What a terrific post Karen. The energy and pure joy of it made me smile from beginning to end. Btw, Pelicans in flight formation happen to be my favorite viewing experience. I was privileged to view them from a balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean every December while visiting family. My heart is captured by their prehistoric looks dating back some 36 million years ago. Oh to feel that history in the present moment always gives me boundless joy.
Your beautiful surprises are so much better than any week long Black Friday specials.
It's the Joy thingy! Coming through loud and clear. And yes I have a curiously hopeful thingy sprouting, too! I dare not look at it too closely. Joy, on the other hand I now see as food for the spirit! Just like the robins love their Juniper tree and it's blue berries, I hang close to Joy when it pop's up to feed my spirit and soul. Absolutely love how you share your joy!
I really enjoyed reading this photo essay, Karen. That quote from Brene Brown describing joy as the good mood of soul is so well put. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Karen for sharing these images, along with your state of joy, on this taste of a Winter day. An old song by The Beatles popped up from my sentimental jukebox. “Here comes the sun.” They were less focussed on white pelicans, but many songs from that era are sources of joy in my life. I could nearly feel your own sense of positive anticipation for this Holiday time of year. All the very best to you and yours, including the many SubStackers who hold you in their hearts. Like the three does?!
I find myself opening to joy a bit more lately, too, Karen. I think it might be correlated with the fact that I'm abstaining from the news and most social media. But also I have this strange hopefulness, like maybe this moment is really the dark before the dawn. Maybe it's a corner we're turning and we just can't see what's on the other side yet.
Beautiful. It felt like a party and I felt the joy! Be well. Happy to hear you are excited about the holidays. Always I send gratitude for you, as you are a blessing in my life! You sincerely are...
“I can truly say that a pure white pelican feather in the water is now a symbol for childlike excitement and joy.”
Funny, I was going to say , you did not stop to photograph the feather because you were like a kid in an amusement park .When it comes to my moments of joy while immersed in nature, I am exactly me at every age I can remember. Like I have superhuman powers of happiness. Yes, even seeing one Pelican in the wild would make me giddy, I never have. So thank you for the next best thing!
Once again, I am totally in sync with your experience! This was the best Thanksgiving in many, many years, which surprised me, too. I felt more connected than ever to friends and family and reached out more to express my love, affection, and gratitude. And I am anticipating Christmas, not with resentment, depression, or dread, but with childlike wonder and joyful [sic] expectation. As to your love of pelicans: Growing up on the beach, I felt the three predominant birds had distinct personalities. The little sandpipers were like happy, carefree children, running towards the waves, and then scurrying back to not get caught by the water. The sea gulls were more like cautious mothers shrieking, "Be careful! Be careful!" And then huddling together to gossip while keeping a watchful eye on things. But the pelicans were like laid-back grandpas and grandmas, soaring by quietly and smiling down on the whole chaotic scene. They exuded both humor and wisdom, very much like my own grandparents whose feathers were not easily ruffled. Beach life taught me so much about human nature, family, and community. And when I am most despairing, the memories of it give me hope. Advent Blessings!
I call moments like the one you had with the pelican feather "treasure" moments (I have similar "treasure" days sometimes!), and they burst suddenly upon me and overflow my heart with so much joy that I usually exclaim out loud! Because these are such rare and precious things, I also try to remember to say thank you, and I store them up in my heart--like you did--for when you need/want a special reminder of goodness <3
Thank you so much for these gifts today, Karen!! I sometimes feel my breath catching when I see photos like these, imagining what it must feel like to have been you and experiencing them for real! Bless you for giving us these chances to view beauty we might never otherwise see!! xoxo
Wow…those pelicans are amazing ❤️😍🥰👍
They really are! They are SO BIG.
You're so fortunate to live where you do with such easy access to birds.
I am!
What a terrific post Karen. The energy and pure joy of it made me smile from beginning to end. Btw, Pelicans in flight formation happen to be my favorite viewing experience. I was privileged to view them from a balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean every December while visiting family. My heart is captured by their prehistoric looks dating back some 36 million years ago. Oh to feel that history in the present moment always gives me boundless joy.
Thank you Clark! Pelicans flying together are so cool!!
I loved the picture of the cedar waxwings! They are one of my favorite birds.
Thank you Judy! I love them and they are usually one of my winter “regulars”.
Your beautiful surprises are so much better than any week long Black Friday specials.
It's the Joy thingy! Coming through loud and clear. And yes I have a curiously hopeful thingy sprouting, too! I dare not look at it too closely. Joy, on the other hand I now see as food for the spirit! Just like the robins love their Juniper tree and it's blue berries, I hang close to Joy when it pop's up to feed my spirit and soul. Absolutely love how you share your joy!
Oh yes, I love the curiously hopeful thingy and it's ok to let it be and not examine it too closely. Thank you Sandy!
Such joy and beauty. Thank you for sharing.❤️
Thank you Julie
Karen I am so glad to hear that you are feeling more joy and excitement. It shows in your writing!
Thank you David!
I really enjoyed reading this photo essay, Karen. That quote from Brene Brown describing joy as the good mood of soul is so well put. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Neil!
Thank you Karen for sharing these images, along with your state of joy, on this taste of a Winter day. An old song by The Beatles popped up from my sentimental jukebox. “Here comes the sun.” They were less focussed on white pelicans, but many songs from that era are sources of joy in my life. I could nearly feel your own sense of positive anticipation for this Holiday time of year. All the very best to you and yours, including the many SubStackers who hold you in their hearts. Like the three does?!
"and I say, it's alright" - great song! Thank you Gary!
I find myself opening to joy a bit more lately, too, Karen. I think it might be correlated with the fact that I'm abstaining from the news and most social media. But also I have this strange hopefulness, like maybe this moment is really the dark before the dawn. Maybe it's a corner we're turning and we just can't see what's on the other side yet.
I feel this way too, even though I can't explain it! Thank you Robyn.
Maybe it’s our bodies and hearts just refusing to give in to despair? I don’t know why, but I’m leaning into it.
Yours is a comment that throws a beam of light into the darkness of my forebodings. May that corner be turned. May it be so..
Thanks so much, Michael. Squeezing every bit of of lightness I can out of this dark.
May it be so.
Beautiful. It felt like a party and I felt the joy! Be well. Happy to hear you are excited about the holidays. Always I send gratitude for you, as you are a blessing in my life! You sincerely are...
Thank you Linda!
Ah, pelicans! Or as I call them, "pellycans."
Can a pellycan can?
Can a pellycan can jelly?
Can a jelly can pellycanned jellies?
Something to ponder on a lovely morning. The joy of silliness...
Lol - I love it! Thank you Michael!
“I can truly say that a pure white pelican feather in the water is now a symbol for childlike excitement and joy.”
Funny, I was going to say , you did not stop to photograph the feather because you were like a kid in an amusement park .When it comes to my moments of joy while immersed in nature, I am exactly me at every age I can remember. Like I have superhuman powers of happiness. Yes, even seeing one Pelican in the wild would make me giddy, I never have. So thank you for the next best thing!
I was exactly like that! I love, "I am exactly me at every age I can remember"! Thank you Lor!
Once again, I am totally in sync with your experience! This was the best Thanksgiving in many, many years, which surprised me, too. I felt more connected than ever to friends and family and reached out more to express my love, affection, and gratitude. And I am anticipating Christmas, not with resentment, depression, or dread, but with childlike wonder and joyful [sic] expectation. As to your love of pelicans: Growing up on the beach, I felt the three predominant birds had distinct personalities. The little sandpipers were like happy, carefree children, running towards the waves, and then scurrying back to not get caught by the water. The sea gulls were more like cautious mothers shrieking, "Be careful! Be careful!" And then huddling together to gossip while keeping a watchful eye on things. But the pelicans were like laid-back grandpas and grandmas, soaring by quietly and smiling down on the whole chaotic scene. They exuded both humor and wisdom, very much like my own grandparents whose feathers were not easily ruffled. Beach life taught me so much about human nature, family, and community. And when I am most despairing, the memories of it give me hope. Advent Blessings!
Oh, I love that we are in sync! I love that view of pelicans too! The ancestors watching would be another great meaning for a pelican feather!
I call moments like the one you had with the pelican feather "treasure" moments (I have similar "treasure" days sometimes!), and they burst suddenly upon me and overflow my heart with so much joy that I usually exclaim out loud! Because these are such rare and precious things, I also try to remember to say thank you, and I store them up in my heart--like you did--for when you need/want a special reminder of goodness <3
Thank you so much for these gifts today, Karen!! I sometimes feel my breath catching when I see photos like these, imagining what it must feel like to have been you and experiencing them for real! Bless you for giving us these chances to view beauty we might never otherwise see!! xoxo
I love "treasure moments"! And it does keep bursting in - that's a great way to describe it! Thank you Roxy!