“Laughter is to the soul what sunshine is to a flower.”-Peggy Toney Horton
Reading funny commentary has been a real stress reliever for me lately. Being able to laugh at something is truly healing. Laughter is one of great pleasures of life. Maybe comedians are truly healers.
“Laughter is a powerful weapon for it carries the light. To laugh is to defy the darkness.” -Isobelle Carmody
One Liner Wednesday and JustJotItJanuary.
On a lighter note, I have been looking for a good red wine for a moderate price. I do prefer California wine because it is local and I am in love with our wine countries. There has been an explosion of wineries in California and this makes it hard impossible to keep up with all the labels. So just doing some quick research (Google) and happy to see there are some wines that are affordable to me. ( $20 and under). I really like the richer flavored red wines, like Cabernet, and found out that some of the best are from Napa Valley. Here’s another list of red and white wines and some from other countries. And another list of California Cabernet, from different regions, under $4o. One more list of 100 wines from California and other countries for $15 and under. Hmm, lots to explore and my research may take some time…..
Glass of Napa Valley Red Wine by Ash Berlin
Stream of Consciousness Saturday is hosted by Linda G Hill and the prompt word for today is “glass.” Featured image is ‘Vineyard bathed in light [Sonoma]’ by torbakhopper on wikimedia.
“We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us. Our flesh-and-bone tabernacle seems transparent as glass to the beauty about us, as if truly an inseparable part of it, thrilling with the air and trees, streams and rocks, in the waves of the sun,—a part of all nature, neither old nor young, sick nor well, but immortal.” -John Muir
I have had my transcendent experiences in nature, or in listening to great opera, or even eating great food. How about eating great food in nature while listening to opera. But nature is pretty high on my list. Even enjoying the nature in my small backyard. I agree with John Muir that nature is essential to our well being and our very spirit/soul. It is where we find that we are truly connected to the earth and all its inhabitants and feel awestruck by its beauty.
JustJotItJanuary blogging challenge hosted by Linda G Hill. Today’s prompt word “transcendent” was suggested by me. 🙂 The Featured Image at the top of the page is called ‘Transcendent Moment’ by Joel Penner on Flickr.
The JustJotItJanuary prompt word for today is “rubbish.” Here in the US we do not refer to our rubbish as rubbish, we call it trash or garbage. We use the words in a similar way either literally or figuratively. So somehow this reminded me of another word we have used to describe something we think is rubbish, trash, or garbage…and it isn’t a swear word.
The word is baloney and an old American expression is “You’re full of baloney” or “That’s baloney” which means that’s crazy, nonsense, rubbish, crap, BS, blarney, garbage, hogwash, malarky, gobbledygook….you get the idea. Baloney ( proper name balogna) is also a luncheon meat that many of us took to school in our lunch boxes as kids. This image below makes me hungry for a baloney sandwich and I really don’t like baloney all that much. And it is baloney on white bread, probably with mayonaise. It does sound good though. It looks like the white bread we used to eat when I was little, called “Wonder Bread.” Now when my kids were growing up white bread was out and wheat or whole grain was in. Nowadays it might be gluten free. And that’s no baloney.
Baloney Sandwich for lunch
JustJotItJanuary is a blogging challenge hosted by Linda G Hill. Prompt word for today is “rubbish” suggested by Wendy of Wendy’s Waffle . Featured image of old fashioned lunch box by Scott Rubin on Flickr. Image of Baloney Sandwich by Diderot’s Dreams on wikimedia.
“What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.” -Maya Angelou
I need to remember this when I start to get up on my soapbox. Just the thought of the word complaint raises my tension level. The image of ‘Calm Lake’ by Moyan Brenn is an antidote.
JustJotItJanuary is a blogging challenge guest hosted by Shan Jeniah. Today’s prompt “complaint” suggested by Willow at Willowdot21
When babies are in the NICU it is a long vigil for the parents and family. Many say it is a roller coaster ride because there can be many bumps and twists in the road, large and small, as the baby fights for survival. You wish for time to pass quickly so the baby will reach the point of being strong enough to go home.
Via Children’s Hospital LA on You Tube:
And:
This post is part of JustJotItJanuary. The word prompt for today is “hospital” suggested by Charlene Bullard at FaithtoRaiseNate.com.
I say “drive carefully” to my family members any time I know they are going off in the car. We do a lot of driving in California and I usually enjoy driving,but not in crazy rush hour traffic. I am not really keen on driving along narrow, winding roads that run along a high cliff like Highway 1 in California. Although, if I am the passenger, I work to tamp down my fears and enjoy the spectacular views. One place along that highway with a history of being particularly dangerous is Devil’s Slide. When I was a teenager I heard tales of reckless young drivers going over the edge. This section of the highway has been bypassed now and the old section has been converted into hiking and bike trails, a very good idea. Here’s a link to the history of Devil’s Slide and Highway 1, and “drive carefully.”
This post is part of JusJotItJan guest hosted by Dan Antion at No Facilities. The prompt word for today is ” danger” suggested by Mathew at MWLange, you can check out his blog,too.
Winter is the time for quiet and contemplation. The sunlight is weaker and the temperatures drop. Darkness comes earlier in the evening and I find my energy waning. Nature and I are drawing inward to ourselves. The power of life is not diminished, it is just resting and storing up energy. In the Spring it will burst forth again. No man made force can hold it back.
JusJotItJanuary is hosted today by Dan Antion of No Facilities. Word prompt “power” supplied by Erica at 20/20 hines sight. Click on their links to visit their blogs. Featured image of Bodie Hills, Ca. via Bob Wick of US Bureau of Land Management Conservationlands April File on Wikimedia. Click here to get some interesting information about the Bodie Hills location.
“Perhaps I write for no one. Perhaps for the same person children are writing for when they scrawl their names in the snow.”
― Margaret Atwood
I enjoy writing on my blog. But is it something tangible and am I a real writer? What is a real writer? It is someone who produces a tangible product like a book or published article. I am writing therefore I am a writer even if I never sell or publish any of it. Writing on my blog or anywhere else is not a job or career and I don’t think I want it to be just now. It is a form of creative expression and sometimes I get on My Soapbox about an issue. A description of my blog writing matches these synonyms for hobby:
Amusement, relaxation, divertissement (ooh, cool French), play, interest, leisure activity, sometimes whimsy, but also art, craft. It is way of being creative for me. Fun.
JustJotItJanuary is being guest hosted by Rosemary Carlson. The prompt word, “tangible” was provided by Prajakta at An Armchair Perfectionist.
Bangle, fandangle, spangle, sparkle,
Glisten, glimmer, glow,
Razzle, dazzle, bedazzle,
California Jewels.
California is pretty bedazzling. I am grateful to be a native and love so many of its beautiful natural sites and exciting cities. The LA Times is doing a Calfornia Bucket List series which covers many great places to see in California. Here’s a great little video on the San Francisco cable cars, “that climb halfway to the stars.”
And here’s a few more beautiful spots:
Big Sur Coast
Inspiration Point Anacapa Island
Point Lobos Headlands Cove
Muir Woods Trail
El Matador Beach
California Coastal National Monument Point Arena by US Bureau of Land Managemnt
Elephant Seals at Piedras Blancas, California
Coastal Redwoods
Peachy Canyon Vineyard at Sunrise near Paso Robles by Macolm Carlaw
‘Vineyard bathed in light’ (Sonoma) by torbakhopper
Big River Mendocino via Jar [o] on Flickr
Half Dome Yosemite via LA Times Postcards from The West:
California Dream Orange Crate Label photo courtesy of Orange County Archives
The State Arms of the Union by Henry Mitchell 1876
This post is part of JustJotItJanuary guest hosted by Rosemary Carlson. The prompt word for today’s post was “spangly,” supplied by Judy B. Martin at Edwina’s Episodes.
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