For a Chuckle

Wild and Free

Some birds and some ponds. And some birds on the pond.

There are three ponds at Golden Gardens. This is a small part of the main / largest pond. Folks do fish here, but it's shallow and too reedy for swimming.

I saw these two wild turkeys on the back side of the main pond, just outside the boundaries of the park. They were heading toward the shade of the big trees. I had to zoom my phone's camera w-a-y in, and it was pointed into the sunlight which was no help at all. My hand was shaky and it was hard to keep the turkeys in the viewfinder. I was lucky to capture these two at all.

This flock of geese - and some ducks - were bathing in the small south pond. 

I must, must, must return more often!

Golden Flowers

On my second day at Golden Gardens Park I photographed these flowers in bloom 

Poppies

The cottonwood trees are in full shed mode. This fluff is the size of a tennis ball.

I thought this was a young thistle. But Professor Google says it's red clover. Quite purple and quite pretty. Thistle heads are spherical. This has more of a cone shape.

 Flax. These delicate flowers are about the size of my thumbnail.

Daisy Days

I had the opportunity to stop by Golden Gardens Park twice this week. I was reminded how good it is for my soul to take a walk around the ponds.

The daisies are in bloom all over the park.

Fields and fields of daisies swaying in the breeze.

I've promised myself to return more frequently.

Welcome Back

For the first time since Dale's cancer diagnosis in January, I've had the urge to do some seasonal decorating. Past Valentine's Day (one of my favorites!), past St. Patrick's Day, past Easter, past Dale's birthday.

This week I followed an urge. It was just a niggle, but I went with it to see where it led. 

The summer decorations are up.

I placed all the old favorites

then was inspired to create a whimsical new bouquet using supplies from my stash. 

It feels awfully good to have some of my creative spark return. I've missed expressing this side of my personality. 

Welcome back, Margaret.

Life Is a ...

As our family navigates living with pancreatic cancer, we find exceptional days of jubilee, and inevitable days when our situation is the pits.

We're all in this together. I'm contemplating the effects on me. I'm feeling older, but wiser, and gradually more capable.

Life is something, isn't it?

Cardio

Our life seems driven by a series of doctor visits. Today, it was the cardiologist's turn.

Suncatcher is from TadsaShop on Etsy

As we waited in the exam room for the results of Dale's EKG, I noticed something on the floor. You can see it there between Dale's knee and my shoe.

It appears to be a tiny paper heart.

I tell you, those hearts follow me around. 

(We had a mix of OK news and troubling news. That's part of our life these days, too).