Magenta Crossing Creek

I know I often share pictures of Magenta, but I just can't help myself.  She is such a happy dog and loves getting out in nature with us.  My Wonder Filled Moment was watching her cross the creek. 

In Gratitude,
Linda G

Views from the Sedona Dog Park

 If you hike up the little hill at the SDP you will find this bench.  Sit on the bench and you will have the view of the Red Rocks in Uptown Sedona. (pictured below)

If you go without a dog, people may wonder what you are up to, but look at those views! 

My Wonder Filled Moment enjoying the views while Magenta gets her exercise.

In Gratitude,
Linda G

A Walk in the High Desert

Today Magenta and I went for a wonderful walk in the desert.  Perfect temperature in the mid 60's a soft breeze and sunshine mixed with just a few clouds.

Winter in the High Desert means we get a bit of snow, some rain and cooler temperatures.  It even gets below freezing if we are lucky.  This winter has been very mild.  We had a few snow falls but the cold did not last more then a few weeks.

Magenta is a good influence as she demands we get her out every day. 

Magenta

As you may have guessed my Wonder Filled Moment of this day was hiking in the Red Rocks of the High Desert and noticing the beauty all around me.

In Gratitude,
Linda

A Compliment... A Smile

I have become one of those people who will compliment a stranger if I like something their wearing, or their fabulous hair style or what ever it is that strikes me strongly.  I haven't always been one who gives compliments and I am not sure when I started.  It sure does feel good though. 

I've seen people quite surprised when I tell them I like their jacket.  They may even get a funny look on their face.  But when they realize it's a genuine compliment and I do not want anything from them, they smile back and say thanks and sometimes tell me a story about the jacket. 

Someone once told me not accepting a compliment is an insult to the person complimenting you. Sometimes I still want to down play someones compliment, but I hear that ladies voice and I say Thank You.   I have learned to accept compliments graciously and appreciatively.  I've also realized that I too feel those things the other person is complimenting me about.  I've always loved my smile, and if I am wearing something I love, I am glad someone else appreciates it.

One day I smiled at a young woman as we passed in the grocery store. A few minutes later she came and found me to say thank you, and to tell me that I have a beautiful smile. Wow, how sweet was that!  All I did was give a genuine smile. Her thanks made my day!

So if you like something about another let them know.  If you are feeling happy smile at everybody and share your joy and happiness.  I think you will find you want to do it more because you feel better about everything when your sharing positive things with others.  

Like this blog, you may be giving someone their Wonder Filled Moment of the Day.  Today, mine was writing this blog and thinking about compliments given and received.

In Gratitude,
Linda G

Pharrell Williams - Happy

Have you seen this video?  It was released a few years ago, and I just love how it makes me feel.  It is a Happy song indeed. May this be one of your Wonder Filled Moments as well.
In Gratitude,
Linda G 

Relaxing Creek Sounds

I was going through pictures categorizing them and deleting some and I came upon this beautiful video of the creek.  My Wonder Filled Moment today was watching this 30 second video. Take a deep breath and imagine you are there enjoying the sounds of the water and the birds, feeling the gentle breeze upon your cheek and forget all your worries for just 30 seconds.

In Gratitude,
Linda G

A Winter Sunset

Thunder Mountain

Winter has finally arrived!  It's February 23rd and we had our first snow of the winter here in Sedona.

I happened to be out at just the right moment and WOW!  What a treat!




The snow on the red rocks, the glow from the sunset and the wispy clouds floating through.  I took a deep breath in appreciation of the beauty.  In that moment I was in awe.

 Soldiers Pass

Backyard Snow Fall

Shortly after getting home I was treated with large snow flakes floating to the ground.  I am so blessed to live surrounded by beauty.   





My Wonder Filled Moments today were found in the light play of a winter day. 

In Gratitude,
Linda G

Creating Art

I love painting.  Sunsets always inspire me.  The pinks, reds, yellows, oranges and purples.  The way the sun plays on the clouds creating such magnificent colors and shapes. 

My Wonder Filled Moment today was playing with color and creating art. 

In Gratitude,
Linda G

Warm Fire on a Cool Night

There is nothing better than sitting next to a warm fire on a cool night.  A cup of tea, a lap blanket and I am set to get lost in the fire.  My Wonder Filled Moments were watching the flames dance as I relaxed by the fire. 

A Sunset Worth Painting

Our friend Todd sent this picture of last nights sunset to Hunny!  My first thought, I want to paint that.  My Wonder Filled Moment viewing a picture worth painting.

In Gratitude, Linda G

Happy Valentines Day

This is one of my heart paintings.  I call it Spirit Heart.  When I look at this painting for any period of time I see different images.  It almost looks like an alien or something is coming out of the center.  (I see it more in the original.)

It is one of my favorite paintings.  Hunny and I used it as the cover on our Wedding Program.  I painted it shortly after we got engaged.

I hope everyone in the world has the opportunity to share a special love like ours with another.  Seeing this causes me to think about our wedding day.  It felt like we were walking on a pink cloud of love.  It was amazing and the memory is my Wonder Filled Moment today!

I created a card out of this painting.  Guess what Hunny's card will look like.

In Love and Gratitude,
Linda G

Sycamore Seed Balls

Out on one of my daily hikes with Magenta, the Wonderful Wolf Dog, I often see things in the wild I haven't seen before.  On this day when we were walking along the creek, I saw these little balls hanging from the trees.  They are Sycamore seed balls.  Mother Nature at her best.  My Wonder Filled Moment today is the simplest pleasure, witnessing all of these seed balls hanging from the Sycamore Trees as I walked along the creek. 

Sycamore Seed Balls

The American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is a fast-growing deciduous tree hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 through 9. ... These seed balls appear on the sycamore tree in the winter and fall to the ground in the spring, where they open to disperse their seeds. 
homeguides.sfgate.com/sycamore-balls-59681.html 

Cranky to Calm and Happy in One Second

Work was a bit hectic today and for some reason when I got home, I just wanted to be cranky and crabby.  Arrrrg!  I went back to the bedroom, as sitting in silence often helps me unwind.  Today that wasn't cutting it.  I had too much energy, I needed to move.  I got up put on a jacket and shoes and went out back.  I was walking around the yard asking myself, "What are you upset about?  I really don't understand.  Yes it was a bit of a crazy day, but nobody was mean or rude.  Customers were happy, most everybody was?  So why do you want to be upset?"

I walked around the yard breathing, talking to myself and mostly looking down at the ground.  Then I went up the stairs, just three steps and I looked up...  The Red Rocks of Sedona were glowing.  I smiled.  Stopped.  Took a deep breath in gratitude and I felt calm and happy again.  The beautiful glow of the sun setting on the Red Rocks, shifted my energy immediately, that was my Wonder Filled Moment of the day!   

It does not have to be something big to shift your energy or make you feel better.  I am truly blessed to be in such a beautiful and sacred place.  What was your Wonder Filled Moment today.  Look for it, see it and feel it.  Enjoy.

In Gtatitude,
Linda G

A Winter Walk

After work I took our smiley wolf dog down to the creek so she would have a chance to run! 








My wonder filled moment today. 
Watching Magenta run and play by the creek. 

My Kitty Chula

I was visiting with a friend and for some reason had the thought to show her this video of Kitty Chula when she was just tiny little thing.  A video creator was the person who found the kitty and made this video.  I happened to be walking by shortly after she found the little one and mentioned if she found she could not keep her I would love to have her.  Three days later I received the call.  Her cat's did not accept the kitty so she could come home with me.  My Wonder Filled Moment today was remembering the preciousness of this kitty, who is now almost 11 years old. 

The Heyoka: "This kitten was rescued from a giant thorny blackberry patch. I took her home and discovered she only had three paws. Music Coney Island Slide Show by Matthew Warren"

Thanks Hunny

Today I have been home in bed with an uncomfortable cold.  I think it is so interesting how we each deal with our illness differently.  Hunny came down with a cold a 4 or 5 days ago.  I supported him by heating up chicken soup and bringing home a big bottle of Orange Juice.  Today, he treated me by getting me some chicken soup.  When I am not feeling well I usually want potato chips, Lays Sour Cream and Onion.  My wonder filled moment on a not so fun day was opening and savoring the first chip of a bag of Lays Sour Cream and Onion that Hunny brought home for me.  Thanks Babe!

In Gratitude,
Linda G

Listening to the Stone People

Any where along a path I can usually find a space where I can get lost in what I am viewing.  Rocks and stones are one of my favorites.  Sitting on a rock myself and looking at all of these beautiful stones.  The small ones, the big ones, the red ones the grey ones.  The longer I look at the rocks the more my mind is freed from thought. . .

. . . It is at this moment I may hear the rocks speak.  One will stand out more than the others and I reach for it.  I feel it.  I look at it.  I hold it in my palm and share my energy with it.  The strength and longevity of these rocks reminds me of how far they have come to be where they are.  I think of my own journey; the ups and the downs and how grateful I am for the life I live.  Ahhh, Wonder Filled Moments.

In Gratitude,
Linda G

A Winter Walk

Today I am going to share a few pictures with you and not write many words.  Enjoy the walk...

Winter Lighting

Magenta

A warm winter stroll along the creek.




















With my favorite wolf dog.

Late afternoon glow on the rocks.

I love an afternoon walk in the winter.  Witnessing the bare trees and how the shadows from the low sun bring a special beauty to the creek.

My wonder filled moments of today were enjoying the winter light the sun provides and listening to the beautiful music of the creek.

In Gratitude,
Linda G

A Joyful Day!

So many Wonder Filled Moments today. . .

Seeing the Super Full Moon again this morning.  6:40 am and it was still up, covered with clouds but shining on.  It just looked very interesting, almost mystical. 

Time to take Magenta to the Sedona Dog Park before going to work.  She always makes me smile.

There were a number of wonderful conversations with customers and artists today.  It was a joy to be at work.

I Took Magenta out for a walk after work too.   I just love being in nature and the weather remains quite perfect for getting outdoors.

The shadows on the Red Rocks from our kitchen table.  The shadows are quite noticeable and interesting this time of  year, followed by that wonderful Red Rock Glow!


Relaxing in bed and writing this blog.
It is so amazing to me that after writing this blog again for such a short period of time how easy it is to think of many good feeling moments through out the day.  I believe I am already perceiving things more positively just because I know at the end of the day I am likely to write this blog.