A Lovely Surprise

A gorgeous pot of flamboyant tulips was an unexpected and utterly delightful surprise.  Thank you, Karen and Lindi.

"Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul."

-the Koran

Wishing everyone food for the soul today.  Peace.

Perseverance

"If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking."

- Buddhist saying

Wishing you all the power of success, step by step.  Peace.

Fun

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."

-Berke Breathed

Wishing everyone the grace and  time to enjoy a  bit of silly fun.  Peace.

Success

"Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right."

- Henry Ford

You can do it!  Peace.

Spring Greeting

This arrangement of pussy willow, red dogwood, curly willow and forsythia cheerily greets everyone who visits the farm. 

"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts  well out of proportion to their size."

- G. Wister

Wishing everyone a day filled with gentle pleasures.  Peace.

Communication

"An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language."

- M. Buber

Wishing everyone the gift of clear vision.  Peace.

Spring Beauty

"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God."

- Job 37:14

Peace.

Garden Angel

"One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer."

-G. E. Lessing

Peace.

Gone to the Dogs

Happy Vida

Gracie on the run

What's Johnny Angel up to?

Gracie

"Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet."

- Colette

Wishing everyone their own perfect companion.  Peace.

Chow Wagon

I finally finished building this covered chow wagon last night.  My friends had the original idea and I modified and executed the actual product,  mostly because I am the only builder of our bunch.  It is for a contest at a local craft show.  It will be filled with food and all entries (last year there were over 100 entries) will be donated to one of two very nice local charities after the contest.

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion."

- The Dalai Lama

Hoping everyone enjoys this win-win form of happiness today.  Peace.

Spring Afternoon Break

Chevy enjoying a watery retrieve

Gracie and Vida  - splish splashing fun

The art of the tail

Pussy willows growing by the stream

Gracie shows perfect dog paddle form

"Spend the afternoon.  You can't take it with you."

- A. Dillard

And so we did.  Wishing everyone some fun in the sun today.   Peace.

Garden Dreams

This is a partial view of my new enclosed kitchen garden taken last summer.  The shredded tire mulch, raised beds,  and three-tiered fountain all serve to make it a dream come true.  It was a huge amount of work to design and build it all by myself but this year my gardening work will be so much easier.

"Gardens are a form of autobiography."

- S. Eddison

What is being written in your life story today?  I hope it makes you smile.  Peace.

Spring Fever

Homage to Spring - Fortissimo daffodils in my garden

"It's spring fever.  That is what the name of it is.  And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!"

- Mark Twain

I hope you feel the gentle warmth of the sun today.  Peace.

Friends

These two cuties are former students of mine and they are very, very close.

"Friendship is one mind in two bodies."

- Menclus

Whether of one mind or two, here's to appreciating the  special friends in our lives.  Peace.

Greenhouse Beauties

Kalanchoe looking bright and sturdy on a rainy day

Fuschia geraniums have an inner glow even on an overcast day

I love the way the flower peeks out in the midst of  the incredible chartreuse leaves

"God made rainy days so gardeners could get housework done."

-author unknown

Hmm, I guess I could do some housework or maybe I'll  just curl up in a comfortable chair with a good book and a hot cup of tea and enjoy the quiet solitude.  Peace.

A Passion For Pots

These pots are the result of an experiment I did with some new glazes.  The glaze colors are waxwing brown,  Randy's red, goldenrod shino and red gold.  I like the depth of color and the way the glazes interacted with each other.  It is always a treat to open the kiln after the firing - like unwrapping  a gift.

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

 - Twyla Tharp

Wishing everyone a joyful, creative spirit.  Peace.

Spring Fling at the Swimming Hole

Chevy and a  favorite toy goes with her on every walk

Sphinx-like Vida

Gracie's first dive into the swimming hole

Chevy swims like an otter

Gracie and Chevy in a perfect pose

Vida is always ready for the money shot

Gracie has platypus lips!

Lucy and Gracie - two water-lovin' friends

"If you want to be happy, be."

- Leo Tolstoy

Be happy.  Peace.

GREEN

spearmint in the greenhouse

french sorrel is first to arrive in the raised beds

 geraniums in the greenhouse 

"Plants cry their gratitude for the sun in green joy."

- A. Alauda

The color green symbolizes nature, renewal, self-respect and well-being.  Hoping everyone enjoys some green today.  Peace. 

Humility

Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change;

where we are right, make us easy to live with."

- P. Marshall

Wishing everyone a virtuous life.  Peace.

Forgiveness

"The weak can never forgive.  Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

 - Mahatma Gandhi

Be strong.  Peace.

March Treasure

Praying Mantis egg case

Lichen on branch

Morning's teardrop

Cat-tail reflection in the newly melted pond

More colorful lichens

"I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, 

which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright."

- Henry David Thoreau

                                          

Hoping everyone finds their own Nature's treasure today.  Peace.

Here Comes The SUN!

There is nothing like a sunny day after a long, gray winter to boost the spirit.   Vida is enjoying the sun as he shamelessly poses for yet another photo.  He loves the camera more than any other dog I've ever known.

"Little darling

The smiles returning to the faces

Little darling

It seems like years since it's been here

Here comes the sun, do do do do 

Here comes the sun, and I say

It's all right"

song lyrics Here Comes the Sun - theBeatles

What song are you singing today?  Wishing everyone happiness and the warmth of the sun .  Peace.

Anticipating Spring

"To See A World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour."

- Wm. Blake, Auguries of Innocence

The sun is shining, the snow is melting and I didn't need to wear a jacket outdoors today so I am thinking Spring thoughts and celebrating the ultimate arrival of Spring.

Hoping everyone enjoys a favorite poem and the gentle warmth of the Sun today.

Peace.

Lucy and Gracie

Lucy is a labradoodle who comes with her owner to walk the trails with us several times a week. Gracie adores Lucy but Lucy really can't be bothered by young Gracie and prefers to run and hunt in the prairies by herself. At best, she tolerates Gracie and that is it. Gracie, however, greets her with fresh enthusiasm every single time she meets her again. She lives in the moment, enjoys her company and accepts Lucy exactly as she is.

"To be wronged is nothing unless you remember it."

- Confucius

I wonder if Confucius learned any of his wisdom from his dogs. Of course, a wise man like him would have had some pets! May your memory only seek and hold the good close to your hearts today. Peace.

Very Strange Dog

Have you ever seen an eight-legged dog before!? Well, now you have. It was one of those times when you see something and wish you had a camera, and, then, lo and behold, the camera is actually in your hands when you need it.

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time."

- Betty Smith

Here's hoping you find your own eight-legged dog today to make you smile. Peace.