For a few moments
yesterday afternoon
in my little corner of the world,
the backyard
became a great big snow globe.
And I thought to myself….
“What a wonderful world!”
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
daily post
Don’t Wait
Slippery Rock Creek, Western PA – November 27, 2015
“Don’t wait for
extraordinary
opportunities,
seize common
occasions,
and make them
great.”
-Orison Swett Marden
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
PS If you look closely, you will find my hubby in this photo. This was a beautiful spot we stopped at that he wanted to share with me on our way back from Thanksgiving in Conneaut Lake, PA.
Cherish the Moments!
Morning Has Broken
Break of Dawn 1/7/16 – Mars, PA Crescent Moon & North Star
Morning has broken,
like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken,
like the first bird.
Praise for the singing,
Praise for the morning,
Praise for them springing
fresh from the world!
Happy Saturday Morning!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Pink Clouds and Puddles
One day last week
when it seemed to rain all day
the sky cleared up just enough
right before dusk
for Charlie and I to walk to the mailbox
at the end of the driveway
for a bit of a stretch
and the chance to deeply inhale
the damp, crisp, clean air.
When we turned around
to head back home
my jaw dropped open
and a gasp escaped
when this was the sight
that awaited our return.
Pink clouds and puddles
shimmering in the day’s last light.
No white Christmas,
but what is wrong with PINK?!
Cherish the moments of now.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Eye Spy a Christmas Angel
This week’s WordPress Daily Post Photo Challenge is Eye Spy, and I cannot recall ever spying more beautiful eyes than on this little angel I had the privilege of photographing for fun recently.
Can you even stand the cuteness?!
I dare you not to smile!
This is sweet little Eva, and she is very excited about her first Christmas.
Wishing you the innocence and joy of a child this holiday season.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
The Golden Glow of Indian Summer
A gift to be cherished
like a rare and perfect gem
the glow of Autumn’s
final exhibition
against a backdrop
of molten sapphire
Glistening in the sunshine
the tree beckoned me
Breathing in deeply
I savored the golden glow
An Indian Summer afternoon
walk and respite
to warm my heart and soul.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Lemon Strawberry Pound Cake
Lemons and strawberries in November? (A time when we are usually baking with pumpkin and cinnamon and apples….?)
Well – we are experiencing some amazing Indian Summer weather here in Mars – with temperatures in the 70’s, the sun shining brightly, and the sky a vibrant shade of blue – so why not – right?
Well – the truth be told – that same cute little bugger who requested the Royal Flush Halloween t-shirts recently found a photo on Reddit that struck his fancy a few days ago of a freshly baked loaf of lemon pound cake with strawberries. He texted me the photo saying, “Please make.”
Well…. how could I resist? (I know….. pushover! – but really…. I live for this stuff!)
Turns out the sweet young lady who posted the photo stating “this just came out of the oven” did not post the recipe! How dare she??!! More than one reader called her “evil” for not posting the recipe!
I did some digging, however, and found the source and the recipe… Score!! (I know – I have issues!)
Turns out Bianca Davies, the “evil” baker/Reddit poster, is a trained chef from Cape Town, South Africa, who attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, but is equally inspired by her Granny and Granny’s lemon trees.
Per Bianca, Granny likes a cake that is “rich, moist, light, airy and slightly fudgy.” This little pound cake amazingly delivers on all of that – and more!
So before we get seriously into Autumn and Winter baking and cooking, you might want to enjoy one last taste of summer! You will not regret it!
Ingredients: Directions: Converted recipe from http://thesecretlifeofbee.co.za/ (Bianca Davies, Cape Town, South Africa) Cheers & Hugs, JodiLemon Strawberry Pound Cake
Happy Place in the Fog
Foggy Fisherman, Conneaut Lake, PA, 10/2015
Peace and joy can be found
even when things seem foggy.
Trust your heart, your gut, your “happy place,”
and things will become clear.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I captured this photo on a recent trip to Conneaut Lake, PA. We were walking to a friend’s house for breakfast before the Fall Festival Parade and our Krautfest Celebration. The fog was thick over the lake, and there was a nip in the air. Within moments, the fog cleared, the sun broke through, and the day became happy and warm and beautiful. The fog, however, was magical and beautiful and couldn’t stop this fisherman from enjoying his “happy place” on the lake.
After the rain
After the rain
everything is fresh
and clean
and new
and glistening
and full of hope.
Dance…
after the rain.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I am sharing this photo for the WordPress Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Monochromatic.
Orange you Sweet?
How do you know when you have one of the best of besties?
Answer #1,743: When she brings you flowers… just because… even though she abhors cut flowers.
I sure have a best bestie!
Wishing you a best kind of weekend.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
WordPress Daily Post Photo Challenge: Today was a Good Day
the creative life in between 