Saturday, October 29, 2016

All of the Yellowness


So the last time I posted, I mentioned that the leaves around here hadn't changed very much, well ask and you shall receive. It seems that a couple of days after I wrote those words, nature decided to ask...

What you talkin' about Dori?


LOL!!! 

I took these pictures a couple of days ago and lemme tell you, the tree across the street just went crazy all of a sudden. It's like the trees got together and said, "Let's show her what we can do!"

 Wow, have they been doing it :) Everything is just beautiful! I thought about how perfect it is that the tree right across the street decides to really give us all of the amazing yellowness...I mean after all, this is the Yellow House ;-)

I've never seen it so beautifully yellow and I love it!

Happy weekend!

Friday, October 21, 2016

Bits of Fall


Happy Friday!

I thought that I'd share this photo that I took a couple of years ago. As I've mentioned many times before, I love fall...it's my favorite season. This beautiful tree with its yellow leaves gets me into an autumn frame of mind. I loved taking that walk that day  :)

The trees still haven't changed around here a whole lot, but when they do I'm hoping to get some pictures to share.

Have a great weekend! :)

Monday, October 10, 2016

Sunday Walks


Hubby and I took a nice walk yesterday morning and we really enjoyed it to say the least. You may be surprised to know that we had to walk along and across a very busy road in order to get to this spot, but it was worth it. Once we had safely crossed the road and walked through the gate, the speeding traffic melted into the background as we walked along this path. We couldn't really hear it after a bit and as we walked further we didn't hear it at all.

The view was stunning! I'd never walked there before, but hubby visited this spot when he was seven, so it was a happy return for him :) This is now one of my favorite places to walk. We walked up the hill that you can see in the distance. It wasn't that steep, just a little bit, and before we knew it we were at the top. It was a good physical workout, but for me personally, it was good for the soul also. It did its job of renewal. I couldn't be surrounded by all of that beautiful nature and not feel it down deep.  :)

I hope that you had a great weekend. Have a wonderful new week!

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

The Changing Leaves


Today I thought that I'd share one of my favorite photos. I took this a couple of years ago and I've shared it here before, but I thought that I'd share it again. It puts me into a good mood...an autumny mood :) Fall is my favorite season and whenever I see this picture I think of the leaves changing colors, warm drinks, and lovely layered clothes and boots.

The leaves are still very green here, but I know that soon the leaves will start putting on their colorful show. I'll do my best to try to capture some of it and share it here.

Are the leaves changing where you are? Leave a comment and let me know  :)

Have a great day!

Tuesday, October 04, 2016

The NMAAHC

Happy Tuesday! :)

I'm a little bit late, but I wanted to acknowledge something wonderful that happened at the end of September. On September 24th, The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) officially opened in Washington, D.C. I had been reading about it for some time and following the building's progress. I was so excited to see it come to fruition. 

Courtesy NMAAHC

'The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts.'

- From the NMAAHC

As I watched the dedication ceremony online on September 24th, I was incredibly proud and moved. I thought of my parents and grandparents who are no longer here and I thought of all of my ancestors who laid the path for me. All of the speakers were wonderful and I especially loved hearing President Obama and Congressman John Lewis speak. I have always admired the many, many sacrifices that Congressman Lewis has made in order to seek racial justice and I felt especially full of emotion in watching him. He has worked so hard and I'm so grateful that he was there to see this day. And having President Obama there to open the museum at this moment in history was amazing!

Courtesy NMAAHC

This museum is a great addition to the National Mall and even though it is The National Museum of African American History and Culture, it is a gift to all Americans. African American history is American history. And I hope that people from all walks of life in our country and from all over the world go to visit, because we all need to try to understand each other's cultures much better and how humanity is woven together strongly by the many contributions of all. There is so much venom and bigotry and misunderstanding that seems to swirl around the world daily, so I think that we really need places like this museum. We have to SEE each other for what makes us unique and beautiful and also see what we have in common as human beings. This isn't about division, it's about celebration of a culture, a beautifully rich culture.

I can't wait to go and visit. I want to see it and I feel deep down like I'll be there to witness it for my parents and ancestors who are no longer here. I've seen glimpses of the exhibitions from social media and I have such recognition of many things. When I finally get to visit, I imagine it'll be like a homecoming of sorts, especially since I'm living abroad right now. I can't wait :)

I particularly love this piece here about the museum's design. It's a beautiful building on top of being such a great place of knowledge.