Category: Photography

Felines, Paul Hollywood, and Turning on the Red Light.

Published on by Tosha Michelle22 Comments

Hello y’all. Please scroll down and check out a cat in need of a home. As for the rest, just my latest YouTube nonsense. In the first video, Tucker takes on a starring role as I ponder Paul Hollywood’s midlife crisis. Mad props to our dear friends Jake and his lovely wife Ariana for getting us into The Great British Bake-off and all things Hollywood. I’d heard of the show but just never got around to watching it until now. We’re currently on the 3rd season and I feel inspired to baaaaakkke.

https://youtu.be/ZcayXtcczdw

In the second video, I talk about the advantages of red light therapy for the skin and pain. Nothing earth shattering or life transforming in either video, unless you count the appearance of the greatest feline in the world.

https://youtu.be/dZno94DL-Es

Speaking of felines, we have another stray cat coming around that I’ve been feeding. I’d love to take him in, but we already have 3 cats that aren’t fond of their own kind. One who’s immune system is compromised from Feline HIV, one who is older and set in his ways and another who is a wild child to the core.

Anyway, a neighbor and yours truly are trying to find the little guy a home. If you know of anyone in North or South Carolina in need of some serious cuteness, this cat has it in spades. It’s the sweetest thing and looks no more than a year old if that.

Let’s Escape

Published on by Tosha Michelle26 Comments

Hey y’all. Happy Wednesday. Greetings from the mountains of North Carolina. We’ve on the last day of a mini vacation and what fun we’ve had. I always love escaping to this neck of the woods. It’s so peaceful and rejuvenating. I wanted to share some photos with you from our adventures.

We rented a lovely little cabin. What a serene setting, just a wonderful place to relax.

We also spent a lot of time in one of my favorite mountain towns, Blowing Rock. We did some shopping and checked out the quaint art gallery. We enjoyed our time walking around town too. The sun was on full display. Of course, we had our trusty sunscreen on. Protect your skin kids

And the best part… I can’t leave out the glorious vistas.

You Move Me

Published on by Tosha Michelle42 Comments
Hold still, time. Stop moving. 
Yet, still you run on, 
leaving us with no recourse, 
but to move with you. 
We sometimes fail to realize
that although we don’t set
the pace, we still control
the rhythm.
I choose to dance with 
you in a meaningful tango,
where every step 
counts, and the sweet 
luxury of the hours
are revered.
Listening to every jazz 
note, even the ones that 
sound blue, to enjoy every 
second of a life ongoing,
to revel in the sweetest
of air, the beauty of
the Earth.
And to be glad for each 
moment that has gone 
before, and each moment 
still to be. Moments seen, 
heard, touched, and lived
by me.
-Tosha Michelle
Photo above by your truly.
Also, two more things, here’s our latest vehicle purchase and Infiniti. Really like it.

Lastly, putting some of my covers of various songs on YouTube. Here’s one of my favorites.

https://youtu.be/156btN3xCK8

Please and Thank You.

Published on by Tosha Michelle34 Comments

When did civility become a
white chalk drawing left out
in a summer storm?
Remember when reason
was a slow moving train
passing through every
town and belt-Bible, barley,
and business suits too?

Now compromise is a locked
door, constructed of egos and
dogma. We the people fatigued
with all the discordant noise,
huddle under blankets
decorated in red, white
and the feeling of blue.

Living on a prayer with
Bon Jovi and the blessed
Mother Mary. Could we just
get an amen and a few
politicians worth a
Hallelujah or two?

-Tosha Michelle

My thoughts on “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”

https://youtu.be/Qllr4s0tJbQ

The Serenity Code

Published on by Tosha Michelle25 Comments

Hey y’all. Crazy busy week. not much time for social media or blogging, but wanted to share a new poem with you. Hope you all have a lovely weekend. 💕


Nature the universal code
for serenity at least on
heaven gifted days,
like today when we wear
spring like our Sunday best.

How enchanting
is the sun? The wind
that seems made
just for cooling?

We sit on a blanket
in the emerald kissed
grass as the air peppers
us everywhere.

Here there’s no need
for worry or statistical
musings. For a moment,
it doesn’t matter if we fall,
if we fail, here we can move
like the trees do.

Just listen to the birds
and their sated melody?
Let’s forget the world
and its insatiable desire
for “never enough”

Today the sunlight reflects
and shimmers just for you,
just for me. The Earth favoring
us with her motherly kindnes,
tenderness in every sound.

-Tosha Michelle

So Happy Together

Published on by Tosha Michelle28 Comments

Poem to follow. See under image, but first, if you haven’t seen After Life on Netflix, I highly recommend it.  It’s Just so beautifully written and acted. Here’s a link with all you need to know about the series. https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/tvfilm/after-life-what-is-it-about-how-can-i-watch-it-everything-you-need-to-know-about-ricky-gervais-new-a4085796.html


Come with me, my dear.
let’s explore the world.
The good spot always
by your side.

Let’s dine on constellations
and leave the map behind.
We’ll star in our own slow
reveal romantic comedy,
of mishaps and Sleepless
in Seattle precision.

Let’s live a life that’s
tender, wild and lyrical,
while discovering foothills,
rocky terrain, and coastal
hills and valleys.

We’ll wander together through
port cities on golden days,
passing afternoons in our
own happy haze.
At twilight we’ll embrace 
under the street lamp’s glow.

Happy to be together.
To breath, to move,
alive in our aliveness.
Here we’ll create our own
landscape for two.

-Tosha Michelle

The Calling 

Published on by Tosha Michelle28 Comments


Aware of the weaving of
of days into years. I want
to live a justified life, one
where human is always
linked to rights, where I
don’t just notice suffering
but strive to change it
I want to live a life
of meaning not teether
to logins, tweets, and likes
Before the sun dips below
the shades, I want to be
covered in dust where
the ash falls, to not just
look to the sky for answers,
but to mind the
Earth, to stoke the fire
of change, to be a lexicon
of compassion while there
is still time to change the hour.

Tosha Michelle

On a sad note.

Luke Perry, my young heart is broken. You left us way too soom, I can only hope to be spoken of as highly when my time comes. You were loved by many and according to those who knew you, were a true gentleman and the kindest of souls. The outpouring of love is a testament to the goodness of your being. Sad to see you go. This world needs all the people like you we can get.

Forever the coolest. Rest easy, sir. 

The Will Of Grace

Published on by Tosha Michelle24 Comments


Now that the worst
is over, she can finally see,
that thanks to him
she’s where she’s suppose
to be. He, her
unanswered prayer,
and what a gift
it turned out to be.
Her loss became a gain.
She’s happy now.

She’ll always be grateful
that he let her in,
finally at peace with
time spent .knowing
it wasn’t wasted.
She sees him now as
he really was.
Maybe, she always did
She’s left behind his
sideways gravity,
a half note fallen
from the sky

There was a moment when
she could have loved him
best, but the long view
had other plans.
Her bare soul now
rest with the soul
of the beloved. In him,
she sees her better self.

She hopes her unanswered
prayer is well and
living a good lived
life, one worth writing
about. Her wish is that
destructive patterns
have been broken, and
he’s full of confidence
and inner strength.

If they ever meet again,
she’ll greet him with
kindness, not bitterness,
or forgetfulness,
like the rest.

She’s thankful for every
hour they spent
Her sweet friend of
moonlight talks and
city walks.

For awhile, how she believed
in him.
How he believed in her.
For a time, how she
grieved for him.
Noe she hope
he’s happier than he’s
ever been, charming
many with his gift
of gab, content with
someone meant only
for him.

-Tosha Michelle

“I got a new life, you would hardly recognize me”

Published on by Tosha Michelle16 Comments

The last post was a bit heavy. Something lighter for a Friday. Blouse by Zara. I should buy stock, their clothes males up half my closet these days. Lipstick by Urban Decay. Giving red lips a try, and back to a darker shade of blonde. 

And

Have a wonderful weekend. In museum and antique shopping  mode here.with my ride or die (as the kids say) And that’s the tea, sis. Haha! Will also be working on my latest poetry book. It should be out this summer. I would like to donor any profits made to the National Center fot Missing and Exploited Children. 

And now a song of the day.

“I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign/  Life is demanding without understanding/ I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign/  No one’s gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong.”

Me. You. We. 

Published on by Tosha Michelle18 Comments

Thought for the day, a long one.

Individualism can be a positive thing. It’s wonderful to be self-reliant, independent, and focused on personal growth. However, it becomes less appealing when it turns into self-absorption. One of the reasons why I took a step back from social media a good while ago is because I found myself becoming too self-involved and too consumed with being liked online. It’s such an easy trap to fall in to. “Look at meeee”. “Notice me!” In the end, it’s exhausting and takes away from things that are truly important.

Of course, one of the ways we express our individualism is through the Internet. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The danger comes when it leads to self-absorption. Let’s face it, narcissism is an epidemic and social media is the root of its contagion. There’s this desire to be seen and admired. But what does it really get us? Does it improve our well-being? Life in my opinion, should not be defined by how popular we are online. Life should be defined by how we live and treat others. It’s also not so much about what we leave behind. How many times do we say, I want to leave a legacy behind? But what kind of legacy, one that’s all about us and our achievements or one that betters humanity?

One day we’re all going to turn to dust. What matters is the now. In the end, it’s not who we knew, or what we did. It’s how we lived that matters. We can write the greatest masterpiece or paint a scene that even Monet would envy but if we live a selfish, me-centered life we’re still going to be remembered as really cruddy human beings.

There’s just so much superficial bs on the internet. Just look at Instagram and all the so-called models. Okay, we get it; you’re handsome and, yes, you’re very pretty, but what else you got? What’s your soul made of? What are your thoughts on poverty and global warming? When was the last time you helped someone who was hurting? Better question, when the last time you thought of someone other than yourself?

Another scary thing about individualism aside from a self-centered mentality is that it can be isolating and a great deterrent to empathy. We are all over here living in our own little bubbles, meanwhile people are suffering, being abused or living in abject poverty. Empathy is so important. We have to be able to see things from other’s perspectives. We can’t do that if we’re constantly worrying about ourselves and our viewpoints. One just has to look at the current political climate to see what I’m talking about.

Okay, to be fair, social media isn’t the only culprit in this self-absorbed, individualistic trend. It also has a lot to do with our culture. The roots of our country are founded on independence. We also live in a wealthy nation, and that affluence can breed detachment. The more self-reliant we become, the less we depend on others. One would have to surmise that eventually this could lead to greater economic disparity. “Well as long as I’m not struggling.” However, if we don’t care about the less fortunate, who will?

I don’t know what the solution is. Maybe if we can find a balance between individualism and collectivism. In the latter, there’s a greater emphasis on others, people work together to promote change. Family and community are everything. I know for myself, I’m much happier when I get out of my head and think of humanity. My love ones are everything to me. My greatest joy is spending time with them. Of course, it’s okay to care about ourselves. We should be proud of our accomplishments and want to be liked. We should constantly be working on becoming a better human. I don’t begrudge anyone success and self-confidence, just not at the expense of others.

Let me close on a positive note. Those of us who live in the Western world have been blessed with much: civil liberties, the rule of law, democratic processes. Very few of us need to worry about being tortured or falsely arrested. We are blessed in many ways. Social media has it merits too. It can foster a lot of good. WP is an example of that. It’s lovely to see people sharing their creativity and supporting others. Social activism many times starts online. It can be a wonderful tool for rallying the proverbial troops. Facebook and its kind can be a platform for those who are lonely or shut in to connect with people globally. There’s a lot of goodness online and off. I’ve seen it in my daily life and in all of you.

Umm…just make sure you like and comment on all my posts, follow me on all my social media accounts, buy my latest book when it comes out, and notice my back to back to back workouts selfies on Insta. Baby got it going on, yo!

Sarcasm y’all.
Sarcasm. ❤️

-Tosha Michelle