Just… Whatever #SoCS

Todays Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt is whatever. If you’d like to join the prompt visit Linda Hill’s blog for the rules and check out some of the wonderful bloggers who participate. 

First, I must apologize to Dan over at No Facilities for missing the deadline for a Thursday Doors post. If you haven’t already, do stop by his blog and check out the really cool collection of doors he has and meet the nice folks who submit their entries weekly. On TIME. 😏

In my defense, yesterday was an amazing day to be out of doors. Hey! 🤦‍♀️I digress..

From the moment we took our morning walk till the view of the brilliant moon before I fell asleep there were wonderful gifts. No, I didn’t get a picture of that moon. I did slip outside in my nightie to take a peek, forgetting we have a motion sensor light just outside the door that is bright enough to light a small stage. 

Whatever else the day brings is icing on the cake after a morning walk like this

I tell myself every time we pass this tree that I need a photo with such an amazing creation. 

Whatever this cat was waiting for is in big trouble. We hurried past, trying to avoid eye contact. 🤭

These are Rainbow Eucalyptus trees and in the right light they are amazingly colorful. Photos just do not do them justice because standing below them is absolutely breathtaking.

The trees are also known as Mindanao Gum and are the only eucalyptus to live in the rainforest and only one of four species found outside of Australia.

Whatever you call it, I call it magnificent! 

Hello in there. Whatever are you doing? 

Bee business my sweet lady. Bee business.

And I must be off now! 

What’s a perfect morning without my own modified Peach Bellini? Pssst…

The secret is Triple Sec and Maracuya liqueuer. 

Whatever you can find folks-and it is often better than the original! 

My fuchsia ladies are outdoing themselves.

Whatever the weather they have shown up for a parade of color! 

When you crave fried chicken and you’re retired…

Yes, that is mac n cheese from a box. With extra additions of course.

Yes, I made mine into a sandwich. Whatever…

Don’t judge me. 🤷‍♀️

I chased rainbows during last evening’s bajarque and phoned one of my grandsons to share the moment.

“Whatever,” he shrugged. I got my snacks! ❤️😂

The reason I ‘chase’ them is that they move with the shifting rain and sunlight. 

Darn power lines. 

Whatever it takes to capture this most elusive of Nature’s miracles..

I know I’ve found my pot of gold here. 🥰

Thank goodness my little bario is nestled between mountains and has a circular drive around it. I can chase to my heart’s content! 

 

This? Well, when you have homemade chocolate chip cookies just sitting around and a kind neighbor who brings you ice cream, well there’s not much else you can do. 

Extra calories? 

WHATever….

Here is your moment of zen…

And she hung around for me this morning. 😀❤️❤️

I know I play this song every couple of months but it just so resonates with all I feel about this life, this earth, this wonder we know as existence…

Photography Philosophy #1Liner Wednesday

If a tree falls in a pine forest and Cheryl is nearby, will there be pictures of it? 

You betcha’! 

We had a few days of heavy winds up in the mountains and the usual bajareque (misting rains) that produce the gorgeous rainbows I love to chase. Two nights ago the wind was really howling through the pines. It was 3 am and I heard a distinct “craaack”, follow by the sound of thumping on metal. I put on some pants and my shoes and stepped outside to make sure nothing had hit the rooftops of any homes on the property. Just last year the tree beside our house was split in two and part of it fell away from this place and hit the roof of the big house, also damaging the rock wall. Nothing seemed disturbed so I went back to bed.

At around 8 am I was awakened by a rather insistent mockingbird who jumped up and down on the roof and screeched his heart out. I got up and went to the window to find this sweet gift from Mother Nature. 

I was so excited! I dressed, put on my hoodie (cuz.. the misting rain) and went in search of the best view. I just love when I can see the whole bow. I had to walk past the pines of course to get to that perfect spot but I found it. 

I took my photos with my little phone and went home happy.

Then came the text from our friend Tony saying he had been there and happened to look up and saw a pine had fallen halfway and that we should not go into the pine forest until someone took it out. 

Okay, I know, I know, another philosophy quote comes to mind, but:

I couldn’t see the forest for the rainbow. 🤦‍♀️

Of course I ran out to search for this broken pine, trying to not get too close. Fortunately, the road skirts this little ‘forest’ and I got some cool shots. 

That pine was strategically pointed between the main house and the casitas. We wondered how long it would take to get an expert up here to take the tree down. Here in Panama nothing is done halfway but sometimes things take awhile. Within a couple of hours a very nice older man with an orange and yellow vest showed up (with his helper and his family) in his SUV and started assessing the situation. 

Before too long we heard the chainsaw warming up and I grabbed my phone and went to find the best viewing spot.  Timing really is everything and I got settled just in time…

The man had skills!! 

We didn’t even lose power when it skimmed the lines. 

I hope your week is going well

Black and White #1Liner Wednesday

This song has been running through my brain since I awoke this morning; and although the song writer may have had another inspiration, all forms of art inspire each of us in different ways. As I scrolled through my images, this one struck me as the way my soul is feeling about life right now. 

The world is still so full of beautiful things while Nature continues her struggle to be brilliant and survive our ever increasing brutal assault against her without conscience. Still,  there is something decidedly different about life in these times, something...less.

There seems to be less brilliance, less exuberance, less enthusiasm, a lack of vibrance and energy...a lack of color.

Is it my eyes, seeing the world I love through the haze of 

disenchantment?

I often feel alone in trying to shine on through the dismal outlook of the

masses..

as they tremble under the watchful gaze of the hungry that wait for the smoke to clear,

eager to feed.

I feel cast out, adrift on a sea of vast hope and woeful reflection..

so empty.

while longing for the days of lilting leaves and dancing dragonflies...

Your vibrance shows in shadow and light,

But my heart knows your true colors.

Life, continual as it is, carries on..

while it weeps for what may be lost.

and wonders, 

“Will there be any more rainbows of promise to comfort the destroyers?”

I love Death Cab for Cutie and I almost saw them in concert once upon a time. This is the spark for my thought droppings today.