Friday Photos

The mayor of Ballina raises the Irish flag

Sun breaking through a cold bitting wind

This weekend is a big weekend in my hometown of Scranton. We host the 2nd largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in America. My husband and I had the privilege of being present for the raising of the Irish flag at our courthouse.

Today, as I was passing by my favorite photographic muse. The workers were installing the Lace Village sign. The Scranton Lace Works at one time was the major producer of Nottingham Lace outside of England. It was also a major source of employment for immigrants settling in the Lackawanna Valley.

Contemplative Friends

We sing our bird songs of joy and thanksgiving.

For that lady on Euclid Avenue, has filled our dinner table.

Nothing too fussy or picky.

She throws out day-old bread.

A dinner treat against the cold north wind.

When winter’s grip breaks, she fills our suet cages.

Along with special blends, the best favored seeds for our large bin.

Imagine, just for us.

We do make quite a sight.

Flying sideways and crossways to get our favorite spot.

While the squirrels get their fill eating upside down.

In gratitude we leave feathered gifts on her porch.

The lady on Euclid enjoys our singing.

Especially when morning breaks.

Being her musical choir, the maestros of her quiet contemplation.

https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/03/08/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-the-birds/

Forty Days

I step onto a path of personal change.

Internally finding ways of obtaining grace.

For my feet are unsteady.

Looking towards the desert of temptation.

The way markers of free will are set before me.

Crosses of ash are imbedded.

Into those who have chosen the journey of changing hearts.

Reminding us of our inevitable dust.

Some are experienced on this desolate path.

Some are in need of mentors along the way.

All wanting to silently pray for their intentions.

I walk along on Lent’s purple and violet sojourn.

Towards Israel’s hill of contemplation.

For me Lent is a chance to empty myself out from my human selfish ways. Being of the Catholic-Christian faith it is a time of pray and fasting. It is time to reconnect with the Divine and how His love changed this world. We need more of this time to promote love and peace.

https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/03/04/weekly-prompts-colour-challenge-violet/

Garage Wallpaper

License Plates.

Oh yes, we have a wall neatly plastered with Pennsylvania’s auto past.

Long ago memories of first cars.

Fast cars.

Beater cars.

And hauling trucks.

Colors of rusty gold with blue lettering.

Colors of faded yellow with the Keystone insignia.

Colors of worn out blue and illegible yellow lettering.

Decades of license plates spanning the ghosts of automobile past.

Dad’s favorite showpiece.

And talking points over coffee.

A bygone eras with his garage buddies.

And neighborhood friends.

Inherited pieces of metal as we remember, the stories of dad.

https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/03/01/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-license-plates/

Friday Photos

Two weeks of exploring different ways to put my ideas to canvas.

I used two apple tree branches to create the branches of a cherry tree.

The bottom painting is a combination of salted water color and acrylic paints

I used a heavy makeup brush to upstroke the paint to create Auroras in the painting.

The Beauty of Our Pets

There are never enough words to describe the beauty of our pets. They give us so much joy and unconditional love. They give us a front row seat to their world. Animals are more harmonized to the ways of the natural world. Something we really never have enough time to experience. Animals are soulful teachers, and if we just take the time to be their students. Maybe this world will have a better chance to gain some peace.

I have featured our four cats before on my blog and have been meaning to sketch them. This week, I had the opportunity to take the time to complete this desire.

https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/08/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-enough/

Red Valentine Table

I enjoy decorating for every season, and even my art table gets the season touch. A new art store opened up recently, so I needed to check it out. Ah, the red was displayed with all its Valentine vividness. Can you say crafter’s nirvana?! New canvases, check. New metallic paint, check. New fan brush, check. New pallet knives, check.

I happily drove away with this afternoon’s project. A painting of multicolored metallic hearts on canvas. With cello music playing in the background along with hammering of my husband’s cellar project. I thoroughly enjoy the creative process either on canvas or the written page.

Here are the results of my red Valentine art table. Enjoy,and have a great weekend.

Just a few more touches(c) Mary Anne Abdo

Mom’s Approval from Heaven (c) Mary Anne Abdo

https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/04/weekly-prompts-colour-challenge-valentine-red/

A Sense of Belonging

Saturday night, my husband and I went to meet friends on a warm winter’s evening. Go figure, standing outside, not freezing in a line to see our favorite band. It was nice to see old friends and dancing to the wee hours of 11pm. Our favorite band ,Picture Perfect plays all season long. From summer picnics, weddings, and local bars.

The band gives everyone a sense of belonging and reminiscing of those bygones days. Picture Perfect also gives back to our local community with their fundraising efforts for various causes. So come on and dance with me. Enjoy the photos.

The Sights Of Scranton (c) Mary Anne Abdo

A Warm Winter’s Evening (c) Mary Anne Abdo

https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/02/01/weekly-prompts-wednesday-challenge-belonging/

Friday Photos

The skies are still in story mode these past few weeks. This was taken yesterday, which was Ground Hogs Day and Candlemass. (Last day of the 40-day celebration of Christmas) Taking these photos from different vantage points.

Wooder_Ice has Struck Again

It is another scene in the Philadelphia movie genre.

A pre-screening that Jeff, Bradley and the rest of the fans anticipate.

Texting between the sisters three.

One sister flew into the Eagle’s stand.

Landing in that southerly Pattison street destination.

Sending songs and shouts in the stadium, thanks to her trusty Apple in hand.

While the other two cheered on from the technology sidelines.

Touch down after touch down.

Roar after mighty roar.

Rocking the streets and filtering out past Lincoln’s park.

As only the Eagles know how to soar over that goalpost.

Fly Eagles

Fly

High above the sight of William Penn.

The green and white will overcome greasy poles once again.

Dancing and fireworks will commence on the South of Broad.

Mr. Wooder_Ice you have done it again.

You alone have captured the hearts of Brotherly Love.

On you Instagram page.

In every spectrum of those rich cultural colors and celebrations.

So onward Eagles as you fill those cardinal red skies of Arizona.

Lead us on to victory!!!

I wrote this last night after the football game, where the Philadelphia Eagles won over the San Francisco 49ers. My sister Margaret was at the game, while my sister Maureen and I were texting during the game. The cameraman caught a shot of Bradley Cooper sitting with the Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie. Wooder_Ice (Philadelphia slang for water with ice) is a Philly promoter’s Instagram handle.

A Fortnight Of Aging

The Edge of Humanity Magazine Jan 29,2023

Written by Mary Anne Abdo

Fourteen days and new winkles have appeared.

New awareness of loved ones.

Trying to fit into their aging skins.

Misleading medical advice.

Because the aging population is not vitally important.

On the ground for twelve hours.

Almost lost you to heaven on that gurney.

Lovingly cleaning up old blood.

From the bathroom.

To the hallway.

Through the living room.

And along the side of the bed.

All because aging is not revered nor respected.

A toss off.

Hospital emergency rooms revisited.

Same room shared by two sisters.

The hallways crowded

Code orange and code red.

Blaring over the loudspeaker.

In hyper mode until 3am.

We are not in our same skins as winter draws nearer.

Making decision and crying so many heaps of tears.

Memories of loved ones and how they used to be.

We have time for nothing and yet nothing is being achieved.

Sitting in the dark noise of silence.

I am contemplating aging…

Thank you to the Edge of Humanity MagazIne for publishing my latest work. It was written right after a long night spent with my sister during an emergency surgery for my aunt. She is 88 years old and her doctor gave her a blase answer to a medical condition that could have been taken care of with simple antibiotics. But instead it lead to a life threatening situation, that she almost died from. She is now in a nursing home with two more surgeries coming up in February to correct the mistake her doctor had chosen to ignore.

Something is all a glow

There has certainly been a mystery in the skies this week. From the moon glowing iridescent colors. The sunset of red-orange Tuesday evening before a snowstorm. Large bow shaped clouds with arrows gliding through it. But one item seems to stand out this week, a green iridescent orb. Either above the sky or below it according to my camera ‘s eye and my eye. Something to ponder; What is creation trying to convey to us with these mysterious glowing skies?

https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/01/28/weekly-prompts-weekend-challenge-glow/