The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life. The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. River is having a blog break at the moment (and will be missed), so I am keeping the meme warm in her absence.
Like River I usually run with a theme. This week? Christmas is almost upon us. For those who celebrate Christmas can be many things; holy, happy, stressful, lonely, miserable, or some combination of the above. Calls to the crisis line increase dramatically and won't slow till the end of January. I don't think there is any one image which can capture the complexity of Christmas. So instead I am going to post some of the things which distracted me from the tasks I 'should' have been doing this week, and eased negativities as well.
Starting as I so often do, with the sky.
Then to the garden.
Our silk tree is coming out a little more each day.
An individual bloom (plus bee).
The corellas have been congregating too.
And a few Christmas themed images (not my own) which made me smile.
For those who do celebrate Christmas I hope it is truly wonderful.
And I hope that tidings of comfort and joy become the norm for us all.
Very good pictures. I love those of the cats the trees.
ReplyDeleteJamie Ghione: The cat meme photos were clever weren't they? And I suspect our Jazz could rock the look on that white cat in the first.
DeleteA bit of comfort and joy would be welcome at this time, EC.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are beautiful! I love the variety too!
Enjoy the season!
Marie Smith: Comfort and joy are always welcome.
DeleteDear EC, thank you so much for sharing the humor of cats and Christmas trees. The three cats with whom I live approve of all that the cats in the photographs are doing. But they certainly frown at the coat post that has no tempting ornaments at the bottom! (I laughed out loud when I saw it!)
ReplyDeleteThank you, too, for sharing your photographs of the sky and clouds. Here, we just celebrated the winter solstice and there are so few daylight hours. But now the light will dawn earlier each day and end later.
I am hoping that in the new year, I will be more faithful to blogging and to writing. Two of my heart-wishes. I hope your heart-wishes are fulfilled this coming year. Peace be to you, to all those you love, and to all those whose lives you touch with your grace.
Dee: Thank you so much. I hope that health and happiness make their home with you this year.
DeleteI love that silk tree. And the corellas. I was so thrilled to see parrots in Spain though none of them were native. Have a happy holiday.
ReplyDeleteSue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: The silk tree is really prone to borers and we lose branches regularly but I love it. The birds don't help the tree either.
DeleteI hope Christmas treats you and yours very, very well.
Wonderful pictures. The silk tree takes me to my youth. I loved how the leaves reacted to touch, the time of day and weather. My brother has one in his yard. I wanted one; but, it is an invasive species so I don't want to add to the problem.
ReplyDeleteThe corelles seem tame. No wonder so many have become pets. I got a cockatoo given to me because it's owner was dying. The bird never liked me. But went out of it's way to like the children I taught, my mother and brother. Otherwise, it ignored me. Apparently, I make good help.
My first catless Christmas in about 42 years.
Ann Bennett: Thank you. The corellas are not tame, but are accustomed to us. And we feed them, so they very generously tolerate me taking their photo.
DeleteI didn't realise that silk trees could become invasive.
I too make good help.
I hope the season treats you kindly.
Dear EC
ReplyDeleteCats and Christmas trees - seldom a good combination (except in pictures like those!)
Have a peaceful and happy Christmas season.
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: There is no tree here this year, but Jazz has already wreaked havoc on the gifts, helping me wrap.
DeleteI hope your Christmas and the year to come are both lovely.
I love all your pictures, sky to cats in trees. I wish you and yours a very happy holiday, too, EC. I always look forward to your posts and am glad you are minding the store for others who need a break. You're a good friend and role model in many ways. Sending you virtual hugs because I need one, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: I am very happy to receive the hug, and have reciprocated. I hope your eye is going really, really well and hope your holiday is blissful.
DeleteI've not put up any Christmas decorations...actually, other than a gold paper mache reindeer, I no longer have any. And, you're post has just reminded me I've forgotten to drag the reindeer out. I'd better do that otherwise he'll remain in the closet, sulking!!
ReplyDeleteI'll be enjoying a quiet day tomorrow...just me and my two furry mates...relaxing, trying to combat the humidity and remain cool. Not a lot of unnecessary energy will be in use.
I hope tomorrow and the coming week is a good one for you and yours, EC...cuddles to Jazz. :)
Lee: There are cards up here, but no decorations. Which is fine. I hope that you and your furry mates get a bit of cool relief and have a lovely day and week.
Deleterainbows and sunsets, sweet birds and cats, what could be better than that
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: Cool weather and a bit of rain. Not that I am not grateful for the beauty, I am, but the hot weather is getting to me.
DeleteBeautiful images, the sky, and birds high up in the tree, I love them. EC, have a festive greeting.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: Thank you. I hope the festive season treat you kindly - and is bird filled.
Deletehave you seen the fully decorated Christmas tree which has been wrapped in cling wrap? it's floating around the internet.
ReplyDeleteCorellas are the funniest of all the parrots, i think. They always make me smile.
Tidings of comfort and joy to you, EC!
kylie: I have missed the tree in cling wrap. I may have to explore. I have a huge soft spot for corellas too. They are bully boys, but have immense charm. Tidings of comfort and joy to you and yours. For the day and the year.
DeleteAll of these are fun/lovely. Yes-- Christmas is complex. Happy/sad nostalgia. I Hope yours is perfect.
ReplyDeleteBill: Thank you - and yours.
DeleteI used to have a cat named Harriet and she would sit between the branches of our Christmas tree. I never could get mad at her.
ReplyDeleteBirdie: We have had tree climbers but more often we have gift unwrappers. Jazz is an expert gift unwrapper.
DeleteHi EC - crazy cats ... but loved the silk tree - for some reason this is the first time I've come across it - beautiful ... I'd love to see one in person - guess I need to come down under in mid summer ...
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful celebratory day ... and I'll see you around - cheers Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: The silk tree thrives in a number of places but is a glorious tree in bloom. And the birds love it too.
DeleteI hope your day is marvellous and look forward to seeing you.
All good cheering-up stuff, EC - thank you, I needed that!
ReplyDeleteI have just discovered that, after having been to a supermarket at least once a day for what feels like a month, I don't have an onion for the turkey* stuffing!!! Sob. Also, having bought a bigger turkey than usual (extra people...), I am probably going to have to put it in the oven at about breakfast time in order to serve lunch at 1.00pm. Oh dear, first world problems!
I am grateful I can laugh at your cat photos, and admire your lovely skies and those corellas; I am happy that people I love are coming to lunch tomorrow; and I wish you a peaceful, joyful, and happy festive day.
* Mr A is English, so turkey is expected/mandatory. If I had a dollar for every turkey I've cooked in 41 years of marriage...
P.S. I so miss my silk tree! The people who bought our old house cut it down. They also cut down all but one of the other beautiful trees I loved so much.
DeleteAlexia: They cut down your trees!!!!! Hell should have a warm corner for such people. A very warm corner.
DeleteI hope your turkey goes well and you don't discover any more missed essentials. We usually have a cold Christmas lunch but after a very hot day today, tomorrow the temperature is expected to plummet. His poor put-upon high and skinniness would like hot turkey for a change. He will get it, but I will be happy with my fruit salad.
Your photos are good medicine. Thank you. I needed this (the rainbow, the birds, colorful skies - all of it).
ReplyDeleteRawknrobyn: I don't like to hear that you need medicine - and am very glad that the beauty here helped.
DeleteI love the pictures of someplace that is warm and sunny. You sky scenes are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteHave a Merry Christmas, EC, and I am hoping 2018 will be better than 2017. “Hope springs eternal”.
Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: HOT and sunny. I am looking at photos from your side of the world for cool respite. (Never satisfied are we?)
DeleteI do indeed join in your hope for 2018 - and hope the festive season treats you well.
Merry Christmas from Poland
ReplyDeleteGosia k: Thank you. And to you and yours.
DeleteI don't know the silk tree. It is a beauty. Good to see some corellas after not seeing some for a while. The cat jokes are good. The first needs the caption, Job Done.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: We do love the silk tree. Mind you between the birds and the borers it is looking a bit worse for wear. That first one could be either Job Done or Cat Proof.
DeleteLOVE the sky shots! Beautiful! And the "Catmas Tree" pictures are hilarious! Last year, our pitbull unwrapped all the presents. I have a picture of her sitting among the torn bags and wrapping paper. (None of the actual presents sustained any damage -- she was a meticulous girl!) ;)
ReplyDeleteThis will be my niece's last holiday "down under" and I know she's having a good time as her folks are looking at below-freezing temps for the next several days.
Wishing you all the best -- now and in the years to come!
Marty K.
Mary K: Your pitbull is obviously more gentle than Jazz. Jazz unwraps presents and most of them show the scars. I hope your niece loves her time down under - I have been looking with longing at temperatures from your side of the world.
DeleteThank you for your good wishes, which I return.
Such lovely photos. Birds are so cute. Merry Christmas to you and yours and an inspirational New Year!
ReplyDeleteRasma Raisters: Thank you - and to you.
DeleteBeautiful, beautiful photos! Those last few are the reason we don't put up a tree; with our seven cats, it would be murdered.
ReplyDeleteIt cheers to me to know that you have summer there while we have winter. It means we won't be freezing our assets off forever.
Merry Christmas, and thank you for hosting the Sunday Selections!
messymimi: Seven cats would be very, very hard on a tree. We only have one at the moment and he is destructive enough.
DeleteA very Merry Christmas to you and yours - including those with four legs.
Oh I love the Kitty pics...made me laugh out loud this morning. I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season. Mine will be bittersweet without my mom, but it's my new normal and I am trying to put my sadness in a box in the back of my mind so I can get through these next two days.
ReplyDeleteTerri @Coloring Outside the Lines: Firsts are always hard. And definitely bitter-sweet. Sending hugs.
DeleteDear EC,
ReplyDeleteLove your gorgeous pictures as always!
Just stunning these pictures of the sky!
Beautiful the silk tree and the birds too.
The cats made me smile!
Merry Christmas to you and your Family!
Love!
sonia a. mascaro: Thank you so much. I hope your Christmas is wonderful.
DeleteI always enjoy your pictures of the sky, the rainbow is really nice and the others simply beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the Christmas wishes, I hope your holiday is a happy and blessed time for you and your family.
Jimmy: Thank you. Christmas is here now, but the cat and I are the only ones awake. I hope that you and Cindi have a truly wonderful day - and year.
DeleteSuch beautiful photos and a wonderful way to be distracted. Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy and wonderful holiday, E.C.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: Thank you - and to you. And believe me it doesn't take much to distract me.
DeleteLike you, EC, I struggle knowing there are many abused women in crisis, afraid of what will happen next in their lives, and I pray all the time for their safety and eventual freedom. That rainbow and the lovely skies remind me that's there's still hope and happiness. Cats always know what to do at just the right time to bring a smile. (lol) Wishing you and your family a Merry Merry Christmas, and I'm thrilled to have met you this year! Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteRO: There is a lot to hurt our hearts about - but there is also lots to brighten it. Sending rainbows full of positive wishes your way.
DeleteBeautiful colors and corellas! I love it!
ReplyDeleteJono: It is early here (not yet seven) but the corellas have been demanding breakfast for a while. And shortly I will give it too them. And an apple.
DeleteYour cat + tree photos are awesome! You always have such lovely sky pics as well. The first bird duo cracked me up; the one on the right seems to be rolling his eyes at his companion, as if to say "you're invading my one shot at fame!"
ReplyDeleteI hope your calls at the crisis center are lower than the norm. It is such a stressful time of year for so many.
Hugs to you for trying to make a difference in other people's lives.
River Fairchild: Corellas don't take a lot of shit from anyone. The corella on the right moved the other one on very quickly.
DeleteI am having a day off from the crisis line today - but stepping up to the plate again tomorrow. It will be ugly, but less so for me than the people who are enduring it. If they can do it, I will listen and try and help. Hugs.
Cats and Christmas trees! Many years ago, our kitty Milhous climbed the Christmas tree, stole the angel from the top, and bit off her face. Milhous is long gone and still missed.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Janie Junebug: The late and lamented Medlyn (also many years gone) used to steal Christmas decorations and hide them. I miss him too. And suspect I always will.
DeleteLoved this entire post & I wish for happy holidays to you & yours!!
ReplyDeletefishducky: Thank you. I know you have been celebrating already - and hope they continue.
DeleteWishing you a very Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteCountryMum: And to you and yours.
DeleteLove your cat plus tree memes. They make me laugh. There are lots of those going around the internet and they all keep me laughing this time of year. The Corellas look like know it alls to me, like wise crackers who might be always up to mischief, like birds I might not trust.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: Corellas, like cockatoos often ARE up to mischief. I love them just the same. I am glad that the cat/tree memes amuse other people as much as they do me.
DeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos and may the rainbow be positive symbolism for our dream of a kinder, caring, more compassionate world.
Thank you for this, Sue. Hope your Christmas Day is a wonderful experience.
Gary
klahanie: Dear Gary, I really really hope that the rainbow DOES show the way for a kinder more compassionate world. Christmas is treating me kindly and I hope that it, and the year(s) ahead do the same for you.
DeleteI wish we had such skies and beauty here at Christmas, lovely piccies as ever dearie, felicitations to yourself, furry face and the smaller portion (who may well also be furry of face), much love from over the sea, Michelle x
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: The smaller portion is indeed furry of face. To the extent that people in China were taking his photo every chance they got.
DeleteI hope that Christmas and the coming years are wonderful for you too. Health and happiness.
It's Christmas Eve, and I have a welcome late night cup of tea to enjoy as well as looking at your lovely selection of photographs.
ReplyDeleteSending my good wishes for Christmas and the New Year too.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member~Jan: Thank you. It is late morning on Christmas Day here, and all is well. I hope that your day and year are at least as good.
DeleteYour photos are wonderful. You truly are a Beauty Collector. Best wishes for a peaceful and happy holiday, to you and yours. Love the cat funnies; thank you for the smiles.
ReplyDeletejenny_o: Not only am I a beauty collector I am an addict. An unashamed addict. Peaceful and happy sounds pretty close to perfect - and I am returning your wish to you, with bows and sparkle.
DeleteYou did get wonderful pics. The rainbow is awesome. That last picture of the cat made me laugh. :) I am here to wish you a very Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: Thank you. I hope that Christmas treats you and yours to everything you could hope for.
Deleteawwwwwww, love those skies
ReplyDeleteWishing you the very Merriest of Christmases
Auhor R. Mac Wheeler: Thank you. And to you and yours.
DeleteThose skies are breathtaking! Wishing you health and happiness in the coming year.
ReplyDeleteLady Fi: The sky is so often a joy. Thank you for the good wishes - which I come true for you and yours as well.
DeleteSkyscapes stunning!
ReplyDeleteAndrew Maclaren-Scott: Thank you. I watch the sky often.
DeleteHope you had a pleasant Christmas. Let's look forward to the New Year.
ReplyDeleteWishing you the very best.... but we will "talk" again before the big night! : ))
Caterina: Thank you. Christmas was quiet but very pleasant. I hope yours was too. Didn't this year go quickly? I can't believe New Year's Day is less than a week away.
DeleteSuch wonderful pictures!!! Love the cat finale!
ReplyDeleteAlbizia grows in Hawaii looking just like your Persian Silk Tree
Cloudia: Same tree (or same family at least) travelling under a different name. Beautiful things aren't they?
DeleteYour pictures are truly magical! I love them! We are covered in snow and in another deep freeze!
ReplyDeleteLove the cat funnies! LOL!
I hope you had a great Christmas!!!
Big Hugs!
Magic Love Crow: Thank you. We are hot here, and heating up again. I would LOVE to see snow. Christmas was quiet but nice. And the New Year is just around to corner. How did that happen?
DeleteGreat images!
ReplyDeleteWe wish you Peace and Joy for the coming New Year!
Wally Jones: This happy snapper thanks you. And hopes that the year(s) to come are lovely for you and yours.
DeleteOh goodness your corellas are so very sweet. Lovey views especially on the way to the garden, and the photo you shared of someone's kitty sitting peacefully with three ornaments far above is just a riot of good cheer, it still makes me laugh just thinking of it! I bet it'd be even funnier watching that kitty try to climb up that tree!
ReplyDeleteKaren S.: I think it is your nice nature showing. I thought that the cat sitting beneath those ornaments looked grumpy rather than peaceful. And I laughed too. In fact I am sure it is your nicer nature on display.
DeleteReading this post has made me wonder if crisis line volunteers have an effective support system for times when they may need to call a crisis line. I hope so, I'm sure they would. You have an amazing eye for detail EC, thank you for sharing so much
ReplyDeleteKim: I am part of the support system at my call centre and there is support available for me (and the other supporters) when we need it. Which is both essential and lovely.
DeleteThe little things are huge in my world which is probably my 'eye for detail'. Thank you as always for your generous comments.
Lovely, lovely images. It's had to imagine what a very warm Christmas would feel like, but I love that you have those gorgeous flowers and your feathered friends that visit. And I love the kitty who wants to murder the tree!
ReplyDeleteI had an astounding thing happen on Christmas Eve (since you mention the crisis line. So wonderful that you do that - I imagine how difficult that must be this time of year.) About 25 years ago, I worked with a woman named Liz, who I used to hang out with after work some. A group of us used to go to happy hour and such. She confided to me one evening (after a few adult beverages) that she often contemplated suicide and was certain that no one would care if she did it. I said, "I do." I remember the surprised look she gave me. In the years after that, I fell out of touch of bit, but we are now friends on facebook. The message was long, but this is part of it, "You have no idea how those words stayed with me and carried me through some dark times. I have been on anti depressants for years now and am so happy I get on my own nerves sometimes." I replied that this was the best gift she could have given me and that I had been overcome with emotion when I read her message. I loved her next words, that she had been so desperate to find someone to love her back then. "But I did finally find someone to love me and it was myself."
I'm glad I could help that tiny bit. I so admire you for your work and wanted to share this.
Lynn: That is a WONDERFUL story. I am so glad that Liz found someone to love her and is now happy. And your words were the start...
Delete