Sunday, November 2, 2014

In Memoriam: Life is a Bowl of. . .

With October behind us, the blandness of November begins. The trees will be bare, the grasses brown, the skies gray. October left us in celebration and sadness.

Yesterday was a day of celebration. Our college student who lived with us while she did her under grad work at UNC, had her birthday, so we held a little surprise luncheon for her as her grandparents traveled from the Western Slope to come visit her for her birthday. After lunch and cake and ice cream, the Head Gardener and I went to Elinore's birthday party. More good food, cake and ice cream and a mountain of presents. Boone turned one on Halloween. Since the HG was off harvesting corn, we didn't celebrate, but I did buy him treats and toys one of which he has already nearly destroyed.




Playing around in Picasa, I managed to come up with a couple of mosaics that sum up October: Apple picking, garden gone to seed, Peretilote's small clutch, and the last leaf on the eastern red bud.


I filled a small glass dish with pods and leaves, and apples just to see what I could up with. I am not always so good with still life photography. So here you have it, October in a bowl.




In the last six weeks, we have suffered loss. In September my sister's husband Larry passed after a bitter fight with lung cancer. Two weeks ago my dear cousin in Seattle, Linda, passed after succumbing to an aneurysm suffered while she shopped at Home Depot. Lastly, my husband's brother in law stopped breathing at home Thursday morning. Paramedics were able to bring him around, but he passed Friday night. Tests showed that he had undiagnosed lung cancer, with tumors in the same location as Larry had. So my sister and my husband's sister both lost their husbands to the same disease weeks apart. Uncle Mike was dear sweet man who loved horses. I thought it fitting to write a memoriam with a picture of Sundance, the horse that he gave our daughter Jennifer when he was just 18 months old. 

In in the States, November begins the holiday season with Thanksgiving. We may or may not have the big feast, depending on what the girls do. They usually go to their in laws, which is fine for us. We are expecting a weather change tomorrow, along with the time change. We may even have some snow. Great. Just Great. I am not looking forward to snow. 

I am linking with Mosaic Monday with Judith at Lavender Cottage. I seem to have fallen into a routine of writing the blog on Sundays to post my week's photos in mosaics. I should probably post more during the week, but I often find it hard to come up with the Sunday post. This week looks to be rather quiet. The HG will head back to eastern Colorado early in the morning to help finish up corn harvest. Hopefully he will be home by Wednesday for good. 

I wish you all a great week, a week with your bowl of life over flowing with sweetness and good. 

Thanks so much visiting. I love reading your comments.

18 comments:

  1. Your family has sure been a lot this past month. I'm so sorry for your losses. I hope this month will bring peace and some comfort. Love your mosaics and beautifully written post. Sweet hugs, Diane

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  2. Oh my I am so sorry for what all your family has gone through. It will be a difficult holiday season for many of them. November is the transition to cold and bareness, that makes us sad. The bright lights of the Christmas season will be here before we know it.

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  3. My condolences Ann on the loss of your family members; the text with the picture of Sundance is heart warming.
    I think you did a great job of October in a bowl - especially the apple core!
    Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday.

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  4. So very sorry for all the losses.
    I love your apple core...so adorable.
    xo

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  5. I'm so sorry for all the loss in your family, Ann. This is a hard season for you. Hugs and prayers.

    Your October in a bowl photos and mosaic are wonderful. You really captured the essence of harvest.

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  6. I love your mosaic this week all soft and hazy. A sad time for your family my thoughts are with you.

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  7. Your mosaics are lovely, the colors are pretty.. I am so sorry for all the losses in your family, sending my prayers.. Lovely post!

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  8. You made some lovely October mosaics Ann and your header.....fun!
    But I am so sorry for the bad news, three losses in one month in your family, that´s hard. The tribute with a picture of Sundance is a wonderful gesture.

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  9. So sorry about the losses in your family. So difficult for everyone. Sundance and the tribute are lovely. I enjoyed your mosaic "ode to Autumn". Lovely!

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  10. I am sorry for your losses. Sundance is a beautiful horse. I also really like your photo with the apple and pods, etc. It's magical!

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  11. I'm sorry to hear of all the losses in your life. Life can be rough at times, can't it, especially as we age. But the cliche fits, the older we get, the more appreciate the sweetness of life. It's only then that we know just how short it is, and how we need to love every little minute we have.

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  12. Oh goodness Ann, you have had a very sad time in your family, I'm so sorry.
    These are such lovely still life mosaics capturing the beauty and bounty of what Autumn provides.
    Thank you for visiting me and leaving your kind comment.
    Vintage china is hard to find here too, it seems we all appreciate it now.
    Take care
    Shane

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  13. I am so sorry for the losses in your family, my thoughts and prayers go out to all.
    Beautiful mosaics Ann, they really do sum up October.

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  14. Oh Ann so much sadness, loss and sorrow. There are no words when this is happening just knowing a community of people send loving thoughts, warm hugs and hope for solace for you and your family.

    Leaving us these lovely images is a testament to your amazing heart!

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  15. Hi Ann!
    I am so sorry for your losses. That's so hard.
    I have a feeling our future get together will be holiday themed!

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  16. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry for your losses.I like the idea of summarizing October through still life. Excellent mosaics. Hugs xo

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  17. Heart thoughts for you and yours, sounds like it has been a very sad time for you. The images are very pretty!

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  18. lovely images to celebrate October that was. I was so sorry to read that you had lost so many loved ones in your extended family. Such a sad time for so many. My own father passed away in September, so I understand the feeling of loss. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog this week. I send you blessings for the days ahead.

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