Author Archives: lifelessons

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About lifelessons

My blog, which started out to be about overcoming grief, quickly grew into a blog about celebrating life. I post daily: poems, photographs, essays or stories. I've lived in countries all around the globe but have finally come to rest in Mexico, where I've lived since 2001. My books may be found on Amazon in Kindle and print format, my art in local Ajijic galleries. Hope to see you at my blog.

Reaching for the Sky: Flower of the Day, Dec 29, 2016

 

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These bougainvilleas seem determined to build a wall straight up, like Jack’s bean stalk.

Don’t miss out on seeing Cee’s Lotus photo.

WordPress Photo Challenge-Path

Click on first photo to enlarge all.

 

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/path-2016/

If Poets Named the World

If Poets Named the World

If poets named the world, there’d be
a more precise variety
of names for things that suited them.
For instance, take the common “hem.”
We find it on our skirts and pants
if it is not torn out by chance.
But “upturn”seems to suit it better
In fact, it names it to the letter.
“Houseclump” better names a village.
The waterfall could be a spillage.
Each fresh-plowed field would be a tillage.
The drug store? It would be a “pillage.”

 

The prompt today was “pillage.”

Night Hibiscus: Flower of the Day, Dec 28, 2016

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When my visiting friends Patty and Marti went with me to pick out poinsettias to decorate with for Xmas, Marti at once spotted this hibiscus in a small pot in front of the plant stand.  She loved it so I bought it to remind me of her after she left, and planted it where she instructed, in a large planter pot to the side of my kitchen door. I snapped this photo at night, astonished that the petals hadn’t closed up for the night yet.  This is the first time I’ve been able to get a good shot of the pistil and stamens of a hibiscus.  Because they are so fuzzy, they ordinariiy look out-of-focus.  Perhaps the secret is taking the photo in the dark!

https://ceenphotography.com/2016/12/27/flower-of-the-day-december-28-2016-orchid/

Duck, Duck, Goose–Turkey????

Please click on first photo to enlarge and see captions that will guide you through Little Duck’s typical day when in Mexico. (Please remember he now resides in Missouri.  We miss him so.)

Thanks to okcforgottenman for the last photo of Little Duck off on a new adventure in Missouri.  (Sob.) We miss both of our ducks down here in Mexico!!!

This posting is for Cee’s  “Duck, Duck, Goose” challenge.

Poinsettia: Flower of the Day, Dec 27, 2016

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In Mexico, poinsettias are a fixture year round.

https://ceenphotography.com/2016/12/26/flower-of-the-day-december-27-2016-strawburst/

Arrive Clapping

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Arrive Clapping

The prima ballerina, the starlet and the queen
might give the appearance that they’ve neither heard nor seen
the hooting and the hollering, the screams and wild applause
emitted by the hoi polloi with very little cause
except for their appearance on the street or on the stage,
where they put themselves on view like exotics in a cage.
Yet imagine their surprise, not to mention consternation
if even a mere glimpse of them did not prompt an ovation!

 

The prompt today is “Ovation.”

 

Advance and Retreat

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Advance and Retreat

The farther we grow apart,
every time we try once more to merge,
the hastier the retreat must be
back to ourselves.
B
ut still we try, over and over,
little incursions, trying to find
a level meeting place more suited
for festivities than battle.
We work our whole lives to become ourselves,
yet must regret losing those less-finished times
when we all floundered together,
no one right enough or formed enough
to be sure they were right.
Every step forward is
a step away from something else.
Every progress a departure, as well.

The prompt word today is “retreat.”

Chili Days of Winter: Cee’s Odd Ball Photo Challenge

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I asked my friend to bring me some packets of my favorite chili seasoning mix from the states as such imported food items are very expensive in Mexico.  Unfortunately, she had a spill of one of her liquid items in her luggage, so when I came into the kitchen later, I was greeted by this display–arranged by her to dry out the packets.  Yes, we had chicken and black bean chili the next day and it was delicious.  Still eating it!!!  Merry Xmas.
https://ceenphotography.com/2016/12/23/cees-odd-ball-photo-challenge-2016-week-51/

Bougainvillea on Tejas: Flower of the Day, Dec 25, 2016

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Merry Christmas to one and all!!!

https://ceenphotography.com/2016/12/24/flower-of-the-day-december-25-2016-christmas-wreath/