30 Days of Thanks-Day 18- Rainy Days

Posted on by Rebecca C.

Today, November 18, 2015, I want to say I really thankful rainy days. Today was windy, cold and damp. I could complain but I actually enjoyed my entire day. The morning stated with hot cocoa and toast with my mom. There’s just some enjoyable about chatting over trivial matters and planning the Thanksgiving menu for next week.

My father loved the Indian pudding I made the other day. ( https://rebeccaswritingsandphotography.com/2015/11/13/national-indian-pudding-day/ ) He’s always ready to try any new recipe I attempt prepare or attempt to prepare. He said the pudding actually reminded him of his childhood. The old school use to have picnics especially toward the end of the year. Apparently, there was an elderly woman who always made the same dessert every time a picnic was held. The dessert was exactly like the Indian pudding, I made. The only difference was the topping. I used a frozen whipped topping; he remembers a heavier whipped cream. Of course, the cream was probably straight off the farm. Now, I need to come up with something new for Thanksgiving.

So, we sorted through various cookbooks. Some were really old. Despite my lack of cooking and baking skills, I actually own a lot of cookbooks. I still haven’t found anything exciting to try to make. Any suggestions?

After my mom left, I spent the rest of the day doing what I love- writing. And what I really dislike- laundry.

This later evening, the rain is still lightly coming down. The wind has picked up immensely which actually howls through this old house of mine. In fact a few of the stronger gusts actually made my upstairs windows rattle. The wind is slowly going to die down over the next two days. But then the snow storm will be ushered into Michigan. The first one on radar for the season could drop a fair amount on us.

First snow falls are always magical…….

Until next time….peace

Take a Hike Day

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.”

–Henry David Thoreau –

“In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man, in spite of real sorrows.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson –

Today, November 17, 2015 is considered to be “Take a Hike Day”.

I love hiking. The trails I take are not long or hard. But I get to go out and enjoy nature. I always take photos along the way. For me, the time spent outdoors gives me a chance to unplug from my computer and just relax. I also find my imagination works over time when I am outdoors which always helps in my writing.

Until next time….peace

Operating Room Nurse Day

Posted on by Rebecca C.

Today, November 14, 2015, is Operating Room Nurse Day. I give all nurses in the world my highest regard. I know I could never perform the job in a satisfactory manner. I am just too nervous of a person.

My great aunt, Flossie was a surgical nurse for part of her career. Her nursing career was inspired by my grandfather. When he was younger, his fingers were taking off in an accident. My aunt Flossie accompanied him to the doctor. She was curious not squeamish during the care of my grandpa’s injured hand. She was able to watch the entire procedure. The doctor told her; she should become a nurse.

Flossie working in Detroit
Flossie working in Detroit

And that is exactly what she did. She said, “The experience was the best time of her life”. She received her nurses training, than started out in Detroit. Where she worked for about four years until she came back to Clinton Memorial Hospital in St. Johns, Michigan, the hospital is where she would work until retirement.

Flossie with one of her smallest patients.
Flossie with one of her smallest patients.

The nurses lived together, traveled together and worked together. They were her second family throughout her career and after retirement.

Flossie with her fellow nurses
Flossie with her fellow nurses

I always admired her occupation. I admire anyone who does the job today.

Until next time…..peace

30 Days of Thanks- Day 2

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“Climate is what we expect,

weather is what we get.”

Mark Twain

 

Today, November 2, 2015, I am thankful for the absolutely beautiful weather here in mid-Michigan. Trust me this time of year, the weather can provide a mix bag of tricks. But today, the temperatures were almost 70˚F. The beautiful sun was shining most of the day. The gentle breeze made the last of leaves softly float downward as if to greet me as I was walking around outdoors. I could not ask for a more gorgeous November day.

I hope everyone enjoyed their day!

Ladies in the Band

Posted on by Rebecca C.

The ladies in the band…well at least that is what I am calling them. I really do not know anything about their story. I purchased this set of negatives from an estate in Michigan. There was not any other information to go along with the find.

I have been trying to research the sign behind the ladies. I was hoping I could figure out a year for the pictures. Any ideas?
I have been trying to research the sign behind the ladies. I was hoping I could figure out a year for the pictures. Any ideas?

I would love for someone to tell me the story around their performance.

  • Were they in a band?
  • Were they putting on a program or play?
  • Were they travelers?
  • What type of music did they play?
  • Did anyone sing?

What Were They Doing?

I would love to hear your theories. Do you know their story?

Until next time….peace

 

Supermoon Thoughts

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon,

 my soul expands in the worship of the creator.”

         – Mahatma Gandhi

Did you get to see the super moon and lunar eclipse last night? Here in Michigan, we had scattered cloudy skies which made the event challenging to view.

However, I was able to view the spectacular event through cloud cover. The clouds would move away, I would catch a glimpse of the beautiful eclipse. Even with the massive cloud coverage and the inability to catch a clear photo, I found the entire night to be peaceful.

  • The stars would shine through the cloud coverage as the eclipse proceeded. A bright star appeared directly above me, I could not help but make a wish.
  • The inspiring nature only heard at night added to the spectacular event. The owls would hoot off in the distance. I would like to think they were voices their happy opinions of the night’s wondrous events.
  • I could hear the deer walking up the gravel road. Deer make a breathing noise, a snort. At first, they did startle me. But once I knew the approaching creature was harmless, I enjoyed the moment in nature. I had to remind myself… this was not one my stories and a werewolf was not approaching.
  • The one creature I was not able to identify was on top of my roof. I am assuming the critter was a raccoon or a squirrel. I could hear scurry back and forth as I stood outside my house. Of course, my imagination kicked into over drive and I was thinking of large gargoyles and goblins.

Despite of my over active imagination, the entire night gave me a sense of calmness.

Until next time…peace

 

 

 

 

First Day of Autumn

Posted on by Rebecca C.

 

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Today, September 23, 2015 is the first official day of autumn. The Autumnal Equinox actually started around 4:20 this morning. Here in Michigan, I have been seeing the signs of the upcoming fall season for the last couple of weeks. I noticed over the weekend (I was photographing an outdoor wedding) that the sun was setting sooner. From my understanding, we are losing about 2-4 minutes of daylight a day. Just another sign from nature, the cooler months are about to be ushered in.

The leaves are starting to show their brilliant last burst of color as the reds and orange become more visible by the day.

I also love this time of year for the mushrooms. As I walk through the woods, the mushrooms are appearing throughout the paths and on the stumps. Mushrooms remind me of fairies. I could spend all day walking around day dreaming about  fantasy worlds. I love to photograph the mushrooms and fungus, and then return to my computer to write. The smallest sprouts sticking up through the ground or along a log can have the biggest impact on my imagination.

First time, I noticed this type of mushroom along the path. I need to research more to find the proper name.

The weather was actually perfect for the first official day of autumn. The sun was shining brightly all day with temperatures around 77˚F. The night has brought a clear crisper sky to view the moon and stars. I am hoping the clear skies will last; I want to be able to see the Supermoon this weekend.

I hope everyone had a great first day of autumn.

Until next time….peace

 

The Blanket of Winter Approaches

Posted on by Rebecca C.

“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”

– J.R.R. Tolkien

The past week has been cooler which allows me to enjoy every bit of the outdoors. I am not much for hot humid days. I know I should not complain about the heat because winter will be here before I know it. I can already see the signs of the upcoming fall season.

  • Leaves are beginning to turn a fainter green as they prepare for their burst of colors.
  • The summer birds are becoming more scarce as they begin their long migration south to warmer areas. I rarely see Egrets or the Cranes at the old river. I miss the rattle voice of the Sandhill Crane on the river flats.
  • The birds that are still here are gathering in great numbers. I see them flying above the tree tops. They seem to be going back and forth in a harmonic formation as if to gain strength to prepare for their upcoming journey.
  • The days are slowly growing shorter as the frogs and crickets continue to sing their last praises of summer.
  • The squirrels and chipmunks scurry across the dirt paths in the woods where I walk. I see them clutching acorns and walnuts to hoard for the long winter.
  • The nights are cooler which provides a gentle breeze through open windows.

I love this time of year. I know warmer days are still in the forecast. But I am ready for September and October. The two months that seem to be speak to my heart as the blanket of winter approaches. Mother Nature always provides the settle hints that a new season will soon be issued in. Even though today is rainy, I plan to enjoy as much of the outdoors as I possible can during this transition of seasons.

Until next time….peace…

Dragonflies: Amazing Little Creatures

Posted on by Rebecca C.

I love dragonflies. I could watch and photograph these fascinating little insects for hours. I recently sat in the field and just observed their behavior. I was working on some writing; I needed inspiration for flying fairies. The dragonflies always help me with my creative needs. As I watched them hovering, flying backwards and forward, and swooping all around me, I wrote with great wonder. I decided to do a little research on these flying beauties.

Interesting Facts about Dragonflies

As I glanced through the different fact, I found these to be the most interesting.
• Incredible Eyes: The dragonflies’ eyes have around 30,000 individual lenses or ommatidia which give them a rather incredible panoramic view of their surroundings. Each of those lenses provides an image. The brain of the dragonfly will use all of those individual images to make one picture. The eye allows for the entire color spectrum, UV light, and light polarization to be viewed.

• Wings: The dragonfly has two sets of wings; each wing can work independently. The extra set allows the dragonfly to slow the movement of the wings down. On an average, the dragon fly will flaps the two sets of wings around 30 beats per second. The independent movement of the wings gives the dragonfly the ability to hover and fly in all directions. The dragonfly also has the ability to change directions instantly which helps if been sought by a predator. And, can reach speeds of up to 36 mph.

• Food: A dragonfly eats mosquitoes and flies. I couldn’t figure out why I have seen so many dragonflies this year. Well, the wet weather created an overly abundant breeding ground for mosquitoes. The dragonflies have been enjoying a grand feast.

• Species: Currently there are around 5,000 species of dragonflies. All the dragonflies are part of the order Odanata which roughly translates to “toothed one”. The dragonfly can be found almost anywhere in the world where the environment is habitable. A dragonfly cannot live in the Antarctica; the little insects love a more tropical feel. The hot and humid weather here in mid-Michigan right now must seem like paradise to them.

• Ancient Creature: The dragonfly has been around for around 250 million years. The largest fossil reports the ancestor relative had a wingspan of around 2 ½ feet. Can you imagine that flying around the back field? Just amazing to consider.

The next time, you view a dragonfly consider how incredible this insect is or picture a fairy and let you imagination run wild.