decking those halls

'Tis the season of lights and almost Tuesday, which means linking a photo to Ruby Tuesday where red is the color of the day. On our Christmas tree blue decorations far exceed red. The red star on the left is from David's childhood tree which makes it really, really old. On the bottom is a blown glass 'candy apple' on a stick with us since the girls were little.

Not really red, except maybe if cats were inclined to blush. . .this is Bean making a hasty exit after being discovered under the tree for the millionth time today. Note 'the look.' Bad cat.

More fun @ Ruby Tuesday!

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. anon

I begin just where I left off. . .

early winter's brooding sky brim full with dirty cotton clouds

 shooting colors from the east as the curtain lifts over the lake

and you know how I feel about silhouettes of trees 

I'm linking this glimpse of daylight to Skywatch Friday with its many sky views.

'I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do. I feel as if this tree knows everything I ever think of when I sit here. When I come back to it, I never have to remind it of anything; I begin just where I left off.' 

Willa Cather

welcome home!

Destination: Dayton, Ohio and a visit to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force--all four hangars full of history from the Wright Bros. to modern day stealthy-ness. We attended this year's Operation Welcome Home,  a celebration for those who served in Southeast Asia and during the Vietnam conflict, as well as all other branches earlier in November. . .their goal: to give the SE Asia veterans the proper welcome-home celebration that they never had over 40 years ago. 

 We spent two days in the museum and the events as part of the OWH. Very few planes are festooned with red, but I did capture a bit of red here and there.

World War II P-40 tiger shark squadron plane 

Linking to Ruby Tuesday--fly over and take a look.

sisters and shadows

Earlier this month I spent a day at the Monastery of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota for a quiet time in the spirituality center on the campus. The sisters of the order of St. Benedict were my elementary teachers in Idaho so it was a bittersweet visit for me to this monastery so far away from my childhood.  Fifty years have passed and my memories of strict German nuns are with me still. To my surprise and delight I found this community of mostly middle-aged to retirement age women thoroughly filled with faith, gracious, caring and able to minister to us who grapple with every day life in the 21st century. During free time I wandered the grounds to a small vineyard and a huge garden spot, earth recently turned, ready for spring. The shadow in my photo is cast by a tall octagon shaped martin house and thriving bittersweet.

Time is a great healer. And what was a quick decision to face my fears left me with a light heart.

I'm linking my experience to ABC Wednesday whose letter du jour is S.

"A sign of God is that we are led

to a place we did not intend to go.”

Anonymous

from summer hats to woolen mittens

         My aim is to put down on paper what I see and  what I feel in the                            best and simplest way.   Ernest Hemingway

Behold the autumn version of the pink Coneflowers the little Goldfinches and Chickadees feasted on all summer, now with a light dusting of our first real frost. I'm adding these to the bouquet of Today's Flowers here.

quilting with John Muir

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.  John Muir

Like quilt pieces, the blue sky fits neatly in with the leaf patterns. Beautiful autumn days stick around well into November. Look up into more skies at Skywatch Friday.

pied piper in St. Paul

Across from the St. Paul farmer's market this musician plays his pipes for passersby, hopefully a profitable venture. Visitors stop and talk to him between tunes and he discusses what kind of pipes he plays. I, however, hurrying by didn't hear what he said so I won't even hazard a guess to what kind they are. Therefore, I leave the mystery for you to solve.

Linking to ABC Wednesday.