The Elephant

"The elephant, not only the largest but the most intelligent of animals, provides us with an excellent example. It is faithful and tenderly loving to the femaile of their choice, mating once every third year and then for no more than five days and so secretly as never to be seen, until, on the sixth day, it appears and goes at once to wash its whole body in the river, unwilling to return to the herd until thus purified. Such good and modest habits are an example to husband and wife." St Francis de Lals (1567-1622) France/Switzerland

I had never heard this before and thought it was interesting, so I wanted to share it with you.

I hope you have a wonderful day. Perhaps you should start it by giving your significant other, your children and/or your parents, a big hug. You'll all feel better for it. After all, hugs make us feel good .

Little Flower

"They tell us that plants are not like man immortal, but are perishable, soul-less. I think that is something that we know absolutely nothing about." John Muir (1838-1914) Scotland/USA


What do you think? Are plants soul-less? Are they just put on this earth to give us nourishment or enjoyment for a brief period of time and then are gone? What happens to them after they dry up and become part of the soil? Are they just gone or do they live on in the substance that they become a part of? How do we know what happens to anything, human, animal or plant after it's served it's purpose here? Faith and religion guide us in some regards, but perhaps not in others. I think John Muir's quote is probably correct. There are just some things that we know nothing about.

Life

"Life is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you." Nathaniel Hawthorn (1804-1864) USA

Does the author mean that if we work too hard to pursue happiness, it aludes us, but that if we relax and enjoy living, it will find us?

Just Flowers

"The path of the spirit is not a line, but rather a flower. Lines are time-bound whereas the spirit's path is liberation from time; all-encompassing, never-ending. Like a lotus of innumerable petals, our soul's journey is an unfolding of infinite self." Sofia Khawati (1821-1890)

Little Cabin in the Woods

I thought this little cabin would be the perfect subject for some enhancements, so I played around with a couple of Topaz filters to get this painterly effect. The original picture was fine, in focus, etc., but I thought the filter gave it a little extra pazazz, as my mom would have said. I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful Friday. :-)