Words of Wisdom

No, not mine. I'm fresh out.





My youngest and her family visited a hostel in Los Altos Hills recently. It is called Hidden Villa Farm and Wilderness Preserve. These are a few of the pictures that she took there, and judging by them, it must be a very charming place to stay with small children.








There are open fields and cultivated ones, an educational garden for the children, small farm animals and chickens, a creek - what more could you ask?











They grow both vegetables and flowers.

Perhaps one of you can identify some of the wildflowers that they found?










There are many signs posted - rough painted on boards or on the side of one of the out-buildings - explaining what can be found there.

















We never know where we may find true words of wisdom.

Happy Christmas

To all of my Christian readers, I wish the Happiest of Christmases.








May the Peace of the season fill all our hearts and remain with us throughout the coming year.


PEACE ON EARTH - GOOD WILL TO ALL MEN

Thematic Photographic #29

This week Carmi, at Written Inc. decreed that the theme for the week should be Quiet. What a wonderful theme. Quiet. Peace. So many pictures floated through my mind.

I decided on these three.




Gull




Snow fence



Moonset


If you would like to join this interesting meme, go visit Carmi and learn the simple rules.

Meantime, I wish every reader a holiday and a new year filled with Peace

Thanksgiving

I hope that all of my readers have a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving Day with family and friends surrounding them. I hope that you all pause at some time during your day to pray for Peace in the world. There are so many places in our world today where there is no peace, the latest being Mumbai, India, as we learned last night. The Family of Man is suffering, from repression, from violence, from hunger, and from cold. Let us do whatever we can to alleviate that suffering. At the very least, let us pray.




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Last night I emailed a fellow blogger who lives in Mumbai. This morning I found his reply to my email. It read as follows:

"Dear Barbara,

Thanks for your mail. I'm doing fine.

All the places attacked are the ones I frequent regularly.

The city is yet to stabilize this morning. Encounters between the terrorists and the law enforcement agencies is still on, disrupting rail services, and contributing to the panic across the city.

Thanks for the prayers, people will be needing all the moral support they can get. Over 100 people lost their lives in the co-ordinated attacks by the terrorists, and hundreds more injured.

Situation till uncertain.

Regards,

Anil

When everything is said and done, there is still some doing to do.

http://windyskies.blogspot.com"


Let's all continue to pray for the people of Mumbai, and to remember what we have in our country.





Freedom from Want

Freedom from Fear

Freedom of Speech

Freedom to Worship









Photos of Norman Rockwell paintings courtesy of Normal Rockwell Museum of Vermont

Solidarity

I have to admit, I'm proud of this one. First, because of the intent with which it is given: building solidarity among left-of-center bloggers. I guess that would be me. At least, when I look at the political picture today, I certainly don't find myself on the right, or even near the center. And second, because it came to me from Gina, at The Pagan Sphinx, who is a blogging friend for whom I feel such respect. She is passionate in her beliefs, in her desire for peace, in her love of family and of art. Most importantly, when she believes, she acts on those beliefs.


In the spirit for which this award was intended: building solidarity among left-of-center bloggers, I do want to pass it on to the following:

To Sylvia, at The View from Over the Hill. Because she keeps on top of things, and keeps us informed. Because she cares.

To Caroline, at Caroline's Crayons. Because her drawings and story lines are so touchingly relevant in today's world. Because she cares.

To Deborah, at Notes from the Cloud Messenger. Because she is so beautifully expressive, and is so concerned with what is happening to our world. Because she cares. Deborah is a Canadian. Perhaps not what one would expect to be included with U.S. Democrats and Independents, but I believe she is one of us in spirit.

To Kathryn, at Fetal Positions II. Because she, too, expresses her concerns for the future of our country and the world and longs for peace. Because she cares.


I must echo Gina's awards. I would happily name every one of them myself: Dianne at Forks Off the Moment, Ben Heine at Ben Heine - the Blog, Poetryman at The Peace Tree, Sherry at After the Bridge, Betmo at Life's Journey, Homeyra at Forever Under Construction. Every one of their blogs so worth reading. I am so honored to have been included in the list. Because they care.


To all of you - PEACE