Tuesday, 31 October 2006 - Attitude adjustment

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for an attitude adjustment.

It's so hard when I have to, and so easy when I want to. ~Annie Gottlier

The morning weather report: 19 degrees; feels like 12 degrees with the wind chill.

I gaze out my studio window for a few minutes, staring nervously at the frost-covered landscape. T anxiously awaits his morning walk. I'm stalling for time because I don't want to face the cold. I wonder if my new Patagonia wind-resistant jacket will keep me warm. Actually, I'd prefer to skip the walk altogether, but T is a creature of habit and won't let me off the hook. And it wouldn't be fair - to him.

I'm funny that way. I care that things are fair for the other party without considering my own plight. I give and give and sometimes take a little. It's just me. Just my way of dealing with life. Anyway, It works most of the time.

OK. The walk is on. T excitedly anticipates his first steps beyond the front door. His eagerness is quite contagious. He's forcing me to enjoy our routine. Doesn't take much. A lively tail wag that whacks my thigh. An insistent nudge with his cold nose. Magically, my questionable attitude abruptly switches from "having to" to "wanting to."

I want to go for a walk with T on this exceptionally bitter cold morning.

My, my. It's going to be an interesting day.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: View from my studio window - a bitter cold, frosty day that's Halloween eerie.

Monday, 30 October 2006 - First steps on the road to happiness

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my first steps on the road to happiness.

The road to happiness lies
in two simple principles:
find what it is that interests you
and that you can do well,
and when you find it,
put your whole soul into it --
every bit of energy and ambition
and natural ability you have.
~John D. Rockefeller III, philanthropist

I want to travel on my road to happiness - I really do. Sometimes, I feel that I'm half way there since I can explain Mr. Rockefeller's first principle.

Writing.

I'm interested in writing. I'm passionate about writing. And, I think I do it well.

Mr. Rockefeller's second principle is harder for me to follow precisely.

Can I truly put my soul into my writing? Is it worth every bit of my energy, every last ounce of my ambition and every thread of talent that resides within this 107 pound body?

My rational side immediately questions everything about this challenge, threatening my confidence with whispers of self-doubt. But, intuition - that deep gut-wrenching feeling that helps me make tough decisions - exhorts, "Yes. You can do it. You must do it. Go for it."

My heart beats rapidly. I'm hyperventilating. My mind struggles to calm my emotions.

Focus. Concentrate. Ignore all distractions.

I've lived over 52 years just for this moment. One more major journey before I die. Perhaps the most important one of my life. A chance to create a legacy. An opportunity to fulfill a destiny.

The final countdown begins. Hours to minutes to seconds.

Then, I hear the three words that launch every new adventure.

Ready.
Set.
Go.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - S and T head towards the climbing wall (while I lag behind, taking pics)

Sunday, 29 October 2006 - My husband's 5.10 climb

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my husband's 5.10 climb.

Completing a 5.10-rated outdoor climb is a major milestone for any climber. I am proud to report that, this afternoon, my husband, S, completed his first 5.10 in Red Rock Canyon. At the end of the day, he climbed the 5.10 three times (we also climbed easier adjacent routes). T and I are so happy for him. What a fantastic achievement!

(Yes, I tried to climb the 5.10 and nearly reached the third bolt. Maybe next year.)

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon - autumn landscapes (duck pond with snow-capped Pikes Peak; trees in meadow adjacent to quarry wall trail)

Saturday, 28 October 2006 - New climbing rope

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a new climbing rope.

Because they're so durable, we don't buy them very often. Still, we debated buying a new, 70 meter climbing rope this season. It's expensive and our 60 meter rope is long enough for nearly all of the climbs we attempt. But, the 100+ feet climbs beckon us.

So, when Mountain Chalet announced its anniversary sale and offered a generous dollars off coupon for purchases over $100, we decided to bite. We're calling it our early wedding anniversary and Christmas gift.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Garden of the Gods - mule deer doe watches us from this shady clearing

Friday, 27 October 2006 - A walk in the park

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a walk in the park on this absolutely gorgeous October afternoon. This time, we're enjoying a local treasure, Garden of the Gods.

The snow doesn't give a soft white damn whom it touches.
~e.e. cummings

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Garden of the Gods - Snowman in clearing

Thursday, 26 October 2006 - Anticipation

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for anticipation.

Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.
~Benjamin Franklin

The Weather Service warned us that the first major storm of the season would arrive early this morning. Was hard to imagine a snowstorm. We enjoyed a perfect Wednesday - warm temperatures, sunny skies, unlimited visibility.

I awaited the storm with great anticipation tinged with excitement, a little apprehension and lots of patience. Bad weather always concerns me.

The fierce, northerly blizzard finally hit our neighborhood in the wee hours of the morning. I was sound asleep and didn't hear a thing.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Snow-ladened pine trees in the front yard

Wednesday, 25 October 2006 - Familiar paths

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for familiar paths.

Although I normally choose the "road less taken," sometimes old familiar paths are just what the doctor ordered.

Lately, our climbing adventures end well after sundown. It's quite dark by the time S has taken down the top rope and packed all the gear in his backpack.

The hike out of Red Rock Canyon usually takes about 15 minutes - a brisk mile or so along a trail we know quite well. A very good thing. After surviving several climbs on the steep rock walls, I'm tired. I don't want to stumble on the dirt trail and twist an ankle.

T, the expert and energetic trail dog, knows the way to the parking area and leads us safely to the truck. All aboard for the short trip home.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - the familiar trail along the east climbing wall

Tuesday, 24 October 2006 - Break in the weather

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a break in the weather.

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!
~John Muir

We bundle up in our fall climbing clothes and head to Red Rock Canyon for the afternoon. We applaud the sun's efforts to break through the clouds - it succeeds for about an hour(see photo).

No matter. The rock is dry and we're ready to climb.

Even though I'm not at my best, I manage four long climbs on two different routes (total of about 320 feet). The rock is cool so my shoes don't stick to the surface, making the routes more difficult. Although I'm struggling, I finish the climbs, triumphant and exhausted.

S is having a stellar day. He completes six climbs including two leads (total of about 440 feet).

T is also enjoying a productive day - chewing on scrub oak branches, barking at the birds, greeting us each time we finish a climb. Best of all, he gets to hike on a real trail and sniff all the wonders of the world.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - one of the climbs we tackled - 105 feet

Monday, 23 October 2006 - Walking the walk

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for walking the walk.

If people have a position on something and you try to argue them into changing it, you're going to strengthen that position. If you want to change people's ideas, you shouldn't try to convince them intellectually. What you need to do is get them into a situation where they'll have to act on ideas, not argue about them. ~Myles Horton

Our neighbors still challenge my strong pro-environment views and question our recycling efforts. I don't argue with them. To each his own.

I do, however, stand firmly on two beliefs:

First, I believe that one person can make a difference.

Second, I believe that if each person did something each day to help the environment, the world would change significantly for the better. It's not how much you do - the important thing is that you do something positive every day.

So, when you catch me picking up trash in the park, cutting down noxious weeds in the culvert, dumping vegetable scraps into the compost bin, collecting aluminum cans or recycling office paper, you'll know that I'm just walking the walk - one step, one day at a time.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: I'm supporting Anna Lord in her run for our district's State Assembly seat. And, yes, she's pro-environment.

Sunday, 22 October 2006 - Fall gardening chores

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for fall gardening chores.

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.
~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Spring flowers are long
since gone.
Summer's bloom hangs limp
on every terrace.
The gardener's feet drag a bit
on the dusty path and
the hinge in his back
is full of creaks.
~Louise Seymour Jones

It's time to winterize the gardens. Fall fertilizer. Bulbs in the ground. A thick layer of mulch. Large doses of TLC. Last chance to get my hands really dirty.

The garden shop clerk assures me that my plants will love the bone meal fertilizer. I buy two large sacks since I have two large gardens and scores of plants to fertilize. I've already collected at least two dozen bags of raked leaves for mulch (thank you Hayden and Dominic).

While the October sun warms the neighborhood, I fertilize the plants.

1. Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon or two of bone meal around the base of each perennial.
2. Scratch the powder into the dirt surrounding the plant's main stem.
3. Move to the next plant.
4. Repeat steps 1-3.

Next, I plant bulbs - dozens of daffodils and assorted allium. The clay soil is still wet from the recent snow so the digging is easy. I don't have a plan. Never do. I simply plant the bulbs where there's enough space between shrubs. They'll surprise me when they bloom next spring and summer. In May, I'll remark to T, "So that's where I planted the daffodils."

Finally, I dump bags of leaves all over the garden. Then, I rake the mulch around the plants, being extra careful to cover the newly planted bulbs.

All done for the season. Not a tidy garden but a content one. A garden with a heart and soul. A garden that sings like a Monet painting.

The next rain shower or snow storm will settle the leaves and work the bone meal into the soil. I will prune the plants next spring.

My wish list for spring planting grows with the arrival of each seed and plant catalogue. Because of our challenging gardening environment, I will eventually divide the list into "must have" and "wishful thinking." Spring planting officially begins after the last hard freeze - typically May 15. (Sigh.) I'm already counting down the days.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - aspen tree

Saturday, 21 October 2006 - Life's goodness

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for life's goodness.

Good friends (T, K and S). Good movie (Wired to Win - IMAX film featuring the 2003 Tour de France). Good brews and food (Rock Bottom Brewery). Good conversation (everyone). Good dogs at home (T and S).

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Friday, 20 October 2006 - Baseball

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for baseball.

Pitchers, like poets, are born not made.
~Cy Young

Poets are like baseball pitchers.
Both have their moments.
The intervals are the tough things.
~Robert Frost

I am a born poet and a lifelong baseball fan.

I grew up with the Los Angeles Dodgers when Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Maury Wills stood on center stage. Since we live in Colorado, we supported the Rockies during their first few seasons. We haven't attended a live game since the strike.

These days, I don't follow any team or watch any game until the pennant races and World Series. I watch the World Series regardless of the teams competing.

"Field of Dreams" is one of my favorite movies.

Although I'm a staunch National League fan, I'm also fond of the Minneapolis Twins (because of the late Kirby Puckett) and the California (I mean Los Angeles) Angels (gotta love that Rally Monkey).

So, it all begins again tomorrow. The 2006 edition of the World Series. The Detroit Tigers versus the St. Louis Cardinals.

I don't "love" either team - don't even know the names of the key players. I will probably cheer for the Cardinals since they're the NL team. I pray that neither team sweeps.

T is pleased that both mascots are animals (must be his weird chocolate Lab logic).

S just wants a competitive series.

Play ball.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Thursday, 19 October 2006 - That million dollar feeling

Dear God:

Today, I am grateful for that million dollar feeling.

If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. ~Isaiah 58:9-10

I could have sold Mrs. Jeep's nearly-new Goodyear snow tires for at least $100 (recall that, last February, I traded-in Mrs. Jeep when I bought the Toyota Camry).

But, I feel so much better giving them to the volunteer fireman from Ellicott who can't afford to buy new tires this year. He was so pleased and so grateful when he picked up them up a few minutes ago.

Funny how $100 in my pocket pales in comparison to the million dollar feeling I get when I give things to people who need a helping hand.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Dianthus and snow

Wednesday, 18 October 2006 - Calm morning

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a calm morning after a wintry blizzard.

Snow.
Everywhere.
On everything.
Wet and heavy.
Not the lovely, dry powder that skiers prefer.
Tree limbs strain under its weight.
Boots and paws leave perfect impressions along the trail.
The earth greedily drinks the moisture.
Winter is early this year.
I am wholly unprepared.

Snow.
Melting very slowly as the air warms slightly.
I hear it slide down the roof and crash on the ground.
Steam rises from the street as the asphalt dries.
The sun strains to make an appearance.
Muddy boots and paws leave prints on the front porch.
I'm dreaming of warmer days.
Shame on me for complaining about summer's heat.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Children's playground at the neighborhood park

Tuesday, 17 October 2006 - A warm house

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a warm house.

Cold morning. Too wintry to my liking. Feels like snow but can't tell if the skies will suddenly clear. The park guys turned off the irrigation system and blew out the pipes. A sure sign that summer is officially over for the year. Is fall already over, too?

A very snowy afternoon. Blizzard conditions. Strong north wind. Brrrrrrrrrr.

I'm glad to be safe inside, working in my studio, sipping Bancha tea. I feel out of sorts, not really sick but not 100% either. Must be the moody weather. T sleeps soundly in the hallway, oblivious to the arrival of his snow buddies.

S had a meeting across town - hopes he gets home soon. Good thing he drove the truck and not the Camry.

The breadmaker is busy doing its thing. I think I'll make a stir fry dish for dinner - extra hot and spicy to counter the chill.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: View from my studio window - looking west towards our beloved park

Monday, 16 October 2006 - Climber's high

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a climber's high.

I am feeling really depressed lately for a number of reasons.

Change of seasons. Crazy weather. Up and down work cycle. Impending holiday season. Fragile finances.

The remedy to my blues always involves athletic endeavors. When I was younger, long distance running helped me face the rigors of graduate school, teaching and the business world. Now, I get my high from rock climbing.

By 3 PM, we have staked our spot in Red Rock Canyon. T has found a good stick to chew while S sets up the top rope on the Solar Slab. Soon, we're taking turns doing "laps" on the rock. I am always shaky on my first climb of the day, but soon get in gear and find my balance and rhythm. I finish 7 climbs while S completes 9.

At 6:30 PM, we begin hiking out of the park in near darkness. Brrrr. A cold front moved in halfway through our outing. Now it's quite chilly. I must remember to bring a warmer jacket next time.

Although I'm exhausted and hungry, I feel so much better mentally and physically. Must be the endorphins. I'll sleep soundly tonight and dream (hopefully) sweet dreams.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon - fall colors

Sunday, 15 October 2006 - Books

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for books. This afternoon, I'm reading Thornton Wilder's play, "Our Town."

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.
~Cicero

How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.
~Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled "This could change your life." ~Helen Exley

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Saturday, 14 October 2006 - Knitting

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful that I know how to knit (I'm currently working on various Christmas gifts for family members and friends). Sometimes, progress on a lacy scarf or wool sweater is my day's only measurable accomplishment.

Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit, either. ~Elizabeth Zimmerman

Knitting is very conducive to thought. It is nice to knit a while, put down the needles, write a while, then take up the sock again. ~Dorothy Day

The only place where housework comes before needlework is in the dictionary. ~Mary Kurtz

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Dewy beads, reminiscent of rhinestones, decorate the Columbine leaves.

Friday, 13 October 2006 - My own work

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my own work.

No matter what your work, let it be your own. No matter what your occupation, let what you are doing be organic. Let it be in your bones. In this way, you will open the door by which the affluence of heaven and earth shall stream into you.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Thursday, 12 October 2006 - My guardian angel

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my guardian angel (who, lately, has been working overtime).

The guardian angels of life fly so high as to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us. ~Jean Paul Richter

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Dew-covered aster bud

Wednesday, 11 October 2006 - A soul alive

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a soul alive.

If the sight of the blue skies
fills you with joy,
if a blade of grass springing up
in the fields has power
to move you,
if the simple things of nature
have a message
that you understand,
rejoice,
for your soul is alive.
~Eleonora Duse

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Colors from my backyard garden - quite brilliant even after yesterday's snow.

Tuesday, 10 October 2006 - Winter in October

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for winter in October.

Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius.
~Pietro Aretino

I awaken to a dreary gray morning. Sometime between midnight and now, a winter storm visited the neighborhood, leaving in its wake a thick frosting of snow and ice over the autumn landscape.

Just a few days ago, I marvelled over the lively fall palette of yellow, gold and rust. Now, the world lies quietly beneath a fragile layer of fresh paint in wintry shades of white, gray and black.

Brrrr. It's really quite cold for someone used to moderate to warm temperatures. On Saturday, when we climbed in Red Rock Canyon, the temperature peaked at 80 degrees F. My blood hasn't had time to thicken and, after a summer of rock climbing and hiking and green salads, my fat reserves are at an all time low. So, to keep warm during our morning walk in the park, I must wear 3-4 layers of clothes.

T relishes the colder weather. He's been shedding like crazy the past few weeks - a sign that he's getting ready to grow a dense winter coat. I'm surprised at his energy level and spunk this morning. To ensure I don't leave the house without him, he follows me around the bedroom like a shadow, his tail wagging like a metronome as he watches my every move. I'm still trying to decide what to wear. I think I'll break-in the Teva winter boots I won in a recent eBay auction.

Finally, I'm ready. T sits obediently by the front door as I pull the choke collar over his head and attach the lead to the large ring. I don my hat, sunglasses and gloves. A blast of cold air greets me as I open the door. T pauses for a moment on the porch before leading me down the driveway to the sidewalk. We're on our way.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: T surveys his snowy backyard.

Monday, 09 October 2006 - My husband - Happy Birthday

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for my husband, S, who is celebrating his 57th birthday. Here's to another year of cycling adventures with great friends, long hikes with T in our favorite wilderness areas and scores of successful climbs in Red Rock Canyon and beyond.

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.
~Edmund Hillary

Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. What if they are a little coarse, and you may get your coat soiled or torn? What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice. Up again, you shall never be so afraid of a tumble.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

For this blessing, I am very grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - we celebrated S's birthday on Saturday by climbing two new routes. The day was perfect in every way.

Sunday, 08 October 2006 - "No smoking" laws

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for "no smoking" laws.

I stopped accompanying my husband to favorite brew pubs and sports bars many years ago because I hate the smoky indoor pollution. So, no one was more pleased than I when the Colorado legislature passed a far-reaching smoking ban that went into effect last July.

Last night, after an afternoon of rock climbing, we visited an old haunt - a popular sports bar that's been off-limits to me for years because of the smoke. The place was abuzz with college football games on the HDTVs and a raucous Saturday night crowd.

The icy cold microbrews were perfect with the roasted garlic and pepperoni pizza. S and I stayed for only a few hours - we were too weary from climbing to manage a long night on the town. The bonus - we arrived home with fresh-smelling clothes and happy lungs.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - looking east from the staging area for yesterday's climbs along the west canyon wall

Saturday, 07 October 2006 - Dad's advice

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for Dad's advice.

Success comes in cans, not cant's.
~Author Unknown

I first learned basic rock climbing over 15 years ago. So, when I took up climbing this summer after a 15-year hiatus, my aspirations were reasonable but not ambitious. Since I am a competency-based person (Myers-Briggs NT), I just wanted to do better each time I climbed and to master the skills required to be a safe, competent and elegant climber.

Now, that climbing has become my passion, my goals are expanding exponentially. And so it should be. In July, I struggled up a 45-foot, 5.5-rated climb. This afternoon, I "smoked" a 75-foot, 5.8 route.

Comfort zones or plateaus can be reassuring and predictable but they don't inspire change and progress. So, change-seeker that I am, I choose higher risk opportunities that test my ability to learn, adapt and persevere. Yes, I make mistakes - lots of them. Yes, I learn new lessons - many hard to swallow. Yes, I struggle with self-doubt and uncertainty. Yes, I think about quitting or trying something easier.

What keeps me going? Something I learned in childhood. My dad told me repeatedly, "Never say can't." At age 52, I am still trying very hard to follow his advice.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.



Photo: Red Rock Canyon - duck pond - around 5 PM today - taken while we were leaving the main canyon after an afternoon of rock climbing along the quarry wall.

Friday, 06 October 2006 - A good rule for my life

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a good rule for my life.

I just read an article by Chris Carmichael, Lance Armstrong's former coach. In the article, he explained the difference between a motivated athlete and an inspired one.

Case in point. Lance pre-cancer was a highly motivated athlete. Lance post-cancer is an inspired athlete.

Instead of inspired, I use the term "passionate." Lance is a person who found his life's passion - his reason to get up in the morning, to train harder and smarter than anyone else, to speak his mind on issues close to his heart.

My rule for the second 50 years of my life is to say yes only to projects about which I am passionate. A hard rule to follow for someone who said yes to everything for so many years. I agree that I'm being a bit selfish. But, then again, you don't see Lance cycling for tax reform.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Strawberry plant - I'm surprised it's still bearing fruit in October.

Thursday, 05 October 2006 - Elizabeth (1990-1993)

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for
my niece, Elizabeth
(1990-1993).

We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something. ~Mother Teresa

For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
~Psalm 91:11-12 NKJV

Dearest Elizabeth. Nearly 16 years of you. Almost three here on earth and exactly 13 in heaven. I think of you daily and keep all that I know about you very close to my heart. I'm crying because I love you and miss you and wish you were here.

For this precious blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Wednesday, 04 October 2006 - Final harvest

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a final harvest.

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

I give up.

I'm now positive that my tomatoes won't ever ripen on the vine. They won't go to waste, however. The bowlful of chopped green tomatoes will be a perfect ingredient for the tortilla soup I started an hour ago.

The tomato vines, tired and withered, droop in their pots. I'll add them to the compost pile later this week.

The soup - well, it's very spicy, flavorful and delicious served over brown rice.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Sunflowers (Helianthus maximilliani) - catching rays on a sunny October afternoon

Tuesday, 03 October 2006 - Comfort

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for comfort during stressful times.

That's when I want you - you knower of my emptiness, you unspeaking partner to my sorrow. That's when I need you, God, like food. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

For this blessing, I am thankful.

Amen.

Photo: Bachelors Buttons - much to my surprise, the fall blooms are lovelier than the spring/summer crop.

Monday, 02 October 2006 -Time to take care of myself

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for time to take care of myself because it's not easy being me.

Follow diligently the Way in your own heart, but make no display of it to the world. Keep behind, and you shall be put in front; keep out, and you shall be kept in. He that humbles himself shall be preserved entire. He that bends shall be made straight. He that is empty shall be filled. He that is worn out shall be renewed.
~ Lao-Tzu

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself...do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage. How are we to be patient in dealing with our neighbor's faults if we are impatient in dealing with our own? They who are fretted by their own failings will not correct them. All profitable correction comes from a calm and peaceful mind.
~Saint Francis de Sales

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo:
Love-Lies-Bleeding Amaranthus - backyard garden

Sunday, 01 October 2006 - All colors

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for fall colors.

I know that other parts of the country boast exceptionally beautiful fall colors. I'm just partial to our Colorado palette that's predominately yellow, gold and rust.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon - fall colors abound as the aspens, cottonwoods and scrub oak prepare for winter