Charmed Life: An Anniversary Stroll

On Monday, Dale and I will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. We wanted to do something a little special -- like go to Cannon Beach to see Haystack Rock or maybe check out the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival just south of Portland. Unfortunately, at this point in his treatment, Dale is easily fatigued. Even driving on day trips becomes too strenuous. 

So today between visiting the oncologist and having lunch, we stopped by Eugene's Owen Rose Garden. It's still a park. It's still admiring flowers. But it's a lot closer to home and has paved paths that allow for steady walking.

The roses, of course, are not yet in bloom. Some of them are trying, though! Bundles of buds are beginning to form.

The early Spring flowers are already fading, like the narcissus and magnolias.

The gigantic Owen Cherry Tree, designated as an Oregon Heritage Tree, is barely beginning to bloom.

The tulips and bluebells and violets are in their full glory

And wildlife is making itself comfortable in the shade.

Dale and I plan to treat ourselves to a few more simple pleasures over the weekend for our anniversary. He'll need plenty of time to rest, though. His fourth chemo infusion begins on Monday.

Charmed Life: Tuesday Flowers

Yesterday we received a surprise delivery - a huge bouquet of flowers!

Collogues from Dale's former workplace sent them! They are total surprise and so appreciated.

We set them on the dining room table where the late afternoon light made them glow.

I also received another flower surprise in my backyard. It turns out that different colors of tulips bloom at different times. First the red tulips appeared, then the whites. A few days later the red-and-yellow color and the frilly edged ones bloomed. Yesterday? Purple!

Dale and I still find beauty in our world  every day in the midst of this challenging time.

Charmed Life: Egg Hunt

Dale and I spent Easter morning with Jodie's family. Ken made a wonderful yummy brunch of French toast, homemade berry compote, bacon, scrambled eggs, and sausage. Afterwards,  two year old Abby opened her Easter basket. That was followed by an Easter egg hunt in the backyard.

She found over two dozen eggs! (Isn't that the cutest sweater? Jodie crocheted it for her!)

It's a chemo week for Dale, so he tired out after a few hours and we headed home early. 

But look what our sweet neighbor boy left for us on our threshold!

We still live a charmed life! ❤️

Charmed Life: Tulips

Last Fall I decided to try growing tulips in six of the planters that line our patio. They're growing!

Saturday Scenes: Shotgun Creek

Guest blogger Jodie here!

Some days are harder than others. Unfortunately, I've been having a string of harder days. Last week I had a morning that was tough enough that I got stuck. Mom and Dad asked what they could do to help, and all I could think was, "I just want to go for a long drive."

They said, "We can make that happen!"

The three of us drove north of Springfield on one of my favorite country drives. Something you should know about me: I'm a sucker for brown road signs. Those are the ones that point you to recreation areas and scenic views. I remembered that one of my favorite brown signs on this road points to Shotgun Creek Recreation Site.

This area is mostly designed for people to have thrill rides on their ATVs. But our adventure was up, up, up into the mountains to Cascade View.

For a slow five miles we drove through forest in all its states: lush with ferns, burnt from wildfire, logged, and regrowing. As we climbed, we even passed through a dense cloud. Finally, we made it up as high as we could go, and our reward was an incredible view point.

We marveled at how far we could see - at least eight ridges deep. I joked that even Bob Ross wouldn't dare to paint a mountain scene with that many ridges. I've been there before, but I never get tired of it. And the journey was all the more special because I got to share it with my parents.

Some days are harder than others... but this long drive and distance vision gave me the perspective I needed to press on.

* Note from Margaret:

            It helped Dale and me, too! Time with Jodie is time well spent. 

            Jodie plus wilderness? Bonus points!

Buddy, I HOPE so!

 

Daffodil and Deer

Jodie reminded me that today is Daffodil Day. 

I took these two pictures while at the Raptor Center with our Idaho grandkids last week. On that same outing, we saw this deer.

Precious moments.