Thursday, November 20, 2025

Poppies and Hibiscus

A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U
Hope is not about 
proving anything. 
It’s about choosing to 
believe this one thing, 
that love is bigger than 
any grim, bleak shit 
anyone can throw at us.
Anne Lamott




Sunprint Morning glance
Hibiscus petals, Sunlight draws a
Gentle silhouette,
Shadow, tender
As a breath, Paints quiet wonder
Where gold light rests. What blooms between
the leaf and sun is peace—a small, bright
prayer begun.
Cloudia Charters



Patience attracts 
happiness; it 
brings near that 
which is far.
      Swahili Proverb






 If everything around you 
seems dark, look again, 
you may be the light.
       Rumi


᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓᪓

Love You,
Cloudia & Pixie

᪓᪓᪓




🌼


Shot in Marin, California. Like hot lava, the poppies defy photography and must be seen in real life. This is my poor interpretation of the flower. Imagine mobs of it blooming EVERYWHERE!
No poet has yet sung 
the full beauty of 
our (California) poppy. 
No painter has successfully 
portrayed the satiny sheen 
of its lustrous petals. 
In its abundance, this 
colorful plant should not 
be slighted: cherish it 
and be ever thankful 
that so rare a 
flower is common.
John Thomas Howell 
(“Marin Flora”)


Wednesday, November 19, 2025

The Quiet Work of Beautiful Things

 
 A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U

We deceive ourselves 
when we fancy that 
only weakness 
needs support. 
Strength needs it 
far more. 
    Sophie Swetchine





"Not Self Portrait"
The waves have 
rolled upon me, the 
billows are repeatedly 
broken over me, yet 
I am not sunk down.
   Mercy Otis Warren






We are rich only 
through what we give, 
and poor only through 
what we refuse.
Anne-Sophie Swetchine





The Quiet Work of Beautiful Things
Gentle endurance, friendship, & hope

In the hush between worries,  
Life’s fair wonders can slip in
Soft as dawn along the shoreline,  
Steady as my boat's 
line to the dock

So much depends 
on small interludes:  
Gentle unraveling of knots 
The laughter of friends, 
True sunlight!  
Filtered through a 
Canopy of healing green.

I am learning
That burdens grow lighter  
When they are carried 
And shared.
Hope begins in
The easy breathing  
Of moments we 
Let ourselves be.

It is not hurry that 
builds what is lasting 
But the calmly  
steadfast heart,  
Kindness traded 
in quiet hours,  
The trust that 
beauty grows.

In these blessed spaces
I tender my thanks
Soft as morning,
Each new day 
A promise,  
Each friend
A gentle shore.

For all the storms
We endure  
All the rises and falls,  
It's peace that 
Completes the circle,  
And friendship 
That carries us home.
Cloudia Charters





The balm of life, 
a kind and faithful friend.
Mercy Otis Warren


ᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶᱶ
Love You,
Pixie & Cloudia

💋 🐾



Remember film?
You can see me on the left 
with my yellow umbrella.

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Javas

A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U
Put your thoughts
to sleep, do not let them cast a shadow over the moon of your heart. Let go of thinking. Rumi



Who suffers
before it is necessary,
suffers more
than is necessary. Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Don't fall before
you are punished.
Olde English proverb



I drop kindness pebbles in still water everyday, and I watch the effect they have on other people’s lives. My favorite kindness pebbles are compliments. Drop a compliment and watch the ripple affect that it has in your life. John A Passaro




High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. Mark Twain

ᬊᬊᬊᬊᬊᬊᬊᬊ

Love You,
Pixie & Cloudia

Monday, November 17, 2025

Let Love

A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U
Let my love like sunlight
surround you and yet
give you illumined freedom.
Rabindranath Tagore




Note the cluster of coconuts
Patience is a remedy
for every grief.
Romanian Proverb




The open-minded see
the truth in different things:
the narrow-minded see
only the differences.
Unknown



A smile doesn’t 
cost a cent,
but draws a 
lot of interest.
Dale Carnegie


𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄𑄄
Love You,
Cloudia & Pixie


𑄄𑄄



In the right light, 
at the right time, 
everything 
is extraordinary.
   Aaron Rose

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Gold

 A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U
A box without hinges,
key, or lid, yet golden treasure
inside is hid. J. R. R. Tolkien



Friendship is
the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world. John Evelyn



An optimist is a person
who sees a green light
  everywhere. 
   Albert Schweitzer
(I see six. But the lower right seems to have more!)




The mind creates
 the abyss, 
the heart 
crosses it.
            Nisargadatta Maharaj


𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍
Love You,
Cloudia & Pixie


𑁜𑁢



Linking To
Monday Murals
This intricate and beloved mosaic of the Chinese goddess Quan Yin with several Fierce Immortals used to live in Waikiki.
When the building was razed the challenge of moving the mosaic was just too expensive, and so it lives only in photos and my memory. Hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I do


Saturday, November 15, 2025

Style Endures

A L O H A  From
H O N O L U L U
We must let go 
of the life we 
have planned, so 
as to accept the one 
that is waiting for us.
   Joseph Campbell




Fashion changes, 
but style endures.
 Coco Chanel




 The Ant
Hulu is small,
but the earth 
knows his weight.
He carries mountains
one crumb at a time.
No hurry - no worry
one thing at a time.

When winds 
bend the grass,
he walks through it 
as a marvelous forest.
Always finding
the way home.
Cloudia Charters





The world stands aside
to let anyone pass
who knows
where she is going.
       David Starr Jordan

ᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥᠥ
Love You,
Cloudia & Pixie

𓏅𓏅𓏅



Friday, November 14, 2025

Triumphant To The Sunset

 A L O H A  From

H O N O L U L U

The true purpose of education
is to teach one to carry oneself
triumphant to the sunset.
  Liberty Hyde Bailey





Double-flowered tropical hibiscus, likely a hybrid cultivar of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, featuring vibrant orange and peach petals with a pinkish-red center. 





In a world of green,
a splash of delight,
This happy little flower,
so bright. 

Yellow petals,
sunshine's embrace,
Mauve accents,
a touch of grace.

Petals unfurl, like
a butterfly's wings,
Dancing in the breeze,
while sunbeams sing.

You fill the air
with fragrance sweet,
A symphony of color,
So lovely to meet.
      Cloudia Charters



Be an encourager.
The world has plenty
of critics already.
Dave Willis
ࡗࡗࡗࡗ

Love You,
Pixie & Cloudia
ࡗࡗࡗࡗࡗࡗࡗࡗࡗ