I will close with an interesting discovery. It turns out that a double rainbow is associated with spiritual values or meaning. Who knew? I've attached an article that I stumbled upon that offers 9 spiritual explanations. All that I can claim is that seeing a double rainbow inspires awe. ❤️

Have a great rest of the week, dear friends. 

Hello blog friends, 

Summer is drawing to a close in our area, but it is not leaving quietly. While in beautiful Sedona, a violent storm hit our home area of Chino Valley with high winds and torrential rain. We decided to return earlier than planned and found neighbors dealing with downed trees and flooded streets. We were one of the fortunate households, as we had minimal damage. 

We've lived in this area for over five years, and this is the first time we've experienced a true Monsoon. It's a phenomenon that folks talk about, but until this happened, I didn't pay much attention. 

I had hoped to share photos with you, but I promise to do so when we return in another month or so. If you've never visited Sedona, put this beautiful area on your "to do" list. You'll be in awe of the red rocks, the sense of sacredness, and the peace the draws you into your heart. ❤️

Colleen Chesebro offers the prompt for his week's Tanka Tuesday, and she invites contributors to focus on color via metaphors. My simple poem attempts to capture my recent experience of summer's fury. I hope you like it.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends -- hopefully void of monsoon fury. 😊

Hello, blog friends...

It's hard for me to believe, but I'm celebrating my 80th birthday this week. And to make the occasion memorable, hubby and I are heading to Sedona -- one of my favorite places on this beautiful planet. The mountain town is only an hour from us, and the drive is quite pleasant. 

I'll be hiking and taking in the sights for the rest of the week. The red rocks and the blue skies fill my heart - and soul. If you've not visited, I hope you'll have a chance to follow my lead soon. 

This week's Tanka Tuesday is hosted by Yvette. She invites us to write a syllabic poem about treading slowly. Well, I'll be doing plenty of that. These days, I'm careful about my climbs and adventures, but the pure pleasure of being in such majesty keeps me moving. Life is a rare gift, don't you agree? Let's enjoy the moments.❤️ 

Take good care of yourself and have a wonderful week. I'll be in touch soon! 😊

My poetic contribution is a simple one, and it reflects upon the once straw fields - now green from the rain. Because of the storm, there's a beautiful freshness to our high desert area that takes my breath away. 

I hope you have a great week, dear friend. And if you're blessed with weather drama, please share. ❤️

Melissa Lemay gave us this week's Tanka Tuesday prompt. She asked that participants focus on an experience of forgetting. I've shared what the retreat showed me, but when I got home, and watched the news with my husband, something else emerged. 

My poem attempts for address a collective experience of forgetting. I hope you like it. 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. And may we all remember who we are. 😊

❤️

My story ~

Two months ago, I shared that my beautiful daughter-in-law, Kathy, had lost her battle with cancer. The next day, when I took my morning hike, she was on my mind. I was absorbed in thought when I noticed ravens making a lot of noise in a particular tree. This was unusual. I stopped and stared into the tree, then gasped. I very large Great Horned Owl stared back at me. My first thought was a silly one -- do they bite humans? I decided not to find out and kept walking. 

The following day I had a similar strange experience. Again, I was thinking of Kathy when I neared the tree where the ravens had been protesting. I paused to see if the owl was still there. It wasn't. I restarted my walk and abruptly stopped. Three large Great Horned Owls stood on the fence about ten feet from me. I froze. They were very still - only their eyes moved. As entrancing as it was, I decided to slowly resume my hike. 

When I got back to the house, I called my grieving son to see how he was doing and then shared my encounters. His response blew me away. He said, "Mom, Kathy's favorite bird was the owl. She loved them." We talked more and concluded, the owls were her messengers. 

In all my years, I've never seen owls up close like this, nor have I ever seen a threesome. My simple Haiku ~

❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week. We're deep into the Monsoon season, with rains and unexpected flash floods. We need the water, so this is a blessing -- sometimes, an exciting one.

Rain or shine, let's all have a great week. ❤️

Have a wonderful week, dear friends, an awe-some week. ❤️

Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear friends. Wherever your river may take you, I hope it includes plenty of laughter. ❤️

I hope you have a wonderful week. I'm excited, because I'll be with four of my sibs this weekend. We always reminisce about our shenanigans on the farm and share stories of our kids and grandkids. Simple pleasures fill the heart, don't they.  ❤️ We all need more of them. 

If you have a couple minutes, here's a short video on how trees communicate with each other - and maybe us. Who knows, perhaps in a couple of years, we will have tree interpreters.  Wouldn't that be fun? 😊

Have a wonderful week, and if you chat with trees, please share....

To shift gears a bit, my trip to the beautiful state of Connecticut was a solemn one, even though there was plenty of laughter and family time. I traveled there to help celebrate the life of my beautiful daughter-in-law and be with my kids and grandkids. 

​My son created this video for the Memorial. Just 58 years young, Kathy was an angel to all who knew her.  Kathy Memorial Video | Videos & Movies on Vimeo 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. Each of us is blessed beyond measure, so let's enjoy those blessings. ❤️

I hope the rest of your week is blessed with much laughter. And whatever you might be doing for country and/or for family, thank you. Your legacy will not be forgotten.😊

​I hope you have a wonderful weekend, dear friends. Let's find a way to celebrate... 🌞

I hope to visit your blog sites this week, and perhaps catch up a bit. In the meantime, I wish you a miraculous week! 🌞

Dear friends,

I have an update about last week's post and, separately, a poem for Tanka Tuesday.

You may recall that I posted about a hanging votive and asked whether anyone had information about such artifacts.

Writer John W. Howell responded to the challenge and provided a fascinating AI explanation. Thank you, John!  Here's what the AI determined:

​The main symbol: the double-headed eagle:

The most prominent symbol on your piece is the double-headed eagle, and that carries a lot of meaning:

1. Byzantine / Eastern Christian symbol

• The double-headed eagle dates back to the Byzantine Empire.
• It represents authority over both East and West—a kind of spiritual and imperial unity.

2. Religious meaning
In a church context, it’s often interpreted as:

• The union of church and state (historically)
• Or more broadly, Christ’s dominion over all directions / the whole world

3. Orthodox association
This symbol is still widely used in:

• Greek Orthodox tradition
• Russian Orthodox tradition
• Serbian and other Eastern churches

So its presence strongly suggests your votive lamp has Orthodox or Eastern European roots, rather than Western Catholic.

The surrounding design:

A few other details reinforce that:

• Pierced (openwork) metal
  • Not just decorative—it allows heat to escape and light to glow outward.
• Scrollwork handles / vines
  • Common in late 19th–early 20th century ecclesiastical metalwork
  • Often symbolize growth, life, or divine connection
• Hanging chains
  • Typically used to suspend the lamp in front of an icon or in a prayer corner

What it was used for:

This type of lamp would have been:

• Filled with olive oil
• Lit with a floating wick
• Hung in front of:
  • An icon
  • A home prayer space
  • Or inside a church

It’s called a vigil lamp (sometimes lampada).

Bottom line:

• The symbol is not a random decoration—it’s a strong cultural marker.
• Your piece most likely comes from an Eastern Orthodox tradition, possibly Greek, Russian, or Balkan.
• The double-headed eagle = authority, unity, and divine oversight, rooted in Byzantine heritage.

The votive above holds a special meaning for me. It belonged to my mother, and her faith gives me hope -- especially during times of sorrow. My beautiful daughter-in-law has struggled with cancer for over a dozen years and now faces her final days. If you were to meet her, you'd be taken aback by her courage and her love. Soon, she will be dancing with the angels, and this thought evokes great tenderness. ❤️ My poem is inspired by her journey.

Tanka Tuesday's prompt for this week is hosted by Willow. She asks that we write a 3-line, 3-stanza poem in which each line contains exactly 3 syllables. My simple poem ~ 

I hope you have a wonderful week, dear friends. Every moment is a gift to be treasured, so let's laugh and hug often. 'Till next week... 

Have a wonderful week, dear friends, and if you have any insights on this mysterious vigil light, I'd love to hear them. ❤️

Hello blog friends,

I have two poems to share and two stories to tell. First, Yvette hosts Tanka Tuesday this week, and she has invited us to focus on something fun or annoying. Well, since we're in the Easter season, and chocolate candy abounds, my poem is intentionally playful.

I remember the Easter egg hunts with family and friends. And, I also vividly recall the mess. But truly, who can get mad at a little guy like the one in this Canva photo? You may not want to give the child a hug, but chuckles abound, don't you agree? 

​Growing up on a farm, we mostly had hard-boiled eggs dyed with food coloring. But...there were a few chocolate bars for us to munch on as well. How about you? Did you participate in Easter Egg hunts, and was your basket full of delights? 

My second story:

​A couple of decades ago, I accompanied a friend to one of Paramahansa Yogananda's temples in Los Angeles. I knew nothing of Yogananda at that time, other than he was a Hindu priest.

My friend and I walked the grounds and then went through the temple. In the main gathering room stood an altar, and on it rested the images of six holy men. One was of Jesus. I was very surprised, but as I looked around, I began to understand. These six holy men taught a message of love. All were Hindu, except Jesus, who they believed embodied their truths. 

For many of us, this week is a time of prayerful reflection on universal truths. Despite our differences, I believe we are all brothers and sisters, and Love provides us with the pathway Home. 

My simple Tanka poem:​

​Have a wonderful rest of the week, dear friends....

May your week be filled with laughter, and may your crossroads be simple ones. 😊 I'm heading to Phoenix for several days, where my husband has multiple appointments related to his accident. It's a dreaded drive, but I'm hoping we'll be surprised by a miracle. ❤️ 

​

Let's have a great week, dear friends... ❤️

Have a wonderful week, dear friends... ❤️

Nature has been my escape since I was a child. If I can disappear into the desert sand, or a forest, or walk the perimeters of a farmer's field, or stroll a seashore, I'm at peace. I listen, and I breathe. It is my way of silencing fear and embracing the Creator's love. Always, the worries and sorrows of the day fade amid this holy exchange. 

As I've shared in prior posts, my parents had nine children, seven of whom survived. I am the eldest. For eight years, we lived in a one-bedroom home with a converted attic for the four girls.

The home was always a busy and noisy place. I share this because I attribute my yearning for silence to my childhood. 😊 Notice the trees behind the house. I'd climb those trees and sit on a branch alone. No one knew I was there. It was my place to dream about worlds far away, and especially about bible stories.
​

My poem tries to capture the wonder I feel in nature...​

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, with opportunities to bask in nature's healing energy. ❤️