Into Each Life................

.............some rain must fall. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And we had a few drops today.  It was such a surprise, so unexpected, there was nothing to do but admire each drop and smell the wonderful smell.  Our country is so parched that even a few drops are celebrated.  As it rained I kept hoping that it would just open up and pour but it didn't.  I'm still grateful and I'm sure it felt wonderful to the trees.                                Diane

Living in a bubble and staying out of a jam............

Yesterday I gathered these wild plums from my tree.  This is the first year I got enough to make a little dab of jam.  I thought they were so pretty sitting in the water, each one encased in its own air bubble.  As I considered this I thought how nice it would be to be completely surrounded by my own little bubble, protecting me from everything.  But that doesn't happen, does it?  We're right out there exposed to everything.                  Diane

The Lone Sailor

 This memorial statue stands at the Golden Gate bridge.  It's in honor of all the men who have sailed from these shores to protect our country, sometimes never returning.  It's quite impressive.

The Lone Sailor isn't lonely anymore.  Jordin joined him.            Diane

Around my cottage door................

 In spite of the blazing heat, these morning glories have managed to grow around my cottage door.  The heat reflecting off the paint must be intense and still they've grown as long as I keep them watered.   

  

The sign I painted in my cottage says "When the world wearies there is always the garden."  Isn't that just so true?

Fifty Years Ago Today............



My daughter, Brenda, was born.  
 

Here we are last weekend
I flew to California for a surprise
birthday visit for her.
It was the best gift I could have given
her - or me.
Happy Birthday, Brenda
Mom

*Her daughter, Jordin, is in front.  

I know...........

 .......that I'm not the first person to visit San Francisco but it was the first time I ever have.  We didn't have much time so we just hit some highlights.  Brenda is a great driver so all I had to do was feast my eyes on all the sights.

 This place was the San Francisco Exploratorium and some of the buildings and surrounding area.

Very beautiful.                         Diane

Flower Garden

It's still hot here for several hours in the daytime but the mornings and nights are cool.  My flowers, barely staying alive all summer, are thriving now.  I think they're thanking me for the constant watering all summer.  This huge sunflower parked itself on the edge of my flower bed, completely upsetting any design I might have had for the garden.  But I didn't have the heart to pull it up and the birds love it - so who cares about design?        Diane

Another picture...................

On the way to the airport in Oakland I was treated to as many sights in San Francisco as they could find time for.  This is Brenda and I at the Golden Gate bridge.  After 93 degree temps at home the foggy chill was a treat.  I left Sheridan Friday morning, got into the airport around 1:30 and left at 1:30 on Sunday.  It was a fast trip but we had plenty of quality time, too.  It was a good trip.  Diane

While I was there................

Me, Brenda, Jess and in the front is Jordin
Meeting my new family and my new
granddaughter

Some very big issues were lovingly resolved
in all of our hearts.
Love helps overcome many things.

  


Burrowing owls
that live in a hill
across the street from
Brenda.
They seem to be very watchful
neighbors.

Blessings, Diane

Now it can be revealed...................

A trip to California to surprise my daughter for her 50th birthday, the chance to meet her new mate and my new granddaughter.  She had no idea what was going on. It was pulled off seamlessly. 

Three days away from home, two planes, coming and going - all paid if I would just come.
Secret, sneaky plans for two months - nerve wracking to say the least.
The look on Brenda's face - priceless!

From the Garden................

 A beautiful place to take a nap............

 We both decided that this is a sunflower tree.  It's a volunteer and the top of it must have 10 or 12 different flowers.  It's amazing.

Incoming traffic.....................

I hope you've been having a great week.  Today we were blessed to have cooler weather and it looks like it might be that way for a few days.                         Diane

Flying This Week.............

This picture was taken when I was really flying with him in Alaska a couple years ago

Not really, but vicariously.  Through the tracking program on their plane I followed Bean and her husband all over Alaska.  For almost a week we were gone. From where they live into the Yukon, North Pole, Kennecott, Fairbanks, and on into the innards of this huge state.  I didn't camp under the wing of the plane with them, decided to not go that far.  They don't mind me stalking them, in fact Gregg gave me the program so I could. 

It works by sending out signals from exactly where they are and transfers it to a map similar to Google Earth so I do really know.  I can zoom in with the various options  and try to see what they're seeing. 

When they arrived back home yesterday evening I actually felt that I had landed with them. 

What a blast!

Gratitude

Thank you all so much for the sweet wishes for our anniversary.  I'm truly grateful to have your loving support. 

Last night when I walked outside after dark I heard rustling in the flowers, then the rustling became more and  I realized I was listening to raindrops.  It rained into the night and  today it was cool.  What a blessed respite after such intense heat. I relished the day and the cool, just couldn't thank God enough.               Diane

26 years and still out of focus..............

Well, to be honest we're more out of focus than otherwise but we did make it this far and that's great.  When we were married in 1986 Bean was still at home, we hadn't moved to our present home.  We had a small church wedding and I made our wedding flowers from wildflowers, pine, and sagebrush which we gathered in the mountains. An older couple which Leonard had known for many years stood up with us and I got the giggles which could easily have turned into tears.  For our small wedding get-together I made raspberry pie and a guest made homemade ice cream. 

In the past 26 years much has happened.  One of the biggest things was starting our own store from scratch and running it for 11 years.  And we came out on top - it was a great experience.  We've had 2 precious dogs which are gone now and they each took with them a huge chunk of our hearts.

Like most people we have a lot of ups and downs but we're still living this life together and trying to take care of each other.      Diane

in the cool of the evening..........

As the heat of the day subsides it's always welcome to see the temperature begin going down.  Everything starts to move again - people emerge from their homes to set the water, squirrels skitter around in the apple trees, the creatures come out to drink from the creek and the world starts to cool off.  What a blessing evening is.                        Diane

Even with constant watering everything dries out as you can see by the lawn.

How Do You Handle the Heat?

 About 2 good hours in the morning to decide what's most important to do today.  Do I want to spend it running errands or getting a little gardening done?  Then the heat takes over and it's inside for the rest of the day.  A couple small jaunts with Rascal and even he's ready to get back inside.  

The creatures are looking for shade and water.  I'm wondering what will happen to them this winter, all the grasses are dried up. 

Some of the people I know who live in colder climates would love to have some warmer days.  It's just too bad we can't share.                                         Diane
                                                                   

Fairies in the Garden....

Here's proof.  I captured a shot of this one as it was getting ready to perch on a rock in my bird bath.  I'm pretty sure my cat, Maxie, could hear them singing because she would sit motionless in the shade listening to them.  They curl up in the hollyhocks to sleep but I know they don't sleep much because they dance in the moonlight. Do you have fairies in your garden?   Diane

Almost at the End.............

The hollyhocks are almost over for this year.  These poor, neglected flowers with their happy faces have graced alleys and fences and forgotten corners and they've given their stately joy to a hopelessly hot summer.  How can you look at a hollyhock and not be a little happier?                       Diane