Wednesday, July 28, 2010

On Broken Wings?


I chased a butterfly in the garden with my grandchildren
and for a moment, 
all cares slipped away
as we were captivated by this delicate dance 
of gossamer wings.


 But the butterfly was illusive,
unwilling to bend to our request to hold still
so that we might catch it.


So we stood still and watched with wonder
as this breath of beauty fluttered about us...


  finally landing on a branch of it's choice, 
then slowly fanning it's wings
much to our delight. 


And then we noticed...


does this butterfly have a broken wing?


 and a missing antennae?



Sh-h-h... don't tell this butterfly he is broken,
he seems to be doing just fine.


"You can chase a butterfly all over the field
and never catch it.
But if you sit quietly in the grass
it may come and sit on your shoulder."

Author Unknown

Next time I think maybe we'll try sitting quietly in the grass!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

What Lies Down My Garden Path?


What beautiful element of my garden 
lies down this flagstone path?



I first asked this question several posts ago,
and it's finally time to take a peek...




It certainly is inviting, isn't it?

Come take a walk with me...



down this path you will find...




My Rose Garden!


Ahhh, but this just isn't any rose garden...

this is my "So Dear to My Heart" Rose Garden.


Each of these roses were selected by my children.

Each rose represents a child that I am blessed to mother.
They are indeed, the roses of my garden.
Some chose their rose for the color, 
others by their fascination with the rose's name.
The roses are planted in order of their birth.


Come...
and I'll introduce you to each one...


Sterling Silver
 

This is the rose chosen by my eldest son
who is now the Daddy to four of my grandchildren.
I'm quite sure he picked this rose because he loves his sweetheart.
This is her favorite rose. 
It was the rose she chose for her bridal bouquet.



Princesse de Monaco
This is the rose of my eldest daughter..
I knew she was a princess from the first time I gazed into her tiny eyes.
She is now the mother of her own little princess and three little princes, too!
This rose fits her perfectly. 


Perfect Moment
My 2nd son chose this rose.
I'm sure he was captivated by the name...
he's been such a perfectionist since he was a small boy.
He found the perfect sweetheart to share his life with
and together with their sweet children
they now create many perfect moments!


Easy Livin'
I smile when I see this rose, it so reminds me of my 3rd son.
As a child he was calm and easy going,
a much needed relief for this busy momma.
He continues to seek  the good life at a slow and steady pace
and his little family is filled with joy and happiness.
They have so much fun together!


Tuscan Sun
My 2nd daughter chose this rose.
When it first blooms it is a soft apricot color.
We soon discovered that within a day or so,
each blossom turns a beautiful blushing pink...
as though it is forever changing it's mind.

So like my daughter when she was younger!
(Who is now a beautiful mother with a sweet daughter of her own!)


October Glory
This is the rose of my 3rd daughter.
The fiery color is so like her!
From the color of her beautiful hair
to the spark in her fun personality...
yes, this rose fits her quite well.


Wild Blue Yonder
My youngest son chose this violet blue rose.
The name suggests the sky's the limit and that aptly describes this son.
He has a genuine love for learning and remembers everything he studies.
His drive and determination to excel is balanced by
a sweet compassion and kindness toward others.


Cherry Parfait
This rose is my youngest daughter's choice.
Just like the cherry on top of the Sundae, she makes our family complete.
The center of this rose seems to be spinning...
and that's what she keeps me doing... I'll never grow old with her in my life!


Disneyland
This rose was given to me by my children to represent my grandchildren.
It blooms profusely... and with eight children, 
that's exactly what my posterity is bound to be.
We'll soon be welcoming our 15th grandchild,
with the potential for many more to come.


♥ ♥ ♥


There are two more roses that complete my rose garden.


Arometherapy
This is the rose I chose for my sweetheart.
The aroma is simply divine.
I tease my honey that he could be   
at the School of Perfumery in Grasse, France, (a wonderful place to visit)
because he has such a keen sense of smell.


Voluptuous
This is the rose my sweetheart chose for me...
because...

well, I guess I just am!

At least he sweetly thinks so!


♥ ♥ ♥


I love visiting my rose garden! 

Sweet memories float through my mind
as I walk this garden path.

What a beautiful reminder 
of how truly blessed I am to be a Mother
and the keeper of these gardens.

Of all the blossoms in the gardens of life,
my children will always be the most cherished 
and by far the most beautiful.



Friday, July 16, 2010

The Gardener Has Returned...

                            
                While I was gone...

the fledglings flew
(Sigh... so sorry I missed that)

the weeds... how they grew!
(Got my Saturday's work lined up)

and my flowers struggle in the heat.

Oh-h-h, 
but we had such a wonderful time away!

Dancin' in the Summer Night!
♥ ♥ ♥



Sunset on the Puget Sound
♥ ♥ ♥

Saturday, July 10, 2010

SWEET Anticipation...

This is the view from my kitchen window:



This is the sound from my kitchen window:



"cheep!   cheep!    cheep!


cheep! cheep! cheep!


cheep!   cheep!   cheep!

cheep!"


♥ ♥ ♥


We have baby birdies!


After watching Mr. and Mrs. Chickadee's endearing courtship...

and their Spring cleaning as together
they tossed out all the the old furniture from the house...

and then meticulously gathered and arranged
their new furniture
into the home of their dreams...




They are now a family.


But one can only assume from the sounds
 as they are not yet allowing photographs of the newborns.


Try as I might, I can't even get a shot
of the very busy little mama.
who tirelessly flies in and out
a gazillion times a day with fresh morsels for her little ones.

She is most definitely a GOLD MEDAL Mamma!


Papa is a bit more congenial...



he allowed a photo... from afar!






Oh the sweet anticipation!



Wednesday, July 7, 2010

A Walk Through God's Garden


"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
 The winds will blow their freshness into you, 
and the storms their energy, 
while cares will drop off you like falling leaves."
                           ~ John Muir


Not far from my home, 
perhaps a 45 minute drive
 up a beautiful canyon cut from an ancient glacier...


lies this majestic mountain


and at its base...





is surely one of God's most beautiful gardens.






It is early Spring here.
The snow has not yet melted from the meadows of wildflowers
we had come to see.
Indeed, we were told, three feet of snow still lies there.
And the road was closed.



We were disappointed...
but found a few beauties along the trail.





















We'll be back in a few weeks,
after the sun's magical rays have warmed the earth below
and awakened the sleeping blossoms.
 
I can hardly wait!



Backside view from the top...
is this what forever looks like?