Friday Morning's Beauty

7 a.m., Draper Temple on the hillside, surrounded by snow-topped roofs.

20 minutes later looking across the valley/sunrise.

Fall color on the hillside behind our house yesterday morning, early.

Same view early this morning, 37 degrees.

AARRGGHHH!!

It's no secret that I love to read.

At any given time I have a stack of books to read from the library. I collect the free ones for my Nook and my Kindle (which was a free one we received).  There is really no worry that I'll run out of stuff (and hopefully all good) stuff to read.  Plus, I always have a bunch of books requested at the library to read when they are available.

Lately I've been scrambling to keep up.  They are coming in faster than I can read.  (Although it is true that I don't read as fast as I used to.)  One was checked out to me yesterday that I thought would take months to arrive:  I was number 1023 in the queue.

So here, I am, at my computer and get an email.  Yep, from the library.  A digital book that I requested months ago is available for checkout.  I only have 48 hours to check it out.
And all of a sudden I'm feeling pressure.  Read. Read. Read.  Arrgghh!

Hours later, and I've decided that it doesn't matter if I read that particular book or not.  Digital hold at the library - cancelled.  Some pressure relieved.

And now I'm off to finish a book so I can start the next one.

Today's gratitude:  for the ability to read, for eyes that let me see the beauty of the printed word (as well as the beauty of the world around me) and for good stories to read.

Personality Quirks/Flaws

Pictures don't do it justice.  I even caught the tiny moon.

Came home from my walk this morning and asked The Husband:  if you're rude to someone and they don't get that you were rude to them, does it count as being rude?

The answer I got (which was exactly the answer I knew I'd get) was an unequivocal yes.  So, sorry, extremely-loud-lady-on-the-trail-with-the-headlight-you-shone-straight-into-my-eyes:  I was rude.  And your being rude first doesn't excuse my rude back even if my rudeness went over your head.  (And for those with questioning minds - my rudeness was a quiet, simple statement of fact that lots of people wouldn't even consider rude. "People are sleeping." It was 6:30 a.m and still dark out for heaven's sake.)

I have long been aware of my faults, failings and shortcomings.  Aware, also,  that I am an abrasive personality. I often bite my tongue so as to not cause difficulties.  I, also, am frequently taken advantage of because I try to live and let live.  Every once in a while, though, I tend to get my back up and stand my ground - I get weary of "just taking it." This morning was one of those times.

I so love being out and watching the day dawn.  The peacefulness of the early morning is a treasure.  I am disheartened when that peacefulness becomes more and more rare because of the intrusion of people who are only concerned for themselves and not how their actions impact others.  Does consideration of others exist any more?

Happy little tree.

So, true confession:  I was rude.  And yes, I am repenting.  And will I repeat said rudeness:  I'll try not to, but it might be difficult.  I should take a lesson from Dr. Seuss who said, "Today I shall behave as if this is the day I will be remembered."

Then I read the newspaper article about people saying they were going to eliminate lots of social media because of the way it makes them feel inadequate - people always parading their perfection.  Come read my blog.  I doubt it will make anyone feel inferior.  My faults are pretty much always on display for the whole world to see.  Like that saying:  all your successes seem to happen in private, but any failure is always in public.  Yep, that feels like me.

The spectacular-ness of the sunrise was fleeting - the colors lasted only a few minutes.  Fortunately I was walking backwards enough on the trail that I caught it.

And the pine tree?  It's only about 4 1/2 feet tall.  But check out the size of those pinecones.  I'd say that was a happy tree.

Today's gratitude:  for repentance.  And for the forgiveness that surely will be mine if I am sincere.

Atypical Tuesday

Enjoying this cottonwood's leaves before they fall.

Since I generally have a haircut appointment first thing in the morning (7:30), those days of my haircut end up being non-walking/exercising/biking days.  Today was a haircut day.  And since I was particularly loathe to give up my head-clearing-stress-relieving-body-moving benefit, I decided spur of the moment to take a walk later in the morning.

And while I sorely missed my daily commune with the sunrise, I did enjoy being out on the trail mid-morning.  The trail is less busy at that time, the only people I passed were aged ladies like me on their bikes and Moms with baby-filled strollers.  The daylight is different at that time.  I so loved the contrast of the shadows and sunlight as the wind set the tree limbs waving.  The added benefit:  I took a book with me and read as I walked which is near impossible when I leave the house before the sun.

The weather is one of those often hoped for, but less often realized perfect fall days with the current temperature of 75 degrees, a mostly cloudless sky, a breeze that stops short of the typical Draper gale-force winds and the light from the sun making things happy.  This is the kind of weather that gives The Husband spring fever in the fall.  I guess that would be fall fever.  The sort that looks for excuses to abandon work and all sense of responsibility and just have some out-of-the ordinary fun.

In the last few days I've received several e-mails from an online reading group site that notify me that someone has liked one of my book reviews.  I am pleasantly astounded that someone finds something I write of value.  It feels like an "attaboy" that I don't really deserve but is so very good for my soul anyway.

And I so like this quote that was shared with me:  "You must do everything you can to make your appearance pleasing, but the minute you walk out the door, forget yourself and start concentrating on others."  --Susan Tanner

And today's gratitude:  that I still have enough hair to cut and style.  It hasn't all deserted me yet. (But it's on its way...)