Spring in Mars
is a little confused.
The beautiful Japonica
that yesterday looked like
it was playing the harmonica
now thinks it is time
to celebrate Hanukkah
with Veronica
and drink a gin and tonica!
Just a little silliness
to cherish the moments
that nature throws our way
each and every day.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS – How many words can you think of that rhyme with Japonica ?
34 years ago
on April 3, 1982,
a 19 year-old girl
said “I do”
to a 23 year-old boy.
They didn’t know
how quickly time would fly
creating a life together
experiencing love together
raising a family together
growing old together.
Today, a 53 year-old girl smiles
at a 57 year-old boy
whose eyes still twinkle
when she gives him a winkle.
One of aging’s most precious gifts
is our eyes growing bleary
causing us to look with our hearts
at those we love
and see the beauty
that radiates from within.
We don’t see the wrinkles.
We just see the twinkles
that can only be viewed
from the experience
of a lifelong love.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Your mind is a garden.
Your thoughts are seeds.
You can grow flowers,
or you can grow weeds.
– paraphrase from William Wordsworth
Choose flowers!
Cherish the moments.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Cloudy with thoughts of…
cottony comfort
feathery fluffiness,
delicate dreams.
Cloudy with the opportunity to…
embrace the breeze,
find comfort in the shadow,
feel the freedom to fly.
Cloudy with a chance of…
clear thoughts,
a bright future,
a sunny attitude.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Squire’s Castle, North Chagrin Reservation, Willoughby Hills, OH
Some build castles
of stone and mortar
and brick and clay
on top of hills
overlooking fields and valleys and streams.
They want to tell the world
they are rich and powerful
and should be looked up to
and should be seen
and should be honored and admired and revered.
But the very best castles
are the ones that are built
with love and compassion
with respect and dignity
with humbleness and grace.
They are built in the fields and the valleys and streams.
The everyday experiences of life.
They are life.
They are the good life.
The life well lived.
The life well loved.
The best castle of all.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The above pictured castle was one I visited this past weekend with a few “princesses” that I love. Thanks for showing me the true meaning of castles… of life… of friendship… of love…. Pam, Anna, and Joan… ❤
Learn more about Squire’s Castle here.
Your outstretched branches reach far and wide
as you bear the harsh, cold winds
and weight of frozen snow.
You wait,
and you withstand the torture.
Then,
when the breezes become gentle again
and the sun shines bright and warm,
you peek out
with little buds
that become leaves
and bear fruit and flowers.
You provide beauty and nourishment and shelter.
And when you can take no more,
you let go.
You drop your leaves,
and you welcome the chill.
And the cycle of seasons starts over again.
Even in the shadows
of cold, gray winter days
the Rose of Sharon seed pod
glows with vibrant light
and hope
and promise
of pink and purple petals
and green leaves
and summer sunshine
if only
we are
patient enough
to wait.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Wishing you a sprinkle
of weekend holiday twinkle
that causes your nose to crinkle,
laugh lines lest a wrinkle,
and eyes that have a winkle!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Pittsburgh, PA – The City of Bridges – 12/5/15
Let’s build a bridge
that will float above the fog,
that connects confusion,
destroys division,
fastens friendship,
links love,
joins jurisdiction,
unites understanding.
Let’s build a bridge
of peace.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Dancing in the Autumn sunlight
amidst coffee-colored trunks and wispy branches
with marshmallow fluff and smoky gray clouds floating
in an azure blue sky
above a carpet of fading green grass…
A few bright leaves hang on to life
in bold and brilliant bursts
of crimson and honey and marmalade.
Autumn’s Final Act.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Photo taken 11/21/15 from my front porch (my blog cover photo) of the weeping cherry tree that has the only leaves left in the front yard.
the creative life in between 