Thursday I couldn't believe how green and beautiful the hills looked. We could again walk at city park and did. On this day, I was able to go the short distance to the bridge there, where we discovered that the swallows are indeed back now! There were SO MANY and they were SO BUSY!! Almost every small mud nest had a little face poking out, while the others in the community were rapidly coming and going. We could not tell if those were babies waiting in the nests, only that the others would fly in to the front of a nest and then fly off again. The sheer volume of little chirping birdsong was something! Some of the nests looked a little worse for wear since last year, but most were in pretty good shape. If repairs were needed, there was water and mud in the wash, ready for use.
Bach - Trio Sonata from The Musical Offering BWV 1079 | Netherlands Bach Society
LINK 19:01 minutesI have gotten back to my rereading of "Theo of Golden". All four musical offerings here are from my rereading. I've enjoyed listening 'new to me' music, except "Summertime", which I already knew. I was looking forward to getting to the musical references in the book, so I could explore them. It was well worth it. I believe I may get to hear others, before the book ends.
As I did when I started this rereading adventure, I've also been looking up unfamiliar words, locations, people and so on. It has been interesting and fills in some of the ideas of the story.
One of the things I was reading about is the Morpho Butterflies, as they are spoken about in Theo of Golden. They are gorgeous. Every time we see any kind of butterfly on our walks, it lifts the spirit!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morpho_(genus)
Lastly, the rereading of this book has given me a lot to consider as I am seeing it through new eyes, even after reading it such a short time ago. The first time I read it was through the lens of primarily: connection and kindness. It was read from an emotional standpoint, from my gut. This time around I am seeing things in the story that I washed right over in the first read. Maybe I'll talk about that more later.
Miklós Rózsa Toccata Capricciosa, Op.36 for solo cello
LINK 6:33 minutes
We haven't really seen any red-winged blackbirds so far, but I did spy this bird in the tree. I am grateful whenever I get out in nature, whatever that looks like.
Summertime
LINK 5:00 minutesWho would have guessed that I would be listening to this piece of music from Portugal! haha I guess I can say that reading Theo of Golden in this way, I have certainly expanded my horizons - at least momentarily!
Hino Nacional de Portugal - A Portuguesa (versão completa/com letra)
LINK 5:01 minutesThe past few days have been spent with the Pink Glue Book. I am not really a pink girl at all and I thought this book would be one of the hard ones to find images for...but I was wrong! I've found a lot of pink. Here is a sample below. I've done others since I started this draft, but I'll save those. I've also begun adding words to the pages seen here. What words do you think I found to add to each spread? What story does the image say to you? I've also covered the front & back covers, both inside and out. I like it like this and plan to try it with the other colors too.
Our weekly jaunt up the canyon did not disappoint. It never, ever does. The scents, sights and vibe are so...right. I saw a pink thistle that escaped being photographed. But, the ones below stood out so much, how could I not snap a pic. There was a lot of purple-flowered sage and many scrub jays along the way. There's always something familiar (thus comforting) and something new to see on this short drive. I treasure it each time we go.
I am continuing the tradition of lighting the white ("health & caring") and the green ("money") candles each afternoon. They stay lit through to bedtime, reminding me of those important to me or a silliness that began decades ago with the lighting of money candles. One refreshing and hope-filled , and the other silly, but wishful. Their light brings me calmness and joy.
When do you like to revisit things?
May you learn something new, even from something old
May you never fail to appreciate the goodness around you
May you care for yourself and others in the best ways you know how
Photos by NAE @pomegranatetrail ©2026
