Author brilliantviewpoint

Christmas Movies… It’s that time of year!

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It’s that time of year again. YES, when the Hallmark Channel starts showing Christmas movies. You need to have a tissue box close by for some of the shows. Then with other movies you can talk your heart out with other viewers, because the story line is S-L-O-W.

This past weekend, I saw on LIFETIME, “Reba McEntire’s Christmas in Tune.” It came out in 2021. I’m not sure how I missed it a few years ago. There was a lot of advertising around it. Well, it was during COVID. If you like country music, you’ll like this one, great songs.

Oh, and John Schneider, the main actor with Reba, he’s from the The Dukes of Hazzard days. I had no idea he sung country music too. So, the movie’s storyline of husband/wife country singers, who have been separated for 15 years, getting together for their daughter’s Christmas Charity, where old feelings are rekindled is a cute one.

Here’s one of the songs from the movie…

Have you started watching any Christmas movies? Which ones do you enjoy?

Happy Holidays!

Walking: Gardening – Observations

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Do you have funny thoughts when you are walking? I went to visit a friend. We were walking the neighborhood. As we were talking, I stopped, giggled and had to take this picture.

I’ve always enjoyed gardening. Trimming the hedges, raking leaves, etc. I saw this bush, and immediately wished I had my gardening sheers with me. All those funny shoots sticking out, needed trimming.

Further on our walk, we came across this gigantic sunflower. Isn’t it amazing?

All alone, it grew so tall in such glory. There is a daintiness in this sunflower’s stance too.

There is beauty all around us. We just have to slow down to see it.

Have a great weekend!

November, Writing month – NaNoWriMo -> Love it or Hate it?

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Day 1–> November 1st —> NaNoWriMo starts!

Are you IN or OUT? People have different opinions on this. If you don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, you can visit the website for details. Basically, every year for the month of November you challenge yourself to write a novel of 50,000 words.

Some people like this structure and sense of writing community. Others feel like they are being handcuffed and their creativity goes out the window. Suddenly no words, no ideas come to them.

I have mixed emotions about it. Do I need to put more pressure on myself for a month? I don’t think so. So, this year, I’ll be monitoring some conversations, but going solo. Who knows, I might just hit 50K!

Are you participating? Do you find value in this? Met other writers?

Do you say Fall or Autumn?

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I have a question. Is it Fall or Autumn?

My daughter had lived in Ireland for a few years. She went to College there. When it was September to November, she would say, “Isn’t FALL beautiful.”

To which an Irish friend would say, “You Americans always try to simplify things. It’s Autumn, not Fall. You see leaves FALL from the trees and you say it is FALL.”

So, I ask you… WHERE did the word Fall for Autumn come from?

Photography… I got the perfect shot!

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Life is interesting. Yesterday, I knew I needed to go walking, but I was going back and forth on “when.” You know how that is. One side of our mind says, “DO IT NOW,” but the other side says, “It’s cold outside, wait until later when it has warmed up.” The good old excuses.

I decided to get it done. Near the park where I walk there is a Catholic Church. When I go walking, I always stop and visit Jesus, say a quick prayer, and continue walking.

When I got to Jesus, I was amazed to look up and see the sun shinning perfectly on his face and his right arm/hand as if he was going to bless my head. Might sound silly, but as I was raised a Catholic, that was the first thing that popped in my mind.

I did apologize to Jesus for not going to Sunday mass. I just don’t enjoy it. I go to church when I want to. I like to go during the week, just pop in, sit for a few minutes in the quite dark church with many candles lit and feel at peace for a few minutes. OR as I mentioned, make a point of walking by church and stopping by when I go walking. That offers comfort too. No matter what struggles, we know we are not alone.

In the end, I would say most of us feel we are spiritual, we do believe in prayer or God or “something,” and we pray “our way.” That’s the best. My mother always liked the Buddhist teachings. We can pray anywhere.

There are so many things we need to pray about right now. Wars in Ukraine/Russia, now Israel, natural disasters, the migrant situation, inflation, illnesses, family/friends passing away, the list goes on.

So, I say, “Thank you, Jesus, for making me smile.” The sun shinning on you, was special indeed.

Glad I took that walk when I did!

Weather – When the storm comes in…

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We can all sense a storm coming in. The wind starts to change, the clouds come in and THEN our IPhone’s go off. Flash Flood Warning Alert.

That’s what happened this weekend. I was close to Lake Michigan, stopped by the Lake and saw this incredible view of the dark clouds slowly moving in. I had to be quick to get the photo.

The waves were rather calm for the storm that was coming. Even so, I sensed from the dark clouds looming over head and the way the temperature felt that I had to take cover. A tornado could form in this type of storm. While I was mesmerized by the colors of the Lake and the dark clouds, I had to find shelter.

In the end, the storm came, pounding rain, then after a short period the sun came out. Yes, the bright sun as if a storm had never come through our town…