Category: Landscapes

Vacation!

I was on vacation for the past few days and was able to spend time on the water. That’s a real treat when you live in the desert!

South Carolina and Georgia were welcoming. I’ve never been there, well, I’ve been to the airport in Atlanta, but seeing the landscape was amazing. I love the tall trees and all the lovely streets. Of course, I spent a lot of time in the sand next to the ocean.

I grew up next to a large lake, but the ocean comes in second. I’m happiest when I’m near the water. What am I doing in the desert then? It’s a winding path that got me here.

Have a wonderful week, Sonja

Only a Few More Days Until the Weekend!

What are your plans for the weekend? It’s time to start planning! It is outdoors or indoors? Close to home or far away? Alone or with family and friends?

The weekend is a time to recharge from the busy work/school week so you can tackle the upcoming days with energy and optimism. Those are the best ways to move through a day. Approach it with energy and it will give it back to you in fun and excitement. Approach it with optimism and you will find good opportunities and people everywhere.

Are you in a bad mood and can’t get away from it? Smile. That’s all. Just force yourself to smile. The very act of engaging the smile muscles lifts your spirits and your mood will elevate.

It’s medically proven!

Try it the next time you’re in a bad mood–or feel a little blue. I think you’ll be amazed.

Smile! Sonja

Guinness the Therapy Dog

(c) 2019

In the summers here in the Desert Southwest, the monsoon rains don’t soak into the ground easily. Instead, they fill dry rivers and run downhill. Lucky for us, it gives us a chance to enjoy having flowing water run through our neighborhoods and take part in things we normally don’t have a chance to do.

One of those things is playing in the water. When I took Guinness to my favorite place, the river was flowing too quickly for safety. Happily, a small lagoon had been formed. Guinness needed some coaxing to get into the water, but he took to it very well (as you can see). Within a few minutes, he was soaking in the muddy water.

Yes, he needed a bath to get all the dirt out of his coat. But that was a good exchange for the fun of playing in the water. Plus, he gets peanut butter when he takes a bath!

You’ll see a version of this photo in an upcoming Guinness the Therapy Dog picture book.

I can’t wait to share his adventures with you! Sonja

I Love the Outdoors! Do You?

I’m a big fan of being outside, no matter how comfy my home is. The heat of the sun, a gentle breeze, and the smell of warmed soil really makes me happy. It doesn’t matter if I am hiking, strolling, or gardening, it’s fun to be a part of nature.

I think it goes back to my childhood. I spent a lot of time outside laying on the ground and looking up at the sky, or skiing, swimming, waterskiing, etc. I grew up on the shore of a mountain lake and was able to take advantage of all it had to offer. In the Spring I could snow ski in the morning and waterski in the afternoon. How perfect is that?

Go Outside, Sonja

It’s the First Day of Autumn

This is my favorite season! I love it when the weather turns cooler and the leaves start to turn colors. My ideal place is sitting high on a mountain in a copse of aspen trees that are turning colors.

© Creative Commons Zero (CC0)

When I was growing up, I lived high up in the mountains amongst the pine trees. I loved to lay on my back on the soft pine needles and look up at the towering trees. The smell of the pine needles would surround me and the sound of the wind rushing through the boughs was so peaceful.

I think you can see my love of the mountains, trees, and lakes in my writing. That’s the terrain around Revlin, where the palace of Carlow is located in the Kingdom of Carlow. There’s a wonderful lake with a waterfall and trees that grow nearly to the water’s edge. Too bad the awful Red Caps live on the other side of the southern border.

Anyway, back to autumn! Go outside and hike in the mountains. Be safe and look for the changing leaves. They’ll be everywhere!