Companionship

Seen at a local nursery this morning
So pretty!

What Lengths Will You Go To For Morning Coffee?

I was on auto pilot this morning. I grabbed the coffee pot and was headed to the sink for water when I saw THIS in my sink ! ! ! Believe me, it put me in high-gear right away! I had to take a picture because I knew no one would believe me if I told them how big this intruder was.
But, alas, no one was impressed or appreciated my battle to regain possession of my territory!
My daughter said, "Ooooh! Gross! I didn't need to know that! I know they live in the walls, and I can live with that..." (I'm not sure how she 'knows' that, but somehow she's ok with them in the walls; at least she can't see them there.)
Then she said, "My husband better be fearless, or I'll be calling you!"
(I laughed and said, "Then you'd better be nice to me." ;)
Oh well... its amazing what a woman, who is desperate for coffee, will do!
May your day be Spider-free :)
(Gee...I hope I don't lose any readers over this!)

Blackberries

One of the advantages of walking and taking photos is you can get 'up close and personal' with the subject. Blackberry season is just beginning and I was captivated by this blackberry vine. It was in all different stages at once! The blossoms, some having just opened, were present with the beginning stages of berries forming and...

...there were also berries in all stages of ripening. Maybe I'm in the dark about blackberries, but this was so fascinating to me.

After studying the vines and taking quite a few pictures, I just couldn't resist picking some of the first ripened berries. What a treat! WOW!
They were HUGE! They were bursting with juice and my taste buds fairly leaped at the exquisite flavor! If I tried to describe it, I would sound like a wine connoisseur - which I am not. But, needless to say, I decided this was a 'sweet spot' to practice taking pictures! :)

The Call of the Wild ?

The Deer

After spending time with the Canada Geese, I drove to a neighborhood that has long been a refuge for deer. Because there's no hunting in the area or control over their numbers, the deer population has increased and I was able to see quite a few mini-herds roaming around in people's yards on Main's Farm. These two were particularly interesting to me. They stayed very close together and didn't seem concerned that I was there at all.
They gracefully made their way under this tree and checked out the spot. The young buck became aware of the berries above their heads and, several times, stood up on his hind legs inorder to grab a mouthful of Mountain Ash berries and leaves. I waited to see if she would join him in the dance, but she stayed just to the other side of the trunk of the tree. He was graceful and steady in this pose. It was so interesting to watch...
And then, I discovered how she was going to get in on the goods. After he had made several valiant attempts to satisfy his hunger, he came down on all fours to chew on a huge mouthful. It was then that his doe companion came alongside and, without protest from him, shared in his desserts! She was pretty cute, indeed! And,I'd have to say, she gave me the perfect opportunity to get my favorite photo of the day!
(click on image for enlargement)

Canada Geese

The original thought that got me out on a trek with a camera, on Sunday, was the hope of finding the flocks of Canada Geese resting in one of the near by fields. I found them not too far from home.
Because its still early, there were just a couple of flocks there. I have seen hundreds in a field like this - it is rather amazing! I hope to be able to catch a moment like that again later this year.
I am quite hesitant to walk out in the open because I don't want to disturb them. I got about half way between the road and where they were feeding, and stopped when the 'honking' sounded disconcerting because of the 'human coming in their direction'.
I really enjoy watching them root around gleaning seeds and bugs in the grasses, so I stood there for a long time. If I hadn't done anything else that afternoon, the experience of finding the Canada Geese, of being able to get some photos and to experience being so close to them would have made my day. But, that was just the beginning....
(click photos for enlarged view)

Eagles Need a Push

This is a video clip that I came across that I felt was very appropriate for this blog, for this time.

http://www.eaglesneedapush.com

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did! Bless you!

Sunday Nature Encounter - Part I

I am very happy to be able to post these photos! I accidentally deleted them from the memory card, thinking I had a real file of them on my desktop - only to find out (by learning, which is often the hard way) that the icon on the desktop was only a short cut to the memory card files!

What a disappointment! But, after many hours of trying to retrieve them by using 'free' programs online (which are only free until they show you they CAN retrieve your photos), and finding they wanted $$$ before they would GIVE me the photos, I finally decided to buy a program. I figured, "If I did this once, I could do it again!" So, now, I am prepared for next time.

This is the only pic that turned out in the set I took of some eagles. They live much too high for my camera :( But, this one I liked because of the 'mood'...

Tomorrow I will post more :)

Test Results

I surprised myself.

Pre-Algebra - 85
Reading - 94
Writing - 99 (she said it was a perfect score?)

Registered to hold a spot in English 101 Online.

Thanks again to everyone for all the prayers, cheers and
votes of confidence. You're great!

Test Today :)

Many thanks to all who have sent encouraging comments re: "Back to School...For Me?"
I am on my way to the placement test - begins at 9:30am pst. Of course, I will let you know the outcome :)
I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!
May you see something that makes your heart leap for joy!

Canada Geese

The Canada Geese are on the move! A couple of days ago, my 15 year old daughter and I were driving and I saw the 'V' in the sky - but it was headed west??? I made a comment that the poor geese are mixed up and don't know which way to migrate because of the weather - to which my daughter commented, "They're just making a flying statement." --- Aw... the voice of youth!

Tonight, I saw a large gaggle flying north and heard another in the distance. The last number of years, there have been hundreds that have settled in the fields very close to here - kind of like a 'Rest Stop'. I think tomorrow I may go see what I can find. :)

If I were a Shirley Poppy...

If I were a Shirley Poppy, this is where I'd love to grow!
This is a 'garden' not far from where I live - maybe a half mile?
I think its interesting that the flowers are planted on the outside of the fence as opposed to the inside... in the yard.
The iphone camera did ok - but it really doesn't capture the jaw dropping beauty of the play of the setting sun on the petals. (6:40pm) I'm not sure I have a camera that would do it justice.
Unbelievably gorgeous.
I don't know about you, but I think the white picket fence makes everything stand out more.

On My Walk

This evening I went for a walk on my usual route.

Nothing fancy, just a quiet rural road.

My mind wasn't fancy either.

I was on auto-pilot, but on the verge of descending.

This little poppy was growing on the side of the road.

Unpretentious, with a silk rouge complexion, it floated

and danced, as if on purpose to make me smile.

And then my attention was taken by these

tall delicate wildflowers.

I've never seen them before.

I couldn't help but stop for a while to study

and enjoy them.

This is one of hundreds of blooms on a landscape shrub.
It absolutely 'zinged' my heart!

Somewhere along the way, I looked up and realized

that I was in the middle of a gift.

The flowers (too many to put in one post)

were little messages of God's constant presence

everywhere,

in all of the universe.

On the left, the trees grow along the river.

On my right was the setting sun.

Ahead of me are the mountains.

Behind me - the past.

Only in the present moment can I take a step

that goes forward.

Only in the present moment is the Presence

with the Peace and Provision

that I need.

Yes!

Back to School...For Me???

Well, yes... I am going back to school...I think.
Its actually a pretty interesting experience emotionally for me. I was an A student in school and a B student in the year and a half I went to college. Then I got married and home schooled my 6 children - 4 have gone to college, the 5th is enrolled this year for Massage Therapy Certification; 2 went to university; and my youngest (15yrs old) will be entering the public High School this fall as a Junior; AND YET, I am really insecure as to whether or not I can 'cut the mustard' as they say.
Over the years, I feel I've lost some of my mental power, in different ways, so I'm not sure how I will do. I am pretty sure I can do an English course online, so that's where I will begin. If I can handle that, then I will proceed with caution :)
My ultimate goals? I really don't know... I am at a place in my life where I feel like I'm on the threshold of a huge expanse and not sure exactly where to put my next step. For now, I am just going to do what I can do; invest in my education (my dad said its never a waste to do so) and keep seeking what it is I am to do with the rest of my life.
That's it in a nutshell - On August 10th, I take a placement test. I'm not worried about it, but I can't help but wonder what my entry level will be!