Saturday:) Shadows and Stormy Skies

“Whether I stand in the sun or in the dark, my shadow and God are my constant companions. They always have my back.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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It was a gloomy dreary Saturday here, but I still went out for a couple of walks. I just put up my hood, leash up the dog, and put my cell phone in a ziplock bag in my pocket.

Whether it’s sunny or cloudy, I can always find something beautiful in my neighborhood, or even in my own back yard.

Sunny skies and shadows before the storm.

The rain washes away the dust of day and nourishes the earth.

Beauty in my own back yard. The grass is getting greener and the air is cool and fresh.

Saturday:) Simple Shadows

“My shadow casts the reflected light of my soul.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

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“I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow.” 
― Sylvia Plath

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Another scorching hot Texas day. My weather app says 98 degrees, partly cloudy, feels like 103. The good news is, the ten day forecast promises to keep us in double digits, with no 100’s. Yeah!

This morning, the early morning sun whispered shadows at my feet. Of course, I immediately took out my phone to snap pictures. Saturday shadows.

The glow of the sun tried to peek through the trees.

Later this evening, I noticed my shadow against the pale grey wall near the kitchen. Aha! Take a picture! I love to play with shadows.

Every shadow tells a story, a fuzzy story of pale greys, unclear, unusual, unbearable. 

Montage Monday: A Week in a Peek

“What i like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”
― Karl Lagerfeld
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Sunshine, shadows, and learning something new summarizes my week. The weather was great, time with friends was fun, and looking back at a wonderful week always makes me smile.

A week in a peek.

Saturday: Sunshine, Shadows, and Saving the World

“There is strong shadow where there is much light.”
― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Götz von Berlichingen
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Sunny days make me smile. They also inspire me to go out for a brisk walk. I walked about an hour before my Saturday writing group at 10. It was a great session, and we actually got some work done in between the laughing and sarcasm. We have the sarcasm down to a science. We stopped for lunch afterwards.(Missed you, Julia) I ran a few errands and drove home.

The lovely sun was sinking slowly into the west, so I donned my gym shoes and headed out the door for an evening walk. (I walk a lot, as you may have noticed. It’s my quiet thinking time.) As the solar sphere made its shimmery descent, I was captivated by the sultry shadows cast along the way.

OK, now I’m just getting bizarre and smaltzy, using my high fillutin’ two dollar vernacular. Ha! Basically, I love shadows. I thought this one was very descriptive.

My shadow between the crossroads and the stop sign of life…think about it. Pretty cool!

Then, of course, as I stroll and patrol the streets, I’m always finding nails and sharp objects. So, I don my super hero cape, pick up the nails, and save the world from mass destruction and flat tires. Here is a week’s worth of super hero activity. I also find lucky pennies and coins as payment for my hard work.

It was a lovely Saturday. I enjoyed the sunsine, the shadows, and saving the world.

Theme Song Thursday: I Walk Alone

When God repairs broken dreams, confusion & despair are replaced with a fresh zeal and focus to pursue the dreams He’s placed within you.
~ Unknown
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Sometimes I walk alone, sometimes I walk with friends, but I always have my shadow.

I’ve always liked this Green Day song.

x
NOW FOR THE ZEAL AND FOCUS TO PURSUE MY DREAMS!

Tuesday: Tall Shadows and Two Sunsets

The brightest flame casts the darkest shadow.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings
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I started off the day with my 8:30 Zumba class. After that, I’m pumped for the rest of the day. Exhililerating! Breakfast at Snug on the Square, visit friends at Sweet Spot Bakery, home for a long walk, a couple of hours of serious painting of ornaments, another long walk. On my final walk, I was mesmerized by my long, tall shadow. Photo op!

I’m not really ten feet tall. Well, maybe I am.

When I walked in the door, more interesting shadows on the wall. Snap, snap.

Now, here are the two sunsets. Always breathtaking.

The brightest flame casts the darkest shadow.”
― George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings

Saturday: Singing and Shadows

“Fancies are like shadows…you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward, dancing things.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
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I’m sitting here at Sweet Spot Bakery on the Square, a Second Saturday ritual. Good music and good friends.

The scorching summer sun has set, leaving simmering shadows in the night.

The night casts a long shadow in the absence of day.

Saturday: Singing and Shadows

“Fancies are like shadows…you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward, dancing things.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
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It’s Second Saturday on the Square. I’m sitting with Miss Kathy and the gang, singing and sharing good times.

The scorching summer sun has set and left only simmering shadows in the night.

Then comes the darkness, where the shadows dance.

Sunday Sermon and Shadows

“I love to chase my shadow to feel how it rests in the dark.”
― Munia Khan
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Often times, I get inspiration from Father’s sermon on Sunday. Father asked us to think about, if we could have any wish, what would you wish for? Solomon chose wisdom to govern his people. I guess if you are wise, all other attributes will follow. When we think about others before ourselves, and our own well being, well, that’s the most powerful gift a person can have,

[The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you. Solomon responded, “You showed so much kindness to your servant my father David when he walked before you in truth, righteousness, and with a heart true to you. You’ve kept this great loyalty and kindness for him and have now given him a son to sit on his throne. And now, Lord my God, you have made me, your servant, king in my father David’s place. But I’m young and inexperienced. I know next to nothing. But I’m here, your servant, in the middle of the people you have chosen, a large population that can’t be numbered or counted due to its vast size. Please give your servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish good from evil, because no one is able to govern this important people of yours without your help.” (1 Kings 3: 5-9, CEB)]

What would you ask for? Good question. Think about it, be honest, and see what you come up with. Thought provoking.

Now for the shadows. When I take my evening walk, I am always intrigued by the evening shadows cast by the street lights or the brightness of the moon. Sometimes, I try to capture a picture of my elongated silhouette on the dark pavement. It looks like I’m twenty feet tall and real skinny.( Aren’t shadows great?) Then, I chase my long shadow home in the stillness of the night.

In order to let the sunshine in, sometimes a shadow must be cast. Embrace them both.

Saturday and So Many S’s…

“Saturday night is perfect for writers because other people have “plans.”
― Mike Birbiglia
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Wow, that’s a perfect quote, isn’t it? Writers are writing, while artists are painting. Other people have plans on Saturday night.

My Saturday was busy with a lot of S’s. Started off at Sweet Spot for our writing group at 10 am, then Snug for lunch, Stopped at Art on the Veranda, scurried home for an early evening walk, captured my shadow on my phone, stirred up a scrumptious Black Russian cocktail, now sitting stretched out by the TV, sipping and scripting my blog. Now, that’s a lot of S’s for one Saturday.

My larger than life shadow. When the sun is at your back, your shadow falls before you.
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Look at this yummy Black Russian cocktail! This time I made a frozen chocolate almond milk ball to add instead of ice, a little chocolate ice cream, Kahlua and vodka. Voila…the perfect sweet treat/cocktail.