Nature

Winter Morning Moon over Mars

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

winter morning moon over mars

Dawn yesterday morning brought a fresh dusting of snow, single digit temperatures, and the brightest beautiful full moon.  I threw a coat on over my pajamas, slipped my feet into my rubber crocs, and set my tripod up on the side porch to capture the scene (and oh what a scene it would have been if you would have seen me!).

When my dad called for our daily chat at approximately 7:05ish (he’s a school bus driver in his retirement, and we are making up for lost time, so we talk every morning between his high school and middle school run), he commented on the beautiful moon he was looking at while we were talking.

It made me smile to think we were chatting and sharing the same moon together, if even for only a few moments.  Our morning chats are so special.  Sometimes I talk the whole time, and sometimes he does.  Sometimes we have lots to stay, and sometimes not so much, but it always makes me smile and is such a wonderful way to start my day.

Dad reads my blog every day, but since he gets up at 4:30am and is on the road before my blog posts each day at 6am, he always comments about the post from the day before.  I think it’s sweet that he always reads it (and sometimes finds typos for me to fix).  But it makes me smile, because he reads every single word – even every ingredient in my recipes (wondering if he would like it as he’s a pretty picky pop).  I’m so fortunate to have him in my life as one of my guys.

Hopefully he is smiling reading this (and hopefully there are no typos).  🙂

Happy Friday everyone!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS Look for a yummy cookie recipe post tomorrow: Chocolate Sprinkle Cherry Kiss Cookies!

Don’t Fence Me In

/ Jodi / 18 Comments

don't fence me in

The wonderful thing about taking a walk with my camera

is that even though I may take the same route every day,

when looking through the lens,

there is always something new to see.

Don’t fence me in!

 

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

The Little Log Cabin

/ Jodi / 14 Comments

little log cabin

Oh Little Log Cabin on the edge of the woods, what is your story?

What tales would you tell if you could

of life now and life then?

Are we doing it right?

You stand so solid and sturdy and beautiful.

You remind me to slow down, breathe deeply, gaze intently.

You do speak…

to my soul.

 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Monday again

/ Jodi / 21 Comments
cardinal winter

I swear this cardinal is blowing a raspberry at us saying “Na Na Na Na Poo Poo – It’s Monday Again!”

Oh Monday…

You are a beginning,

and you are an end.

Like a glass that is half empty to one,

and half full to another.

You are just another day,

but oft with dreaded suspension.

Let us hang on to the hope,

that comes with your inception.

– – – – – – – – – – –

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Express Yourself

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

express yourself

Sometimes we blossom and bloom and exude radiant brilliance.
Other times our thistles and thorns protect us and guard us and hide us.

Reach, stretch, discover, grow.
Bloom where you are planted.
Evolve with your seasons.

Never be afraid to express yourself.

This week’s Weekly Photo Challenge asked us to post a photo to “Express Yourself.”
As I contemplated the subject, this photo I took a few months ago on a walk spoke to me.  It inspired me to express myself – as this thistle – in all of its ages and stages does.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Discover your own way

/ Jodi / 30 Comments

discover tree

Temperatures finally broke double digits yesterday allowing Mikey and I to get out for a short walk.

This tree captured my attention.

Every branch is discovering its own way,

and each has its own unique beauty.

Kinda like all of us…

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

P.S. I am sharing this photo on Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge:  Wood

Day Dreamin’ & the Dog Days of Winter

/ Jodi / 10 Comments

ice and leaf

Day dreamin’
While the rain is freezin’

With a look in his eyes
That longs for blue skies.

Mikey and the ice

Mikey McKinney – 7 years old

 

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Oh Deer!

/ Jodi / 24 Comments

deer

Living surrounded by woods is such a nice way to share our home with the beauty and the beasts nature provides.

I think this girl is beautiful as she prances along the edge of the woods and our yard.

Our furry son, on the other hand, thinks these “beasts” need shooed away and makes it his mission to bark and chase and keep them out of “Mikey’s yard.”

So while Mikey was barking and acting tough and big and ferocious (to no avail!), I grabbed my camera and caught a shot of this girl in the shadows of the woods yesterday…..

and I told Mikey we are allowed to share our home with her…  (I just wish she wouldn’t eat my hostas!)

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Breaking News: Snow on Mars

/ Jodi / 20 Comments

Mars, PA that is…

Remember how I posted the gorgeous 70 degree F day on Tuesday (two short days ago)??

Today, Mikey and I headed out for a short lunch time walk, and look what is happening!!

THE WHITE STUFF!  And it is 36 degrees F.  I actually had to put a coat on for the first time.

snow 1

snow 4

snow 2

snow 5

snow 3

jjojoSo – ok – it wasn’t like a blizzard or anything (in fact it had just started, and I had to try pretty hard to find objects with enough snow on to get a photograph :).  Remember it was 70 degrees two days ago… 

But the first snow – no matter how much – is always kind of exciting…  like a right of passage to the holiday season…

In faaaccctttt…….  I think I might start playing the Christmas tunes…

(That always causes all kinds of trouble around here with my grinches  guys – tee hee hee!)

giphy

Ask me in February – or maybe even January – how I feel about the snow, and I imagine it will be a whole different story!  But from now until New Year’s, I love it.

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi