Sorry I’ve been so cryptic lately. I’ve been sort of down but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, right? The truth is that I’ve been experiencing some terribly sad times with the health and welfare of loved ones. A beloved co-worker stopped by my desk yesterday and said, “You don’t smile nearly as much as you used to.”
Things make me smile all day long, though. Beauty does. Children do also, with their innocence and sweetness and I’m blessed to work where I do because whenever I need a dose of cheer, I merely have to leave my desk and walk down the halls. Instant smiles ~
This is the scene that greeted me when I arrived home from work yesterday. I was smiling the whole way home and not only because it was Friday. The setting sun was making everything glow and everywhere I looked there was a beautiful scene to fill my soul with cheer. I captured this photo, and all the photos on this post, with my cell phone – shooting through the window of the car.
If I had won the Powerball this week, I would have bought this place and begun work to restore it to its former beauty.
It would scare me to win that much money, though.
But I think I could get over my fear.
Ha!
This morning, I got up early due to an appointment at Honda service for our beloved Element which we hardly drive anymore. Our son uses it occasionally and it was time to have it winterized and have a few issues addressed.
I shot these last two photos while the sun was coming up during my drive.
As I write this, I’m sitting in the waiting room. I think I’ll stop at my favorite store on the way home because they’ll have their holiday displays going on. Maybe that will help get me in the right frame of mind. (And maybe I’ll buy a little something).
In the meantime, here’s one of my favorite holiday tunes.
Have you begun listening to holiday music yet? I started this week with a CD I’ll share with you here. I love the sweet sound of the harp, and bought this one from the Isabella catalog recently.
Not for everyone, but it quiets my mind.
Christmas Lullaby – Kim Robertson, Solo Celtic Harp
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Enjoy your weekend, my friends ~
I feel better already just talking with you all.
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27 comments:
Love that CD with Catherine Feeny. I think I purchased the entire CD last year. You are right about sometimes needing quiet music. I love music and when doing computer work something soft and quiet works best so as not to get in the way of my thinking process.
Lovely sunrise photos and for some reason they remind me of some of the skies in the movie Gone With The Wind. :)
Have a beautiful day.... I did the 'waiting for my car at the auto place' earlier this week. :-)
Some days it's harder to smile than others.
Last night's sunset WAS glorious! I photographed it , and I plan to use it as my opening photo for my kitchen window post tomorrow ... shhh, don't spoil the surprise. :)
No Christmas music yet, not one decoration have I unpacked.
May the smiles find you.
Dear Kate; sounds like you are handling your cares as well as you possibly can - counting your blessings, looking for beauty. I, too, have close family with serious health concerns; it is wearing.
As for listening to holiday music, I have a 10-year-old. Needless to say, we started earlier than I prefer - before Thanksgiving.
prayers are being thought your way...and I love that first photo.
I wish I would have won part of that powerball too. Wouldn't it be nice if that would split it up by the number of millions? so 580 people could have won 1 mill each? it could sure change my life and 479 other people too, instead of just two families with more money than they will know what to do with it all.
just a thought. Hope you find many beautiful gems to smile about today Kate.
peace n abundance,
CheyAnne
good morning.... thank you for the lovely shots to look at while I drink my coffee;
there is so much that can weigh heavy on us and some souls absosrb that weight harder than others and some souls have more weight to bear than others.... sharing some of that weight with friends is always a good thing
sometimes it is a conscious effort to look for things to smile about; thank you for being one of those people that does that and thank you for sharing your smiles with us... I'm deciding to smile this morning :)
(and I've slowly added Christmas music to my listening... don't want to overdo it too soon!)
Hi Kate.. Those are beautiful photos of the sunset.. I love winter sky's, they have so much color and energy!
I am so sorry about the sorrows you are experiencing. I think we are getting to the age where it becomes a part of life. You are handling yours beautifully by looking for the blessings around you everyday.
My 16 y/o dtr and I love christmas music and have been enjoying it a lot.. my hubby and 13 y/o son... not so much!
I love the Isabella catalog. I started listening to Christmas music on Thanksgiving. I'm working my way through all the CDs -- cleaning out -- and I had to find the Christmas CDs. Hope you got yourself a treat!
Lovely photos ! Yes pretty scenery makes me smile to ! I love and have all the original Christmas CD's Bing Crosby , Frank Sanatra ya know the oldies, one that's all orgistrated and there's my fave Country Christmas from Alan Jackson . I do hope you feel better soon and are able to get out of the slump !
I'm sorry you have those troubles in your life. The radio station I regularly listen to in the morning getting ready for work goes "all Christmas" on Nov. 15 every year. I think that's too early, I'm not at all in the mood yet...we don't decorate until about 12/10 or a little later. If course, I live in AZ and getting in the Christmas spirit is a little harder here.
I hope you have a happy weekend, Kate.
There is something contagious about the smiles of children, isn't there?
There is Christmas music being played on one of the Sirius stations on the car radio now. I am really enjoying it. Plus, the senior women's chorus of which I am a part has already presented our Christmas program once this past week. We have four more performances to go!
Sending peace and joy to you, Kate!
Hello! I missed the last post, not sure why, so I went back and looked and watched the little film snippet. The music and the scene, so beautifully underplayed but full of intense feelings, made my heart ache.
These are such sad and powerful times. I like how honest you are and how carefully you keep dignity in this funny old online world. But however strange it is to write to and hear from so many unseen strangers I believe we touch each other in real ways and I,like so many others here, care about you and send you prayers.
Look out for those feathers!
love Kate x
Just stopping by to say hello - not much time for blog-hopping these days. Lovely sunset shots and thoughtful writing, as always.
Enjoy your weekend too Kate. I know what you mean about children. I work in the school library of my son's school on a Friday and so many of the pupils can make me smile and laugh in the face of sadness. It's a privilege to be a part of their lives.
Now you have me worried. I hope you're okay. And I've been listening to to Christmas music for a few weeks. I love it. xoxo
Kate, I wish there were some way each of us could send you an extra bit of strength, of hope, of tenacity to add to your own (which is impressive). Perhaps that is what each comment here will achieve....
Here's hoping that the next beautiful sunset you capture will find less weight and worry upon your heart...
Hugs
Issy
I hope you did stop by your favorite stores and that it brought you joy!
Kat
The photos of the sky are amazing!
Sometimes life just kicks us in the butt! It's kicking me big time right now--one of my daughters has serious health problems and will have a bone marrow biopsy next week. My new job has been miserable--Hope I can make it til June when my retirement is vested. Then I may work part time so I can pay health insurance! Hang in there--there's got to be a ray of sunshine behind the clouds!
Sorry your're down. The photos do make you smile though! Yes I've started listening to Christmas music. I started yesterday and will till Christmas. Have to get my yearly fill!
Rough patches are tough to get through sometimes.
Here's to hoping you have LOTS to smile about this coming week :)
Doesn't the sun do wonderous things to the sky?!!
Lovely images of a marvelous sky.......I believe the sky shows me how much I am loved, even when I am going through the toughest of times. Melancholy follows me around at this time of year, waiting for me to slow down so that it can pounce....I hope you will keep looking up......because there is much love being sent your way right now.
Thinking of you Kate! I know you always look for the joy no matter what. xo
The Christmas Song is my favorite carol. Ever.
That gorgeous light was making me smile, too.
I'm kin to Scrooge.....I just don't get happy about XMAS.
I hope you find your smile.
oh, those missing smiles....funny how people around us can point that out to us, isn't it?
well no matter, you make ME smile and sheesh, how do you get such great photos while driving ?
xo
Lovely sky photos my dear!
This is the time of year that I feel the most down too ...and I am not dealing with the issues you are. Maybe it's the holidays, maybe it's the decreasing sunlight maybe it just is. Be extra kind to yourself please!
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