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.

Bougainvillea

This is my favorite color of bougainvillea. Happy after rain!!

For Cee’s FOTD

Now I Know Why They Call Them Swallows!!!

We have a new family in the neighborhood, perched atop Sergio and David’s long-handled dusters. Luckily, they are in a spot where my cats can’t reach them, so they’ve resorted to a rest period.

Cat times Four!!

No time to blog as I have kids art camp so I’m reblogging this blog from years ago when Kukla, Fran, Ollie and Roo finally had their shots and were neutered and spayed so they could live outside. Here is their adventure:

Détente and the Wide Wide World of Cats

 

For RDP: Cat.

Busy Day All Around!

When I tried to get in a little quiet time in the hot tub before a very busy day, the doggies joined me. Morrie tried to join in but then deserted for a little Zen time of his own.

Euphorbia Bracteate: FOTD for Aug. 8, 2023

Euphorbia Bracteate.  This has been an incredibly busy day and this has been my first time to post.

For Cee’s FOTD

Day Lilies and German Garlic: FOTD Aug 7, 2023

From Duffy’s Garden

For Cee’s FOTD

The Rest of the (Second) Story

Click on photos to enlarge.

When I sent my neighbor David a thank-you for sending me the photos of Coco and Zoe on the roof—naughty kids—because their mom and Yolanda forgot to shut the gate up the stairs, he shot back this answer, which I didn’t receive until this morning:

“HECK, WAIT!  There’s more. . . . and then there’s Morrie! With some prodding, he got the nerve, too . . .  and joined the rooftop party!

Above are the photos I had missed last night as they hadn’t yet downloaded. If you missed yesterday’s post, HERE are the photos of Coco and Zoe he’d sent.

 

Tabachine: FOTD Aug 6, 2023

After not blooming for months, the tabachine bush just burst into bloom. I guess it was waiting for the rain.

For Cee’s FOTD

Leaf Fall, Snow Fall––For Wordle 615

Leaf Fall, Snow Fall

Voracious winds split open to spill their crumbled spoils,
unfurling leaf confetti in airborne swirls and coils.
They empty them on lawn and deck, a sign of  what is coming
when winter drops its glittering load—beautiful and numbing.
I do not fear chill prospects, for I’ll be warm and snug
as my house wraps arms around me in its protective hug.

 

For the Sunday Whirl 615 the prompts are: grim glittering crumble empties confetti voracious unfurls wind split mind sign deck

Up on the Rooftop

 

Click on photos to enlarge.

Yesterday I had a “Collectors of Mexican Folk Art” group visit my house and forgot to close the gate to the upstairs casita after they left. Today while I was in Ajijic, I received the first three photos above from my next door neighbor. Guess Zoe and Coco wanted to go up and meet Frida.  For those of you who don’t know, Frida (who died a few years ago) used to spend most of her time up on my dome over my bedroom surveying the surrounding scene. That is her you see in the final photo, taken by me years ago. Since my house is on the side of a mountain, she could see for miles, all the way down to the lake and up to the top of the mountains. She loved to see the action of everyone who passed. 

When she died, I put her ashes into this statue of a dog who looked like her and was about her size and cemented it to the top of my dome.  It is accessible by a stairway up the side of my house which leads to the terrace outside the casita. Frida would jump up on the ledge and scurry up onto the dome–a trick she learned from the cats when she was an only-puppy and thought she was a cat. Once when I was at another neighbors, I saw Morrie up there with Zoe and Coco, who never met Frida in the Flesh. They evidently learned the way and at the next opportunity, visited her by themselves. As you can see by the second to the final photo that shows the statue of Frida minus her guests, it is a long way up to the top of the dome!

 

First three photos were taken yesterday by David Bershad. Thanks, David. Last two photos are earlier shots taken by me.