Wherever I have lived, I usually found a “favorite” tree. My all-time favorite was destroyed during the ice storm in February 2014… the big one.

That was a great tree to take pictures of birds. It had lots of “nooks” for birds and plentiful mistletoe.
At our current home, there is a Maple tree at the end of the driveway, which keeps our mailbox in the shade.
Fall whittled away at the bright, red leaves and this past weekend’s storm finished it off. Below are pictures that were taken over the last few weeks.
The cycles of life and death, new and old, bright and dreary, full and bare.
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This morning a blogging friend and neighbor in real life, came by to drop off one of her 2020 inspirational calendars. We have known each other for almost a decade now because of our respective work in the community and standing in my driveway, in the scraggy shadow of the bare Maple tree, we spent five minutes catching up on our transitions. We have each been recently blessed with our first grandchild and we both blog about the two, baby girls regularly.
They are “everything and more.”
Both of us were involved with entities that we no longer recognize. Like the tree in June and then January, we question the changes and ponder the impact on those who once benefitted from our efforts.
Life doesn’t always go according to our plans. I for one, hope that God has something new planned for me, just like the bare, Maple tree that will bloom again in Spring.
Summer wanes and the green begins to morph into red
Big Red and Mackenzie, sniffing their kingdom.
The shedding commences
Last Friday, before the rain and wind.
Taken this morning. Until next year, we wait and we hope.
I heard something today that resonated. Rather than establishing expectations of myself and my life, live each moment with an expectancy. Today I delivered a calendar to you, then to my friend, Kathryn Wade. She told me she was proud of me. My reply was well, I just keep trying. Doesn’t sound like much but it really is.
Thank you, friend and neighbor.
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I would expect you and Kathryn to be friends as you’ve both dedicated your lives to helping others.
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the circle of life. and what a great neighbor to have…
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We retired to Ecuador. I am still not used to the lack of what I would recognize as seasons.
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Here in SC , it is not as pronounced as in New Jersey, but I’ve gotten used to it. Thanks for checking in.
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I would suspect that God has something planned for you yet Ray. Like that maple tree, it is just around the corner.
Your photos are beautiful!! The color on that tree is something. All we are seeing this evening is white….middle of a snowstorm.
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I don’t want to sound blasphemous, but based on a telephone call this afternoon, God may have read my blog last night. 🙏🤔
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Not blasphemous at all. I think God enjoys shaking it up a bit for us. I don’t know if I am always so crazy about that idea….
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