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).

Path of the Stars

Dale and I are sprucing up our home's exterior this year. After laying down a fresh layer of mulch on the yard, and power-washing all the concrete, we moved on to lighting.

We added new post-top solar lights, bringing a soft glow to the fence we share with our neighbor.

Then we added lights lining our driveway and the path to our front door. 

The way the light spreads into stars on the ground is incredibly pretty. 

Just Because

Yesterday our daughter Jodie brought her dad and me this lovely bouquet ...

just because.

Vibrant Owl at Night

I took Tuesday and Wednesday off work around the house to make strides toward a couple of my 26 in 2026 Goals. I put a puzzle together while starting to binge listen to the podcast The Best People.

This is a small puzzle, only 350 pieces and a finished size of 12" x 20". It's small in size but has an enormous impact!

Wow! Just look at this illustration close up!

It's another cheapie puzzle from Dollar Tree. This just proves that hours and hours of puzzling enjoyment can be had for less than two dollars (tariffs be damned!)

The setting sun.

The galaxy.

Gorgeous!

Take Note!

I loved having pen pals when I was a kid. Receiving a letter in the mail was a highlight, so I started the tradition with the next generation. 

It's been a while since my older two grandkids and I exchanged letters. Yesterday I remedied that lapse. I made each of them a card with their favorite animals. 

Melody's

Annalee's

Inside I wrote them each a personalized limerick.

Melody's

Annalee's

It's a sweet nothing from Mimi to her favorite Idaho girls.

Forest Village at Night

Wow. This is the first puzzle I've done in three months. That's fairly unusual for me, but understandable considering how distracted Dale and I have been.

It's 500 pieces by Puzzlebug. This is the brand I purchase from Dollar Tree. I check for new puzzles each time I go in - not because I need more puzzles! I have shelves of puzzles ready to put together. No, I like their small size and small price. I often do these small puzzles by myself rather than Dale and I putting them together as a team.

I prefer puzzles with illustrations rather than photographs. I also like bright colors. If they are whimsical, that's an added bonus.

This puzzle has all those qualities.

My goal is to complete 10 puzzles this year. I think that's still attainable.

Solving a Problem

My problem? I have a pegboard over my Studio worktable which holds some of my frequently-used sewing and craft tools. I'd hung it on the wall with some Command Wire Toggle Hooks, which worked well for a number of years. But last year, the adhesive failed and I wasn't sure how I wanted to re-hang the pegboard. 

Then I learned about these double-headed picture hangers. Best described as fancy push pins, they're great for hanging light framed pieces on the wall. They leave a very small hole behind. (Rather renter friendly, I'd say). The bottom "head" is flat and lies flush against the wall. The top head is spaced about 1/4 inch above. This way your frame can rest on the post between the two heads.

I highly doubt this is a new invention, but I only learned about it a month ago.

I was able to put a line of five or six of these pins in the wall. It's as easy as pushing in a thumb tack. No tools needed. With Dale's help, I lifted the pegboard onto the hangers. The frame surrounding the pegboard rests easily on the little posts. The weight of the pegboard is evenly distributed across the line of pins, so it feels secure.

Getting this pegboard back on the wall was the exact incentive I needed to clear my work table. That, in turn, helps clear some of the clutter in my head and is a first step toward helping my creative spirit to return. My creativity has taken a nose dive ever since we received Dale's difficult health diagnosis at the end of January.

I still haven't been able to latch onto a craft or sewing project to work on. But I did put my cleared work table to use by constructing a small jigsaw puzzle for the first time in months.

A Julie Gem

 As I decluttered the sock box in my closet, I came across this pillow/sachet gift.

Considering the date, it was very likely a handcrafted Easter gift. These were some of Julie's first efforts in hand sewing and embroidery. Finding it again warms my heart.

It's approximately 4" x 6", made of a gauzy-ish fabric, stitched with a single strand of brown sewing thread, stuffed with polyester fiberfill. 

What a precious gift from my "11-1/2" year old daughter.

Mimi-Abby Time

Jodie and Kenny received some much needed rest and recouperation while I had a couple hours with Abby at their neighborhood park. This little two year old is such a joy!

On our walk to the park, she named the colors of each flower we walked by.

She took quite a bit of time following a bee who was flying from dandelion to dandelion. She'd bend w-a-y over and remind herself, "Don't touch!" even though she kept reaching out.

Take off! 

She liked blowing the seeds of the ripened dandelions, too.

We played on slides and the rock wall and the ladder and the twirling pole and the bouncing bug. We counted holes in the play structure's platform. We went from tree to tree, finding big sticks. She paraded around with the stick that was even taller than she is.

But her favorite thing to do at the park is to play in the sandbox. I helped her form a forest of sticks ... which she counted as she pulled them out and tossed them.

Dale and I are incredibly blessed to live near this little sparkle girl. The sun and the outdoor play were good for both of us. Mommy said Abby was well worn out and took a good nap that afternoon.

Azalea's Turn

In the parking lot at our doctor's office ...

the azaleas are bursting with color

and whispering the secrets of Spring.

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.