the winter road on the way to my brother's.

presents this year included several pieces of colorful construction paper on which my nephew had written my name.

winter in kansas this week. winter in new mexico next.

frozen

unfolding

have put away the mantle decorations.
finished the leftovers.
the new year is here. unfolding much better than the last.
& my most determined (and only) resolution has been made.

my nephew called to tell me he lost his first tooth,
and how nice the tooth fairy is.

and I live on the plains, but think about the mountains.

holiday walk

spent the morning of christmas eve at the farm. with cinnamon rolls, coffee and a walk.

the bridge was declared too icy to cross.

nephew was given the responsibility of choosing our path.

the tall grass was covered in icy droplets.

 cold, windy walk that was well worth it.

bit of holiday

o tannenbaum on the mantle. 

lights in the village

the quiet adobe where we sleep.

walking to the theater in the early evening,
took a few pictures of the light in Taos.

it was quiet, chilly, dark & pretty.

colorful on a dark street.

on the plaza.

morning kitchen

first morning light in my kitchen. was almost too sleepy to find my camera.
it is cheerful to see now that the nights become dark so early.

some light found while walking around during my last Chicago trip.

pest

it is my little brother's birthday.
i've been lucky to have this entertaining, protective & caring best friend for 36 years.

finally five

his requests were to have the party at my house, to have a rainbow cake & a pinata.
eventually my house was full of people.
and a five-year old's glee.

we had a good afternoon.

image courtesy of Ansel Adams

took a trip. and enjoyed myself so much that I completely forgot about my camera.
even though there were plenty of views to capture.
but, I'm going to go back again.
and sometimes, it is better to leave the camera behind anyways.

a butterfly & the bumblebee

a visit today from a pink butterfly. and her brother, the bumblebee.
we sat around the kitchen table and ate snacks.

great things list #18

listening to records on a sunny afternoon.

picture moment

dad in a western hat & boots. it's a rare moment, & one of my favorites.

party, since fall is falling

a Fall party in my backyard. with a fire, string lights, torches & candles.

we ate chili with cornbread & biscuits. lots of cookies. & drank beer or irish whiskey.
it was super to have so many friends with me.

the night was cool enough that we all needed our jackets.
and the fire was just big enough to keep our feet warm.

it was so lovely, that I think I'll do it again next year.

doorstep

fall is about to show up. though so far, it has still been warm enough to wear flip-flops.
loving the idea of Fall.
but I hope winter is very far away & very short.

fitzgerald

my wonderful little furry companion for over 18 years.
we said goodbye today. and now everything is quiet.

a.word.a.day -- arborescent

arborescent

MEANING:

Having the size, form, or characteristics of a tree; treelike.

ETYMOLOGY:

[Latin arborescens, arborescent-, present participle of arborescere, to grow to be a tree, from arbor, tree.]

hollow

tomorrow we set up camp. it will be our only moment of quiet in the hollow.

and then we have fun, for a week. am looking forward to feeling relaxed, taking naps under the walnut trees, and laughing. lots of laughing.
always good for the soul.
this annual camping therapy.
last year's was difficult for me, so plan on making up for it this year. 

time for winfield.

soon

late night strolls in a smoky campground.

large circles of friends.

calling tent city in the walnut valley, home for awhile.

and enjoyment with friends. family. bourbon. and bluegrass.

kitten

libby, the kitten.
there is a lot of playing with anything that moves, or that might move.
and periods of intense napping.
her purr is bigger than she is.
the senior citizen cat is tolerating. mostly by avoidance and an occasional pissed-off growl.

august

Orchestra at square dance in McIntosh County, Okla. (Library of Congress)

 

I don't have a lot to say about August.

I do like this picture though. And I'd liked to have spent an evening listening to those two play.

(loc photo collection)

gloaming

twilight. dusk. a.k.a. when the fireflies come out & the cicadas are in full chorus.

activities

this weekend, a 4-hr float trip down Cedar Creek with beer & innertubes. and then our 3rd annual bicycling tour of gardens. with this year, many new friends attending.

all very fun. and a sign that summer's end is near.

a.word.a.day gloaming

gloaming 

 

PRONUNCIATION:

(GLO-ming)

MEANING:

noun: Twilight; dusk.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Middle English gloming, from Old English glomung, from glom (dusk). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ghel- (to shine), which is also the source of words such as yellow, gold, glimmer, glimpse, glass, arsenic, melancholy, and cholera.

 

at sunset

america

the holiday weekend a very wet & cloudy one. but rain or shine, fireworks have been exploding all over for days.