The way in and the way out and then I risked my life to get these for you

This was the last hike of the year for me, I'm not a snow hiker or even walker.  But I love the smell of the forest and the quiet mystery.  It's the end of fall in these pictures and still quite warm. The scent was heavenly. At certain points I could look up and see the sky, but most of the time it was an enveloping canopy of trees.                         

                          This was the way the path looked as I entered
                                                                             

                              This was the path on the way out.

 I was struggling with some things that day as I walked and it struck me as I was leaving, that it seems some of the problems of life are so easy to get into and so difficult to get out of, but all through it there is an abundance of beauty and peace and wonderful things that nourish and sooth us and give us hope.  It reminded me that I tend to just see the problem that is right in front of me and not the larger picture. When I could stop for a moment and take it all in, it reminded me of how good life can be.  It's all about perspective.                                                                        

                                                                                 

This is for you, Birdie.  This was my companion.

Here is what I had to risk my life to capture for you. I walked through the blustery, howling, windy snow to get these pictures of the creak on our property.  You can't see it very well, but that is the little water fall at the beginning of the creak.  It actually has to come down 5 little steps but they were very hard to see because I would have had to get in the creak to capture it clearly. And the sound of it? My god, it's natures music, isn't it? That tumble of water over rocks and logs. In the summer I sit by it for hours and listen to it. I've never lived by this sound and I might not ever again, so I know how lucky I am to receive a musical, watery gift like this.

Here the snow is whizzing past the camera and it looks like little comets flying through the air. 

                                                                               

It's amazing to know that through all this chaos and turmoil, the planet still pretty much does what it's supposed to. God how I pray that continues.

I swear to you, my pictures aren't always this bad, really.
             

A visit to Cuba from London

The death of Fidel Castro will enormously affect America's relationship with Cuba.   Let's hope that the progress that President Obama has made in communicating with Cuba is not completely destroyed by our resident idiot, because Cuba is so much more important to America than we actually realize.

If you want to know a bit more, from a first hand Cuban, please go read my friend,  Mario Lopez Goicoechea, over at :   https://cubaninlondon.blogspot.com    He has given a wonderful interview with the BBC World News explaining his experiences and views of his birthplace and how he sees this transition.  As he says, he is a revisionist, lets hope his vision of a Cuba without Castro is the one we all come to see.

Thank you, Mario.

Tomorrow is another day, Scarlett, and thank you very much.

                                                            Yet to be consumed ~ ~ ~
                                                                              

                                                            The annual Peach Pie
                                                             (actually a galette)

It is capitalized because it is that good.  I froze this Summer's peaches so that we can have a bite of sunshine on our Thanksgiving table, which came in really handy because it is pouring outside.

I didn't get a shot of the table laden with   -  stuff  -  but this is the aftermath.................
                                                                               

Hence, that saying "tomorrow is another day", hopefully, because if it isn't I'm dying with a sink full of dirty dishes.  Pie will be consumed soon with whipped cream and hot tea. Lord, it's 9pm  --  but pie must be consumed!

I am very thankful for the grace to have such wonderful food and a warm home and lovely conversation.  It's my daughter and me for dinner only.  Can you believe we have shared this day, just the two of us, for at least 15 years, maybe even more? We like it that way, relatives and all the angst and anxiety and holding your tongue just made the day not what it is supposed to be in a pretty extreme way. So now we get to talk about the Beatles and movies and plans for next year and lots of just silly stuff, it's peaceful.

I am thankful for more than just our dinner or time together.  I am thankful for all the good people who voted for Hillary.  I am thankful for those who keep fighting today and tomorrow to try to see justice done, not only with the votes but also for Natives Indians, the hungry, the homeless, the persecuted everywhere. I am thankful for a million things - like clean water and people who say thankyou and you'rewelcome, and for smiles from strangers.  I am thankful to be living in a free country where people can make stupid mistakes and where people can change the world...and we do, here in America.  For all the beautiful animals that fill our lives here and are provided with love and warmth and safety and I pray for all the others that their lives might be so.  I could go on and on and on listing the myriade of privileges and graces we who live in this incredible country get to experience everyday.  And as well all the spiritual and miraculous things that we are able to explore because we live in a country where that is possible. We are very lucky indeed.

And I am grateful on this day of thankfulness for You.  You who share your lives with me, you who entrust me with your sorrows your dreams and your joy.  I am also grateful To you for listening to mine and offering me comfort and cheering me on and even sometimes laughing with me. You have helped me to both see and understand more about life then I think I ever could have without you.  I am too lazy to do it by myself.  Thank you thank you thank you xoxo

Love, Liv

PS:  I am also very, very thankful to the guy who's car I ran into last night,  fender bender!  (totally my fault) who said..."Don't worry about it, it's not that bad." A sweet and gentle young man, just the kind of guy you wish would marry your daughter if you had one, or be your son if you didn't have one.  It really wasn't that bad, paint scratch on both, easy to fix. But it could have turned into a real problem if he hadn't been so genuinely kind.  We exchanged info (he does have insurance!) and he patted me on the back and said "Have a good Thanksgiving". He's not reporting it and he wouldn't even take money, I'm sure he voted for Hillary!

My best friend

                                                                               

                                                                   Dearest Marley
                                                              November 15th, 2016
                                                           Rest in peace, darling girl.