“And the sun took a step back, the leaves lulled themselves to sleep and autumn was awakened.” ~ Raquel Franco, ‘Keep Me Wild’ Monday, Sept. 23 was the first day of autumn (and also the birthday of husband Doug). Summer passed with such great speed that I feel a bit cheated. Pool-time is in […]
“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.” Chinese proverb In 2009 my life changed considerably. Our oldest married and the youngest graduated from high school, all within a year’s time. Call it bittersweet if you will. One minute, our house was Grand Central Station or front row at […]
“The weather was so contrary and fierce that the rain wasn’t mere rain or the wind just wind – this was a conspiracy of the elements.” ~ Georges Simenon 1903-89 Belgian author Typical summer weather here – hot and hotter. Typical summer weather along the East Coast unfortunately often includes hurricanes. As Hurricane Dorian winds […]
“Nature’s message was always there and for us to see. It was written on the wings of butterflies.” ~ Kjell B. Sandved, Norwegian publisher and photographer for the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of Natural History Here in the foothills of the Crescenta Valley, summer conditions are pretty much as we expect for mid-July. […]
“Nature uncovers the inner secrets of nature in two ways: one by the force of bodies operating outside it; the other by the very movements of its innards. The external actions are strong winds, rains, river currents, sea waves, ice, forest fires, floods; there is only one internal force – earthquake.” […]
“And since all this loveliness can not be Heaven, I know in my heart it is June.” – Abba Goold Woolson, 19th-century American writer and lecturer This is it! Things are heating up and I think we are now in for the long haul. There’s no turning back now. The first day of June was […]
“To be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring – these are some of the rewards of the simple life.” ~ John Burroughs, naturalist and essayist No May grey here, at least not caused by the expected seasonal overcast skies and fog. Our gray […]
“I’m singin’ in the rain Just singin’ in the rain What a glorious feeling I’m happy again … Let the stormy clouds chase Everyone from the place Come on with the rain … Da da da da da da I’m happy again I’m singin’ and dancin’ in the rain I’m dancin’ and singin’ in the […]
“Meanwhile, spring came, and with it the outpourings of Nature. The hills were soon splashed with wild flowers; the grass became an altogether new and richer shade of green; and the air became scented with fresh and surprising smells – of jasmine, honeysuckle, and lavender.” ― Dalai Lama XIV, The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama […]
“A gush of bird-song, a patter of dew, a cloud, and a rainbow’s warning. Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue – an April day in the morning.” ~ Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford (April 3, 1835 – Aug. 14, 1921), American writer of novels, poems and detective stories Spring weather teeter-totters between the two seasons, winter and […]