Some more things I love.....

Columbine. I did not know I loved Columbine, until I discovered who she was....and isn't she just lovely? What a flower.

And connecting with a friend who you haven't talked to in a few weeks, who you absolutely adore and miss all the time that you haven't talked to her and you get to talk to her and it's like there was never a time when you didn't talk to her.....and making plans to hang out with said friend! And talking about all the things you've missed over the few weeks when you missed her.

Remembering that you have many creative facets and finding that you are ready to revisit some other forms of creativity you've let rest for too long.

Having a new roommate and finding out more about a friend as you spend time with them.

Watching an AMAZING fireworks show, courtesy of Mother Nature, completely unexpected and not typical for my geographical area......continual lightning for 30 minutes, with thunder on a contintual rumble following the lightning by at least 5 minutes. Dwelling in the awesomeness of the power behind a storm so energetic. I think I am literally charged with electricity right now. Kid you not, the storm just moved in within minutes and the light show just would not stop. In all of the years I've lived here I have NEVER witnessed a storm of this quality. It reminded me of an eastern seaboard type storm, all fire and drums!

Finding middle ground at a job you're not in love with, in order to stay while you need to. (because of this, I am oddly calm and comforted by a sense that everything is going to be okay and it will all shake out like it is supposed to).

Enjoynig a book, whilst cuddling with Texas on my bed.

Instead of choosing to fall off the wagon (not that I would, but, it's fun to tease about), buying my version of a bottle of wine - one pound of See's candy and endeavoring to savor each peice as an individual dessert....HA!

Hearing my BEST friend tell me the tests came back and she DOES NOT have diabetes and all of her 'numbers' are within normal ranges! Yippeeeeeeeee!

Remembering how lucky I am to, have a job, friends, a place to live, food to eat and a dog to love, not to mention, Chocolate!

A small, smattering of what brings me joy, peace and comfort....

I love the surprise of something in bloom wafting through my front door, only to discover it is the orange tree in full bloom in my neighbor's front yard. I love the sun as it shines through the leaves on the tree in the front yard and the pattern the shade creates on the porch. I love the watchful eye of my small dog as he observes me working around the house, hopefull that I will perch soon so that he might rest his chin upon my leg. I love the feeling of a freshly made bed when you crawl into it for the first time. I love long conversations with a friend who you can say anything to, or nothing at all and she still knows what you mean, or who finishes your thoughts even before you know what the rest of your thought is. I love believing that everyone is made perfect and whole just the way they are and wanting each person to believe that for themselves. I love the ritual of brewing a pot of tea, the loose leaf kind, in a china teapot with boiling water and then using sugar tongs and cubed sugar to sweeten it. I love boiled shrimp, hot or cold with drawn butter. I love picture frames, so much that I have 3 HUGE rubbermaid tubs full and that I have to fight with myself not to buy any more. I love new books, especially if they are on sale, books big, small, fiction, non-fiction, hardback, paperback, jacketed, unjacketed. I love new music, too, country, new, old, classic, rock, 80's, 40's, 70's, big band, classical, celtic, Christmas. I love seeing the hummingbirds at the feeder, especially when I didn't know they had found it yet. I love watching for my seeds to germinate and seeing the tender seedlings as they break the surface of the dirt in their little germinating houses. I love Fourbucks' peppermint mocha, too much. I love finding the right spot for hanging my framed art works. I love a big, open, empty white wall and all of it's possibilities - what to hang there in the open white space and what not to hang there. I love the handmade curio cabinet my Father made for me 13 years ago and dusting and cleaning the glass on it just as I'm getting ready to load it up with my prized possessions. I also, love that the curio cabinet has endured many moves with me and not one scratch, dent or ding has appeared in it's wood and the glass has never been broken - knock on wood. I love a Sunday afternoon nap, one that sneaks up on you as you lay in your bed reading and the drowsiness overtakes you. I love a new tube of Carmex lipbalm, just out of it's funny little box. I love a slow moving ceiling fan that gently moves the air around the room. I love that every azalea bush I drive by in my new neighborhood is in full bloom and the yards with azalea bushes look like rides at an amusement park. I love that no matter what is going on in my life, I am stuck wtih HOPE, she is always there, lurking, stalking, whispering, prodding, needling, reminding me that I cannot ditch her, no matter how many times I've tried to give up, she just won't allow it.

That is just a small, smattering of all that I love......all that brings me joy, peace and comfort.

Spring's First Blush.......oh, she's so lovely......

I have a little Spring ritual that I practice every year, I make sure to snap shots of various blossoms. There is nothing like the beauty of a tree or shrub loaded with flowers at their first blush. And, the best part (or worst, depending on your perspective) is that there is only a small window of time when you can take advantage of the 'first blush', therefore, making the shots, exclusive. I have a folder on my computer labeled, Spring Blossoms and while to the naked eye they may look like the same flowers over and over again, to me they are each like a dfferent child. I carry my little handy, dandy, powershot with me and when I am blessed with an opportunity, I take my shot and add the NEW blossom to my folder. Today's blossoms are from the Walnut tree right out my front door. The tree is very old, I say very old because it's probably 25 years old, however, I think that I have to suppose in tree years thas is very young, right? Anyway, the tree appears old, as in my Grandmother's later years she could not care for the exterior of the property as in the days when my Papa tended to the grounds, but, I suspect the Walnut tree has many years left in her and would be happy to produce a fresh batch of fruit for us, if given the loving care she needs.....of which we did begin late last year. Ms. Walnut was pruned last fall and I believe she is looking just a bit brighter this year in comparison to last Spring. As you can see, her blossoms are quite captivating at their first blush. I know that in only a week or so's time, all of her blossoms will have reached their potential and fall to the ground, but, today, I have captured their loveliness, a blessing bestowed upon me by my dear friend Mother Nature.