Continuing Transitions ...

Make Time for Small Reflections

Scroll down for Mellow Yellow Monday
Blue Monday, Macro Monday & Ruby Tuesday

Meet the 'new' me!

Since getting my Nikon D60 a little more than a year ago, I seem to be more of a 'photo blogger' than 'storyteller' ... so (as I indicated in Sunday's post at Sacred Ruminations) I've decided to make some changes in my online persona reflecting these shifts because this 'feels' right (for the moment at least).

The pansies seem to have weathered the rains just fine so far, though more rains are predicted for Tuesday & Wednesday ... with additional 'fronts' just behind. The average rainfall in Southern California is just under 12 inches and we've had more than that since January. Of course the last few years we've had less that 5 inches per year ... so I guess this is how 'averages' happen, right?

I feel for the folks who live below the foothills that burned last October ... the mudslides there have already destroyed about 50 homes and there's no telling what will happen when the rains return. Watching the news about the SNOW on the East Coast is pretty amazing too. I feel grateful that the only weather-related damage I'm dealing with is a small slow leak coming from the deck (outside my bedroom) just above causing moldy discoloration in my living room ceiling.

It's the 2nd Monday of the month and that means it's ...

'Retired Ladies Lunch'

... time to 'connect' with friends to see what they've been up to.

Hard to believe, but
this is happening right now
in my So Cal yard




Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Macro Monday

Recent views from my
front yard here in Southern Cal ...
in between rainstorms

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in
Blue Monday
Mellow Yellow Monday
Ruby Tuesday


A Valentine for all my 'virtual' friends!
(a smaller version is available in my sidebar)

What do you think of the 'new' me?

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"Children learn to smile from their parents." Shinichi Suzuki

Monochrome Mosaic Monday - Today's Flowers

Make Time for Small Reflections

Camera Critters is in the next post.

Monday morning's here
I'm off to meet up with friends
'Retired Gals' lunch ...

Once I return home
I'll have time to visit blogs,
but for now I leave

a mosaic of
Monochrome Views I enjoy
on my daily walks.

Click to embiggen for better viewing
... and for others participating in
Monochrome Manics, Mosaic Monday and Today's Flowers.
See also my Mellow Yellow Mosaic Monday & Today's Flowers
at Happily Retired Gal this morning.
Hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!
Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"The present moment is a powerful goddess." Goethe

Macro Monday - Morning Musings

Make Time for Small Reflections

See Monochrome and Mellow Yellow Monday
at Happily Retired Gal

These small sparrows
observe from above most days

Click to embiggen for better viewing
and for others participating in Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos today.

Click for Creative Photography,
Camera Critters & Unconscious Mutterings

Experimenting with my new camera and lens continues. I'm writing less but sharing more photos all the time on each of my blogs. I suppose this too shall pass, but for now that's where my interest remains.

1. If you missed Molly's meeting with Wrigley the 6 month old Jack Russell Terrier, you'll want to click the link to Camera Critters and scroll down to the middle of the post to see my collage. Molly's not sure she likes this tiny energetic pooch any more than the new puppy, Laila, next door ... but I'm sure they'll eventually become great friends once the little ones grow up a bit.

2. I shared another 'wetlands' collage at Sacred Ruminations yesterday in my Scenic Sunday post there yesterday. If you missed the Snowy Egrets ... click the link here.

3. I've enjoyed experimenting with Creative Photography a few times here at Small Reflections and also at Happily Retired Gal & Sacred Ruminations too.

4. In addition to Macro Monday ... other photo memes I've participated in include Shadow Shot Sunday at Happily Retired Gal & SacredRuminations.

5. I did manage to visit some blogs over the weekend and hope to continue catching up later this afternoon or evening, but today is Retired Ladies Lunch so I'll be getting myself ready and leaving soon as I usually do on the 2nd Monday of each month.

Hope everyone has a marvelous Monday!

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine." Thomas Jefferson

Mellow Yellow Monday - Saturday Walk

Make Time for Small Reflections
Camera Critters is in the next post
Shadow Shot Sunday & Belated BYBS-Monday Motivator
are at Sacred Ruminations.

This is my 1st Mellow Yellow post
at Small Reflections but I've published 4 Mellow Yellow posts
previously at Happily Retired Gal.

While walking with my
sister Saturday between
camera classes

I spied 'yellow' and
used my Nikon D60
to snap photographs.

Below I've collaged
five of them with PSE
6 ... Irvine Marketplace.

Addendum
No we didn't stop
because we had eaten lunch
at BJs, a favorite

restaurant of my
sister. We shared a
chicken salad and

another dessert
Pizookie and that explains
why we were walking ;--)

Click for others participating in Mellow Yellow Monday.

Another Addendum

Once again I'll be
attending a luncheon with
my retired friends

for it's the second
Monday of the month ... We've met
like this for 8 years!

'Retired Ladies Lunch'

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk." Raymond Inmon

Ohmygosh ... it's my 401st post here today!

Make Time for Small Reflections
I didn't realize it until after I'd created & published today
so read on (or scroll down) for more ...
NaBloPoMo-Day10

It's the 2nd Monday of the month and that means it's ...

'Retired Ladies Lunch'

... so (since time is limited for posting & visiting today), I've decided to pass on Fun Monday. I do plan to post about Veteran's Day tomorrow on both blogs however ... so perhaps that would count belatedly since the hostess, Janis, writes that the task is 'to salute our Veterans and show our appreciation ... including a patriotic photo.

I've managed to get the unread posts in Google Reader down to 450 and am hoping to focus on catching up again. In addition, there are many Peace Posts I've not yet had the opportunity to visit ... and I'd like to make that a priority too.

I do have this lovely award

... from Mary of Mary's Writing Nook that I'd like to share with all my 'bloggy friends' ... and if you missed them over the weekend there are links to awards I've received & shared in Sunday's Unconscious Mutterings.

Milestone Revision & Addendum

Until I'd published this post earlier (with some Blogthing Fun that I've deleted & will share another day as time permits), I didn't realize that I missed the 'milestone' of my 400th post yesterday ... so this is my 401st post at Small Reflections & I've decided something special is in order.

That said (for the reasons mentioned above) ... time is limited today and I've yet to create & share a Monday Motivator post at Sacred Ruminations. It will be my 271st post there ... for a total of 671 posts overall (plus 10 more at Blog Rolls & Bling) ... so perhaps (since I celebrated my 1st Blogoversaries at Small Reflections and at Sacred Ruminations recently), waiting for the next milestone makes more sense?

Yup ... methinks that's what I'll do ... but in the meantime this is for YOU when you leave me a comment today. Whether you're an old friend or a new one ... I'm happy you dropped by to help me celebrate. If you click on the image to save it to your computer then upload it to Photobucket, you'll get the HTML code to make it 'animated' on YOUR blog too ;--)

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give." George MacDonald

Fun Monday #2 - Double Nickel Challenge

Nekked Lizard Adventures is

this week's Fun Monday,
and I hope it's okay
to borrow this
graphic ;--)

They're calling it THE DOUBLE NICKEL 5&5 FUN MONDAY Challenge. The rules are simple: FIVE PICTURES - FIVE WORDS PER PICTURE. Any 5 (FIVE) pictures, any subject, and any 5 (FIVE) words to describe and/or explain each picture. CAN YOU DO IT???

This is my 2nd Fun Monday and
I'm giving it my best shot ;--)

Why is this fence here?

Start with your LEFT foot!

It's MY mouse, not yours!

Isn't someone gonna rescue me?

I love you ... marry me!

(Photos from Flickzzz)

Click for more participants this week.

Thought for Today
"Lots of people talk to animals .... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem." Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

Meme Monday #6

Flashback

In case you missed them previously, check out these memes and take your pick as a tag from me today ... (or not): Meme of Fours (modified or otherwise), Kind Fives, Make a Wish and/or Message in a Bottle, and/or any of the memes in last Monday's post. Remember to leave a link back to my blog(s) so I can see your posts once they're published and feel free to select any of the awards from my T-13 post last week to enjoy and/or share with others.

Announcement
I wish to express my gratitude for these
Awards recently bestowed upon
Small Reflections

1. Thanks to Mary of Mary's Writing Nook for this wonderful 'friendship' award!

I'd like to share it with the following bloggers:

1. Joy (The Joy of Six)
2. Sandy (Momisodes)
3. Lucy (Lucy Creates and Diamonds in the Sky)
4. Betty of Betty's This and That
5. Karen (Journey to Authenticity)
6. Yertle (Smile, Play, Dream)
7. Joyce (Mom's Musings)
8. MPJ (A Room of Mama's Own)
9. Hootin' Anni
10. Mo (Gratitude Journal)
11. Eve (Adamswife's)
12. Phyl of Scrappy and Happy in Ohio
13. Tina at Tina's Odds and Ends

2. Betty of Betty's This and That shared this new 'beagle' award last week. I'd like to share it with all those who read and comment regularly here. I appreciate you all so very much!


3. Greatfullivin of Gratitude Journal designated Small Reflections as a 'Blog of Distinction' with this new award and I'll be designating recipients later, but at the moment ... I need to publish this and get myself moving because today is 'Retired Gals Lunch' and I'm looking forward to meeting up with my 'real world' friends in a couple of hours and have things to do first.


To those of you who have given me other awards that I've not yet shared, I'm truly grateful and promise that I'll publish and distribute them soon. Please bear with me while I live my life ;--)

It's Retired Gals lunch today!

A Final Thought for Today
"Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality." Alfred Painter

Monday Musings

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust

It's the 2nd Monday of the month, so I'm off visiting with my "retired teacher friends" today. I've posted at Sacred Ruminations this morning already, and hope you'll click the link to read the information I've shared, give it some thought, and pick up a "Blessings award" to post on your blog & share with your readers.

If you took the weekend off, my posts on Saturday & Sunday were informal updates about daily life and connections with a few quotes and a "Share the Love" award ... so check them out if you wish. I'll return later to add more if time permits.