Full Moon over Scottsdale, Arizona – July, 2017
The Magic of Moonlight.
The full moon’s smoldering glow
illuminates the evening desert sky
Peeking and hiding amidst billowy clouds
in shades of creamy coral and milky opal.
Palm trees elegantly pirouette
with delicate fronds fluttering fluidly
While the wind whispers a soft lullaby
in hushed tones of serene tranquility.
Good night sweet summer day…
sleep peacefully in contented slumber.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Last week, Hubby and I had the great privilege of traveling approximately 2,000 miles across the U.S. to visit a beautiful area of our country far different from the area we live in – the desert Southwest of Scottsdale and Sedona, Arizona.
A highlight of our trip was sightseeing the beautiful Red Rock Mountains of Sedona. I took quite a few pics, but haven’t had much time to look at yet since we’ve just returned. Here is one I really like, but even it doesn’t compare to the enormity, the vastness, and the beauty of experiencing this beautiful corner of the world in person.
The rocks in Sedona are a deep, rich, orange-red like no others around. Apparently, they are comprised of sediment layers deposited over many millions of years*. The shale foundation is the remainder of ancient swamp lands. Other layers are the remainder of an ancient beachfront, known as the “Schnebly Hill Formation,” that deposited iron about 275 million years ago. The Coconino sandstone layer was formed at a time when Sahara-like dunes covered the majority of the Western US. The Kaibab limestone layer was deposited when a warm shallow sea covered the area about 250 million years ago.
The Red Rocks we see today were formed several million years ago when the uplifting of the Colorado Plateau that created the Grand Canyon also caused water to carve out Sedona’s red rock, cake-like layers. Currently, Sedona is considered to be a part of the Colorado Plateau and is in the process of making mountains, raising an average of one inch every 60-80 years!
The temperatures during our one-week visit ranged between a low of 102 to a high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit! Whoooowheee it was hot! It was a different kind of hot than we are used to in the Eastern part of the U.S., however, as the humidity levels were only around 10% as compared to our typical 50-100%, so it was much more pleasant. (Especially when in the pool with a frozen margarita!)
This is a place in the U.S. that anyone who can, should experience!
Thanks for the memories Sedona!
I look forward to creating some paintings from your beautiful inspiration!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
P.S. Thanks Jayme and Ryan for being our gracious tour guides! ❤
Orange Begonia – July, 2017 – Mars, PA
We don’t always grow when things are easy,
We don’t always blossom when the sun is bright.
Grow through the challenges.
Blossom through the darkness.
Life your life as fully and courageously and boldly as you can.
It’s your opportunity to bloom!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS Thanks, Jan, for these beautiful flowers, they are still vibrantly blossoming!
Frozen Grapes in Pinot Grigio
Chilling White Wine.
I recently learned about this great tip for keeping your white wine chilled without watering it down.
Freeze a bag of grapes, and use them as “ice cubes.”
At the end of your drink, you have a wonderful treat of wine soaked grapes to enjoy! And your wine stays full flavored to the very end.
I am definitely more of a red wine girl, but I sometimes enjoy a light Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc or a crisp, buttery Chardonnay in the summer.
Dropping in a few frozen grapes makes it even more of a treat.
Enjoy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Amber Waves of Grain – America the Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
America the Beautiful.
Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July or July Fourth, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and were no longer part of the British Empire.
Happy Birthday America! Happy Independence Day to my fellow Americans!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
On our way home from dinner out one evening a week or so ago, I convinced Hubby to pull over when we drove by fields of grain growing as far as the eyes could see as the sun was setting. Amber waves of grain glowing in the sunset caused me to pause and rejoice in the beauty of the country we live in.
And lest you be fooled by the gloriousness of the moment… To get the right angle, I tried squatting in the field when my leg decided to cramp up, so I ended up on the ground with muddy knees and bum, and Hubby asking if I fell as he saw me rolling on the ground. Thank goodness nobody else saw! Just keeping it real here….. at life in between.
Purple Petunias
Stars don’t only shine at night.
Attract what you expect.
Reflect what you desire.
Become what you respect.
Mirror what you admire.Author Unknown
InspirationQuotesMagazine.com
Shine on Stars…
Shine on!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Impatiens Flowers – June 2017 – Mars, PA
Impatience.
It is hard to be patient,
when you are impatiently waiting…
For the sun to rise,
or for the sun to set.
For the next season to begin,
or for the former to end.
For the pot to boil,
or for the bread to rise.
For the punch line of a joke,
or the ending of a sad movie.
To start a new book,
or to reach the ending.
For the child to grow,
or for the child to remain small.
For the love of your life,
or for the ability to love life.
For that amazingly great moment,
or for each one in between.
Cheers and hugs,
Jodi
Early Morning Front Yard – Mars, PA – June, 2017
Morning is worth waking up to…
When the warmth of the sun casts its golden magic,
and the shadows of the awakening trees begin dancing.
The cool dew is refreshingly invigorating on bare feet in the grass,
and the light breeze of the night still lingers.
The chirping birds are rejoicing, drenched with enthusiasm,
soaring and fluttering with the butterflies and the bees.
Steaming dark roast coffee is poured and inhaled,
lightened with Italian sweet cream, and then sipped with pleasure.
Sleepy, swollen eyes begrudgingly awaken and brighten.
It’s time to embrace the unending number of possibilities of a brand new day.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
If being in the second half of life means Sunday mornings are even more glorious than Saturday nights, I’ll take it!
Into the Woods in our Backyard June 25, 2017 Mars, PA
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Yesterday was one of those
most amazingly glorious
Summer Sundays.
No agenda,
bright sunshine,
cool breeze.
I woke early,
sipped my coffee on the deck
with the birds and the rising sun.
I made old-fashioned macaroni salad
to chill and be just right
to accompany grilled burgers for dinner.
I took my watercolors
out onto the patio,
and I painted for hours.
And when it was time to move a bit,
Charlie and I headed to the woods
in our backyard.
We hiked until we got lost,
and then we found our way out through a neighbor’s backyard
on an intersecting street to ours.
It was a sauntering walk
with stops to breathe it all in, smell the fresh air,
and commune with nature.
The woods are a great place
to learn how truly small you
and your problems really are.
It’s a place to be small,
but come out feeling bigger
and better and complete.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Goldfinch and Grosbeak at the feeder – Mars, PA – June, 2017
Sometimes
I wonder
how you put up
with me.
Then I remember,
oh I put up with you.
So we’re even.
Author unknown
Lovingly dedicated to a guy I call “Merv.”
He calls me “Gert.”
I put up with him.
He puts up with me.
Let’s do it until eternity. ❤
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 