Sunday Photo Fiction – The Language of the Birds

February 3, 2016 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

This week’s Sunday Photo Fiction challenge is a sweet photo of a mother and her ducklings (Thanks Al), my offering follows. For more information about either participating or reading other writers entries click here.

photo copyright Alastair Forbes, 2016

The Language of the Birds

As I walk along the water, mind in a meditative state, I feel most peaceful viewing the sweet scenic image of a mother duck keeping cautious eye on her brood of ducklings paddling nearby in the fresh water pond. Colorful array of small fish and pebbles just beneath the shallow rippling waters create a pleasant visual sensation of harmony and tranquility, life and renewal.

I admit to being moved by this comforting view of reality, even with the realization of knowing that we all live in a consciousness hologram, set in linear time for the experience and subsequent recording of related emotions. Such is the nature of the great human ‘bio-genetic Earth experiment’ of which I was, until recently an unknowing participant.

Of course now that I am aware, the worldwide pattern recognition reoccurring in all areas of life seem obvious to me. Layers of past, present and future (“the all-time” as I like to think of it) linking together as one. I hope my human experiences are therefore not compromised (as a result of this knowledge) in my memory banks.

However I find it most synchronous, even intriguing to be strolling past this pastoral scene of life and birds, whilst also finding myself in the middle of deciphering a mystical and mysterious book “The Language of the Birds”. An ancient manuscript purported to be about our true human beginnings, mailed to me by an anonymous source. Clearly the language the ducks are speaking here is not of what the book is referencing … but then again, perhaps …

***

Thanks for stopping by, hoping the remainder of your week is a positive and creative one.

With affection,

~ Penny

To have a Post or not to have a Post … that is the question!

October 25, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 14 Comments

“Hey Joe, that’s my post (post – get it all you bloggers, lol)!“

“Well excuussseee me! I don’t see your name on it, Dave!”

(Stay tuned to see how this plays out. Will Dave be able to keep his post? Or will Joe hang on to the post he now considers his own. Actually they both see a cute chick and leave in just a little while to see where she’s heading – so having a post becomes a moot point!)

Just a little humor here, hope you’re all enjoying your weekend!

~ Penny

A (feel good) Superlative Day!

October 14, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 12 Comments

In nature there are all kinds of days. Good ones and bad ones. Mother nature works that way. Yet almost every single one us enjoys watching nature in action when it comes to the care of the little ones. Cars will stop (I’ve seen this happen myself) to allow a duck and her ducklings safe passage across a busy street, also with deer and their youthful fawn!

It’s this immediate “feel good” feeling we get. I don’t know if it’s watching the continuation of life, or some more basic instinctive thing left over from when we were young ourselves.

But I do believe, on those days, when we see any young life renewed, it is a most superlative day (in my humble opinion) to witness the event!

Thank you for stopping by, I hope your week is going well, with a few superlative moments thrown in for good measure!

~ Penny

Feed me … Your essence! (the blogging experience)

April 26, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 19 Comments

Feed me so I can grow. Feed me so I can know.
Feed my soul, feed my heart, my creative muse … So I can sow.

That which I reap become the seeds of change.
Feed me with the essence of your being … your personal life experiences.
My cravings for knowing are insatiable.
I need you and I want to believe you need me too.

Ultimately we humans are the sum total not only of our life achievements but also our exchanges, our sharing, our support, love, respect and understanding of those around us. Humans, animals and yes even plant life and the forces of nature. All part of a full life experience.

“From a quantum perspective we move beyond surviving to thriving when we embrace life and one another. Our very diversity of expression and background becomes fodder – the raw material – from which we learn, grow and prosper.” Penny L Howe, 2014

So feed me.
Feed me now and I … I will feed you in turn.

Thanks for stopping by,

~ Penny

Regrowth and Renewal – Yes you can!

March 10, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 37 Comments

I can’t believe it! It’s actually almost spring, here in the Northern part of Northwest America.

But I am excited about it. Waking up in predawn mornings with the sun filtering through wispy morning clouds, the cool air breezing through my open window bringing birdsong melodies – refreshing and invigorating.

I for one, am happy to embrace both the new day and the glorious beginnings of Earth’s annual renewal! Time to rethink my own personal regrowth and renewal. Overdue, actually.

It has become far too easy for all of us to get caught up in the same “everyness” of things happening in our daily lives.

Right now, small changes can truly make a difference for you when you feel in a bit of a rut.

Think about it, make it happen – You Can Do it!

Have a great week,

~ Penny

The most beautiful thing in the Morning!

October 12, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 22 Comments

What is the most beautiful thing you wake up to each morning?

Hello everyone. I woke up extra early today. Well rested, my rising early was rewarded with the view of a glorious autumn sunrise. It was beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Inside, in the predawn stillness, aromatic smells of freshly roasted coffee entice, the hot beverage is nectar to my taste buds. A second cup and my sleepy mind energizes. I whip up a batch of cinnamon streusel muffins all the while thinking … well, all sorts of good thoughts.

Everyone else is still sleeping, their minds filled with pleasant dreams from yesterday. Beginning on Fridays (in between chores and responsibilities) we seem to have extra does of creativity. Yesterday (after work and school), we played games,made cookies, and suspended our cares and worries for awhile.

Creating Autumn Cookies

cutting the shapes

frosting the cookies

Autumn Cookies (and yes they taste as good as they look!)

It was late last night, when we retired. This morning the air is now rich with blended aromas of fresh coffee and baking cinnamon streusel muffins, and I hear sounds of others beginning to stir.

Sitting here at my laptop, I reflect on the most beautiful thing I can think of. And guess what? Beauty is all around me, everywhere. It’s Life. The little things that on many days I don’t notice. Today I’m reminded to be grateful.

For me, without a doubt, the most beautiful thing I woke up to this morning was another day (and I cherish it)! Having the ability to experience, share, give and receive. With full awareness of the blessings I’ve been given, I accept the responsibility that is mine for being able to be part of life and, with much love in my heart, I welcome the day and all that it has to offer – come what may.

Today, take some time to remind yourself how lucky you are and to be sincerely grateful. Life is filled with ongoing daily problems (some, really hard ones too) but you can weather the storm. If your heart is filled with love and gratitude for what you do have, your day can still be beautiful too. Blessings to all of you, this Saturday morning!

“Your blessings in life are always richer –

when recognizing them for what they are – A Gift to you!

Show your gratitude by giving back!”

Penny L Howe, 2013

Enjoy The White of Nature!

October 9, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 33 Comments

It speaks for itself!

Have a great day, I hope you enjoyed!

~ Penny

Family, Friends and others that are important.

September 29, 2013September 3, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 27 Comments

Marsh Warbler Family

Those that matter – that would be all of us!

Those we think about the most – those nearest and dearest to us.

Those we miss – the one’s no longer here for us to love and cherish (but we do have our wonderful memories, no one can take those away).

Those that matter – every single one of us.

Those that do make a difference – there are more than you might think.

Those that really care – many, many more than you might think.

Those that we love and acknowledge as important and special in our lives – our family, our friends, people making a difference – YOU!

Why does this matter – because we need each other, all of us, every day. To fill in the missing pieces, shore up the weak areas, support, laugh with, share, guide, be there. To make that needed difference, to encourage, to applaud, to be there in those moments. You know when.

And so, on this, my Thursday morning, I thank you – you are one of the important people in my life and … you matter to ME!

Have a great rest of your week and enjoy the weekend ahead. Stay cool, hang out, chill, create! Do-do that voodoo that you do so well – all my wonderful loving and caring friends!

– Penny

I Can Fly and Touch The Sky!

September 9, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 39 Comments

I Will Fly … High!

We (all of us) are the compilation of our journey through life – our struggles, our sorrows, our joys and successes.

Birds fly. They, with glorious feathered wings, descend into the heavens to soar high above the sky – ennobled through their freedom of flying.

We humans are earthbound it seems, forever to have our feet on the earth of the ground.

But is this a truth? Are we? After all we are creatures of our own making. Do we not control our destinies, chose the direction we would follow?

Perhaps … if we so desire … we can set free our imaginations, our dreams and we too can fly.

Fly today my friends, fly high…touch the sky!

To Touch the Sky

I would fly

if I could,

I might close my eyes,

spreading arms open wide

and rise up

touch the sky.

And now that I think on it

perhaps

a simply thing – this flying.

Today, I believe,

I will fly.

Have a great day!

~ Penny

Reprinted from an earlier post.

Act’s of Kindness: Loose Change, A Caring Caregiver,

July 28, 2013 / Penny L Howe / 21 Comments

… A Thoughtful Youth, and another little bird!

It’s Sunday so this means it’s time to present Acts of Kindness that have been shared with me by others, this past week! I have four new ones to share with you.

In the first Act of Kindness, loose change and a caring stranger make the difference for RoSy – of Sharing me myself and i – and her girls. In her own words:

“Just today I received an act of kindness. It was girls day out. My daughters, my niece, & me were going to hop on a local trolley ride. The driver couldn’t make change for the bill I had to pay with & I didn’t have enough small change to pay for our rides. As we were walking away – a lady said that she had some change & if it made enough for our fare with the change that I did have that we could have it. With her change & my change – we had enough for the trolley ride (with a few pennies to spare)!”
Small change made for big smiles —>

In the second act of kindness, Tez shares a special moment with a very special caregiver, her story:

“This week I experienced an act of kindness from my Home and Community Carer, Carol, who is a lovely woman. She brought me a packet of my favourite biscuits, which we shared with a cup of tea and, of course, a good old natter. She takes such good care of me and is always so kind. I’m very lucky.” Its one thing to do a job, quite another to really care and make a special difference in someone’s life. I agree with Tez, Carol is a lovely woman.

In the third act of Kindness, When Sharla was reading the act of kindness by Lesley Fletcher of Inspiration Import who shared her moving story of saving the life of a little bird last Sunday, it reminded Sharla of her encounter while photographing a nest of baby mockingbirds shared on her blog Catnipoflife posted on July 17. “In checking on the these newborn ‘babies’ a few days later, there was one left in the nest so I captured a photo. Today, I checked again and the nest was empty. In turning to walk away, I glanced toward the ground and saw the tiny bird on the ground. The click of yet more photos stirred the baby so I knew it was alive. I thought about the tiny baby on the ground for most of the day. With storm clouds gathering and rain in the midst, I ventured out at dusk gently lifting the tiny soul (with gloves on, of course) and placing it back in its nest. I know Mother Nature has a way of taking care of its own but something compelled me to help this new life…maybe it was the impending storm.” A helping hand for a new little bird, is a noble gesture. Thank you Sharla!

In the fourth Act of Kindness Lisa shares a story of her young son’s concern for the safety of an elderly neighbor after a recent series of Earthquakes in New Zealand (thinking not of himself but of others) recently, Her words: on her blog of July 22nd: ACT OF KINDNESS FROM MY BOY!

“I’m so proud of my boy he went over to our 86 yr old neighbour to check she hadn’t fallen and all was ok how cool is that ….very proud mom of him! As she should be, a wonderful act of kindness by a caring young man!”

Thank you to each, for taking a few minutes to share these acts of kindness. I’d love to hear of an act of kindness you were involved with or have heard about.

At the top of this page you’ll see the title Acts of Kindness. In the comment section: share your story. Next Sunday I will pass your story on to my readers. I look forward to hearing from you. Until then I hope you have an excellent week filled with many acts of kindness.

Penny