Fairy Falls

Fairy Falls
Originally uploaded by jacquie pics.

Water is such a precious resource. When it falls gently over sculpted rocks it cascades with an effect unsurpassed for beauty and mystique.

This artist calls these Australian falls "Fairy Falls." Aptly named, and perfectly captured.

The Outback might well need a cruise. I'll dream about it all December long.

Here Come the Colors of December

112206 --- Happy Holidays
Originally uploaded by Bumt.

The Colors of December are bright and gaudy: passionate and warm. So beautiful in every country.

DECEMBER THE GREAT

December -- the great month -- is just around the corner. Why, you ask, is December so great? I'll give you a huge list of reasons:

Oodles of Birthdays for family and friends (me too)
Friends dropping by
Snow so white and bright you need sunglasses
Skis and Mountains
Sagittarians
Vegetarians
Meataterians

(Take a Breath)

Snowshoes
Snowballs
Snowmen
Snow Angels
Icicles
Christmas
Mulled Cider
SquashPiesEggnog
Music
Dickens

(One more breath)

Flannel pajamas
Uggs
Corduroy slacks
Wool SweatersCashmere SweatersTurtlenecks (Mock preferred)
Scarves (silk, merino, cashmere, they are all so warm and colorful)Hats
Reading
Dreaming of Next Season’s Rides

(Drumbeat)

And the best reason:For those lucky enough to have been born in this great month, December is a time of new beginnings. We adventurers just love new beginnings, no?

Peace be with you all as the snow heads our way. I still pray for just one more ride before I put Shadowfax to bed for a long Winter’s rest.

Swiss Moments

Originally uploaded by BlueDjinn.

Everytime I think of Switzerland I recall lovely fields, valleys, lakes and mountains. Oh to tour there again.......

Nuit Lumineux / Luminous Night

Nuit Lumineux / Luminous Night
Originally uploaded by mscjwharton.

Cobblestone streets in the rain. A forever memory.

We should all walk these streets. Every heel click is a moment. Every breath is a lifetime. Every sigh is magical.

These are the towns to which we all must ride, must visit, must spend a fortnight in. Feel the streets, meet the people, live the moments. It is all so precious.

Portsmouth, NH

New England Seaside
Originally uploaded by As Seen Through Hazel Eyes.

A lovely New England seaside town. One would be hard pressed to find a nicer spot to cruise to, whether by boat or motorcycle.

November Blues

Ice Formation
Originally uploaded by Manhattan Observer.

AN EASY RIDE

I rode so easy today past little ponds topped in fog and mist. Roads twisted around each farm and field. I was quite lost and loving it.

“Go straight and true,” I thought, recalling the words of Hem’s song, “We Will Meet Along the Way.”

My heart was filled with confusion. The weather was the finest I’ve ever known in late November. The news from friends, however, was total silence. I knew not where they were or if they were alright. I was worried for them.

The roads were so beautiful. I rode past horses, sheep, and hilltops alive with flying birds. I felt the turns coming, Zen riding was within my grasp -- yet I couldn’t grasp it. My mind was far away.

Once on the coast I found companions who wanted to learn the back roads I know so well. I lead them on a simple, pleasurable ride through little towns and villages. They thanked me for the tour before we parted near daylight’s end.

Now the bike is put to bed and I ponder what the future holds.

More Roads to Ride

Long winding Road
Originally uploaded by markdom.

Let us ride into the valley for the day. Perhaps bring a picnic, with bread, cheese, fruit and wine. How pleasant.

Roads, Trees and the Moon

Two willows
Originally uploaded by Tsjeu.

Sometimes a perfect blend of pavement, trees, sky and the moon just happen. If we're lucky we're there when it happens.

Riding to Mount Hood

Back Roads to Mt Hood
Originally uploaded by D LeRoy.

Mount Hood, in Oregon, remains ice and snow capped all year.

I recall parking the bike there on a hot July day some years back. The ride to the Ski Center itself was breathtaking, but the sight of hardy skiers racing down the summit glacier, many in shorts and tee shirts, was even more stunning.

I'm ready to ride to Mount Hood again.

HOLIDAY COOKING MISADVENTURES

Holiday Cooking is such fun. Stressful, yes, but so much fun when you have to plan for so many different desires.

My family and I spent much of yesterday at my cousin Dan's house, where he and his wife, Sue, cooked a marvelous feast for 12.

Everyone contributed of course. We brought Sweet Potato, Mashed Potato, steamed vegetables, artichoke dip (a reknowned favorite) and non-alcoholic Champagne for those who do not enjoy alcohol.

We also brought our favorite adopted/retired Priest, Father Vickery. He had such fun reminiscing with Sue's mother, Claire, a lovely Lady of Eighty-Five. She is such fun to talk with. I most admire her love of life. She got quite excited when she heard that I had taught her granddaughter how to knee dance on the kitchen floor. (OK, I'm busted. I love to dance.)

Like all Holiday Cooking adventures, Dan and Sue's included surprise and suspense. None of us could figure out when the Turkey would be done, as Dan had purchased a 20 pounder labeled "Fresh," which in fact they discovered was "Frozen" when they took it out of the fridge that morning.

Now we all have stories of kitchen-misadventure. Most are quite humorous. No one tells such stories better than my sister, Betsy, on her Blog here: http://betsydevine.weblogger.com/2006/11/23#a2900 Her linked stories from 2003 and 2004 are really precious.

In our case yesterday the dinner that was expected to be served at 1 ended up being served at 3:30. It was yummy.

All of my years, except one, I have been blessed to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends. Not all of us are so lucky.

I am thinking about friends and strangers, from the States, Canada, England, and elsewhere, that have spent this Holiday in far away lands where wars are waged. They surely would rather be home; yet they serve their countries with pride and honor. I am humbled by their commitment to a better and safer world for the rest of us. They do not make the policy that places them there. They simply step forward and serve.

I am most Thankful for them. Thank you brave men and women who risk so much for us all. Come home safe please.

Yet Another Road I Need To Ride

Winding Road
Originally uploaded by birdyboo.

As far as I can see...................see it, push it, ride it. Yes!

In The Dream

~~~ Such a rainy day in Londra ~~~
Originally uploaded by Orhan*.

One whispers: Rescue Me.

In Reality, it is just another rainy day,

In the dream, one whispers...isn't it lovely?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Originally uploaded by Lall.

Fruits, pies, berries, and lots of other goodies. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The Moon Through A Stone Keyhole

IMG0002
Originally uploaded by estes_park.

Around and around the moon travels twice each day. So beautiful in balance: so dependable in rythym.

ALTRUISTIC MIXOLOGY

Living in the Now is at times impossible. Our lives are full of commitments, distractions, promises, appointments, things happening everywhere around us. Telephones and faxes, e-mails and television pile on the commonplace commotion.

True, motorcycling brings a focus on the now as can very few activities. Yet admittedly, long quiet walks through the woods or along the shore do so as well. Special times with your love do too, perhaps more poignantly than anything else. In all these focused times there is a suddenness that blocks all else from cognition. Total focus......Total nowness.

The approach of the Holidays adds but more buzz and blur to everything, however. I think the best approach to all this is to let go of the desire to be mono-focused. Let everything be what it must until things settle down a bit.

Example: It's now 8 pm. My kids will soon be home for the Thanksgiving Holiday. They were supposed to be here for dinner, but they just called from college to say that they are waiting until 9 to depart so they can give a friend a ride home.

I'm pleased that they are being generous to a friend. Selfishly I'm a bit disappointed that I've been holding off on eating this long. And there isn't a thing to be done about it except to move on to the next thing that needs getting done.

I think I'll continue my experiments with making the perfect Pomtini. I know it's a privation to work so hard on this project. But I'm just the fellow to persevere in The Endeavour. My altruistic hope is that, one day, I'll discover a mixology that will financially benefit the Pomegranate Growers of the world.

You see, the giving spirit of the Holidays is already upon me. May it be upon you as well on this cold November eve.

Sunset in Salonika

sunset in Salonika
Originally uploaded by jojo32.

The sea and sun embrace Salonika and the mountains of the region.

The Colors of India

Rainbow of Colours
Originally uploaded by ashitparikh.

The peoples of India are masters of color, form and fit.

Disquiet

Stormy
Originally uploaded by luisa_m_c_m_cruz.

Look at these birds. In the midst of stormy seas do they feel discomfort..........disquiet...............disinterest? No.

They feel the life force of nature calling them to survive and surpass all that is thrown at them.

As the winds of change blow your way remember that you. too, can rise above and survive the storm. Disquiet is another word for Contemplation.

Wonders shop at Prenzlauer Berg

Wonders shop at Prenzlauer Berg
Originally uploaded by lluisanunez.

Motorcycle touring through Germany, again, is high on my list of "Would Love to Do's." This time I want to spend more time in the villages and mountains and less time rushing to the next destination.

I did a lot of rushing in my younger days. I want to slow down and really learn about the peoples and cultures of each country I'm lucky enough to travel in.

I was browsing Flickr this morning, looking at photos of Germany, when I happed upon this colorful assembly of beads in a Berlin shop. What a nice mix of textures, shapes, sizes and artistic possibilities.

Dream Voyage

glass etching
Originally uploaded by killbyte.

As we dream we might find ouselves between the sea and mountains of ice. The polar caps? No, just a dream of distant lands filled with adventure and the unknown.

Dream voyaging is so cool.

Moon at Sun Rise

Moon at Sun Rise
Originally uploaded by !cloud.

Sometimes the sun and moon cross paths as we fly through space. Lovely.

Night Riding

Night Light
Originally uploaded by Jam Studio.

I've been doing more night riding lately, due mostly to the fact that darkness comes so early this time of year.

This photograph of mountain switchbacks at night is simply breathtaking.

A Little Greek Taverna

Taverna Nikolas, Fira Santorini
Originally uploaded by bootsintheoven.

An oasis of sharing and warmth is the Greek Taverna. The more remote the better. So real, so wonderful.

GREEK TAVERNA MEMORIES--PART 2

Macedonia. The Roman roads. Greece. These are important places. History was made there.

And in the middle of it all was an ancient city, Thessalonica, now called Thessaloniki, and sometimes called Salonika.

This is the northern Greek port city of Alexander's fame. It is the city of the infamous White Tower, the Tower of Terror. Hundreds of Greeks and Turks, at different times, were there burned to death in retribution for having won a particular battle between East and West. Christians and Muslims hated eachother. How strange today to think of that ancient distrust.??

Thessaloniki is a crossroads. It is and was the central metropolis linking the east to the west. It is the next stop heading west from Constantinople, now Istanbul.

I was blessed to spend time in Salonika on two different occasions during a motorcycle tour of Europe. The first visit lasted a week: I was there to make arrangements to garage the Triumph so I could take trains and buses to India and Ceylon (now Shri Lanka). Salonika was the crossroads. I wanted to spend Christmas in Goa, on India's famed Malabar Coast.

The second time I visited Salonika was 4 months later when I returned from India (never having made it to Ceylon which was then in the midst of a terrible war). There are wonderful stories of that second visit, but they shall await another time for telling. Tonight I wish to continue the story about the Taverna in the hills above town. The Taverna adventure happened on my first Thessaloniki stay.

When I walked into the tiny mountainside Taverna I noted how small the establishment was. Fewer than 10 little 4-person tables filled the seating area, divided in the middle by a wide stone floor lit from a dim but warm glowing wheel of lights hanging from the ceiling. Only one table was empty, the others filled with men and women who appeared to have worked hard all day. They were enjoying lamb and retsina, as well as lively conversation. Bazooki music played softly in the background from an old tabletop radio.

To the rear of the Taverna was a countertop that separated the public dining area from the kitchen, a stove, a sink, and several cupboards. Pans, pots, vegetables, and assorted tools hung from the kitchen's ceiling. The walls were stucco white. The floor was black stone. The tables and chairs were solid wood. The hum of the conversation ceased abruptly when I entered. All eyes focused on me, a skinny, long-haired American who had just stumbled into a local pub that was definitely not in Fodor's.

The men looked at me with keen eyes. The women's' eyes appeared to speak of pity for my thin condition.

The silence was broken by the sweeping entry of "Momma" from the kitchen. "Yassou," she exclaimed loudly, taking my hand and leading me to a seat at the open table. She spoke quickly and I understood very little. However, it was clear that she wanted me to make myself at home, and to enjoy her Taverna. She called to her husband who was washing dishes.

I remember only a few of her words. "Papa," she yelled to her mate, "... ... ... Hippie ... ... .." Papa came out with a filled tankard of Retsina and a glass. He slammed them down on my table and smiled a hugely wonderful smile. He tried hard to speak English. "You are welcome here Hippie, American Hippie."

As soon as Papa and Mamma had pronounced me welcome, everyone in the room came over to my table to say hello. We spoke little to none of eachother's language. But what a night I enjoyed with these wonderful folk.

The women helped me order food. Greek sausages and potato, cooked vegetables of many varieties, and much Retsina. After helping me eat the right foods, the men took over. They turned up the radio and showed me how to do the Greek Wine Dance, just like the one in Zorba the Greek. Oh what fun we had.

Around 10 pm, it was clear that the night was over. I had danced with every man in the Taverna, had tossed back glass after glass of Retsina with everyone, and my entire tab came to the equivalent of about 2 Dollars. I drove home to the YMCA, about 8 miles down the hilly roads, full of food, and filled with the love that Greek people seem to embrace all strangers with.

I had little problem telling myself on that ride home that I would go back to that same Taverna the very next night. And I did, but that is another story.

November Dawn

November Dawn
Originally uploaded by canadianbonnie.

This morning dawned with more sunshine and fewer clouds. The air is chilled, filled with November scents..

It's off on a ride I'm heading. Not sure where. Just don the leathers, gloves and helmet, and off we go. Vroom Vroom.

Bon Soir

Cheers, one more once.
Originally uploaded by merriewells.

Good night moon, good night cow, good night cow jumping over the moon.

Golden Moments

Golden Moments
Originally uploaded by thepres6.

If I could bottle perfection...............

MEMORIES OF A GREEK TAVERNA

Years ago, when I was riding through Greece, I found a tiny Taverna in the hills above Salonika.

I found this taverna through chance, having decided to ride higher and higher outside the city and into the mountains to the north. The streets became narrow, and suddenly turned to cobblestone. I rode higher. The hum of my Triumph 650 resonated off the walls of the clustered buildings that hemmed me closer and closer.

I was hungry. I was broke. I wanted to keep riding late into the night, having earlier found a YMCA where I could bunk for a Dollar a night.

Each corner turned sharper than the former until I noticed a lighted window ahead. It was a tavern with wonderful food smells emanating into the night air. I stopped and walked in.

Greek Tavernas are like Black Holes. They bring everything and everyone in. They hold mysteries no one can imagine. They are filled with love, family, dancing and mirth.

I learned that night just how precious strangers can be: for they are no longer strangers as of the moment you say "Hello." Indeed, the people within become like family in just a few hours.

There is much more to tell of that night. But for now I must head to bed as a new adventure calls in the morning. The rains have abated, and this particular fellow is ready for another ride. Till then, enjoy some Creta Red and roast shoulder of lamb. The Greeks know how to live well. So do you. And so do I.

Pom Zen

Pomegranate
Originally uploaded by cienne45.

Delicious on the road. Fabulous in chilled vodka. A perfect fruit.

The Departure

Reaching Out.........
Originally uploaded by jcowboy.

We've all experienced the excitement of heading off on a trip. But this photo captures the departure from a different, more awe inspiring, perspective.

Enjoy my fellow travelers. May your next departure be as uplifting as this.

Airstream Cruising

Airstream Trailer Caravanning ----- PAR_DSCN1095
Originally uploaded by metropol2.

Do you remember when hundreds of these aluminum-clad Airstream Trailers caravanned across North America each summer? I do.

My sister Betsy and I saw several such caravans in both the US and Canada when we drove to Alaska oh so many years ago.

I recall one particulalry large group of the shinning icons parked neatly in a field in Dawson Creek, British Columbia -- gateway to the Alcan Highway.

We were camping out in our Volkswagen Van, but these folks were living large. They had antennas on the their roofs, air conditioning units, refirgerators, plushy beds, sofas, tables, and just about every comfort of home right there in their uber-modern gypsy wagons.

Gypsies of the paved highways they were. And happy as happy can be too. So were we, but with a lot less stuff.

I do miss seeing the Airstreams gleem in the sun. Like a bright future, they beckon to travelers to follow the call of the wild.

And while I might prefer voyaging on my motorcycle, those earlier travelers surely enjoyed their aluminum wagons just the same. Classical in every sense, the Airstream represented the height of luxury road tripping for an entire generation.

EVEN OPTIMISTA GET THE BLUES

It was a strange day today. I wanted to be anywhere but where I was, at work. I was thinking how much I desired to be on the road again, to be riding amidst warm fragrant forests, cool mountain streams, and alongside shimmering bucolic lakes.

My reverie was repeatedly interrupted by meetings, phone calls, and co-worker discussions. "I'm leaving this afternoon for Key West," said one. "I'm off to South Beach Monday," said another.

A Chromeheads friend from out West called. "It's sunny and gorgeous here, so I'm heading out for a ride with a pal," she declared. I was glad for those lucky ones who could escape and ride in sunshine. Desire welled up within me till I felt I couldn't breath. I wanted to join them. I needed the "therapy of the ride."

I peered out my window into gray rainy skies, leafless trees, and a flow of cars driving down the damp streets below. My favorite tree was bare. The three finches that had cavorted at my window all summer were gone.

Accuweather says snow is coming. My e-mails tout drugs for male enhancement, stock picking success, bigger biceps, breast enlargement. The spammers are obviously confused.

Then my phone rang. A client that I've been helping with a deal in Italy called to say that he was going to have to leave for Verona in the next few weeks. "You might have to go with me," he said. My day seemed to brighten just a bit. A visit to the land of Romeo and Juliet would be just the thing, I thought.

An hour later my phone rang again. It was a client in Pennsylvania. "If we can arrange it, could you fly down for us to Florida in a new case?" My day seemed to brighten even more.

"Is it in the Keys," I wishfully whispered? "I don't know exactly where yet, but we'll call you in the next few days with more information," she replied. I hope it's in a place near the ocean.

And that's how it goes for us Optimistic Seekers. Just when you start to feel blue, opportunities appear. You just have to be ready to say "yes." You never know where such a simple word will take you.

Evening Road

Evening Road
Originally uploaded by RicKarr.

As Tony Bennett would croon, "Ride Me to the Moon." What a riding night this photographer must have enjoyed.

S'marvelous..............

Ride Higher

Elevation
Originally uploaded by Sparkle~and~Fade.

Arise to the mountains. See the entirety of geologic majesty. Realize how small yet significant you are.

Sunset Zen

soft sunset
Originally uploaded by john curley.

Sand, water, melting into the sunset sky. Hydrogen and oxygen as water, then air.

Wonderful.

SLOW HAND RIDING

“Danger is out tonight. Danger she walks the streets alone.” So begins the first song on JJ Cale and Eric Clapton’s latest collaborative album, “The Road to Escondido” – a lovely song and an even better album of slow hand blues ballads.

What is it about smooth guitar players like Clapton and Cale that endures them even now to a fourth generation of fans?

My personal opinion is that these two are quite human. They remain approachable and humble despite fantastic wealth and hordes of sycophantic hangers on. They have both worked hard to cure addiction and to improve the lot of the less fortunate. I admire their talents and their love of humanity.

And this brings me back to motorcycling. This past weekend I was blessed to ride around the hills and coasts of New England with a group of friends, including a dear friend, Alex, from Toronto. He arrived wanting to see “the twisties” I had promised when we last rode together in Ontario. He did not leave disappointed.

After one particularly exhilarating ride up the wild coastlines of New Hampshire and Maine, he beamed out a smile and asked, “So how the hell am I supposed to enjoy riding in Ontario now?”

Ontario, to be sure, has wonderful riding roads. Heck, the coast road along Lake Ontario is a wonder in itself, as are some of the back roads through the onion fields just north of the GTA. And riding in the northern Ontario Parks is as good as fabulous.

But much of Ontario was laid out on a grid system that was unknown when New England’s paths and byways were carved along streambeds and mountain passes. So the comparison is unfair and unnecessary. Each has its own charm and beauty.

Back to the point, however, is a ride we took this weekend across farms and hills in Maine. We rode from Ogunquit, Maine to Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. I don’t recall a single road with a straight section longer than 100 yards. And the vistas were breathtaking.

We breezed by a working farm, “Windswept Farm,” atop a hill with a view that seemed to go from here to eternity. I recall smelling the fields and farm critters with pleasure. Rolls of hay filled the fields. Cows grazed. Horses pranced about. The weather was gorgeous and mild. Spring-like is how we felt.

In Wolfeboro we lunched at an Inn nearly 200 years old. We just rode and rode with abandon. A rhythm developed in the turns and hills. It was as if our machines were playing slow hand blues with the pavement. It was a slow dance, and it was seductive.

Hours passed without notice.

When we ended the day back on the seacoast we dined to the sound of surf crashing on the shore. It was just about perfect. Good friends, great roads, and just slow hand blues riding all day till the sun goes down. Nice.

Next time I take those roads I hope you are there to just let it be. That, after all, is nowness defined – a slow hand guitar melody as easy as pie.

Paths of Strength

the path
Originally uploaded by bauvana.

Paths lead to many places. Good paths take us to destinations we desire. The best paths lead there with beauty and strength.

Moss Zen

Originally uploaded by Dancing star.

Lichens and mosses are ancient inhabitants of our planet. They zealously endure harsh climates, torrential rains, and inhospitable rocks. They never complain. They prosper despite all odds.

We can learn from these little plants. Hold fast and move forward -- Teeth to the wind. Or as Winston Chruchill once said, "Never ever surrender."

Simple Truths

h o m e
Originally uploaded by h2okatcher.

From an Ogunquit Maine storefront.

NOWNESS

I rode along the Atlantic coast today. The sea was angry -- its waves crashed hard on the rocks and seawalls sending water high into the air. In places the waves overcame the walls and crashed onto the road. One such boomer just missed me, though I think it splashed my riding companions who were behind me at the time.

A steady and strong wind blew from the northwest. The breeze seemed to hold the waves upright just long enough to create a prolonged break pattern, just perfect for surfing. And the surfers were there.

We rode up the coast, following the water always, from Hampton, New Hampshire to Ogunquit, Maine. My companions were smiling ear to ear, so it was a good ride.

A friend suggested this morning that I use today's ride to find that "Zen" place I so often speak of. I tried my best but didn't quite get there. I did find joy in the nowness of the day, however. And that's a good start.

Hanalei Valley Zen

A Hawaiian garden
Originally uploaded by Walt K.

Tropical balance abounds in Hanalei, Kauai. Beautiful.

Near the Water

Cameron Lake
Originally uploaded by kompot.photo.

Near the water I must live to breath moist air, to hear the birds, to lie on rocks heated by the sun till evening chills the air.

Near the water I must live to feel the essence and know the calm that only water brings.

Near the water we shall ride.

RAIN DREAMS

Rain falls from the heavens tonight. Hundreds of drops beat upon my roof in a seemingly endless drum battle. It's a good night to be inside.

Friends are planning weekend rides. Accuweather promises improved weather for them. This is good.

I've a lot to accomplish between now and then, however. So I'm off to it and will write more when able.

Till then remember that dreams can come true. My wish is that they do so for all of you.

SOARING ON GALAPAGOS BREEZES

Peaceful freedom on a field of blue
Originally uploaded by betsythedevine.

Tonight's cool evneing air is filled with light from a yellowing full moon. A soft breeze adds to the chill, and little coulds float about here and there.

My heart is filled with an aniticipation that comes only from imminent adventure. I head out tomorrow on a new trip.

I want to soar like the birds of the Galapagos. Wind under my wings, I shall do so.

Wysteria Mysteria

Arbor at Eastman House
Originally uploaded by ejmono.

There are roads that beckon the rider, rivers that seduce the paddler, and paths that entice the stroller. Walk with me.

Moons and Tides

full moon = high tide
Originally uploaded by arleensinclair.

The power of the cosmos is a marvel.

BETWEEN THE MOON AND THE TIDE

Between the moon and the tide is where one can find perfection. The cosmos knows this, the seals and otters know this. We know this too if we allow the ebb and flow to move us. When we let go we even feel the warmth around, within and beside us.

I'm dreaming of islands and mountains, of jungles nearby and of planets far away. These are places where the buzz of daily life disappears. These are places where one can hear plants breath and witness ancient lichens grow. These are places where you not only feel the tide: you are part of the tide.

When next I travel I hope to feel these things again. When next you travel, I hope you do as well.

Pomtini Good -- Passion Next

Passion Fruit
Originally uploaded by Sherilee Joy.

The experiment with Pomegranate was exceptional. My vote: best with a good Vodka, not so great with Gin.

Now that I'm in a fruity state of mind, I think this weekend requires field testing of Passion Fruit. Ooh, I've always loved things orange and sweet. A mix of red and yellow might just be the perfect concoction.

Mixology at work I suspect. Who would have known?

I WANT A POMEGRANATE MARTINI

_MG_2516-01fl
Originally uploaded by Leonid V. Kroujkov.

Fresh ripe pomegranates are fleshy, fabulous, flavorful and fun. But lately I've been wondering if they would taste good in a Martini.

I'm not actually a Martini drinker per se. I don't think I've had a Martini in 20 years. But I'm going to try making a Pomegranate Martini the next time I have some Vodka in the house.

Hold the presses, I just discovered a bottle of Absolute in my freezer. Well, I suppose the best time to begin my experiment is right now -- this very evening. After all, if not now, when?

Field testing is such a hardship.

VARIATIONS

A quick rain passed through our town just before sunrise. As the light quickened the rain withdrew, leaving behind a brightening blue sky and a glistening to the fallen leaves, grasses, and roadways. It was exquisite.

We see a different dawn this time of year. It comes earlier than last week, of course, because of the time change. But the event itself seems different, a bit mellower, a tad more mysterious. The angle of the light lessens I suppose.

We should enjoy sensing these little variations. They make each day different from the past. They remind us that our journey moves ever forward, never back.