Memorial Day

One of the traditions my husband and I have created, is to go share a beer with his Dad and Mom on memorial day.

We frequently visited in the afternoons when Mom was still alive, and enjoyed a beer together chatting about her garden and what she'd done that day. His Dad passed before we were married, but I understand he also enjoyed a beer after work. We started doing this and it's stuck.

You may think I'm odd... and you're probably right, actually... but I have a small canister with some ashes from my daughter in the glove compartment of my car. So she came along and we all had a good time enjoying the chilly late afternoon.

May you find a peaceful way to remember those who have passed from your lives.




P.S. The flowers are from our yard, coral bells, wild strawberry, columbine and forget me not. (Flowers from the yard is also part of the tradition). The carnation and flag were awaiting us when we arrived... thanks to an unknown benefactor.

Faces in the Rocks

Our "Seeing Circle" challenge for this past week was "spooky". I wasn't sure at all what to do with the theme... and the first half of the week we were camping, and nothing about it was spooky to me. 

We hiked down to the river every day, and wandered along the shore. I always look for heart rocks, or other interesting shapes. 

Well, I came across this:

It looked a bit skeleton-ish, so I decided it may work... a spooky faced rock. 

Then I came across this: 

Doesn't it look a bit like a monkey-ish skeleton head? 

And then this appeared: 

A long skinny face was looking at me! 

About the time I came across this rock...

I decided it was just too SPOOKY how many faces there are in the rocks! 

I did come across a heart rock too... 

There's always one somewhere along the shoreline, if you look hard enough.

Wildflower Wonderland

We're just back from camping at Rasar Park along the Skagit River... our favorite campground. Lush green trails and a high river. Watching an eagle perching high in a tree across the river, and then soaring across the water to another tree. They must have a nest near by. 

Walking the trails was a woodland wildflower paradise! The wildflowers were everywhere, all jumbled together carpeting the forest floor along the trail.

This fairy looking trail was just off our campsite...

As was this Western Trillium. It's the only one we saw still in bloom.

There was an abundance of fungi as well... this little clump looked like a fairy garden.

And the ferns were in various stages of unflolding... their tips all curled funky.

How blessed we are to have such beauty so close to home. 

Invitation

The Seeing Circle theme for this week is "Invitation".  This was my interpretation, taken at a local wholesale nursery (who is holding a fundraiser plant sale this weekend) just before the volunteer orientation. Their invitation: "Fill Me".

A star along the trail

I love going out for walks with my husband. He is so alert to nature and the wildlife along the way. We see things with different eyes, and it's fun pointing things out to each other. It had rained hard the night before, and the sun was thinking about staying out for a while, and this little star appeared along the trail, in the midst of a variety of green leaves (aka weeds). I loved the texture.

We never know what little treasure we are going to discover along the way.

Be Kind Anyway

A friend shared the following on Facebook. It seems quite appropriate right now... many of my family members and friends have noticed that there is a plethora of selfishness and unkind acts in our lives of late. 

I believe we can counter that by "being kind anyway".  After all, the only person I have control over is myself, and I chose to Be Kind Anyway. Enjoy!

Be kind anyway 

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway. 

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

--- Kent Keith (originally), later tweaked by Mother Teresa

Footnote: The photo is of an Evergreen Clematis that did not survive the last winter. It was so lovely, and I miss it this year.

Seeing Circle - Release

A group of friends, most long distance, are participating in a "Seeing Circle", taking photographs or creating art that relates/represents a different theme each week. This week's theme is "Release - Releasing". My contribution is a photo of our beech tree, just a few days ago as it was finally releasing the old dried up leaves as the new growth pushed forward. In just three days, all the old leaves are gone and the new leaves are releasing their energy into the universe. It's a fun transformation to watch.

Alyssum

My sweet man brought home a flat of alyssum for me. Oh my, it smells wonderful. Aren't I a lucky girl!

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there. Furbabies count, by the way. :)

Dreaming of Sunshine

And bees and sunny yellow flowers. I was advised on a recent walk with my sweetie, that these particular dandelions are perfect for making dandelion wine. The bees sure seem to like them.

Helping Hands for Japan Auction TONIGHT!

Check out this fundraiser for aid to Japan - which is held tonight! A good friend is hosting, and many of my friends have donated their art to help. Check it out here http://hhfjauction.blogspot.com/

Stylish Blog Award

I received a special surprise a few days ago. My online friend, Rhonda of Roban Studios awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award! We have recently been involved in the 2011 Project 365 together, and I adore her art! You must check out her blog … and don’t forget to look for the continuing story of Wormy and Wormelia http://robanstudio.blogspot.com/. 

As part of the award, there are duties I must fulfill. The rules are as such:

Thank the person who gave the award, and link back to their blog.

Share 8 things about yourself

Pass this award onto 8 Individuals who you have recently discovered.

Leave a comment so they can pass on their recognition.

So here are eight things about myself:

* I live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, in the northwestern corner of the Pacific Northwest, and love to photograph it.

* I am a self-taught mixed media artist, who loves learning by making a mess.

* I am a nature nut, a Habitat Steward with the National Wildlife Federation, a member of the Native Plant Society, and brand new member of the North Cascades Audubon Society. 

* I married the love of my life 16 years ago, (another nature nut) and moved from a drier, warmer climate to this fairly wet sometimes chilly corner of the world, and have learned to love sweaters and light jackets and the wonderful sunshine when it comes. (It's not here today)

* I love birds, and adore watching them in the yard and at the feeders, and on my walks.

* I love getting out and digging in the dirt, growing flowers and vegetables, and native plants.

* I enjoy cooking, most of the time, and am continually tweaking recipes. 

* My favorite dessert is fresh sliced strawberries over angel food cake; sometimes it can have whipped cream but it’s not necessary.

These are the blogs I've recently discovered that I would like to pass this award to:

Cheryl’s Excellent Adventure http://mysticmissive.blogspot.com/

Blue Dahlia Studio http://bluedahliastudio.blogspot.com/

2 Bags Full http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.com/

Hartwood Roses http://hartwoodroses.blogspot.com/

Art by Phoenix http://artbyphoenix.blogspot.com/

Yours Artfully http://yoursartfully.blogspot.com/

Seeking for Art http://seekingforart.blogspot.com/

A Whimsical Bohemian http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/

Thanks again, Rhonda! :)

Note to those I’ve awarded the Stylish Blogger: Please do not feel obligated to send on the award. I just wanted you to know that I enjoy your blogs and think you should have an award for it. And as far as I can tell, there are no blog award police wandering blogdom. :)

Virgina Rail

What a beautiful day for a walk! I went to Scudder Pond again, to check on mama goose. She's still on the nest, head up today watching all the folks wandering past on the trail. Saw mama bald eagle on her nest, she was sitting up enjoying the sunshine; you could see her white head and shoulders. And I wandered back and forth over the trail where the owl nest was, and could not for the life of me find the tree again. How silly, but I enjoyed the trail and you could hear the water in the creek. I stood and watched a downy woodpecker just off the trail for a bit, and managed to get a picture.

I was most excited today because I actually saw the elusive Virginia Rail. Only because three guys with cameras were lurking near the goose nest, looking at the cattails. I stopped and watched with them for a while and got lucky! By golly, a photo! :)