Seasonal Splendor

It's cold outside and the skies are often gray and many of the trees leafless, but inside our cabin, our Christmas Cactus was not to be deterred.  It wanted to be bright!

This plant is often called a shrimp plant, since, when open, it's blooms resemble this aquatic creature.  Other common names are Thanksgiving plant or Christmas cactus, depending upon when the blooms arrive.  Since our plant opened its first flower just days ago, it decided to be a Christmas cactus, and most likely it will be full of vibrant, shrimp shaped blossoms come Dec. 25 :)

 

"We Are One"

A beautiful point to ponder ~

"Peace ... comes within the souls of men
when they realize their relationship,
their oneness, with the universe

and all its powers,
and when they realize that at the
center of the Universe dwells Creator,

and that this center is really everywhere,
it is within each one of us."

~Black Elk, Oglala Sioux




Brave

Our lovely daughter was with us for the Thanksgiving holiday, and, as always when we get together, we enjoyed many heart felt, intense conversations.  A question arose about bravery.  Desi wondered what others might see in her to use that word of description when it came to her. I told her I thought it was valid for what she exemplifies through her actions and deeds.  But just what does that mean?

 

To me, being brave, or exhibiting bravery, means the willingness to take healthy risks to move forward.  The brave person is one who is not afraid of the challenge of hard work and of facing adversity head on if it means doing so will lead to a better place.  It often means taking the long, harder road, instead of the short, easier one, because ultimately the longer, steeper climb will reap greater benefit.

 

On a personal level, being brave is the willingness to be authentic ~ to discover who you truly are and be loyal and true to your own identity ~ admitting faults, and, when necessary, working on those things one can change, and fully acknowledging the traits and values that make you unique and special and then using those strengths to be giving and loving.  Being brave is also the ability to see the big picture, not allowing oneself to get bogged down by petty details, and striving for ideals even if those ideals may ultimately be unattainable ... it's the dreaming and reaching for the stars that keeps one looking up, striving, and growing.

 

When the going gets tough, the tough get going ... and the brave persevere.  

 



Sunrise ~ Sunset

This morning's sunrise looked more like a sunset.  The sky was a canvas of brilliant reds, oranges, pinks and purples.  The colors faded almost as quickly as they appeared with all the bright hues morphing into pale pastels. By sun up, the sky was simply a solid shade of baby blue.  Within minutes, the incredible display of color was over. I felt extra lucky to have been up early to see such a beautiful sky.  It was quite a way to start the day!

Most Grateful

 

The holiday season with all its festivities is almost here.  As I age, I still enjoy the sense of busyness and purpose that combines with the celebrating, but I also make sure to take time to reflect on what I find most meaningful.  There are so many reasons to be grateful, but for the purpose of writing a brief blog, I will limit myself to five.  I decided to do this by thinking of the way a hand is traced by young children to form the body of a turkey, with the thumb the head and the four fingers as tail feathers ~ five parts, so five things.

 

My short, simple list ~

*Family

*Friends

*Food 

*Fellowship
*Faith

And a PS ~ I am incredibly grateful our Pacey cat has turned the corner and is on her way back to strength and good health.  The smile has returned to her eyes and to our hearts :)

 

May you find peace and beauty in this season of giving and gratitude.



 HAPPY Thanksgiving!!!!

HAPPY Halloween!!!

Have a spooktacular Halloween night!!!

This Halloween Kevin designed and I carved our pumpkin!

 

Have a wonderful, fun day.

Catoctin Zoo

White Tiger

 

A visit to the zoo is one that's always filled with mixed emotions for me.  I love to see all of the animals that I wouldn't ever see otherwise, but it's also sad to see them cooped up in cages away from their natural environment.  Our zoos do educate and entertain and they are an opportunity for all to view wildlife from around the world.  Our local Catoctin Zoo has a lovely natural wooded setting and the animals are well cared for by the staff.  We are fortunate to have a close up look at these wondrous animals who serve as ambassadors for their wild cousins.

 

Beautiful Pair of Parrots

 

The Catoctin Zoo is host to a whole group of lively Amazon parrots and macaws as well as some lovely pink flamingos that inhabit an outdoor area filled with vegetation and plenty of perches.

 

 

Crocodile Pond

 

Colorful Koi

 

The large koi pond is a favorite of young and old.  The koi come right to the surface and like to be touched ... but like it even better when they are given pellets available for visitors to feed them.

 

There are many opportunities to come in direct contact with various animals at the Catoctin Zoo.  Deer, llama and goats are part of a "petting zoo" experience and they, too, can be fed nutritional pellets by visitors. The animals love to snack!

 

 





                                                                          Barred Owls

 

Barred owls and great horned owls are two avian representatives in the North American section of the zoo.  Raccoons, bats, and wolves are also there to be seen. 

 

 

The photographs above were taken by my husband Kevin and me on our most recent trip to the zoo.