Herein are my
Morning (perhaps Midday) Musings
belated (or early) 'thirteen thoughts' for Thursday
with some neighborhood flowers
... just for the JOY of it!
Scroll down for Watery Outdoor Wednesday.
Midweek Blues, Yard Art, Thursday Thirteen,
and Just for the JOY of it!
1. It's hard to believe that my last post here at Sacred Ruminations was published on May 6th and that I shared my last 'randomness' on April 27th. I guess this is a result of altering my morning routine a while back ... (Just for the JOY of it) ... taking time to meditate and write in my journal by hand before turning on the computer.
2. I've chosen to set aside 'true but useless' information & things over which I have no control and decided instead to focus myself on 'really good things' ... (Just for the JOY of it) ... a practice which leads me to feel motivated to tackle tasks around home with renewed enthusiasm. I find myself coming to the computer (and/or the days news on the television) MUCH later in the day ... if at all.
3. One blessing of retirement is freedom to choose how I spend my time ... and for the last decade I've delighted in that opportunity. Occasionally, underneath the daily joys of retired life is the nagging feeling that I'm not contributing to the world as productively as I did ... once upon a time.
4. I'm aware that my yard is a gift to myself and others ... so when I spend time there watering, weeding, cutting back exhausted blooms and preparing the soil for new bedding plants ...(Just for the JOY of it) ... we all benefit. Sharing photographed views on my blogs extends the blessings to this virtual world ...
5. ... in addition, I've continued my daily habit of sharing thought-provoking quotes (Just for the JOY of it) in my blog posts (as I did for decades in the classroom) ... but wonder if that's enough?
6. I miss connecting with others in the virtual world through blog visits and feel out touch with those I've come to think of as friends in the Blogosphere ... so I'm hoping to find some 'balance' between the real & virtual worlds as time goes by.
7. I'm concerned about the continuing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico ... pray it can be contained soon so that necessary 'clean up' efforts can be initiated ... HOPE this disaster will help us come to our senses about offshore drilling, rethink our dependence on fossil fuels and build a consensus to commit to real change now.
8. My heart goes out to all those directly affected by this oil disaster and the natural weather related destruction interrupting the lives of people in affected areas.
Click any image to embiggen for better viewing ...
9. After some lovely Spring weather over the past few weeks that allowed me to write outside on my front patio, we've had nothing but slow drizzles for the past few days here in Southern California ... just enough to keep the ground damp and the temperatures in the mid-60s. Last night I fell asleep to the sound of gentle raindrops on the roof ...
Fun to catch droplets
suspended from these lemons
on the tree out front
Fun to catch droplets
suspended from these lemons
on the tree out front
10. Today is no exception. In just a few minutes outdoors with Molly, I found myself quite damp & chilled ... and I needed to dry her off with a towel when we came indoors so I suppose that the colorful bedding plants I purchased over the weekend (shared yesterday at Small Reflections) will need to wait a while longer before finding a place in my garden!
11. I'm grateful for the small market a few blocks from home carries 'half & half' so that I can walk to replenish my supply when I run low rather than drive to the supermarket. That acknowledged, I'm relieved to have to have fresh produce and food in the fridge this morning after a major shopping run yesterday ... and it's very 'kewl' to have saved almost $43 using coupons.
12. A good friend just got herself an iPhone and is very excited about it. I'm reminded that Verizon Wireless keeps telling me that I'm eligible for a new phone. I suspect they'd like me to upgrade my service to include a $29.99 'data' package, but methinks I'm happy with my current plan and 'low-tech' red flip phone. I don't 'twitter' and hardly ever check my Facebook account so it hardly seems worth spending more money for something I probably won't use. My main reason for having at cell phone at all is for the regular contact with my sister as she travels the Southwest with her husband ... Just for the JOY of it!
13. My rose bushes are without blooms at the moment, but fortunately there are lovely morning glories and roses (like the ones I've shared above) in yards all around my neighborhood ... and I've shared some with you here ... Just for the JOY of it!
Click for others participating in
Random Tuesday Thoughts, Midweek Blues,
Wordful , Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday,
Yard Art and Thursday Thirteen ... Just for the JOY of it
This 'yard art' seems like
it's been cast aside ... but I
like it anyway ;-)
Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in
Midweek Blues and Yard Art
Hope you're each having a delightful day!
Thought for Today
"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson
18 comments:
Your morning glory is absolutely gorgeous! I already wondered about you...I hear what you are saying -when our world becomes smaller, it can be a feeling of loss, missing the impact that we used to have on others.
Considered to start something you haven't done before?
The morning glories are beautiful, as are the roses, but I like that I finally get a close up of the fruit of that lovely lemon tree.
Thank you for sharing your joy! That's a gift to the world, don't you think?
I love the morning glories! The little crow and chick sign is too cute!
~ Tracy
Gorgeous colors. Love your little sign. Summertime is definitely here for some of us. Happy T13!
Those roses have such wonderful depth.
Beautiful flowers and thoughts! I love the lemons! Very cool.
absolutely exquisite flowers
Great sign, storyteller, I want it! Happy Yard Art Day! :)
What a lovely collection, your garden must be beautiful. ~ Calico Contemplations
Lovely post. Thanks for sharing your feelings about being retired and not feeling like you are contributing like you used to. I stopped working over a year and a half ago and I think those thoughts often. Plus everyone else is still working so there is not so much to do during the days. I am actually considering going back to work. Not that I really want to.
that's a cute sign. I like the metal flower thingy a lot too.
Kathy
Well, R.T, this is a really nice post. I've been retired for nine years now, Mrs. Jim has eleven. We both like it. Got to do things before time runs out now!
Happy MidWeek Blues. I was last to sign in.
Oh yes, my lemon tree had just one lemon this year. I think the bugs got that one, I can't find it anymore. The bees didn't come, they are all dying.
..
Those morning glories are - GLORIOUS! It is important be present to Joy in our everyday lives. Not listening to the news or perusing the internet is sometimes necessary for peace of mind. I love the lemon photo!
Your flower photos are spectacular, as always.
Love your yard art for this week, HRG!! Cute sign you found.
I'm also 'wistfully wondering where weeks went.' Time keeps flying and I cannot keep up.
So many blog friends I haven't been visiting. :-(
My routine has been shifting, too--I'm actually leaving the house to go to Nia classes and I'm focusing more on my fiction--and I'm really happy about both of those things. HOWEVER...it does mean more sporadic visits to the Blogosphere--both writing my own blog and visiting others--which makes me a little less happy. So I understand what you're feeling...but all we can do is the best we can do. Priorities shift and then shift again. If we can let go of the guilt, I'm sure we'd be much happier and much more adaptable!!
WOW! I Love those beautiful flowers!!
Junie
beautiful Morning glory, it is amazing you can find it every where. In Borneo tropics, in Temperate New Zealand and where you are.
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