Exquisite, yet So Small

I am constantly in awe at the detail I find in nature.  The small white flowers in this photograph are so tiny several would fit on the end of a pencil.  And yet, look at them--the closer one looks, the more their beauty can be seen.

Some of you have not been able to visit over the past few weeks.  I have noticed your absence and have been praying for you.  May God bless you this Easter weekend.  He will bring you hope in unexpected places, dear ones.

Here is God's promise for you today.  "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth."  ~Isaiah 42:16

Going on a Heart Hunt - Guest Heart Thursday

It all started with breakfast.  Said I, to my darling four-year old niece, "Look!  It's a heart!"  She got the step stool so she could see.  Together we marveled over the lovely heart shape before plopping the sizzling eggs onto our plates.

Later, snuggled up into my side, my tiny girl announced, "We need to go on a heart hunt for Auntie Honey."

And so we did.

The first heart we found, was a golden stone set into the ancient sidewalk.  "Auntie Honey will really like this one," said she.

Our next heart had fallen from the tree, where it lay a'waiting.  Dropping to her knees, she marveled over it's beautiful color as it lay in the rain speckled grass.  "Take a picture of this one," she commanded.  "This one is the best yet."

We walked a bit further and discovered some wild chives and sour grass growing lush and green.  Plucking a few leaves and popping them into her mouth, she exclaimed, "Oh, this is delicious!"  Gathering a few handfuls of each, we stuffed our pockets full.  Munching a well-earned snack, we were once again off on our hunt for hearts.

She stopped suddenly.  "Well," said my tiny niece. "This isn't a heart--but it IS a Kitty face!"  She was right--and since Auntie Honey loves cats, we thought it quite perfect to add it to our collection.

Our very last heart was in the center of a beautiful pink flower.  

"This," she announced.  "Is especially for Auntie Honey, from her Honey Heart."

Then we walked home and ate fragrant bowls of hot tomato soup with stretchy yellow cheese.  

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

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!

Have You Ever Heard of a Thimble Berry?

These flowers are called Thimble Berries.  When they ripen, the petals brown and fall away, while the center becomes a succulent red berry.  It is shaped like a little cup and though there's hardly enough for a mouthful, these berries are the essence of sweetness.  

I should probably also add here, that Thimble Berry leaves are also known as "nature's toilet paper..."  

These lovely yellow flowers also grow wild near my parent's home.  At first I thought they were buttercups, but my sweet Sis Clytie did some research and discovered these are actually large leaved Avens.

These incredibly pink blossoms were all over the pine tree--I thought the color was magnificent.

This is a flag, or wild Iris.  When we were kids--we watched for these each spring.  There was something magical about their arrival in the Forest.

This is an iris whose rich colors caught me by surprise and filled my eyes to the very brim.

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.

Spring has Sprung

I found these lovelies flooding the parking lot with their pink opulence! They filled my eyes with such lush color I took their picture.

Indeed--Spring is here to stay!

Think Pink!

It has been raining "cats and dogs" over the past few days. The deluge has filled our back yard with enough water the fish pond is overflowing! Though I am grateful for the rain, it has a way of, er, damping my spirits.

I was looking through the pictures I took on our walk last week--Sissy and I have so much fun taking pictures together over at the abandonded mega-church and in the forest--and I found this photo.

These amazing pink blossoms stretching up into the blue, blue sky are growing out of a confused rubble of glass and debris. Isn't it wonderful to know beauty can grow in the midst of such destruction? There is always hope. Think Pink!

Springtime Herald

The sun came out yesterday bringing forth the flowers and me with my camera. What better herald of spring than this miniature daffodil smiling shyly through the morning dewdrops! I think she has a boyfriend--notice she coyly hugs the stem of the budding flower next to her.

There will be more of them soon--we are to have three days of sunshine in the mid-60's. Amazing. But enjoyable...though I would have loved to have seen a little winter snow before the cold season ends.

Have a marvelous week!

Pink and Gold

Last April I caught the golden light of sunset bathing these pink beauties before darkness fell. This is one of the lovely tulip trees gracing our streets. They are such fascinating trees. Their exotic blooms never fail to amaze and fill my eyes with their beauty.

I am so looking forward to warm weather and Springtime flowers.

Summer Twins

I took these pictures last summer. These lovely twins are so bright and beautiful. On this dreary grey day my eyes tingled as I looked at this photo. I think I need some sun and I have cabin fever.

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We could all do with a little good weather right now! Though I'm sure it isn't different than any other year, for some reason this winter has been the longest , darkest and dreariest I can remember. I am pining for Spring.

Twins

Last summer on a walk with my Friend Lynn, we found this unexpected bed of gorgeous flowers tucked away near the wild forest streams. The colors were so vibrant and filled my eyes so vastly I had to share their beauty with you on this grey cold day.

Ice Flowers

Just after sunrise last week, I noticed frost faeries had covered the wood with these delicate ice flowers. They bloomed a short time before disappearing. What a wonderful way to start the day! I am always amazed by the exquisite detail one can find in nature.

Pink Ladies

I love the springtime with its flowers and green leaves. I often go for long walks with my camera. Here a bevy of pink ladies giggled from the trunk of a flowering cherry tree. I could not miss them--they seemed to be utterly delighted to have their picture taken!

Unexpected Beauty

I found this gorgeous grouping of sunny yellow while walking with my sister through the grounds of the abandoned mega-church. It is so strange to view the destruction wrought here--and then to find this surprising mid-summer splash of color.

Unexpected beauty.

Two Sunflowers

When I was a child I read the wonderful book The Secret Garden. There is a gorgeous old house near here where the gardens are exquisite. They've always reminded me of the garden described in the book--even down to the swing, gates and hedge. How delighted I was to discover the owner of the home had actually planted her garden with that very story in mind!

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Daddy Update: The wound specialist believes the bone still exposed in Dad's scalp will most likely heal over by itself without surgery. Dad's tests have come back looking great. Please pray for my parents outlook--it is so hard for them to be away from home so long. We are preparing the house so they can go home sometime mid-September. We are praying we can get it done by that time--Mom must return home so she can teach the first of October.

Frills and Flowers

The combination of frills on tiny hand and lucious pink flowers fills my eyes, and puts a smile on my face. There's something about pink flowers and frills...

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I hope you are wearing a smile on YOUR face too!

Purple Beauties

In the aftermath of the storm, I caught these purple beauties tremulously peeking up from the flowerbed. They seemed to ask, "is it all over?"
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I assured them I thought the storm was past. If plants could smile in their relief, I am sure these three lovelies did.

A Faery's View

I was lying on my back in grass next to the flowerbeds, looking up through the daisies, when I surprised one of the faeries who live in my garden. (grin) She smiled and waved, but when she saw my camera, she stuck out her tongue and vanished in a spatter of rainbows. One of these days I'll catch more than just a faery rainbow.

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I know, I know--I have a GREAT imagination!