Nearing The End of Summer ― A Kenosha Pass Walkabout

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Pat

Kenosha Pass overlooking South Park in Colorado

Ahh, the long Labor Day weekend has come and gone. It’s the holiday that falls on the first Monday of September when many families in the U.S. celebrate by barbecuing, camping or going to the beach for one last time before the seasons change. For me, it has always signaled the end of summer.

As I look back over the past few months, I can’t help but reflect on what I did and wonder where the time went. It was a beautiful, cool summer with more showers than usual keeping everything green. We didn’t do much this year except take a ride now and then. I thought I’d share one of those rides with you as another walkabout. Continue reading →

Guest Post — Sweet Days of Summer: #Story

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Pat

Cousin and Pat when they were children – Photo © by Pat Ruppel

Hi everyone — I’m honored to be Susan Cooper’s guest over at “Finding Our Way Now” with my contribution of Sweet Days of Summer: #Story. It was taken from my free e-book and begins like this:

Here’s a little story I wrote back in 2012, in reflection, as the sweet days of summer wound down and cooler nights were soon to come.

It had been a rough year having come through the loss of my mother-in-law, not to mention an outsourced job along with catastrophic statewide news. I guess you could say my heart wanted to feel happy and safe. What better way than to recapture some childhood moments.

I hope you’ll drop by Susan’s site, leave a comment and share the love.

Thank You!

Pat at the ol’ kitchen table

Sweet Days of Summer: #Story

This Moment Matters

Posted on January 25, 2014 by Pat

Water drop splashing — MSN clipart photo provided by NVTOffice Clips

THIS MOMENT MATTERS . . . even in the writing of this story, I notice moments as fleeting, difficult to observe and yet compelling. My thoughts want to bounce around, sort, try to understand and decide what to do next. Herein, I believe, lies the secret that matters most in our lives, our happiness, and that is to take time and notice the moment. Continue reading →

Sweet Sweet Spirit of Christmas!

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Pat

I love this time of year with the jingle bells and corny holiday movies. Christmas will soon be here and I feel that sweet, sweet pureness of spirit.

It’s quiet these days in the old homestead with just hubby and I.

Our daughters are now grown and married with families of their own. We are looking forward to seeing them over the holidays but it’s different these days ― not the same as when they were small children bouncing through the house. Continue reading →

Imagine

Posted on December 8, 2013 by Pat

Serenity Photo by JKDs courtesy of PhotoDropper

We’ve had a number of events happen lately, outside of the everyday news on the threats of war, civil unrest in many countries and unusual weather.

I don’t know, but I feel as if my heart, with all these memories and energy shifts, has been ramped up to a different level of pain, love and hope. It started last month with the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s death, then this past week on the passing of Nelson Mandela, yesterday, December 7th, the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and today the anniversary of the death of John Lennon. Continue reading →