Happy new week! Once again I find myself blessed with prompts that are near and dear to my heart. Cee has given the prompt of feather and anyone who has followed my wavy blog for any amount of time knows how much I love birds. Those who know me personally are aware of my spiritual attachment to feathers. They have always come to me when I need signs. This miracle is my ritual of optimism. If anyone is participating in Linda Hill’s JusJoJan you will notice my nod to her prompt for today. Optimism.
From my vast collection, most of these were collected over the past two years. I was seeking signs often during this time and they were provided. Many went into my dream catchers.
In my hand…
Photo sessions with the Great Egret
I just loved these feathers like a grass skirt
One of my favorite shots ever. Feather in still life on the lake..
Well, Linda Hill has this year’s #JusJoJan monthly prompt going out with a bang. I’m so glad I had more time to join in the fun and this is another of my favorite words.
Being raised by a father whose sarcasm and quick wit was a daily occurrence has been the saving grace for my naturally sensitive Cancer nature. For him nothing was off limits for a tease, teaching us to laugh at ourselves before anyone else did.
If I twisted my ankle or jammed my pinky (as I so often did) while playing basketball, he would knit his brows in serious concern, bend it gently and say, “Yep, I think we’re gonna’ have to amputate.” As an injured kid I got frustrated by his seeming lack of concern, but I appreciate the fact that I can tolerate one heck of a lot of pain before I get crazy.
In our house we heard a lot of superstitions from my father because his mother was very metaphysically connected. My Daddy often saw deceased members of the family in a dream the very night they passed, although he tried to be pragmatic about it to us. So we grew up with a lot of old superstitions like:
If you already have bread on your plate and ask for another slice it means unexpected company is coming.
Always sweep out the back door so you don’t sweep your good luck away.
If your nose itches, someone wants to kiss you.
You should only cut your hair on a full moon so it will grow quick and healthy.
If your hand itches, money is coming. (Can I tell you how many times that one has disappointed me over the years?)
If your ears burn someone is talking about you. (I hated that one and wish it were the only time it was true.🤦♀️)
So, it stands to reason that when my foot or other body part would itch, I ran to him all excited and asked what it meant.
He would look at me solemnly and say, “You say your foot itches? Well, you know what that means?”
I looked at him expectantly, my young heart waiting for some profound prophetic revelation and he replied,
“If your foot itches it means.. you need to scratch it.”
And now you know why facetious is one of my favorite words. Of course it leads to a lot of explaining when you deal with others who don’t have an understanding of twisted harmless humor. 😉
My kids know it well.
Thanks again Linda! And Susan for this, our last prompt of January. And a big thank you to my friend Dan over at No Facilities. Not only is he a great boss and customer at the bar but I get all the prompts from his wonderful blog because it is the first one I read every day. Check all these talented writers out and visit some of the links in Linda’s comments.
You know there has to be a photo and some music. 😉 have a great week everyone!
Doesn’t he look just full of mischief?
And one of his favorite songs that just screams,
“Facetious!”
We always listened for it to be played on our local kids’ show, Buckskin Bill.
Seriously, not even in the dusty school days crevices of my gray matter is there even a speck of remembrance of ever having heard or been exposed to this word. Yet, it applies to so much that goes on in my life daily.
Abscission: The shedding of or cutting away of parts of a plant. The separation of body parts in nature of animals under attack, such as a lizard losing its tail.
Plants constantly shed the old to make room for new growth or else they will wither and die. Some plants manage this on their own..
while others need a bit of help in letting go of that which no longer serves them.
Either way, the shedding is necessary to make room for new growth .
Humans are not much different. We regenerate cells, shed skin and hair and need to trim things away to improve our health. Sometimes our emotional, mental and spiritual health needs pruning in order for us to thrive. This might be the most difficult process of all, yet if we don’t we can become stuck and unable to move forward.
We found this long snakeskin wound around one of our palm trees a year ago
I was going through a very tough period of having to let go. My father died, I lost my job and Covid was just rearing its ugly head. This skin was a sign for me, reminding me that growth would surely come after so much loss.
We outgrow what no longer serves us and, if we are wise, leave it behind for the better things ahead.
There is a hillbilly philosophy that goes something like this:
“Calories consumed when traveling outside the county you live in don’t count”~
In other words, vacation splurges are A-OK. I kind of enjoyed that guilt free view of indulgence and decided it could be adjusted to living outside the country you were born in.
So, for today’s contribution to Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors prompt I decided to share the door to one of our favorite local indulgences.
Our favorite little bakery, Panaderia Lidia. You can smell the delights from way down the road, beckoning your senses to succumb to your deepest desire for the much maligned king of goodies…BREAD and cakes!
My $3 lunch!
These are the best puff pastry beef empanadas ever.
With Modelo Negra to wash them down, of course.
It is my new understanding that philosophy is malleable.
But…I digress. What were we talking about? Oh yes. Today’s prompt. First, my sincere apologies to my good friend Dan over at No Facilities for missing #Thursday Doors this week. I have doors but ran out of hours in my days. Visit the link to his place to see the submissions for this week.
Since today is Saturday, that means it is time for Linda Hill’s #SoCs/#JusJoJan combined prompt. Today, the prompt is ‘icing on the cake’. Visit Linda’s blog to read some great posts and meet other terrific bloggers.
I have been working on my novel, as if going on ten years isn’t enough, and making great progress. Yesterday was an all day event.
So, today, I took a mind break and joined a new friend on a mountain hike. I love hiking and have been too busy for any lengthy walks lately. This was supposed to be a minimally difficult hike, not too far away or too far up. I kept in touch with the hubby while walking and when I texted that the trail was looking a bit hairier than we thought, as well as steeper than we might have wanted, he looked it up.
The trail has a rise of 322 meters, or 1000 feet. It must be stated here that I live in the mountains these days and walk the sloping roads. But climbing them like a goat is not in my daily routine.
I was determined though and, with some encouragement from my walking buddy as well as the man who joined us part way up, I stuck with it. There were only a few places I felt truly apprehensive about, mostly due to the fact I don’t have hiking boots yet and I had a wicked experience here a year ago trying to take a shortcut to town. The trails look innocuous in photos and often just viewing them. But, one little divot filled with loose rock and dirt at the wrong incline and you are on your as#!. Some of these trails have steep to sheer drops on one side.
See? Looks innocent right? Slippy slidee if you don’t step right.
My ‘goat’ buddies
This was my end place. That indented grass was part of the trail.
This hike was so great though and just the treat I needed.
And this….
Was the icing on the cake.
Do I look happy.. or what?
Cool breezes
Bamboo. Not just for cooking utensils..
Every tiny thing…
These two were the sprinkles on that cake! 😉
Oh this? My friend climbed up the back of that rock face for the 360 view.
I admit it is gorgeous. Just not ‘risk breaking my neck’ gorgeous. At least not today. 👍🏻
Thanks for the walk, Doug!
This one’s for you Dan! I’m late but it was such a cool abandoned house and of course it had a door! 😉
I’m panting and sliding into home plate with today’s #JusJoJan prompt, provided by Joanna . Check her blog at the link and visit our host, Linda Hill’s blog to read the rules and meet some other fantastic bloggers.
My youngest grandson who, at the age of two, can’t decide if he wants to be a drummer, a pro golfer or an artist. One thing is certain, however, and that is that he loves things with wheels.
He loves all cycles, from tricycles and bicycles to motorcycles and even popcicles! They are all ‘cycles’. Of course in the past few months his vocabulary has increased and his understanding of the differences is much more refined. I will always remember his ‘cycle’ days though. ❤️❤️
Yes, he drew a motorcycle for me!
And now for a musical moment. Thanks Freddy and Queen!
When I saw the word for today’s #JusJoJan prompt by our host Linda Hill, I thought I knew just what to do. It involved a non verbal mini rant about my opinion of certain officials in certain high offices who certainly fall under the category of ridiculous. Then I took a long walk in the gorgeous early morning light and changed my mind, intending to share this image and a remark about the ridiculously perfect weather here.
But, then, something popped into my head that really sealed the deal for me. Our boys grew up in the 80’s and 90’s and we watched a lot of tv with them. There were some classic, never to be matched sitcoms that when viewed today don’t hold the same magic as they did back when. They nonetheless remain in my book of top funniest duos. So, without further ado, I give you…
Balki from Mypos. Don’t beeee…ridiculous!
Okay, okay, I have to pay homage to my all time favorite film series here, as well as honor the memory of the late Alan Rickman. Only he could wear a dress with such Shakespearean style. ❤️
Today’s prompt was provided by Lauren Try stopping by her blog to say hi and visit Lind at the link in the first paragraph to find the rules to this and other great prompts as well as meeting some pretty terrific bloggers.
It is officially ‘Summer’ in Central America, which means less rain, more wind and absolutely gorgeous weather. Things can get a bit dry overall but now and then we have a rainy day.
We had one such day last week and it was nice to sit inside, hearing the drops on the roof and watching it fall across the mountains. It’s nothing like the torrential downpours of the rainy season but the plants and trees love it.
A summer rainy day in Panama
But then, this time of year, there is some misting rain every day, almost always before sunset, and we get these marvelous consolation prizes..
When I first saw Linda Hill’s #SoCs #JusJoJan prompt I thought I had the perfect song. But as I hummed it to myself I realized it was the wrong time of day. Still it is a wonderful song so I’m sharing it anyway.
Do visit Linda’s blog if you want to participate or to just read some really cool posts.
