Today is Saturday, December 10th in Prescott, Arizona where I started this post at 4:00 pm. It is now 9:00 and the day is almost finished with an expected temperature range from 58-27 degrees F. Very nice for walking in the afternoon. Pretty cool for going out a night, which we did on Thursday around Courthouse Square.
I just got back from a walk with my neighbor, Barbara, and trust me, I need a break to catch my breath! I don’t usually drink coffee in the afternoon but since you are all here with me, I’ll finish what I didn’t have time to drink this morning. I know that sounds gross but it was delicious and I hate to waste it. It’s cold now, but even tastier than it was hot.
Reading This Week
- I finished reading Katherine Johnson, My Remarkable Journey, the autobiography of one of the mathematicians who helped launch the golden space age in the U.S. She lived to be 101 if you want some tips on how to live a long and productive life.
- I also finished Eat That Frog this week – a super simple read about how to overcome procrastination to get more done to have more time to spend with those you love doing what you love to do.
- I just started a book recommended by Brian Tracy, author of Eat That Frog called Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman. This is an older book, but the author contends that people can overcome depression by learning the steps to optimism.
- Finally, I’m reading Self-Editing for Fiction Writers on my Kindle.
Speaking of Lists
Also, thanks to Brian Tracy, I think I spend more time crossing things on my list and adding more things to do than I do working.
- On the plus side, I’ve added Vince’s name to lots of the lists, and we have plowed through lots of “stuff “to do’s” including getting the living room mostly painted today.
- I’ve accomplished my walking goal of 10,000+ steps almost every day along with quite a few leg exercises.
- From my walking partner, I’m learning a lot about what gets done around here in this complex and met many of my neighbors. She does tons of steps – we do live at 5,300 feet above sea level, so I can only handle about 5,000 steps at her pace before I’m ready for a break.
Blogging
Writer’s Quotes Wednesday is changing to Wednesday Quotes in January to make it as much of a photo challenge as a writer’s challenge. Many of us have a similar blogging pattern – sharing snippets of our lives, which is why Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share and Wednesday Quotes work well. Since I’ve been hosting WQW I have discovered how well using quotes augments any blog post. If you are artistic and want to join the “Design a Logo Contest,” you can get the details here.
“Memory as an article of faith often comes naturally to writers, who by temperament are likely to be diarists and record keepers, forever searching past events for elusive patterns – and forever believing that such patterns are to be found.”
Dara Horn
Anne Christine hosted the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – patterns this week, so my photos will be mostly a response to her challenge and Natalie’s PPAC, with my Christmas lights at the Courthouse, of course!
Lens Artist Photo Challenge – Patterns
“My big thesis is that although the world looks messy and chaotic, if you translate it into the world of numbers and shapes, patterns emerge and you start to understand why things are the way they are.”
Marcus du Sautoy
Last week I took several pictures for Patti’s Lens-Artist Challenge – diagonals. Then I forgot to post them. (that wasn’t on my list!) The pictures fit this week’s challenge just as well. I work on puzzles that I make from my photos. This photo from last week made a great puzzle with lots of diagonal lines.
When we solve puzzles, we look for patterns of lines and colors that go together. Here is how the puzzle looked at various stages of solving it. What patterns do you look for when you solve jigsaw puzzles? I bought a new screen and keyboard and I can’t keep Vince off my computer. The screen is at least twice as big as my laptop making puzzles a breeze to work.
Do you have a favorite type or color of dog or cat? We used to have an airedale/poodle mix. I loved the pattern of colors of his fur. So every time I see Airedale patterning I have to stop and meet the dog and sometimes they let me take a picture. Couldn’t you just love this pup?
I love these next two pictures taken in the Northwest where Nature dominates life. I thought the picture in Nine Mile Falls looked like an open yellow set of dentures had been misplaced on the side of the river. Do you see them? I don’t think they had ever been brushed, do you?
“Nature does not turn out her work according to a single pattern; she prides herself upon her power of variation.“
Seneca the Younger
“Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience.“
Alfred North Whitehead
Finally, I loved the patterns we found on dahlias in Oregon. Then I saw this paper creation that reminded me of a dahlia. I guess I imposed my experience in perceiving the pattern.
Cee’s Challenges This Week
Washington state is where my California migrant students and their families traveled to pick apples. You can see why. Don’t they look luscious?
The Pacific Northwest has always been a favorite place of mine. Through the lens of a camera, you can be right there without smelling a skunk, getting bit by a mosquito, attacked by a raccoon, wet in a drizzle or a downpour, caught in a snowstorm, or working up a sweat and out of breath walking up to the top of a hill. Isn’t blogging glorious?
Inspiration This Week Presented By
- Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share/Photographing Public Art Challenge
- Lens Artist Photo Challenge – patterns Thanks, Leya.
- Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – apple red
- Cee’s Black & White Challenge – Nature
- Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge – Macro
- Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge
Upcoming on Always Write
- December 14: Food: Delicious Delights There are still three more days to link to this week’s topic of winter/snow
- December 21: Holiday: Christmas or Winter Solstice
- December 28: Reflections on 2022/Writer’s Choice/ or YOUR WOTY Review Voting for the top design for 2023.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
59 responses to “Afternoon Coffee Patterns Emerging from Random Thoughts”
My daughter and her family will be up in Prescott tonight. I’m excited for them to see such a fest towns display.
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How fun. Tell them hi for me.
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Goof collection of pictures Marsha. Keep it up and go ahead
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Thanks!
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What a pretty dog! He’s got a lovely smile!
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He is. He’s a stranger to me, but I thought he was beautiful.
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I love this Marsha..those photos are all so great. That lake is stunning…where is that? I have a puzzle I really really need to finish. Uggh! Hmm.. I don’t know if I have a favorite color of dog or a particular breed I like. We don’t have pets so it’s been a long time since I’ve had one, though I often admire them and my daughter and son in law have an australian labradoodle.
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The Lake is actually the Little Spokane River near Terri’s house. It was very calm. She lives in a gorgeous area.
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Amazing post
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Thanks
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Welcome
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Those are some lovely Christmas decoration in the top photos! I don’t think I have any preferences of colours or patterns on dogs or cats, but I liked the pattern on that dog because it looks like he’s wearing a vest! I’ve seen a lot of beautiful photos from the Pacific north-west and heard a lot about it. I’d be interested in going to Northern California someday to see the redwood forests, they look so impressive to me. But also the area around Mount St Helens. We’ll see what life offers in the future!
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It’s well worth a visit, Susanne. We lived near the Sequoia National Park with the biggest redwood trees in the world. They are not as high as the redwoods in N. CA, but much bigger in girth. No wonder I love them, LOL! Thanks for you kind words. Have a lovely Christmas. 🙂
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I thought you might have had a photo of a yummy iced coffee! I’m sure you had at least one with me. 🙂
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I think I did, but my coffee did not look nearly as elegant! 🙂
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Great selections Marsha. I love jigsaw puzzles!
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Thanks, John, Yay, a fellow puzzle enthusiast. 🙂
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Random “patterns” is right, Marsha! But you made it all work–kudos for all those challenges! I wish I could get 9000 steps these days. So. much. snow…My Flex 4wd almost got stuck in the middle of our street this morning. I think my Rav4 is a bit higher off the ground. I’ve been snowshoeing and shoveling snow. Plus my newer fitbit broke right at the band, luckily I have insurance and they’re supposed to replace it. I still have my charge 2 which hums along nicely (not waterproof). I adore all those Christmas Lights! We would have to drive to downtown Spokane, and I’m not interested in fighting ice, snow and stupid drivers. I shall live my Christmas festivities through you and other bloggers! BTW- you might be able to make screenshots of your puzzles and edit them on your computer. I do it all the time 🙂
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That’s an idea! I’m sure I could. I just forgot and I had my phone right here, so there you have it. Too many technology choices! 🙂
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I know, I’ve done the same thing…especially with TV 📺 🤣
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What, you are forgetting now? That’s not right! How’s your German coming along?
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Mein Deutsch ist alles gute!
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Awesome. Mine isn’t! 🙂
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Clever idea with your jigsaw puzzle! Those pieces illustrate so well how we use patterns to make sense of what we see. I love your dahlia with the paper creations, and good your diagonal shots could be used!
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I’m so glad you followed her challenge with patterns. It worked out for me! 🙂
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😀
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I love Eat That Frog! Also, Learned Optimism sounds like something I should add to my TBR list. Airedales are adorable, my boss at work has one and he is a darling so smart!
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I had read Eat That Frog for work eons ago, and as I was rearranging my bookcase, I thought hmmm overcoming procrastination. I’d better read this again! LOL.
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Marsha, Thank you for your Weekend coffee share and PPAC contribution. I love the festive lights and all your photos. Good for you to keep up your steps and meet the various blog/ photo challenges. I have one more WCS/ PPAC linkup on December 16th. In case I don’t “see” you there, wishing you and Vince a merry Christmas!
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Thanks, Natalie, I’ll try to be there, but Merry Christmas to you as well. 🙂
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Oh I love all the reds in your photos this week. What a great post 😀
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Thanks, Cee. You know I love reds.
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Great pictures, Marsha, it all looks so Christmassy. I haven’t put up decorations yet. I must get cracking on it this week.
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Ours were pretty simple this year, but our town goes all out. 🙂
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Oh, brilliant!!
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Tell my husband! 🙂
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OK!
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Wow Marsha, you had quite the week!! Your patterns are wonderful as was your thought that last week’s diagonals were a good fit for this week as well. Loved your jigsaw idea – now get in there and kick Vince off of your computer!!!
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LOL. I’m having to do that every day now. He loves it. Besides mine is faster and it’s right in plain view in a little nook in the kitchen. Best place ever. I have my online recipes handy and they are huge where I can read them.
Have a wonderful Christmas, Tina.
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Clever idea to photograph your jigsaw puzzle as you assembled it, as those pieces illustrate how we use patterns to make sense of what we see 🙂 I love your reflection shots and the dahlia, and that paper creation is intriguing!
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Thanks, Sarah. I love patterns. At one point in history I worked as a math consultant. It was during the era of constructivism when we taught kids patterns. It helped a lot of us adults have a better grasp on mathematics, too.
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The Christmas photos are gorgeous, but my favourite is the one with reflections.
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Thanks, Norah. That was taken when I was with Terri Webster Schrandt and it is just a few miles from where they live. It’s a beautiful place.
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It’s truly gorgeous. 🙂
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I agree! It’s a beautiful area, and I had never been there before in spite of living in the Pacific Northwest for nearly 15 years.
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You are the very queen of busyness, Marsha! I have no idea how you fit so many hours into your day. I need to Eat that Frog! So, you have an App that makes jigsaws of your selected photos? Great idea, because moving them off the table every time you want to eat is a pesky business. Love your Christmas walkabout. It’s one of the joys of Christmas, seeing all the lights. Tavira looks beautiful this year and I will be sharing them nearer Christmas. Wishing you a wonderful festive season.
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I will look forward to seeing your Tavira pictures soon. Did I tell you I don’t sleep? 🙂
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That apple was the perfect finish to a wonderful read Marsha 🙂
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Why, thanks you BB. That was such a nice thing to say. I put that truck in there for you especially since I know you liked it. 🙂
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👍😁
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I think same .
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Hi Marsha – it looks really cold in those first photos – but I bet it was a lovely evening out and the Christmas decorations were pretty. I enjoyed all your photographs – you certainly know how to tackle several challenges at once!
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My poor sweetie pie was freezing. I was dressed warmly so it didn’t bother me. My blogging friend Carol made me the scarf and I wear it all the time in the winter. It’s the most wonderful scarf I’ve ever had. It’s long and wide, and keeps my ears, face and head warm and cozy. I’m glad you are doing so well with your new hip, Leanne. What a blessing!
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It is a delightful post Marsha, I really enjoy the way you so cleverly use all the prompts for a post. Great photos all around. Perhaps I should try this too one day. 😊🌺
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You could do it easily, Aletta because so many of yours fit more than one challenge. I only do a few challenges over and over. One thing I should do more of is what some people do – link posts they’ve done in the past to new challenges. It takes a lot of thought and looking through your posts, though.
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such a lovely post and great pics Marsha. wow, you’ve gotten a lot done in the burrring weather no less. Love the dahlia’s and the paper texture and similarity. I love most dogs so hard to choose.. How’s Nutter butter?
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Nutter Butter is not doing well. He has a few more days on antibiotics, which gives him the runs, and he already had those. Then he’s on a quarter dose of steroids until those run out and his good digestible food. Moji is gettin huge on this diet and he just gets thinner and thinner. The doctor said she is puzzled. What would you do?
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Wow good to here. idk but they are clearly well cared for and loved . Looks like they will have a good Xmas-;)
Miracle kitties!💕
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I’m praying for a miracle for NB. The vet allowed him to have chicken. He goes off antibiotic after tomorrow’s two doses. Then we will see how he does with a new prescription of steroids. If not, we will need lots of virtual hugs. 🙂
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