Happy Day! Spring has finally Sprung!

I love going to the store to see all the Spring flowers available.  These are colorful daisies.  I couldn't resist taking a picture.  It is SPRING and has been in the mid 70's for the past week.  We have been below average for temperatures since February.

What a delight to feel the sun on my face...to touch the dew on the friendly morning flowers.

I'm sorry I've been out of touch.  I have been pretty sick for about two months--it started off with that awful flu.  Monday after the third visit to the doc, I found out I have pneumonia--I'm on tons of meds, so I hope to be getting better in a couple of days.  It will take awhile to get completely out of the woods, though.

Have a beautiful weekend, sweet friends! 

Spring has Sprung!

Today would have been our 35th anniversary.  I miss my Beloved SO much. 

However, today I choose to see what is beautiful.  Spring is here--heralded by this delightful pink weed.  I am of a mind that some flowers which are considered weeds are the most beautiful.

Have a lovely day, sweet Friends.  God is good--for Spring has Sprung!

The Light Shall Break Forth

I have not forgotten you, nor have all the people who are praying for you.  You are loved and the burden to pray has been heavy this week.  Here is the promise God sends for today, dear ones.

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, 

And your healing will quickly appear; 

Then your righteousness will go before you, 

And the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; 

You will cry for help, 

And he will say: Here am I.   

~Isaiah 58: 8, 9

He is Able--and worthy of our total trust.  Do not despair.  He is walking with you every step of each day.  When you cry for help, He will say, "Here I am."  ((hugs)) You are His beloved.

Spring has arrived here--though it is cold and snowing in most of my country.  The daffodils are springing forth with shouts of color, the fruit trees are robed in pink and white, like brides and their bridesmaids.  I heard a robin singing today, and so many other spring bird songs.  

May God bless you, dear ones.  You are in my prayers.   

The Time of the May Flower is Here

It is Spring in the forests of my childhood.  The delicate purple May Flower carpets the forest floor, along with the yellow violets we call Johnny Jump Ups.  I look forward to their arrival every year. 

There has been so much rain of late, thick moss covers the trees with green and the licorice fern thrives.  I love walking through these woodlands, where the creek runs swiftly through the canyon.  Remembering the days of my childhood--I believe I was blessed to have grown up roaming with such freedom in a place of so much beauty.

Daffy Down Dilly Greetings

These lovely daffodils look astonished to be out so soon.  Our unseasonably warm weather has brought them springing from the earth in all their happy splendor. 

I have been watching the news and my heart is filled with an urgency to pray.  This Psalm of David from the Old Testament of the Bible is for you this morning. 

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
And under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
Nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,
But it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
And see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
And you make the Most High your dwelling,
No harm will overtake you,
No disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
To guard you in all your ways;
They will lift you up in their hands,
So that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
You will trample the great lion and the serpent. 

 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
And show him my salvation.”

~Psalm 91
A Song of David
The Old Testament of the Bible

Take heart, Beloved  Friends, you are not alone.  God is with you, as are our prayers. Call upon Him and He will answer.  He will not fail you. 

Spring Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

I found this wonderful heart out beside Mom's pond last week.  It was so cute I had to take a picture.  Also, it's just perfect for Guest Heart Thursday!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Johnny Jump Up Hearts -Guest Heart Thursday

 This is what we call Johnny Jump Ups.  They are yellow violets and grow wild in the forests of my childhood. 

I was delighted to find them growing in our local park!  They've cleared the brambles away and the Johnny Jump Ups have arrived in force.

They cluster around the trees and along the pathways near the creek....

...to the delight of my darling little niece!

Happy Guest Heart Thursday!

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.
 

Pretty in Purple - Seasonal Sundays

Spring seems to arrive on the petals of the crocus.  When the world is dark, cold and grey, these beauties spring from the ground in vivid colors to brighten the landscape.

How grateful I am to Spring's little herald, the crocus.

To see more delightful seasonal photography, join Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays.  She has a wonderful giveaway this weekend to honor her 100th Seasonal Sunday and her third Blog-o-versary.  Have a lovely day everyone!

Life is good

Spring is here--the sun is shining and the flowers are bursting forth.  Lovely scents layer the air and life is good.

The tests are back!  All blood tests are normal.  There is a cyst which will be closely monitored for awhile--I will be having a mammogram every six months for awhile.  All that's left is to see a skin specialist and I will be home free.  Life is so beautiful!  Thank you for your prayers.  They have meant the world to me.

Playground Reflections - Weekend Reflections

After the rainiest record in written history, March has turned into April.  Once again there is flooding--though not as bad as the flood earlier this year.  The waters nip the edges of the parking lot...

...seeping across the lawns and into the play area.  These stepping stairs look rather like plump mushrooms.

There is something unexpectedly beautiful about this flood--the standing waters seem to reflect both past and present.

Soon the river will recede and children will play here again.  Until that time, we reflect upon warmer days to come.

To see more wonderful reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections!

Pink Blossom Hangin' - Guest Heart Thursday

I had such a lovely time, walking through the grounds and buildings of The Abandoned this  past week.  We were upstairs taking pictures from the second story office area, when I clicked this lovely flower heart.  It was as I clicked the shutter I realized there was a heart there!

I always pray for Clytie Eyes when I am out and about with my camera.  She sees hearts.  Today's photo was a true answer to that prayer!  I saw these blooms with Sissy's eyes.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

Bridal Flowering - Pink Saturday

It is sunny today--the plum tree blossoms thickly cover the trees along our street.  Such lovely pink booms--they remind me of a bevy of brides, joyfully dancing along the sidewalk.

For more fabulous pink stuff, join Bev at How Sweet the Sound!

Random Challenge - Flowers!

We've decided to take a walk each day for our health's sake, whenever possible.  This morning was lovely with rare sunshine glinting through the tulip tree blossoms.

The dew was still fresh on the daffodils smiling from the edge of the sidewalk.

I have not seen this blue of a sky in what feels like forever!  Even we Oregonians, during this record-breaking rainy month of March, have grown tired of our gray skies.  This blue just fills my eyes.

Then more daffodils starring the gardens along the sidewalk--what a lovely sight to see!

Join us in the flower challenge at Random Challenges!

Daffy Down Dilly Springtime - Weekend Reflections

Spring has arrived early this time around.  A few weeks ago, I took this picture when we were threatened with some light snow and freezing temperatures.  The snow did sprinkle the ground and the dew froze.  Here you see our garden's Springtime Daffy Down Dillies resplendent in gorgeous frozen dewdrop earrings.  It didn't hurt these miniature daffodils one bit--they're in full bloom now.  What a spot of bright color they make on this gray, gray day.

For more wonderful reflections from around the world, be sure to visit James at Weekend Reflections.

Daffy Down Dilly Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

Spring is early in the Willamette Valley.  Flowers are popping up everywhere!   I especially love the cheery yellow blooms of daffodils.  They brighten my day, and fill my eyes.

For more wonderful artwork, photography and random hearts, visit Clytie, Queen of Hearts, at Guest Heart Thursday!

Faery Greetings

Spring came early to the forests of our childhood.  Sissy and I found an amazing array of spring flowers this year.  Here is a photo of the old trees--Can you see the faery greeting in the delicate green of the forest floor?

I love to watch the seasons--walking with my darling Sissy in the woods where we played as children.  The magic is still there.

Vetch and the Bumble Bee

I finally caught a Bumble Bee collecting pollen from wild vetch blossoms.  I've always loved Bumble Bees with their sunny laid back dispositions.  They are VERY good-natured--not minding too much that a large camera lens follows them along through the flowers! 

I've loved wild vetch since I was a child--to me they look like little birds.  There are many varieties of wild vetch.  Each is quite lovely when examined close up.  There is a mother-of-pearl quality about some types of vetch.

Bluebells in my Garden

I have never seen such plush color or formation of Bluebells in my Garden before.  The flower faeries have been extra busy this Spring. 

Their blooms are nearly gone now, but when they were in full blossoming, I was sure I heard the winged folk playing their whimsical tunes in the rain.

Lily of the Valley

When I find the fragrant Lily of the Valley carpeting the ground around the pond, I am enraptured.  The beauty of this exquisite plant with its white blossomy bells smites my consciousness. 

It is no wonder the song-writer wrote, He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star.  He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

Have a perfectly lovely day!

It's about Thyme

Spring has indeed made herself known when the Thyme begins to bloom.  The bees especially love these blossoms and even the hummingbirds seem to be interested--though these flowers are very tiny.

All kinds of herbs are beginning to blossom and bloom.  They seem to be thriving even more than normal.  Probably due to our warm, wet winter and all the rain we've had this spring so far!