Heads or Tails #28 and Ruby Tuesday #9

Make Time for Small Reflections
Fun Monday is in the next post.
This is my 28th ...

This week's prompt is: HEADS - Wire
purposefully combined with my 9th

Electrical wires clutter up all my westward photos taken from my rooftop deck ... as with this early-morning 'moon' shot on a red sky reflecting the sunrise behind me from the east...

Click for others participating

in Heads or Tails and Ruby Tuesday this week.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"Just remember, there's a right way and a wrong way to do everything and the wrong way is to keep trying to make everybody else do it the right way." M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter

Fun Monday #24 ... Morning Musings & More

Make Time for Small Reflections

Sarah is today's Fun Monday hostess, and she writes:

"I would like you to take your camera (or your artistic talents!) on a day tour with you. I want to know where you go, what you get up to on a “normal” day (disclaimer - it doesn’t have to be “normal”!). All the details you would consider boring! You are free to make your FM posts as long or as short as you’d like!"

Last week got away from me and I didn't check the challenge until last night as I was turning off the computer ... so I figured I'd miss out once again (having not planned ahead), but (serendipitously) this morning's reading gave me an idea so I'm running with it and participating today after all.

Even though I'm retired, I awaken (w/o an alarm) and arise early ... usually before 4am. My day typically begins (after feeding the animals and making coffee) with writing in my journal while listening to inspiring music ... coupled with some stretching ... meditation & prayer ... and a bit of 'reading' from whatever 'calls' to me. It has (for the most part) been like this for decades, even while I was a member of the work force. I believe taking time for such things is essential for maintaining my health and helps me 'focus' on 'what matters' ... releasing what doesn't.
I suspect it's part of what made me 'effective' as a teacher for 34 years, keeping me centered & sane ... especially in the face of some crazily chaotic times.

What follows is an excerpt from TRANSITIONS: Prayers and Declarations for a Changing Life by Julia Cameron and begins with a quote:

"There is a Secret One inside us;
the planets in all the galaxies
pass through his hands like beads.
There is a string of beads one should
look at with luminous eyes."
~Kabir

"We are like jewelers. At the start of any day, we have before us the beautiful beads of differing choices. Choice by choice, moment by moment, I build the necklace of my day, stringing together the choices that form artful living. Will I be quiet today or outgoing, solitary or involved with friends, reflective or expressive? Will I write letters, make phone calls, pay bills, sweep floors or go for a good long walk? Moving through my day with conscious grace, I connect to the web of life. I, too, am a bead in a larger pattern.

Today I choose to live by conscious design, nurturing myself and others in body, mind, and spirit. I ask for a receive guidance in my choices. I cherish the pattern of my life."

So ... while many of you are rushing off to work and/or getting children ready for school ... usually, (on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays most weekends) I have the luxury of creating & publishing posts for my blogs ... taking Molly for a walk ... and doing some 'blog visiting' ... gardening ... and/or tackling tasks around home (as I determinedly try to reduce clutter & mess in my environment) while trying to continually 'simplify' my life. On Tuesdays & Thursdays I rush off to my Photoshop Elements class and run errands on the way home, so I've cultivated the habit of creating & publishing HoTs, Ruby Tuesday, and T-13 the night before to keep the flow of things going here at Small Reflections.

I am exceedingly grateful for the life I lead currently ... and (for that matter) for all the experiences of my life leading up to this moment. I you'd like to know more, click for my list of 101 Things About Me ... created when I reached my 101st post in January of 2008.

Recently (while looking for an 'e-card- to send a friend) I came upon this at Tut's ...
... and I thought this is an amazing message to share with the world. We're all so busy living our lives that many of us lose sight of the myriad of ways we touch others ... with a smile, kind word, loving prayers, by listening & just being present ... in the midst of of active lives. So ... today I encourage everyone who passes by to pause & reflect on the two questions personally, then share the opportunity with others to do likewise. It's often the smallest thing that makes the greatest difference, and all too often ... it goes unnoticed.

Click for others participating in Fun Monday

This collage
(added after the fact at 10:45am)
highlights a few aspects of my life visually...

... including my fur-companions (Molly & Ms. Kitty) ... my 'routines' of enjoying my front yard for gardening, journaling, blogging. playing with Molly & interacting with neighbors ... a few dramatic weather variations of beach life (the sunrise upper left & 'moon shot' lower right were taken last Thursday morning & the palm fronds are a result of recent Santa Ana winds) ... the 'visor' signifies my daily walks & outdoor activities ... and the Red Hat cup highlights some of my 'social' interactions.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

I'm counting down to my
1st Blogoversary on October 22nd
in just 2 days ...

I'm not sure just how I'll 'mark this milestone' ... but I'm hoping for 'inspiration' to strike soon and I hope you'll visit celebrate with me. In case you missed them over the weekend ...

Click for ...
Camera Critters & Smiley Saturday
Haiku Friday, SkyWatch/HF, or Photo Hunt
Sunrise-Sunset#5, Blog Your Blessings/Sacred Life Sunday

Unconscious Mutterings & More (with a 'kewl' tip)
and ... remember to leave me a comment or two ... just because.

Thought for Today
"My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand." Thich Nhat Hanh

Unconscious Mutterings #27 and more ...

Make Time for Small Reflections
I'm counting down to my
1st Blogoversary on October 22nd
in just 3 days ...

Click for ...
Camera Critters & Smiley Saturday
Haiku Friday, SkyWatch/HF, or Photo Hunt
Sunrise-Sunset#5, Blog Your Blessings/Sacred Life Sunday

I'm participating for the 27th time today.
How about you?

What comes to YOUR mind?
If you'd like to play here, copy and paste the clues in comments along with your responses ... or post on your blog and let me know so I can visit ;--)

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Magical :: moments in time
   
2. Shrimp :: cocktail
   
3. Project Runway :: fashion related TV show my friends discuss but that I've never watched
   
4. Economy :: the 'stock market' free-fall has me concerned
   
5. Porch :: childhood memories of spending hot summer evenings with family & friends outside visiting to escape the 'oven-like temperatures' inside our Spanish-style, flat roofed, stucco home
   
6. State of affairs :: dismally depressing these days
   
7. .com :: 'virtual domains'
8. Fifty cents :: two quarters or a half dollar
   
9. Ripping :: tearing
   
10. Bull :: Durham
    

Your turn: I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Magical ::
2. Shrimp ::
3. Project Runway ::
4. Economy ::
5. Porch ::
6. State of affairs ::
7. .com ::
8. Fifty cents ::
9. Ripping ::
10. Bull ::

Click for others 'muttering' today.

Look what Hootin' Anni shared this week!
Isn't she amazingly creative?

If you haven't seen
Hootin' Anni's Holiday
antics ... click the links

to see for yourself
how this woman celebrates
Halloween ... What fun!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Finally ... a handy homemaker hint!
How to Wash a Toilet

(This was simply too much of a time saver not to share)

1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid. You may need to stand on the lid.

4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a 'power-wash' and rinse'.

6. Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.

8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom,and run outside where he will dry himself off.

9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.



















Sincerely,

The Dog

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"The dog was created especially for children. He is the god of frolic." Henry Ward Beecher

CameraCritters#30 and Smiley Saturday#24

Make Room for Small Reflections
Haiku Friday #81 is below this post and
Photo Hunt #25 is at Sacred Ruminations today.

This is my 30thMisty Dawn started the meme and explains the rules here.
An Uninvited (but frequent) Nocturnal Visitor
Click for others participating in Camera Critters this week.

This is my 24thIt's been a BUSY & challenging week,

... yet enjoyable in many ways as well. I'm a bit crunched for time again this morning, but I received the following in email this week and since it made ME smile, I thought it worth passing along ... just because. Enjoy!

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary...... 8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing! 9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing! 9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing! 10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing! 12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing! 1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing! 3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing! 5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing! 7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing! 8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing! 11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing! Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary. .. Day 983 of my captivity... My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards. There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now................

Click for others participating in Smiley Saturday this week.
I'm counting down to my
1st Blogoversary on October 22nd
in just 4 days ...

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"It often happens that a man is more humanely related to a cat or dog than to any human being." Henry David Thoreau

Haiku Friday (#81) Week-end Wrap-up

Make Time for Small Reflections
SkyWatch#16/HF#82 is at Sacred Ruminations.

According to the
countdown widget I will be
celebrating my ...

Only two wildfires
burning still in Southern Cal ...
'Sesnon' & 'Marek'

both in the 'valley'
San Fernando. Hopefully
by the weekend each

will be extinguished.
This has been a BUSY WEEK
and I've not had time

for my usual
visitations ... yet I have
published daily here

offering a few
updates & awards within
posts ... so if you missed

them, when you have time
take a look to 'snag' and 'share'
with others as well.

I hope everyone
has a 'fantastic Friday' and
wonderful weekend!

Reviewing the week here at Small Reflections ...
Thursday Thirteen
Whimsical Wednesday
Heads or Tails/Ruby Tuesday
Monday Morning Musings - California Wildfires
Evening Fire Update
Unconscious Mutterings & More
CameraCritters, PhotoHunt, & Smiley Saturday
and at Sacred Ruminations ...
Wordless Wednesday
Monday Motivator
Blog Your Blessings & Sacred Life Sunday

For others participating in Haiku Friday this week go to A Mommy Story.
Click for SkyWatch/Haiku Friday at Sacred Ruminations.

(To see my previous Haikus, click on the Haiku Friday label below this post or in the sidebar under About Me where you'll find a 'directory' of my Haikus on both blogs).

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today

"Chaos is a name for any order that produces confusion in our minds." George Santayana

Thursday Thirteen #44 - Sweetness

Take Time for Small Reflections

I'm counting down to my
1st Blogoversary on October 22nd
in just 6 days ...

Thanks to Hootin' Anni for the 'kewl' T-13 headers!

13 Thoughts about Sweets & Treats

1. Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first. Ernestine Ulmer

2. Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. Sandra Boynton

3. Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie. Jim Davis

4. Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces. Judith Viorst

5. Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone. Jim Fiebig

6. Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart. Erma Bombeck

7. The 12-step chocoholics program: Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate! Terry Moore

8. We dare not trust our wit for making our house pleasant to our friend, so we buy ice cream. Ralph Waldo Emerson

9. All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt! Charles Schulz

10. A little chocolate is like a love affair - an occasional sweet release that lightens the spirit. A lot of chocolate is like marriage - it seems so good at first but before you know it you've got chunky hips and a waddle-walk. Linda Solegato

11. After about 20 years of marriage, I'm finally starting to scratch the surface of that one. And I think the answer lies somewhere between conversation and chocolate. Mel Gibson, about what women want

12. Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos. Don Kardong

13. Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not! Author Unknown

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

For easy access, I’ve listed more T-13 links along with the Thursday Thirteen Blogroll at My Blog Rolls.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." George Smith Patton, War as I Knew It, 1947

Whimsical Wednesday #9 - fire update & more ...

Make Time for Small Reflections
Ruby Tuesday & HoTs are in the next post
and Wordless Wednesday at Sacred Ruminations.

It's a bit challenging to feel 'whimsical' today ... but there's really not much to do about these fires other than pray for those affected, so that's what I'm doing as I offer this ...

Fire update: The winds have dropped off considerably and we actually have something other than continuous fire coverage on our local television stations ... indicating that fire-fighters have gained some control over many of the fires burning in here Southern California. I apologize for not adding an update yesterday but I was gone from early in the morning until evening ... and didn't spend more than a few minutes online yesterday. I appreciate everyone who dropped by ... especially those who left comments. I'll do what I can to catch up on blog visits this morning, but I'm getting my hair cut & permed in a little while and will be gone most of the afternoon again.

Links to Eyewitness News for Southern California contain fire updates, video clips and photos for Los Angeles , the Inland Empire (including San Bernardino, Riverside, & and San Diego), Ventura, and Orange County.

The closest fire to me was about 10 miles away (near the San Joaquin Reservoir in Newport Beach) where 50 acres burned. According to the news, no homes were damaged but there were volunary evacuations that affected some friends of mine, but they were able to return to their homes before nightfall on Tuesday. Another brush fire (caused by downed power lines) broke out in the foothills of Tustin (about 20 miles from me) but was extinguished quickly w/o spreading.

The Pendleton fire near Oceanside (about 50 miles south of me) merged with another fire yesterday, but they seem to be getting things under control this morning. The the first fire to break out over the weekend in Porter Ranch located in the San Fernando Valley (about 65 miles from me) is about 70% contained. The biggest danger currently seems to be coming from the 'Sesnon fire' (north of Porter Ranch) which doubled in size overnight. About 13,000 acres and dozens of homes have burned. Fire-fighters estimate about 20% containment at 6:30am this morning as the fire moves northward toward the community of Indian Hills. My heart goes out to everyone affected by all these fires, and I'm hopeful the winds will continue to decrease so that they can be contained and put out soon.

On a lighter note: I found this at Skittles recently ...

You Are a Beagle

You are good natured. You enjoy spending time with people and animals. You have a wild, independent streak. If you're left to your own devices, you get in trouble. You love to eat and enjoy food of all kinds. If you don't get enough physical activity, you tend to have a weight problem. You are very stubborn. You don't like authority, and you tend to do your own thing no matter what.

What Breed of Dog Are You?

Finally ... a big thank you to Mike of Rambling Thoughts for sharing this lovely award that he received from Sandee of ComedyPlus ...
It comes with these rules:

1. Those who have received this award, can add the picture.
2. Add a link to that person’s blog who awarded you.
3. Choose 7 others to receive this award and add links to their blogs.
4. Leave a message to their blogs so that they know about this.

but since I have trouble following rulez ... I'm giving it to everyone who is 'following' either of my blogs & my 'regular bloggy buddies' ... (you know who you are, but I'll try to drop by and leave you a message letting you know it's here) ... because I love YOUR blogs too!

10:30am addendum

I just learned of this at Vixen's Den and thought I'd pass it along ... just because. I plan to participate for sure.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives." Abba Eban

Heads or Tails #27 & Ruby Tuesday #8

Make Time for Small Reflections
Click for my evening 'Wildfire' Update

This is my 27th ...

This week's prompt is:

HEADS - Anything that starts with the letter G
purposefully combined with my 8th ...

A 'gaggle' of gatitos ... (in a 'garnet' ruby bed)

Click for others participating

in Heads or Tails and Ruby Tuesday this week.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"It is impossible to keep a straight face in the presence of one or more kittens." Cynthia E. Varnado

Evening Wildfire Update ...

Make Time for Small Reflections
Click for my Morning 'Wildfire' Musings

Brief update: Unfortunately we now have several more fires burning out of control here in Southern California (in addition to the original two from this morning) ... the one in Newport Beach is closest to me and I'm hopeful fire-fighters will be able to put it down quickly before it gets dark. Several smaller fires in San Bernardino, Norco & Ontario were 'contained' quickly earlier in the day ... but 'mop up' (to be absolutely sure there are no lingering embers) is on-going. The winds are strong & gusty making it challenging to fight and/or control these fires. It's hard to watch the continuous news coverage, but it's equally difficult to turn it off ... just because. At times like this I'm grateful for my 'slate' roof and wish there weren't so many Palm Trees in the area. The first clip shows the three in front of my house ... blowing in the wind pretty noisily this morning around 10:45. The second shows trees across the street and inland from my house.

Thought for this evening ...
"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!" Maya Angelou

Monday Morning Musings - Wildfires

Make Time for Small Reflections
I'm counting down to my
1st Blogoversary on October 22nd
in just 9 days ...

After publishing my Monday Motivator at Sacred Ruminations earlier this morning, I realized that I had no clue who was hosting Fun Monday or what today's topic might be. Life was just too busy for me to plan ahead, but when I first started participating I managed to pull things together at the last minute ... so I was hopeful I might be able to do that today.

Unfortunately, upon doing some checking, I discovered {i}Post has proposed a 'doodling' challenge. Clicking on the links here will take you there in case you'd like to participate ... but once again I'm going to need to 'pass' because today is Retired Gal's Lunch and I won't have time to 'doodle' ... pull something together to share ... and visit other participants in the limited time I have available to me this morning. Apparently Sarah will be the host for Fun Monday next week, 10/20! Hopefully I'll be able to participate then.

Sadly we've got Santa Ana winds blowing in Southern California and an 'explosive fire' burning out of control in Little Tujunga Canyon located in the San Fernando Valley. When I went to sleep last night, fire-fighters had made significant progress were optimistic about 'containing' the blaze that broke out early yesterday, but this morning (when the unpredictable winds kicked up around 5am) the situation took a rapid turn for the worse.

Before sunrise, the fire consumed mobile homes, houses, big rig vehicles in a storage yard, and other structures in its path ... and even (surprisingly) jumped over all 8 lanes of the Foothill Freeway (which should have been a natural firebreak) ... causing closure between the 405 and Interstate 5! The good news is that many people had been evacuated last night ... and that many more evacuations (for people and horses) are currently taking place, so that loss of life can be avoided.

This is 'fire season' in So Cal ... and I'm reminded that when I started blogging last October, we had more than a dozen blazes burning all over the Southland. I pray that won't ever happen again and that this fire can be 'contained' over the next 48 hours (while the winds blow) and eventually stamped out once the winds die down! Now that the sun's up fire-fighters are finally getting some much needed 'air support' ... with water drops and Foscheck (a red fire retardant powder).

I just learned that there's a 2nd fire in Ventura near a San Paulo Oil Facility ... so I guess they won't be sending any help to the Valley. I pray they have the resources to contain and/or knock that fire down quickly and that there will be no new fires any time soon.

In case you missed these (and have a bit of time today) ...
1. On Sunday I offered the 'incentive' below to all those who choose to participate in 'The Diva Quiz' and/or Unconscious Mutterings ... just because. It's certainly not too late to join the fun ;--)


2. In LAST Monday's Morning Musings, I shared a list of Natural Highs & special award incentive to participants ... and a Halloween Personality Quiz (found at Work of the Poet) with a second 'special award incentive' to encourage participation.

Remember ... you're invited to add one (or more) and pass along these Natural Highs on your own blog (or not) as you wish! Let's see if we can get this thing going again ... just because. Please leave me a link in comments if you decide to participate ;--)

I offered the following 'Halloween Quiz Award' to all those who decide to play along and share results in comments and/or leave a link to where you share on your own blog so I can find them easily.Methinks sharing such things in these 'troubled economic' times may help us all stay calm & centered by giving us a 'break' from our daily stressors.

3. Check this out! Vixen (of Vixen's Den) makes LOVELY aprons and is having a Fall Apron Frenzy. Just click on the link for contest details.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"When a man becomes a fireman his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. What he does after that is all in the line of work." Edward F. Croker

Unconscious Mutterings #26 and more ...

Make Time for Small Reflections
I'm counting down to my
1st Blogoversary on October 22nd
in just 10 days ...

Click for ...
Camera Critters, Photo Hunt, & Smiley Saturday

I'm participating for the 26th time today.
How about you?

What comes to YOUR mind?

If you'd like to play here, copy and paste the clues in comments along with your responses ... or post on your blog and let me know so I can visit ;--)

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Zoo :: logist
   
2. Neighborhood :: Mr. Rogers
   
3. Salute :: greet or honor
   
4. Immortality :: Celine Dion and the Bee Gees ... click to hear it now on You Tube
   
5. Dominion :: book by Matthew Scully
   
6. Rhonda :: aka Chuck at Foster Me Up
   
7. Parties :: celebrating special events like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, etc.
   
8. Prince of Darkness :: John Carpenter horror film
   
9. Garbage :: in ... garbage out
   
10. Standard :: 'banner' or reference point
    

Your turn: I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Zoo ::
2. Neighborhood ::
3. Salute ::
4. Immortality ::
5. Dominion ::
6. Rhonda ::
7. Parties ::
8. Prince of Darkness ::
9. Garbage ::
10. Standard ::

Click for others 'muttering' today.

Found at One Gal's Musings ... and I admit I felt a bit surprised at my results until I realized that I have learned (over the years) to take better care of myself and ask for what I need more often, so perhaps this Blogthing is correct after all. How about YOU?

You're Part ...

You know that a girl's gotta work it to get her way in the world. And while you aren't about to throw a tantrum at every turn... You do amp up the drama when you know you need it. You mix charm, honesty, and kindness to get ahead.

Are You a Diva?

If you decide to participate in 'Unconscious Mutterings' and/or take the 'Diva' Quiz, I hope you'll either share your results in comments and/or on your Blog and leave a link to your blog so I can read your results. As an incentive, I offer the following award to enjoy and share with others as you wish ... just because.

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"We have met the enemy and they are us!" Walt Kelly, Pogo, 1971