Sun dog ~

on a cold

January morning

 a sun dog

appears

to bid the month

adieu

*  *  *

for more information

about this occurrence click

 here

Assurance ~

let not your heart

be troubled

neither let it be afraid

John

*  *  *

may your day

be one of peace

Westward ~

the trees

were content

to tenderly assist

[click to enlarge]
the sun

in its setting

*  *  *

Routine Transformation ~

The common

 Redpoll 

add interest to the winter days

  with their serenity

 and quizzical

postures

Gratitude can transform

 common days into thanksgivings,

 turn routine jobs into joy,

 and change ordinary opportunities

 into blessings.

 William Arthur Ward

*  *  *

"Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the creator triumphantly raise.
Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days."

Katherine Davis

from the Hymn found

 here 

In Process ~

I had considered

entitling this

 post

"An Immature Male"

 but it seemed to have negative

connotations for this

young male Pine Grosbeak

 that merely has not yet acquired

 an "of age" status

in which he will appear

like the above

*  *  * 

thanks to Carol Garvin

for sharing the site

that revealed he is also not an

overdressed female

which is more modestly feathered.

 Yes, our days really have been this gray lately.

*  *  *

May the colors that delight you

brighten your weekend.

Don't Needle Me! ~

 He sampled the oak tree

 but chose the elm

 Callie and I are giving him

a wide berth.

*  *  *

Diplomacy:

  The business of handling a porcupine

 without disturbing the quills.

anonymous

*  *  *

porcupine

 

 

Ecstasy ~

The soul should always stand ajar,

 ready to welcome the ecstatic experience. 

Emily Dickinson

*  *  *

Weekend Happiness

to you

 

January Hush ~

{a little click will enlarge the photos}

"A hush is over everything,

Silent as women wait for love;

The world is waiting for the spring."

Sara Teasdale

“Stand still.

 The trees ahead and bush beside you are not lost.”

 Albert Einstein

 "Now close the windows and hush all the fields:
If the trees must, let them silently toss."

Robert Frost 

*  *  *

Alone, With Kat ~

Callie Kat

knows

 she is not

allowed

on the table

or the

counters

 

wondering what

 about our discussion

she didn't

 

understand 

*  *  *

One is loved because one is loved.

 No reason is needed for loving.

 Paulo Coelho

  *  * *

bleach has become

a priority

on the shopping list

 

 

Imperfect Beauty ~

"Beauty isn't perfect.

 It's something to be felt and something to be breathed."

 Denise Jaden

*  *  *

Well-lit ~

 

Open your heart to all these blessings

 and let them flow through you,

 then everyone you meet on this day

 will be blessed by you,

 just by your eyes,

 by your smile,

 by your touch,

 just by your presence.

Brother David Steindl-Rast

*  *  * 

your smile

will bless someone's day

*  *  *

thank you

for blessing mine

with your presence here

The Unexpected ~

[click to enlarge]

wishing you moments

of unexpected

joy

*  *  *

the joy of the Lord

is my strength

Nehemiah 8:10

The Shining Forth ~

 {click photo to enlarge}

"Epiphany

 is a Christian feast

 celebrating the 'shining forth'

 or 

revelation of God to mankind

 in human form,

 in the person of Jesus Christ."

*  *  *

For Eyes That See ~

{click to enlarge}

the beauty of the

 ordinary on

 a winter's day

*  *  *

Smiling Softly ~

{a little click will enlarge}

"The beauty we love

is very silent

it smiles softly to itself

but never speaks."

Richard Le Gallienne

*  *  *