Reflections II 2017, The Calendar

It happened quickly. The inspiration to create a 2017 calendar came upon me, and within a couple of days, it was finished. The kinks had been worked out from the REFLECTIONS, Jewish Calendar, I had some new photos to add, prayed about what scriptures the Lord would have me to use in this critical hour, got back in touch with Jonathan, from Mixbook, (his customer service was so excellent, he was an important reason I have called on Mixbook a second time, along with the rich quality of the finished product), ordered 1 copy to proof, and I was on my way. I received my copy yesterday, and this is why it is a must when publishing anything, to have that all important, 1 copy. All of the pictures, front and back covers, were 'auto-enhanced'. This is a feature which Mixbook offers, but it is one which I do not choose, as I have done all the editing on the photos. Thankfully, I was able to take side by side pics from the Jewish calendar and send them off to Jonathan, along with previous e-mails, confirming that the auto-enhance was not to be applied. I had some minor changes to be made with type size and my back cover statement. Jonathan and I worked everything out, and I placed my order. I am not sure when the calendars will be arriving, probably after Thanksgiving, so I have listed them in my Etsy shop as, 'Pre-order REFLECTIONS II 2017' Limited Edition. So, Psalm 46, and for the month of December, 1 verse from the Book of Isaiah! Whew....

'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.'

                                                                                                               Psalm 46

Reflections 3

Soft, gentle sunset, day after snowstorm... 

4:19 Autumn sunset...

Mid-December sunrise over the Rockies...Maxfield Parrish-like colors

Mid-December sunrise...

Soft blue December sunset...

I re-posted these words on my Instagram feed this morning, (thank you Darla for posting), and this is what it said:

'This 

Christmas 

end a quarrel.

 Seek out a forgotten 

Friend. Dismiss suspicion, 

and replace it with trust. 

Write a love letter. Share some 

treasure. Give a soft answer. Keep

 a promise. Find the time.Forgo a grudge. 

Forgive an enemy. Listen.Apologize if you 

were wrong. Try to understand. Examine your 

demands on others. Think first of someone else.

Be kind; be gentle. Appreciate. Laugh a little.Laugh a

 little more. Express your gratitude. Gladden the heart of a

 child. Welcome a stranger. Take pleasure in the beauty and the

 wonder of Earth.

Speak your love.

Speak it again.

Speak it yet 

Once again.'

Reflections...

During this time of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Days of Awe) quiet reflecting into one's heart is an attitude which, prayerfully is carried on throughout the year. This had me thinking and I was able to digitally alter some of my recent images into a very literal group of pics, which are 'Reflections'. As if I were taking the pics of sunrise and sunset from a very beautiful body of water, a lake, a river, a very quiet ocean, this continues to be a very blessed time of reflection...may the coming year bear much good fruit!

'Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
 They tell of the power of your awesome works
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness...'

                                                                    Psalm 145:3-7

No Words Necessary Wednesday

Just a few of the amazing landscapes from the playground in the Colorado skies since I have returned from my East Coast travels, 3 weeks ago toady...

'And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.' 

                                                                    Genesis 1:5

Sunrise, Sunset...

6:30 this morning...

4:40 last night....

Edited for Instagram...

 Upside down sunset from 4:50PM last night...

This morning I opened my eyes @ 6:30AM to this, as if last night's sunset was not enough of an eye full!!

'They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.'

Psalm 65:8

'Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears...'

Fiddler on the Roof

August, So Far!

August 1, 8:15PM

August 2, 6;50AM

August 5, 8:30AM

August 5, 8:01PM

August 9, 7:50PM

 There are wars and rumors of wars, children are dying on mountainsides and in cities, close to home and across the ocean, planes are falling out of the sky, people are sick w/ deadly viruses, not to mention cancer and other terrible diseases. There remains such frightening gun violence in this country, so many injustices. This is really too much for the central nervous system to handle. However, the sun still rises in the East and sets in the West, the moon still has phases and quarters. So from sunset of August 1, to last night's Super moon, I am extraordinarily grateful to have captured some of the beauty of the rising and setting of the sun, the crescent moon, turning, just a week or so later, into a Super summer moon, and the true gift of a double rainbow...the Promise lives!

This is a song we sang every Sabbath evening @ camp in the Berkshires. I was there from the time I was 5 until I was 15, for 2 months, every summer. I was taking a long walk the other night, and these beautiful words came welling up, and out of me!

'The Lord of all does reign supreme
Ere yet this world was made and formed.
When all was finished by His will,
Then was His name as King proclaimed

And should these forms no more exist,
He still will rule in majesty.
He was, He is, He shall remain;
His glory never shall decrease.

And one is He, and none there is
To be compared or joined to Him.
He ne’er began, and ne'er will end,
To Him belongs dominion’s power.

He is my God, my living God;
To Him I flee when tried in grief;
My banner high, my refuge strong,
Who hears and answers when I call.

My spirit I commit to Him,
My body, too, and all I prize;
Both when I sleep and when I wake,
He is with me, I shall not fear.'

Coronado Island...Thank-you....

View from our hotel of the Coronado Bay Bridge

View from hotel of downtown San Diego

Terrace (loved the terrace) of our room with a view..

Big California skies, the Pacific on Coronado Beach

Mussels and fries @ Chez Loma

We parked in front of this historic bungalow everyday @ the beach...

Historic Hotel Del Coronado...125 years old!!

Sand castle sculpted in front of Hotel Del...w/ Jimmy!!

Where we did not stay (one of the Del's Villa's)...lol...pretty!!

Chandelier in lobby of Hotel Del!!

Sunrise...

...and sunset...

This is how our vacation started...we boarded the plane, excited that our vacation was finally upon us. I smiled @ the man sitting next to me in the window seat, Jimmy was on the aisle. Window man and I engaged in very small chit chat. I noticed his accent. As always, curious:

Me: Where are you from?

Him: (short, momentary hesitation) Iran.

Me: (still in conversational mode, not thinking the worst) So, why are you going to San Diego?

Him: My wife's mother died.

Me: Oh I am so sorry. Last year at this time, my Mother died. I know how you feel.

Him: Thank you.

He went on to explain to me about the Iranian community in San Diego, that he lives in Denver. I told him that we were going to San Diego to celebrate our 25th Anniversary, that it was a happy occasion, that I hoped his next trip would be a happy occasion. I offered him some almonds, he said no, and put his hand over his heart. I had my Chaim Potok novel in my lap, he watched cartoons for the rest of the trip. We landed w/out incident and said our good-byes.

We had a wonderful time on Coronado Island. We wanted to go to the beach and eat fish. Anything over and above that would be icing on the cake. Just being there, smelling the water, waking up w/ the sun, seeing the pristine cleanliness of the Island, pastel colored bicycles everywhere, children pedaling freely, shiny cars reflecting the palm trees on their well polished bodies, knowing we were very very close to Tijuana, dreaming about buying a condo or a time share for our next trip back to Coronado (stranger things have happened) all added to the depth of our visit to Coronado. The icing was thick.

We planned the trip so that it would be the few days before the 1st anniversary, or yahrzeit of Mom's passing. I said to Jimmy, this was either a really good idea, or a really bad one. As it turns out, it was a really good idea. The anticipation of how bad the day might be was erased by the whole adventure. My gratitude of being by the ocean, the long walks on the beach, all took away the sting of the day. Honestly, I was glad that the first year w/out Mom was behind us. So, here we are, back from sea level to 6000 feet in the air. A seamless transition, this time...looking forward to the continuing adventure....

Wordless Wednesday

62 degrees East

152 degrees South

248 degrees North

6:07 AM Wednesday