Give Thanks

Ciao...

gentle readers and viewers..

I was sitting last night

beginning my meditation..

listening to the sound of the crickets..

serenade me into bliss..

and I realized how grateful

I am to live in a place that experiences both

the falling of leaves

and the longevity of 

butterflies, dragonflies and crickets..

what a wonderful world...

there are so very many things to give thanks for 

in my world..

the tiniest things cause my heart to swell..

 a solitary mum left on the dying plant..

a small stack of leaves rich in contrast..

and a velvety green pumpkin that makes me want to 

reach out and touch ...

the simple things are so often

heart brakingly gorgeous..

I am also grateful for family and friends..

and so I will be taking 

a much needed blog/vlog break

to spend the holiday with 

family

since we are traveling..

I wish you all a beautiful 

Thanksgiving..

But when I return I will

film a video

and

share the process for creating my 

miniature book..

Transformations...

In my grateful heart..

I count you too..

sweet reader and dear viewers..

I am grateful to you for following along 

for all these years..

I never take your kindness for granted ...

and know that there are many out there that have 

never signed your name to a comment..

but faithfully

read and follow..

and for that,

 I am most

grateful..

xox

Monet to Matisse..

On sunny warm days...

one should always venture out

and take in art shows...

and stroll around 

banyan trees..

shouldn't one?

the weather has finally cooperated and we 

are enjoying warm sunshine..

which makes me want to get the beach...

gentle reader...

but we will save that trip for another day...

when Meg DeWeese, 

my dear friend and the owner of 

EsScentuals

and 142 Bis Gallery..

decided to vacation with us,

it seemed a perfect

opportunity to see the Monet to Matisse show

in 

St. Petersburg

Moi and Meg with Girl Standing By Window..

the MFA

is a gorgeous building 

near the water 

and 

a huge park...

the grounds are sumptuous and tree filled...

and since the MFA

would not allow photography 

you get trees instead...

Palms and banyans...

but knowing how you all love the color green

and most of you are tree huggers as well..

I did not think that would be too much of a hardship for you...

I tried to capture the scale and size of this banyan...

which spreads almost a block wide...

the branches of this tree above are enormous...

and as it sends it's tendrils to earth, 

it takes root and turns into a larger tree...

it was a beautiful day...

to be near the water in a gorgeous park...

the show was decent... 

but

the company was divine...

Ciao, Ciao!