Red leaves

Finding autumn colors as we wander the trails. 

I love this time of year... when it's sunny. 

Linking to Lisa's Chaos-Macro Monday

Mellow Yellow Monday, 

 Ruby Tuesday

The art of remembering - Jen

Remembering Jen

my sweet darling baby girl

You are in my heart.

My sweet little Jen

always exploring new things

such curiosity! 

Beautiful young woman

graduating with high honors 

your spirit shining through.

My beautiful Jen

I will always remember 

You are in my heart 

The Art of Remembering as we approach Dia De Los Muertos

Fairyland

After heavy rains

a fairyland of mushrooms

growing in the shade

Along the garden path 
a mushroom toppled in it’s growth

forms a random heart. 

Everyday brings new discoveries in my backyard. The fairy land appeared overnight after a heavy rain. And imagine my delight at finding the fallen mushroom growing out of the wood chip mulch, showing the heart of the garden. 

Enjoy more Haiku my Heart with Rebecca @ recuerda mi corazon

Mountain Trail Discovery

Climbing up a ledge

on a rocky mountain trail

heart discovery

Discovered as I hiked around Heather Meadows with my husband, sharing the joy of a beautiful day with the person who makes my heart full.

It's so interesting to me to look at one of my pictures later, and see the other hearts that appear around the "obvious" heart I first noticed. How many can you see? 

I must stop and pay closer attention as I wander. Who knows what other treasures I am missing. :)

See more random hearts with Clytie at Guest Heart Thursday

Sharing with meri on Share the Joy Thursday

Paths on the Mountain

Drawing energy

amid the autumn colors

on the mountain trail.

Last week I spent a lovely day with my husband at Heather Meadows, near Mt. Baker. This was one of the paths we wandered... headed down to Bagley Lake.
There is something about being out in such a magnificent natural environment, you can feel the energy emanating from the rocks and trees as you wander about.
Quite the rush!

And this is what we discovered imbedded in the pathway as we climbed back up the hill from the lake.

Linking to Lisa's Chaos-Macro Monday

Mellow Yellow Monday, 

 

 Ruby Tuesday

 Guest Heart Thursday

Artistic Influence

 

A Remembrance of  Two Artists who Touched My Life 

Celebrating you

sharing your artistic soul

 teaching with your heart

When I was tiny, Aunt Rosemary and Uncle Dick took my big sister Janie and I to the Rose Parade. We got to sit on camp stools, or Uncle Dick's shoulders. And eat cotton candy. They were two of the early loving influences I had in my life. 

Aunt Rosemary was a school teacher, and had the most amazing art supplies at her house! They lived a few hours away, and we'd get to go visit for several days with the whole family. And we'd play and create! She encouraged my artistic exploration early in life.

We lost her several years ago, after a brief illness.

Another influence on my artistic exploration was my friend Sherri. Several years ago I serendipitously met someone at a photo copy shop, who invited me to join an art group meeting at her home, and Sheri was one of the artists there. I took a series of Visual Journaling classes from Sherri shortly thereafter, where we would play and create. Those classes, and the art group, began my exploration of mixed media which has become my passion.

Sherri was an encouraging teacher and friend. We lost her very suddenly last February.

This picture of a heart shaped rock wall, taken by my son on one of his trips, honors these two people who have been influences in my artistic life.

Heart Full Day

A beautiful day

exploring the mountain trails

before the snow flies.

Peaceful looking view

A distant sound of thunder

Avalanche occurs.

It has already snowed at the higher elevations, as you can tell from Mt Shuksun. The sun warmed the snow enough for a small avalanche while we gazed at the view and took pictures. It was a slight flurry of snow in one of the crevices.

This heart happened along as we wandered on one of the paths. Looking at the picture later, I see a few other hearts. It's amazing how they just appear.

It was a beautiful, peaceful, heart-full day out in nature with my husband. Life doesn't get better than this.

See more random hearts with Clytie at Guest Heart Thursday

Sharing my joy of a beautiful day with meri on Share the Joy Thursday

and Haiku my Heart Friday with Rebecca @ recuerda mi corazon

Rose Hips

Wild rose gone to seed

crawling through the shrubs and trees 

shows its flash of red.

Linking to Ruby Tuesday

Angel wings

Quietly sitting

she keeps the vigil going

for the one we lost.

Participating in Straight Out Of the Camera Sunday

Find more macro shots at Lisa's Chaos-Macro Monday  

Remembering Grandma

Memories of Grandma

making little girls feel special

when we came to tea.

My Grandma Rose was an amazing woman, who made each of her grandchildren feel precious to her. It's a gift few have. This is one of the two photos I have of Grandma with me. My older sister Janie and I were having a tea party with Grandma. I cherish this photo.

Grandma survived the death of three sons in WWII, and her husband in a trucking accident, all within a few years. She was a strong woman who raised the remainder of her children as a single parent, including my mother, the baby of the family.

We lost Grandma when I was eight years old, but she has never left my mind. I've always considered her my guardian angel. If you look closely, you can almost see her wings.

 Celebrating Dia de Bloglandia with the folks at recuerdo mi corazon

 

Gourds

End of summer gourds

as a welcome to our guests

sitting on the porch.



Bought this week at our favorite Garden Spot Nursery, just to make things festive! 

Hump Day Haiku - Lavendar

Lovely lavender.

The memory of my daughter

continues to bloom.

This lavender plant was bought at the Cascade Cuts plant sale last spring, because it was named Jennifer. My daughter name. We lost her three and a half years ago. It was so lovely with pale leaves, that I had to have it. The blooms, when they arrived, were more blue than lavender on long sweeping stems.

We planted it in a pot on the deck and it's been blooming for months, and continues.

I have not been able to get a good picture of this plant, so this inferior photo will have to do. 

Submitting to Haiku My Heart Friday.

Rebecca @ recuerda mi corazon

I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes... and decided as a challenge for myself, I'd continue. And so I have.

Rosemary Cheddar Fingers

 

By request, I'm sharing the recipe for Rosemary Cheddar Fingers. This recipe card was made for me by WildHolly last year - in real life Holly Gagnon, a friend from atcsforall,com.  She's a fabulous artist and fabulous cook! I made these for the annual Halloween party with our art group on Sunday. I used reduced fat sharp cheddar, egg substitute, and organic butter, so they are quite healthy. And really are quite good! 

My husband loves them, and as we ate the left over pieces with dinner tonight, informed me that we need to have them around all the time. Okay, sure. I'll show him where the recipe card is kept. *wink*

Changing Leaves

Dreary rainy day

brightened by the color splash

of a nearby tree

Leaves that frame a heart

peeking though the left branches.

Hearts are everywhere.

Linking to Ruby Tuesday

Find more hearts with Clytie at Guest Heart Thursday

Seed head

Emerging seed heads.

Reminder that the summer

flowers are now spent.

This love in a mist came from seeds shared by my Auntie Ruth, many years ago. I was thinking today that the many plants I have in the garden, from seeds or starts by various relatives and friends, is another way to honor and remember them.

Participating in Straight Out Of the Camera Sunday

More Macro shot at Lisa's Chaos-Macro Monday  

  

Also linked to Mellow Yellow Monday

Autumn Joy

Autumn discovers

sedum growing in the yard

red blooms and green heart.

Linking (a bit late) to Clytie at Guest Heart Thursday

 Also, this is my first time submitting to Haiku My Heart Friday.

Rebecca @ recuerda mi corazon

Fungi haiku

Fungi in the yard

growing through the cedar chips

emerge with the rain.

It fills me with joy

to wander in the garden

new things all the time.

I have no clue what type of mushrooms these are, but with the recent (and continuing) rain, they are popping up all over the back yard. The furry looking heads start to poke through, and then they split in to a spiky flower looking head.
Wandering in the garden always brings new discoveries.  


I started doing Hump Day Haiku with Carla Sonheim's Silly classes... and decided as a challenge for myself, I'll be creating Haiku every "Hump Day". 

Linking to Share the Joy Thursday