Life and Living

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I can see the leaves blowing to the ground, reminding me that Mother Nature’s cycles are mirrored in our lives. Autumn is a time for letting go. Releasing all those things that have been a burden.

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At the last moment, I decided to go have coffee with my dad, so, I picked up a verboten Starbucks Skinny Latte and started meandering through Arlington Cemetery, weaving my way through the canopy of oaks crisscrossing the roadway. The trees have started to let go of some leaves, but it is raining sunshine today, with a few leaves blowing around. The beauty of this moment does not escape me. Coffee and a tête-à-tête with my dad, I would say that makes it a #SublimeSunday hosted by @c0ff33a. You can read his post here.

I am out of words, always when I come here, yet my mind never stops. I turn in place and am taken yet again by the magnitude of this place, Arlington Cemetery. It overwhelms me, yet draws me close each and every time.


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Oh, beauty! Did you ever open your eyes to the morning light and instinctively know it was going to be a great day? The weather could not have been any more perfect for this day in October, a true bonus to my life. This part of the country subscribes to the Spring forward, Fall back with our clocks in a few weeks. I will admit it, I have such a love/hate relationship with Autumn. It is with great love that I say this for today is autumn, however, soon, winter will be upon me. But, that is a story for me to worry about another day. Today is my #BeautifulSunday hosted by @ace108. You can read his post here.

I set out on a walk through the cemetery, the earthy smell of leaves subdued by apple, the sweetness of some far off decomposing fruit permeating the air. Did I already say the weather could not have been any more perfect today? The sun gently touched my face, caressing my cheeks with her warmth. The leaves crunched under my feet as I made my way to the place where my father lay at rest. The beauty of the colors, the smells mingling together with my visit bring about a unique emotional response from my soul. It is then I remember just how much I miss him.

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The autumnal foliage is sparse at the moment. The sun shines and filters its energy upon the leaves. I can look up to the sky, through the leaves, as they hang on their branches just waiting to share their beauty.

Le sigh.

I can only say that as the days go on, we will experience much more beauty of another dimension.

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You can dance to the rhythm in your head, with the leaves swaying in the breeze. It speaks of days ahead, yet there is no warmth in her words.


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A touch of the season left behind. The sun and shine glistens into the day.


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Flowers. And as always, there must be flowers. This picture is dedicated to #ColorChallenge by @Kalemandra who colors my world every day.

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Whispered words, from your lips
Out of the darkness, they came
Touching my heart, softly, caressing
Stealing off with my soul
Taking me, swallowing me whole
Once again

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Today is a #BeautifulSunday by @Ace108, where we share our day in the most possibly beautiful way that we can. I find myself back home again, where I will call it a day, a definitely #SublimeSunday in the making, by the Meister of my morning, @c0ff33a. I do love my @c0ff33 and he likes eclectic! A definite match made in my heaven.

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And just like that, these musings are done. I want to thank @ace108 and @c0ff33a for hosting these challenges and just so you know, although much sun and shine was used up today, I can guarantee that there is still a little left in my heart. Have a most fabulous day!



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Thank you for visiting my post 💖 Because of you, I come back to post, again and again, I am encouraged by you, for the time you take to visit, comment or even upvote. For all of these reasons, I am eternally grateful. Don't ever forget what a wonderful world we live in. Some days, it is not as easy to see, how wonderful it really is. Kindness counts. Wherever you go, whatever you do.


I always post this poem down at the bottom of my posts. It is one that has become so near and dear to my heart.

they set my aunts house on fire
i cried the way women on tv do
folding at the middle
like a five pound note.
i called the boy who use to love me
tried to ‘okay’ my voice
i said hello
he said warsan, what’s wrong, what’s happened?

i’ve been praying,
and these are what my prayers look like;
dear god
i come from two countries
one is thirsty
the other is on fire
both need water.

later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered,
"where does it hurt?"
it answered,

"everywhere"
"everywhere"
"everywhere"

warsan shire



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Those tree colors are amazing..

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Hi @davedickeyyall!

Thank you! It is really getting colorful in this part of the country, although there is so much green left! I hope you have a most wonderful Sunday and thanks for stopping by and saying hello!

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Thank you so much for the upvote! It is much appreciated! Have a wonderful day!

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It’s incredibly emotional to see so many, perfectly white headstones in one place. It’s sad when you think of all those that died, but also reassuring they are not forgotten- and this is an incredible tribute to them.

Autumn is in full swing with us, so is the rain. I took my boy and his friend for a walk in the woods yesterday - we all ended up muddy after slipping on the slopes.

What on Earth are those strange cones pouring out the glass bowl - amazing photo!

I’m going to try this - but I might be out of credit @tipu curate

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Hi there, my favorite @c0ff33a! :)

Arlington Cemetery is one of my favorite places to take a walk, always so well kept and always so peaceful.

Oh, the rain? We don't get too much of that and if we do get some, it is usually is at night. So, that is a blessing. Oh, the woods and the mud, how I loved it when I was a kid. I am sure your son did too. Although, I am sure that you would rather not be there. LOL

Those strange cones are called candy corn, an autumn confectionary here in the States. It is pure sugar!!! I think that someone beat you to it and so I believe this one doesn't count. But, I do thank you! That is super sweet of you.

Thank you for the visit, upvote and resteem and Happy #SublimeSunday!

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A touch of the season left behind, the sun and shine glistening into the day ..beautiful

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Thank you so much for the words. They are much appreciated! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

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Oh wow Denise the colours on the trees in the cemetery are so wonderful!
Your words provoke and nurture all at once - you are a blessed being of light and love and we welcome your posts like the unfurling of most precious petals in our garden of love and gratitude 🤗❤️

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Ohhhh, the words you leave me are always so calming and full of beauty. I thank you for that and for all the steemit love you cover the platform with.

Thank you, truly. Much love and light sent your way. I hope the weekend is going well for you!

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Thank you so much, my awesome pixresteemer for steeming this post! It is always and forever appreciated! Have a wonderful week ahead!

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hi . . . @dswigle
beautiful Naturel tree's and
flowers picture

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I always find cemeteries both very beautiful and very peaceful. Even those that are not kept up are beautiful in their own gothic way.

I particularly like the candy corn picture. :)

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I totally agree with you! There is something so calming and the serenity is very real for me. I have a house alo on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and it has a Civil War Era cemetery in my backyard. Well, to be clear, it is in the woods of my backyard and it is was discovered when the house was bought! I was amazed that it was there, unattended and abandoned, with headstones toppled and just a mess. Many people out there have lived there from generation to generation and have family plots in their yards!

Kinda cool, kinda creepy. :)

The candy corn was my favorite too. :) Thank you so much! And thank you for your awesome support! Have a great week ahead!

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Ah! That precious moment in time
Where one could slip through the tiny hole between dimensions,
Seeing the beauty of one and feel the infinite possibility in the other.
How else could one do but marvel at life and connection of memories through the string of time!

What a universally beautiful day for a wonderful soul!

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Oh to slip through that tiny hole! That would be the ultimate, wouldn't it? The string of time is a foreign entity to me, but, I love hearing about it.

Thank you and I hope you have a most wonderful day!

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Beautiful photos.... and sentiments.

I too have a love/hate relationship with fall. I love a little coolness and the colors and sights are my favorite, but it leads to winter which is my least favorite season. I don't like being cold.... not one little bit.

I'm trying to enjoy each day though and hope the fall is loooooooooong. :)

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Oh, the fall is never long enough for me! I live in a constant state of denial about the coming of winter. Well, except for decorating and getting the Christmas Tree ready! Oh, now I can hardly wait!

But, then after Christmas, I want old man winter to go away! :)

Thanks for stopping by and leaving your words behind.

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Always something moving about going through cemeteries isn't there?

Wow, those reds and Autumnal colours... Change is in the air. I'm gonna miss summer though 😭

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Oh, yes! You and me both! But, I will be leaving for a month on Friday morning... and thankfully part of the trip will be running straight into the sunshine.

After a short stop in Canada... Change is definitely in the air! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your always kind words!

Have a great week ahead!

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Ooo a month? Amazing! Where are you going off too? Make sure you use travelfeed.io to share your travels hey 😁

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Wow... beautiful autumn colours... it's something that I never really experienced until I moved to Europe (or the Northern Hemisphere...). In Australia, we never really had it quite so dramatically as most of our native wildlife are evergreen...

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That is true!! I never thought of it that way! I am sure that it was very cool for you on your first Autumn there! How long have you lived in Europe now? I think you told us before when you were home visiting, but, I cannot remember now.

Now that you are back, do you miss home more?

Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your kind words behind!

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I can imagine visiting there would take away ones words but have the mind racing

What a beautiful post '

have a good week ahead

!trdo

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I really enjoyed the little tour of Arlington Cementers. So very lovely to see beautiful nature with the tombs.

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Thank you so much @angiemitchell. It is always beautiful, no matter what time of year you go. I appreciate your stopping by and saying hello, leaving your words behind.

Have a great week ahead!

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"Have a coffee with Dad." I am expecting a beautiful coffee shop! When I saw that it was a cemetery, I was thinking, 'why is Denise and her Dad in a cemetery?' Grrrrr. I am so slow! 😢 I'm sorry for your loss, Denise.

You never fail to amaze me. I always feel like an idiot, expecting something that is not coming. But I didn't cry this time, at least!!! Hahaha! 😂😁

I love the beauty of Fall. How I wish I could see one in the future, for real. Hahaha! 😍🤔 And I love how kept the cemetery is. I've never seen such a beautiful cemetery. Hehe. Well, thank you for taking us out for a walk. Enjoy your weekend!

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Hahaha! That was my fault. My dad was buried there a few years back and when I want to "talk" with him, I just bring a cup of coffee and go sit with him. :)

Nooo, don't feel silly. It was the way I wrote it.

I love the beauty of Fall and I hope someday you do get to see one someday! The cemetery is always well taken care of. It is a National Cemetery. Thank you and enjoy your week ahead!

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Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
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Thank you so much for your support! It is so much appreciated! I will be sure to check you out. Have a nice week ahead!

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I've never been to D.C. but Arlington would be on the top 5 must see places.
The maples are gorgeous !!
The images invoke mixed emotions though. It is beautiful yet somber and more than a little ...sad.

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I agree. It is such a mixed bag of emotion for me. It is beautiful and evokes many feelings of peace and tranquility, even though, I know. It is a cemetery.

Thank you so much for stopping by and it is true! I think you would really like it there in a visit.

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I left commenting because I just dont know what to say. This really really hits me. There is such beauty in the colors of the tress, yet so much pain represented by each of the white stones. Every single one has a story of pain and loss. I know you miss your folks. I know I do. I know your dad was a great guy. I am glad you were able to share a cup. {Big hugs}

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I truly understand. I am at a loss for thoughts at times when I go there, so I can sympathize with you. It is beautiful in the most painful way sometimes. but, I ca ay that I know they are being taken care of, which makes me feel a little bit better. Their graves will never fall to disrepair and a wreath of remembrance will always adorn them on holidays.

So, I am glad they are there, but, will always miss the earthly part of them. Thanks for stopping in and saying hello. Most appreciated.

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The grounds keepers at that cemetery must really love their job. Nice to see they can keep it tidy while still embracing nature and creating that amazing atmosphere around it.

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Isn't it amazing how beautiful they keep it? I am always in awe at the beauty of it. One cannot help but be taken by the colors and the perfection of the lines.

Thank you so much for the thoughtful responses to my post. As always. Hi, @Enjar! Have a great week ahead!

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I notice a frequency of posts that I haven't seen in a long time at you. It is the best time to be prolific. Unfortunately (for me), I lose it.
Beautiful autumn in Arlington and I think it's nice to drink your coffee thinking about your dad.
$trdo

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Caramba que combinacion tan perfecte color naranja,muy bonita amiga y encontro variedad para plasmar tan minucioso trabajo ,feliz inicio de semana,cuidese y un abrazo y saludos de mi parte,

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Muchas gracias! ¡Que tengas una semana maravillosa por delante!

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I have a mixed feeling about autumn too.
I like the cool and the colors but I dislike the signifies of coming of the freeze.

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I agree! I love the autumn itself, but, when December is over, want old man winter to take it all back! :) Hi, Ace!! @ace108 I hope you have a most wonderful week ahead!

Thank you fro supporting the #BeautiulSunday challenge!

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You're welcome. Thanks for the tip.

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What a beautiful post @dswigle. Just reading this and seeing your photos brought tears to my eyes. I'm sure you do miss your dad, he was obviously a wonderful man to have raised an amazing person like you. This cemetary is truly glorious, so serene but yet full of so many stories of bravery and loyalty. A perfect autumn morning for a stroll. Enjoy these fall days!

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Thank you and everything you say is true! It is beautiful there and does give me a sense of peace as I walk through it. That always seems funny to say, but, it is true.

Thank you always for such a kind and wonderful comment. Just know that they warm my very soul as I read them. xoxo

Have a most blessed week.

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I can imagine how much you miss him. These beautiful colorful trees caught my eye when I first glanced at your post. I’ve been looking for trees of these colors to show up but they are taking longer to transform.

I’m glad it was a beautiful day for your visit and it’s amazing how the colorful trees help light up the area. ❤️

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I had to go find them as we are almost all green! ;)

It was a perfect day for a visit! Thank you so much for stopping by and saying hello!!! ❤️

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What a beautiful place for your Dad to be put to rest ...God Bless your Dad ❤️

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You just made my night.. Wow these photos are super beautiful.

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You have such brilliant fall colors already. The grave stones are so beautifully arranged in that cemetery. I always want to know more about the people in the graves when visiting a grave yard. So much history in one place.

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Nice Cemetery place with colorful flowers photography. It is really your emotional response for others and i respect it.

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The colors of the trees in this season are just amazing... I’m going to see some this weekend hope I can share the photos with everybody :)

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So, so, beautiful...I'm speechless. Your thoughts put to words reached me...I felt it and you made me think. I had never thought about "letting go" having a season but I like the idea and am going to use that as a focus as I watch the leaves fall to the ground in these coming months. I may even step on a few.

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