Forest Full of Flowers

After our daughter Jodie got off work, she gave me a call and asked if I'd like to go for a walk with her at her favorite park. She led me to a wooded part of Doris Ranch I'd never seen before. I was looking forward to taking my "big girl camera" out for an expedition. My first attempt was to photograph a deep purple lilac. But ... nope. My camera battery was completely dead.

No problem. I'll use my phone's camera. Nope. I'd left my phone in my car at her house. So after having a little "stomp-around" in my head, I switched gears. After all, after months and months, I got to spend one-on-one maskless time with Jodie in nature!

Fawn Lily

It was so lovely. The tall trees formed a canopy over the garden of wildflowers in full Spring bloom. There was a gentle rain, but on the narrow dirt path, we were protected from the mist by our tall wooded friends.

False Solomon's Seal

Jodie was able to name many of the plants, and to take a lot of gorgeous photos with her phone's camera. It was such a delightful way to spend the late Friday afternoon, especially because I'd had a fairly anxious week (involving contentious emails with a financial institution, a bad Yelp review, a low-grade fever for an entire day, a difficult doctor appointment, and rats under our house).

Camas

For a few hours, I had beautiful company, and gorgeous surroundings.

Checker Lily

'twas an excellent way to end a month.

Throwback Thursday: Rock Flower Portrait

Three years ago, when living in Idaho, I took a walk down to the Spokane River. I created little art pieces along the way with bits of nature I found on my path.

The river was running low, and I was able to walk along the gravel that is usually covered by water. I gathered some river rocks and a stick from the nearby pine trees, and created a flower portrait.

I adore how looking at a photo I took can evoke such lovely memories and feelings of well-being.

The Spectrum and the Spark

God meets Man

Like a comet streaking to earth

Brilliance in the midst of gloom.

More Passenger Seat Photography

Fireside Companions

I pulled out a 300 piece puzzle last week. This is another illustration by Charles Wysocki.

This Americana scene depicts a traveling library (book store?) coming to town. The residents popped outside on this stormy, windy day to take advantage of the occasion.

Here are some of the details:

The mobile library with neighbors waiting in line.

Finding a spot in the grass, under a tree, to rest with your pup and read.

Or taking a spot on the grass in the strong breeze.

I love the name of this shop, "Loafers and Dreamers." Sounds like a place I'd like to visit. What do you think the building holds? A hotel? A pub? A gift shop? A restaurant?

I think you've find me here most often: Puzzle Hall.

What do you think? Itchy underwear made of wool, all the way from Boston. My, that's a dapper gentleman at the helm!

Under the Stormy Sky

 More passenger seat photography

Supercell

So, this may not technically be a supercell because it was not rotating and the rain from it was fairly gentle. But it was huge -- miles and miles across -- and had the typical shape. It may have been two or three layers of clouds stacked on top of each other. It looked like a gigantic column of clouds with a big mushroom head on top.

Eye-popping!

#passengerseatphotography

Slideback Saturday

 I love this old photo of myself. Little Mimi.

Classic 50s wallpaper in our dining room.

Short bangs cut by Mom.

Crooked teeth.

"Poor boy" knit shirt.

Mondo booster seat. (I used to hide peas underneath it).

And the grin...

In that moment, I was a happy kid.

#slidebacksaturday

I Want to Live!

Once there was a tree ...

who lived in a small dark corner of a front yard. The tree wanted to grow big and tall, but the trunk had been irreparably damaged before these owners moved in. 

Besides, the corner between the fences was too small. The branches started inching into the neighbor's yard to gather more light. And it patted the windows by their stairwell. The tree grew taller still, and climbed on the porch roof.

The owners said, "Uh, no. Good try, but no." 

For six months, the owners lopped off one branch at a time, cut the branches into small pieces, and put the bits in the "yard waste" container every two weeks, for the owners had no pickup truck to haul it whole to the dump.

Then came the winter rains. No more lopping. The tree waited. Moss covered the trunk.

In the Spring, the tree gave one last plea for its life.

"I want to live!"

#cornerofmyhome

My apologies to Shel Silverstein and The Giving Tree.

Bug-Eyed

 I found this painted rock literally in the middle of the street while I was on my afternoon walk last week.

So cute, eh?

But then ... #everythingsbetterwithgooglyeyes

Still Celebrating

 It's a week since our official 30th wedding anniversary, and Dale and I are still celebrating in small, sweet ways. 

We broke out the official paper napkins.

I gave him a reminder of our years as parents, stepping on Lite-Brite pegs in the middle of the night,

and we're showering each other in love

with more small joys to come.

Doo Doo Doo Lookin' Out My Back Door

 The sunsets seen from my back yard are phenomenal

The cloud formations are majestic.

Better

Googly eyes make everything better.

Even a tissue box.

Vaccine Fatigue

As anticipated, I'm feeling a little wonky after receiving my second dose of the vaccine. I spent the day watching YouTube videos, and resting here.

Could be worse. Lots worse. I'm eternally grateful Dale and I weren't struck by the virus itself. 

Sundays are meant to be lazy days anyway, right?

No. 2

 So grateful!

Only two more weeks and we'll be ready to travel. If all goes well, we'll see our granddaughters for birthday fun! 

And hugs! We'll get to hug!

Red on Red

 

on red

on red.

I noticed a lot of red while on my walk this afternoon.

Throwback Thursday: Tulips

Looking back to 2006 when I planted a whole lot of tulips in our back yard in Post Falls.

Pretty!

Color at the Curb

 

And this little ditty:

Colorful Tulips
by Lamar Cole

Tiny Tim would probably tiptoe through the tulips.
He and his sweetie would lay there and drink mint juleps.
They would enjoy the beautiful sunshine.
And he softly kissing his lady so fine.
And softly stroking her hair of blond.
Enjoying the colorful pretty tulips and having so much fun.

30 Years and 1 Month

It's our 30th wedding anniversary!

Dale skipped work so we could spend the day together. We took a drive west to the Oregon coast, then south to Coos Bay, then finished the loop by driving back through Roseburg. Such a gorgeous sunny Spring day! We completely enjoyed the weather, Oregon's beautiful countryside and small towns, and each other's company.

On the way home, we picked up dinner from Outback Steak House. Before the meal we shared our family blessing cup which we first used during our wedding ceremony.

Since we didn't get to have the anniversary party we wanted with family and friends, and since we felt fairly stuck and non-celebratory for the last year, and since we'll have our second vaccination next weekend, and since we'll be more able to travel near and far freely two weeks after that ... well, we've decided to celebrate our 30th anniversary for the next 30 days! 

I have a few more small surprises up my sleeve, and Dale's hinted he has some treats for me, too.

Red Rhodies

The next wave of Spring flowers is coming into bloom.

This time, the rhododendrons.

I captured these photos with my phone's camera. I'm looking forward to getting out with my Canon in some prettier light. These showstoppers are not seen to their best advantage here.

But it's a start.

Behind the Scene

I'm so grateful for the daffodils blooming in our front yard. Their yellow glows in the morning light. They dance in the Spring breeze as they shake off an early shower.

Growing daffodils along with other families on the block gives us the feeling of belonging to our neighborhood.

Tulip Tinka

Across the street from the pink tulips live these tulips with pointy striped petals.

They are thriving in a bed full of perennials. What a joy!