thought for Today
"Rejoice in the small new beginnings. ... Remember that things come and go ... when something goes it is only to make room for something new and better." Louise Hay

BYBS - Morning Musings - Watching the Sunrise

This marks my 402nd post at Sacred Ruminations.
Who knew I'd be so prolific?

Watching sunrises
over the last few days leaves
me filled with gratitude.

Click to embiggen for better viewing ...
for a mosaic of yesterday's sunrise

and for other Southern California Sky Views here ...
at Happily Retired Gal and Small Reflections

Watching Tom Watson
at the 'Open' ... one off the
lead at the age of

59 -- almost
60 (in two months) -- compete
with strong young golfers

making history.
Whether or not he pulls off
a win ... he reminds

each of us today
what is possible when we
focus energy!

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

See my Daily Gratitude List
in the sidebar at Small Reflections

What are some blessings in YOUR life currently?

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
"Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, quality of the imagination, vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life." Samuel Ullman

Window Views - Looking at the Skies - Haiku Friday

(belatedly ... with some Early Morning Musings too)


Yesterday when I
took my writing things outside
I discovered this

delightful sunrise ...
so I grabbed my camera
then watched it unfold

creating my own
'window' perspective to share ...
Hope you enjoy it.


Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in
Window Views, Haiku Friday & Looking at the Sky

Morning Musings


Perceptions and Choices

This morning in my
email box there were reports
about visitors

to my Blogger sites.
These arrive weekly but I
seldom look at them

yet for some reason
today I did look and to
my surprise I found

surprising results.
Who would have suspected that
in less than two years

so many might find
and visit my little blogs
without my knowing?

Comments don't reflect
traffic such as these numbers
suggest ... perhaps more

people 'lurk' and look
than most of us realize.
Gives one pause to think

Things are often not
what they seem. Our choices DO
create impact. We

may not recognize
just how far-reaching or who
might be affected.

So to all unseen
visitors ... I'm glad you came
and I wish you well.

Hugs & blessings,
storyteller


Thanks to Michele of Rocky Mountain Retreat
for sharing this lovely gift ;--)

Site Meter Data
-- Small Reflections Site Summary ---

Visits

Total ....................... 24,309
Average per Day ................. 27
Average Visit Length .......... 2:59
This Week ...................... 187

Page Views

Total ....................... 51,928
Average per Day ................. 43
Average per Visit .............. 1.6
This Week ...................... 301 

-- Sacred Ruminations - Site Summary ---

Visits

Total ....................... 15,147
Average per Day ................. 12
Average Visit Length .......... 3:01
This Week ....................... 85

Page Views

Total ....................... 31,350
Average per Day ................. 20
Average per Visit .............. 1.7
This Week ...................... 142           

Perhaps I'll nose around Happily Retired Gal to see what stats might be available at WordPress ... just because ;--

Thought for Today
"Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments."
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy