Word tribute: inspired

in·spired

inˈspī(ə)rd/

adjective

Of extraordinary quality, as if arising from some external creative impulse.

This is an interesting time of my life. I’ve entered retirement. While I’m still young enough to enjoy this new adventure.

But according to Ernest Hemingway, “Retirement is the ugliest word in the language.” To many, it has such negative connotations: old, worn out, past your prime, unproductive, ceasing work, elderly, resigned, quitting, giving up.

Nope. For me, I’m inspired, not retired.

Day 27/365 iPhoneography challenge

Guilty pleasure. Getting my money’s worth with Prime.

Day 26/365 iPhoneography challenge

a portion of Valkyrie by Rolf Jacobsen

My husband is a brave man. On one of his business trips to Italy, he fell in love…with a painting. He is brave because he bought the painting without me.

Fortunately, I fell in love with it too.

Day 25/365 iPhoneography challenge

I love the fact that kids play on the street in our neighborhood. Like my childhood.

I also took this because it’s sitting in another pothole I tripped on in 2010. Exactly the same way as this summer around the corner. Walking across the street, not looking down and bam, my foot caught in the mini-pothole and down I went. I survived that one, too.

Day 24/365 iPhoneography challenge

Prelude to rain. Thunder and lightning followed, but just a few big, fat, non-productive drops. Normally I am extremely grateful for our wonderful California weather, but with our drought, we really need these clouds to yield more.

But I am super grateful for the pretty sky, and the lovely evening walks.

When my friend saw this photo on my iPhone, he saw a lake. Can you?

Day 23/365 iPhoneography challenge

Good friends are like stars…

You don’t always see them, but know they are always there.

Madison Park Greetings

Thank you to a very special friend for this. You know who you are. And I know you are always there.

Word tribute: gratitude

grat·i·tude

ɡradəˌt(y)o͞od/

noun

The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Thank you Marc for writing 12 Little Known Laws of Gratitude (That Will Change your Life).

And thank you Heather for finding it.

Day 22/365 iPhoneography challenge

Little Free Library

Fitting photo tonight after our neighborhood book club. We read “Someone: A Novel” by Alice McDermott.

“Who’s going to love me?” I said.

The brim of his hat cast his eyes in shadow. Behind him, the park teemed with strangers.

“Someone,” he told me. “Someone will.”

Day 21/365 iPhoneography challenge

How many composition techniques can you find?