Happy Valentine's Day!

This is a Queen Anne's Lace heart.  When summer is done, the flowers dry and curl into little nests.  This one was embellished by winter's touch.  I took this picture last year.  December and January have been unseasonably warm here in the valley--the warmest on record.

The tiny daffodils are flowering and my Rhodies are trying to bloom.  I kept telling them it was too soon--but with the springlike weather--they weren't listening.

And I was right!  This coming week arctic air is dipping into the valley and we might even see some snow.  My Grandfather called unseasonably early warm weather a "False Spring."  I love his take on the weather.  He would call an ice storm a "Silver thaw."  So much more descriptive than just an "ice storm!"  I miss him--he was my best friend growing up.

Today is bittersweet.  This is my third Valentine's Day without my Beloved husband.  This year has been the hardest in some ways.  My heart and mind are finally realizing he won't be coming back and I am truly alone.

However, instead of moping around, I have decided to celebrate friendship.  I have some of the most amazing, beautiful, wonderful friends in the world.  What a blessing they are!

May God bring unexpected joy and beauty into YOUR lives, this day, dear ones.  You know who you are, and you are ever in my prayers.

Happy New Year!

One never knows what the future holds.  Every moment is a gift of immeasurable worth.  Life has been full of changes these past three years.

At times I am melancholy, but there is also great joy.  I intend upon living every moment to the maximum.  I don't want to waste the gift of time.

Happy New Year dear Friends.  God is good.

Christmas Snow Angel

I took this beautiful photo last year when it snowed in January.  This year the weather folks say we might actually have a white Christmas.  I have not seen a White Christmas in my entire life.  To have one this year would be miraculous indeed, since there are only two White Christmas events recorded for the Southern Willamette Valley of Oregon.

One can always hope and dream.  Christmas is the stuff of dreams.  :D

Merry Christmas sweet Friends!

Sky Stretch -SkyWatch Friday

I am often inspired by the sight of trees in winter stretching toward the sky.  The sky this day was so beautiful--and the two together--sky and tree were stunning.

Have a lovely weekend and keep looking up this Skywatch Friday.

My Love

Just about now, three years ago, the EMTs were arriving to pull my husband from his chair to begin their work of trying to save his life.

A little earlier I had called 911.  With help from the operator, I had fought hard, giving him CPR.  I had done everything I could to keep my Beloved breathing.  I can still remember how his lips felt under mine as I gave him my life's breath.  After the EMTs arrived, I called our children and they soon appeared.

Right about now, Alan would be in the ambulance on his way to the hospital.  We would be following close behind...

At the hospital, I knelt on the floor next to him as they worked to save his life.  Strangely I felt his presence above the bed and looked up to smile at him.  I kept whispering for him to keep fighting.  And he did.  He tried so hard to come back.

I remember standing to the side with our children.  We were all stunned, clinging to one another.  They worked on him a long time.  I still remember the feeling of disbelief when the doctor gently took me aside to say, "It doesn't look good."  I didn't know what that meant.

They could not keep him.  He kept going in and out.  There was a strange quiet in my soul.  Then I remember whispering if he needed to go, to not worry about me, that the children and I would be alright.  Then instantaneously, unbelievably he was gone.

I felt his loving spirit there with us, as we said our goodbyes.  Suddenly my friend Theresa was there.  She had been on her way to work when God told her to turn around and come to the hospital.  And then Judy was there.

I didn't realize it, but all those who had been working to save Alan's life stood in a circle around us as we said our last goodbyes.  Tears streamed down some of their faces.  As we got ready to leave, they stood quietly grouped in the hallway. 

With tears in his eyes, the head nurse gave me his card and said, "We see a lot of these--but it is rare that we see a family handle a moment like this with such love, respect and dignity.  If you need anything, please call me."

I don't remember how I got home.  Much of the weeks and months after his death are a blur in my mind.

How so much time has passed since Alan flew away--is a mystery to me.  I am healing little by little.  And I have had to work through a lot of things.

Today I honor the love, integrity, laughter, humor, talent and dear sweetness of my Beloved Husband.  I want to thank him for the greatest adventure of my life.  And for the love he gave to me and our children.  He was a wonderful husband and father. 

I will always miss him.

Sunset's Burning -SkyWatch Friday

The smoke from the fires this summer caused the sky to burn with beautiful color.  It reminds me to pray for those who have lost their homes and even their lives.  

My heart goes out to all those who have lost so much.  

Keep looking up this Skywatch Friday.

Mushroom Fairy Condo -Outdoor Wednesday

I don't know what it is about mushrooms, but I love them.  I have been intrigued with them since I can remember.  In the forests of my childhood we found just about every variety you can think of.  We learned which of these shrooms were poisonous, and which were edible.  These, by the way are NOT edible.

But they are still quite lovely.  I can well imagine this might be used by fairies for a magical mushroom dwelling place.  Of course, I have a GREAT imagination. 

Have a wonderful day and have a lovely Wednesday, all you wonderful people!

Curling Clouds -Skywatch Friday

I never cease to be amazed by the wonderful things I see in the clouds.  I have so many pictures of the sky and I'm always looking up.  These clouds were particularly lovely. I am always in awe when I see the clouds.

"Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, The thundering of His pavilion?"  Job 36:29

Happy Skywatch Friday--it is nice to be back.  Have a lovely weekend dear Friends. 

Sky Angels -Skywatch Friday

I was so blessed to see this beautiful cloud angel bending to earth.  I caught this one over the fence outside my kitchen door.  It was still summer and I could still hear the crickets.

"This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and Rescues them. Oh taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!…"  Psalm 34:6-8

It has been awhile since I have joined in with Skywatch Friday--it is nice to be back.  Have a lovely weekend dear Friends. 

Sunset Beauty

I was driving on I-5 when this beautiful sunset blew through the windshield.  I had to pull over to take a picture of it.  My photo does not do this wonderful moment justice.

Have a lovely weekend, my Friends. 

Ah, Here Comes the Rain

Fall is here--and rain is on its way.  I am grateful for the rain, because it has halted the terrible wildfires in Oregon's Great Columbia Gorge. 

I am, however, not looking forward to the darkening days of winter.  I am already longing for the Spring. 

Have a lovely day--the good thing is Spring always does come. 

Dear Grandma Gladys

Grandma Gladys flew away to heaven two nights ago.  She has been huge part of my life for almost 35 years.  One of the first dates my Beloved and I had was to visit Grandma and her family.  She has been a delightful part of my life ever since.  Grandma's hands have been busy in our lives...and what a blessing she has been.

She was my mentor.  She taught me how to play like a child, how to be a good Mom--her creativity was always an inspiration.  I loved her stories and we often laughed together.

How grateful I am for the time I recently spent with her while her daughter was away.  We ate at McDonalds (her favorite place), giggled together and I tended to her, throughout the day, and as she slept in her big easy chair.

She is in a better place now--out of pain, able to see and jump and walk--I can't even begin to imagine the freedom and joy she has now.  She is with her Beloved Vic and is seeing the face of Jesus.

I know she's having a ball telling my Beloved husband all about what's been going on down here whilst he's been gone there. 

Have a lovely day, dear Friends--and take time to cherish the ones you love.  Life is fragile and every day is a gift. 

Smoky Skies

Yesterday, this is what the sky looked like at mid-morning.  The mid-Willamette valley where I live has been shrouded with soft, thick wreaths of smoke from wildfires in Southern Oregon, Central Oregon and the Columbia River Gorge.  One could hardly see the hills just a few miles from here.

It seems our entire state is fighting wildfires.  I am praying for rain where the wildfires are burning.  It did rain here this morning--and the air is a bit more clear.  I am grateful.

God bless you dear ones.  You are in my prayers.  You know who you are.

Rainbow Dancer

I had the privilege of attending the Shulke Farm Conference a couple of weekends ago.  What a blessing it was to see old friends and to hear all about what the folks they'd invited are doing throughout the world.

It was mid-day, when I stopped in the middle of the bridge and took this picture.  When I finally went through my photos, I was astonished to find this beautiful rainbow dancer sliding across the rippling waters of the stream.

What a lovely sight.

Have a great weekend everybody! 

Oregon Eclipse, 2017

The first thing I noticed were the birds...As the eclipse began the birds in the trees began softly calling to one another. There were Chickadees, goldfinches and a few I didn't recognize. Then suddenly there were flocks of them winging across the skies as the moon covered more of the sun. The air became noticeably cooler and the light was strangely dim.

 There was a squirrel who decided he was quite interested in all the humans watching the sky. He sat on the fence yelling at us, then decided better of it and disappeared. 

 
Shadow the Dog stood behind the humans who were staring at the sun and looked over at me as though to say--could you make them stop that?  Toez the Polydactyl Cat hid in the closet and Bootz the Humongous Cat found his way into the back of the shed. 

The colors of the flowers became luminous and vibrant in a way I've never seen before.

The shadows of the leaves were crescent shaped with the points downward. Just before the eclipse was complete, the ground wiggled, just like they said it would--VERY strange! Little waves of light covered the ground.

Then the moon covered the sun completely. The air was cool and soft...a strange twilight that seemed magical. There was a luminous ring around the sun--it was so beautiful...not something I could completely catch with my camera. We could actually see faint stars--or maybe they were planets.

The most lovely part was when the sun suddenly peeked over the edge of the moon, creating a stunning diamond ring. It was only for an instant--but WOW! SO lovely. Our friends who are here visiting had set up a camera and actually caught a GREAT pic of that exact moment. I'm SO glad.

As the moon uncovered the sun little by little, more waves of light scuddled across the cement. Then we noticed the crescent shadows made by the leaves were now pointed in the opposite direction--like little smiles covering the ground.

I was amazed at how quickly the light and heat of the sun returned--even though the sun was still at least a third covered! Of course, Mumsie and I stayed and watched as the sun was revealed completely. It was the experience of a lifetime.

The Great Eclipse is Almost Here

In ten days we will see the Great American Eclipse.  I am one of those lucky enough to live along the area where a total eclipse will be seen.  It won't happen again in my lifetime, they say!

Our town and surrounding cities are expecting a possible influx of up to 500,000 people from all over the world, starting the weekend before the event!  I can't even imagine that many people crowding into our simple country setting.  There will be fireworks, live music and other events along our waterfront.  I must say...I'm looking forward to all the fuss.

Have a great weekend! 

Black Berries

I have six thornless blackberry plants.  They were crafted by a master gardener and are the best I've ever seen.  This is what they look like just before the petals fall and the fruit is about to make an appearance.

With our record heat these berries are fat and juicy--about to fall off the vine.  They are the best blackberries I've ever eaten!

I noticed it has been almost a year exactly since I posted something here.  I broke my camera and the newer one is disappointing, so I have not taken as many pictures.  Also, this year has been one of transition.  I am no longer numb over the loss of my Beloved.  My mind is feeling the full grief of losing half my heart.  I have had to put my energy into what matters most.  But now I am back.

The haze of grief seems to be lifting a little.  Soon I will, camera in hand, go out to take pictures again.  Happy Summer, dear Friends.