A Favorite Place

I recently discovered that February is National Library Lovers Month.

"The entire month of February is dedicated to the people who love whole buildings devoted to the reading, housing, organizing, categorizing, finding, studying and otherwise loving books." (source)

February is a great month to devote to libraries, books, and reading, since we are usually stuck inside a little more due to the weather. I decided to visit the library and take my camera along for some pictures.

I headed to the children's section first. I knew I could find special books there. Children's books take a lot of wear and tear. You can readily see the ones that have been read many times.

The little board books are kept in bins on a low shelf. I wonder how long these stay in the correct bin!

I am fortunate that there are eleven libraries within thirty minutes of my home. I have visited everyone of them. Each has its own personality and beauty. Some have walking paths nearby, some have exhibit rooms for art, some have comfy nooks to spend some quiet time, and one has only children's books.

I'm addicted to checking out books. I tell myself the whole way to the library that I only need to check out a couple of books, but then I get there, I weaken, and go home with four to six. I think that's because checking out two books is just to quick. I need to spend more time roaming the shelves

In celebration of libraries and books here's a couple of websites you might find interesting. Just click on the blue words to be magically transported to their websites.

There is a book-shaped mural on a grain silo in Incheon, South Korea that is supposed to be the world's largest mural.

There's also book-like benches in Poland.

We have holidays for just about everything now, but I am glad there is a special day for those of us who love libraries. I hope you'll make a point to stop by your local library this month.

"The only thing you

absolutely have to know

is the location of the library."

~ Albert Einstein

Frosty Morning

Most people don't like cold weather, but I absolutely love it! I love to wear hiking boots, thick socks, a heavy jacket, gloves, and a knit cap. I love the nip in the fresh air, frozen water, and early morning frost. But, most of all I love the beautiful phenomenons of nature that cold weather brings.

When traveling through the Ozarks recently my instincts screamed at me to pull over at an overlook area. I've stopped here many times and taken pictures of the White River running through the valley below and the bridges that cross it. On this particular morning the scene below me left me a little breathless. The cold morning plus the warm water of the river created a beautiful mist that hovered over the water.

I drove down to the river and walked along the bank where rocks and leaves were covered with frost. The mist hovering above the water and the heavy frost glistened in the sunshine.

The blowing wind sent the mist over grasses and trees on the far bank covering them with ice.

Although the mist and river were beautiful, the highlight of the morning was what I discovered on the far bank in the grasses. I saw these little icy creations. They were frost flowers! I've seen pictures of frost flowers, but these were the first I've spotted. Frost flowers are beautiful and fascinating.

Seeing this phenomenon of nature is rare. Circumstances must be just right for frost flowers to form. The weather conditions must be freezing, but the ground not frozen. The best time to see them is on early winter mornings after a warm spell and then a drop in temperatures. They are hard to discover as their thin layers melt very quickly as the sun and temperatures rise.

As the temperature drops to freezing the stems of plants expand, causing the outer layer to split. As water is drawn up the plant's stem and reaches the split, it slowly oozes out and freezes. The seeping water creates patterns which curl and fold into gorgeous flowers. The scientific name of frost flowers is crystallofolia. They've been called nature's exquisite ice extrusions, frost castles, ice castles, and ice blossoms.

If I hadn't have stopped at the overlook, seen the mist, took time to drive down to the river, and walk to the far banks, I wouldn't have seen these amazing frost flowers. I continually remind myself that finding unusual things means I have to get out, wander, and follow my instincts. When I do, I usually discover beauty and beauty brings me joy!

"The camera,

when held with wonderment,

opens us to the magic of discovery."

~ Patricia Turner

The Mushrooms Come

From moss and loam

the mushrooms come.

From bark on trees, 

from crumbling logs,

from musty leaves,

the mushrooms come.

From vast pale networks

underground

they shoulder up

without a sound;

they spread their damp

umbrella tops

and loose their spores

with silent pops.

Unbuttoning the forest floor,

the mushrooms come,

the mushrooms come.

Like noses pink

in midnight air

like giants' ears,

like elfin hair,

 like ancient cities

built on cliffs,

the mushrooms come,

the mushrooms come.
                            ~ Joyce Sidman

* * * * *

I wandered through the children's section of the library recently and discovered a wonderful poetry book, Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night written by Joyce Sidman and illustrated by Rick Allen. Together they've created a gorgeous book of poems and illustrations about nature. The poems are easy to understand and the illustrations are fascinating. Not only are her poems wonderful, but along with each poem she has nature facts that relate to the poem. I think any child would love this look about nature. I I know I do! It will be joining my library very soon.

Break Is Over

Hello there!!

What was supposed to be an August beak

turned into a little more than that.

No real reason, just what happened.

I'll catch you up on the last seven weeks.

It won't take very long,

it was a slow time as I spent most of it indoors!!

Here's what I did when I occasionally ventured outside . . . 

watched reflections as I chatted with my sister . . .

spent some wonderful "water" time with family . . .

searched for the last summer flowers . . .

enjoyed the car show at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Arkansas

(our car is the red one, 1943 Ford five-window coupe)

kept a close eye on our buckeye tree trying to beat the squirrels to the buckeyes . . .

visited a different library and discovered a nature trail . . .

anxiously looked for signs of fall and cooler weather . . .

and started dreading the raking of the leaves!

I couldn't pass up the sad face on this particular leave.

Maybe it didn't really want to float to the ground!

That's about it in a nutshell!

I did do a few other things, but I'll save those for another day.

So glad to be back!
So glad you stopped by!!

Look A Little Bit Closer

I get cranky in the summertime.

It's too hot! It's too humid!

I have to kick myself out the door every day, because

I'm determined to not become a summer recluse.

For me, that is so very hard to do!

But what if I didn't go out?

What would I miss?

beauty

details

colors

life

I would miss cute little animals scurrying across the yard.

This little guy, who was about two inches long,

moved very fast and tried to hide under clumps of moss.

I would miss furry creatures among the hosta leaves.

I tried to tell her it's too hot to be

wearing a fur coat!

I would miss the beautiful colors,

shapes, and patterns of nature.

And, I would miss the tiniest of mushrooms.

Is it just me being hot or does this one look like an old-fashioned hand fan?

Do you remember the kind businesses gave away, especially funeral homes?

Maybe I'm dating myself here!

Anyway, it makes me cooler just thinking about fans?

I think that now you see why I can't hide inside!

I would miss the blessings!

"Sometimes

I need only to stand

wherever I am to be blessed."

~ Mary Oliver

Shift the Focus

As I sit in my living room still recovering from surgery I'm trying to squash my impatience and irritability! I'm not healing as fast as I want and I'm suffering from nerve endings that are awakening and debilitating fatigue. I know in order to overcome this impatience I need to shift my focus from negative thoughts to more positive ones. I need to think of things I'm grateful for. I know looking for good things, even in bad times, will keep me joyful! Here are just a few of those things:

letters, cards, emails, texts - from church friends,

family, and online friends near and far

good food - meals brought to our home

and prepared frozen meals

(you know, some of them aren't too bad!)

warm weather - beautiful days

that I've been able to sit outside,

breathe the fresh air, and

soak in a little sunshine

waterproof surgical tape - I don't know what

I'd do without my hot morning showers that

bring relief to aching muscles.

dissolving stitches - oh, yes!! no removal of stitches for me!

Tylenol - I've been able to control my

discomfort with Tylenol instead of continuing

stronger pain medication which makes me loopy.

blogging - with limited right arm movement I needed to find something relatively easy to satisfy my creative side which is rather bored right now! Voila! Blogging! I've been lax for several months with my blog, but this time of recover has brought back the joy of blogging!

prayers and thoughts - I know the power of prayer

and appreciate all that have been spoken for my healing.

flowers - I've enjoyed two beautiful bouquets which I've spent some time photographing. Jerry set up a table near a window and with the use of my tripod I can manage my bigger camera.

And, then there's you!

I'm so very grateful that you

continue to read my words

and leave such kind comments. 

I'm beginning this day with joy in my heart

for the blessings I have!

 When you shift your focus

from what is absent

to what is present,

from what is missing

to what has been given,

from what you are not

to who you are…

abundance is yours,

effortlessly.

~Jeff Foster