August Blooms

The lovliest , brightest blooms are overtaking our gardens, just as the children are preparing for a new schoolyear. This is a tiny cabin garden i spotted while staying in Tofte, Mn. I know, always the art angle! Well, as busy September approaches, slow down to study the blooms near you. Meditating on beauty must be healthy.

tug

PSALM 5:3 "In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation." ~~~Its OK to get quiet. Tug on God's ear a little. I think perhaps He waits for it. When your voice filters into His ear, He turns His face, tenderly, towards you, His very own. He sees and hears what the rest of the world cannot... set aside a few moments to walk barefoot in the dew. Your Creator is listening intently.

sweet baby june

A poem about the perfect month of June!

june ~ sweet baby june ~ your midwestern guardians have patiently awaited your arrival ~ beautiful from birth ~ you captivate them ~ with your warm disposition ~ and your peony smile ~ now, they knew for eleven months ~ that you were coming ~ yet seemed stunned to actually see you ~ Forgive them ~ when they hold you too tightly ~ kissing your strawberry cheeks ~ for ~ too soon ~ they must trade you in ~ for your overheated, obnoxious cousin, July ~ you know ~ the one with watermelon juice dripping off his chin ~ staining the white stars on his tank top ~ he spits sticky seeds ~ and hollers ~ because no one dares to stop him ~ june ~ sweet baby june ~ while they can ~ they will adore you ~ they'll name other children after you ~ and show you off with frenzied pride to southern neighbors ~ its an effort ~ to convince themselves ~ that six months of ice ~ was no hardship ~ just to hold this perfect child ~ in unguarded moments ~ they will think nothing ~ of crawling ~ way back ~ behind the dusty, salt encrusted snow shovels ~ just to find for you ~ a red and white bobber.

Proceed at your own risk

Give me one pristine early morning walk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Give me three priceless sista-friends. Give me 2.5 miles of boardwalk through old Cypress stands, and telescopes to capture the delicate artistry of the Ruby-throated Hummers tiny nest- gingerly decorated with moss ~ held on by stolen spider webs! Give me giggles after reading an ominous sign," Caution, aggressive nesting Hawks, proceed at your own risk!" Give me alligator trails in the mud, and spoonbills in the perfect shade of pink. After this stroll in "the morning sweetness" as my dear friend describes it....i welcomed the looped music in my mind ~ Cat Stevens- Morning Has Broken ~ 2 days worth~ a grateful mantra ~ to the Originator of all this wonder.

Sound of Music

"cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels ~ Doorbells and sleighbells and shnitzel with noodles ~ Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings ~ These are a few of my favorite things" ~ cozy Sunday afternoon with friends... just too cold to play outside... seven kids in our king size bed? No problem with popcorn and a movie! Next, we'll fill the table top with art creations...

Salut! History, Lovely People, and Rainforest Vibe in Puerto Rico

Mofongo, El Yunque, Coquis... a few words of endearment from Puerto Rico. Mofongo: extremely edible island staple made from mashed plantains and fried meats.( you know, lots of garlic and olive oil...mmmm) El Yunque: a rain forest which captivates all ages with its beauty and creatures... like the Coquis: a treefrog that begins singing at dusk ( "co-kee!") which we tracked down with flashlights at our rented home in the foothills of the rain forest. It's lovely ~ the song changes and becomes softer, just as you're getting sleepy. Our friends, Ed and Violetta were such gracious guides ~ they named their cat, "Don Quixote de La Mancha" and their back yard overlooks El Yunque! They see daily: parrots, iguanas, hawks, etc. We hope to see them again sooner than later. Also the deep turquoise waters of the Atlantic side of the island were like a moving painting. Navigating in PR is not for the faint hearted. At one point, Jim actually said, " you just have to make them think you'll hit them first!" After we got home, Jacob said, "OK Dad, you can't drive like we're still in Puerto Rico." Those mountain roads were really fun... we didn't get to snorkel, so, we'll just have to venture back. Thanks for browsing ~ hope you can visit PR someday. and try their Spanish pastries. more photos below ~~~

the road to a friend's house is never long

Arizona beauties ~ how loved you are! i'm still chuckling about a few things... and thinking wistfully of the oranges on the trees in Adella's backyard. sigh... Tori and taylor are priceless, too. bye for now. ~nush