Monday, December 14, 2015

Happy Spring in December!

I'm thinking this is rather appropriate for this mild December
that we are experiencing in New Jersey.
A Robin with Holly and Snow.
Perfect!
xo

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Serenity

"Perhaps, after all, our best thoughts come after all
when we are alone. It is good to listen, not to voices,
 but to the wind blowing, to the brook running cool water over polished stones, 
to bees drowsy with the weight of pollen.
If we attend to the music of the earth, we reach serenity. 
And then, in some unexplained way, 
we share it with others."
~Gladys Taber
xo

Friday, December 4, 2015

December

I love the smell of pine.
I love the color red.
I love holly, and pepperberries.
I love the Winter sky.
I love a Sunrise in pink.
A Sunset in orange.
I love glitter and magic.
I love December.
xo

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Giving Thanks


It's only appropriate that my Birthday should fall so close to Thanksgiving.
I am full of gratitude for the many kind and loving people in my life. 
I was able to share my time with my family and dear friends that mean so much to me.
The sun shone brightly, there was a cool wind in the air, and a fat possum entertained us at dinner. 
Life is good.
Thanks for the Love.
xo

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Happy Birthday Tiff!

Today marks the day!
32 years ago (wow), 
we welcomed our own little
 "flower bud"
into our world.
She has grown to be strong, confident and funny.
She is genuine, intelligent and beautiful.
She is compassionate, well spoken, and hard working.
She is trustworthy, loving, and fun.
She is a wife with a beautiful new Daughter.
And, she loves tulips! 
Happy Birthday, sweet Tiffany Lynn.
With our love and hugs.
Mom and Dad
🎂🍭🌈🎈🎁
xo


Thursday, October 15, 2015

October

Hope you can get out and enjoy the colors!
xo

Monday, October 12, 2015

Swan Family

That sweet family of 7 swans
that I talked about 
in early Spring,
has dwindled down to this.
A mere family of 3.
I guess the snapping turtle is very satisfied.
Life on a pond.
xo


Sunday, October 4, 2015

Jersey Shore


Back in early September, 
we vacationed in Lavalette. 
We enjoyed the sunshine, 
the ocean, 
our children, 
and our sweet Grand baby;  
Harper Rose. 
We had a splendid time. 
How time flies. 
It was a month ago already. 
Looking forward to being together again. 
xo

Friday, September 25, 2015

Happy Anniversary Friday!

Some people wonder why my little sister and me
share the last name.
Well, as luck would have it,
these 2 fell in love long, long, ago.
Sisters married to brothers!
Ha! 
Sounds a bit scary at first, 
but, it's all ok!
Happy Anniversary, Nance and Brad!
Many more to come...
(Photo taken last weekend at their daughter's baby shower.)
Love in the air!
xo

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Sweetness

xo

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Lavalette

It was just what the doctor ordered.
xo

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Pink!





Posting a little bit of pink in preparation 
of a little visit from Harper! 
xo

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Random Bits of Summer Love









Hoping your Summer's been wonderful.
xo

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Time


Time seems to stand still 
when you want it to hurry.
It speeds up 
when you want it to slow down.
Flowers make everything better.
xo

Monday, July 27, 2015

Feeling Glad All Over

I made a trip to the farm stand over the weekend.
I love their homegrown bouquets of flowers,
as well as the ripe and juicy fruits and veggies.
I was particularly excited to find these beautiful Gladiolas.
Earlier in my florist days they were mostly used as funeral flowers,
or in church basket arrangements.
And, they were usually white or yellow.
I have always loved the complexity of their blossoms.
I was tickled pink to find them in purple.
I had never seen that color.
They opened overnight to a beautiful bouquet!
Happy Monday!
xo



Thursday, July 16, 2015

Summer School 2015

I enrolled in an unexpected, spur of the moment,
 summer class this year.
Cancer 101.
I guess you could say it was a crash course.
It was lots of learning in a short period of time.
But it felt like a lifetime.
In the past 7 weeks
I learned that I've taken so much for granted,
even though I thought I lived a life of Gratitude.
Each and every day I more appreciate:
The elementary task of swallowing.
The art of a small taste.
A simple sip.
A moist kiss.
A hearty laugh.
A good cough.
The uncomplicated sense of taste.
Salty, sour, sweet and bitter.
They all disappear with cancer.
Life as we know it disappears with cancer.
The only taste that remains is Love.
Thank you, everyone, for the Love.
And thank you for the Hope.
xo





Thursday, July 2, 2015

Hello July!

I hope your first weekend of July
is full of flowers and fireworks. 
And Love.
xo

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Bambi

This sweet little bundle of fawn appeared at a Real Estate home inspection.
Isn't she the cutest?
xo

Monday, June 22, 2015

Bootsie Update

He's back! 
xo

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Bootsie

We call this little guy "Bootsie".
He showed up last Fall, and we 
started feeding him.
He is a feral cat.
New to us, that type of cat.
He looks domesticated, but won't come near us.
He lingers, sleeps on our porch, or deck,
 he relaxes in the sunshine,
he drinks from the birdbath,
and meows for food.
He sits patiently at the front door peering inside to see us.
He runs like the devil when we approach him.
He survived the bitter cold Winter,
and we were happy about that.
 He's been gone about 5 days.
And,  now we wonder, 
"Where is Bootsie"?
Safe travels little guy.
xo

Thursday, June 4, 2015

June And Then July

Poppies are one of my favorite wild flowers.
They quietly appear from nowhere, sway gently in the breeze, 
They allow for a quick photograph,
and poof.
 They're gone.
I'm looking forward to the early Summer months
to do just that as well this year.
Appear, sway gently in the breeze, 
and poof, 
be gone.
xo








Friday, May 29, 2015

Family Portrait

Her patience paid off.
7 baby swans a-swimming!
xo

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Swan Update

She is still waiting patiently.
xo

Sunday, May 17, 2015

This and That

Mama swan spent quite some time hatching her eggs.
I'm sure they're little babies swimming on the local pond by now.
Her mate worked hard keeping the nest in tact and strong.
I watched him dredge the waters and weeds almost daily to keep her safe.
While I stop and think, I've come to better appreciate
the Love, help and support 
that only people can give each other.
Life throws us some curve balls every now and then,
but somehow, in some small way,
with Love and support,
we all grow.
I feel Love, patience and gratitude.
xo

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Finally.

It's been a long 8 weeks.
Lots of tears and fears
and sleepless nights,
and dreams, and prayers,
and Love.
Be it ever so humble,
there's no place 
like home.
xo


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

A Little Kiss of Spring

I stumbled upon a lovely patch of blue
on my way into the office.
I'm not certain what these flowers are named,
but they certainly make me smile.
Have a beautiful Spring day.
xo

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Happiness

What does happiness mean to you?
xo

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

For Mom

My Mom always says that cardinals
bring her peace.
I'm hoping that she sees this post
when she feels better,
arrives back home 
and is in good spirits.
The frustration of illness and distance
weighs heavy today.
Feel better soon, Mom.
xo

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

April Love

Sweet baby Harper!
She has a master's degree in cuteness!
She'll soon be a month old!
And to all of my friends who beat me
to the Grandparent's club,
you are so absolutely correct!
There's nothing quite like 
a darling little grandbaby!
xo


Thursday, March 19, 2015

Spring!

"Spring has returned.
The earth is like a child
that knows poems."

-Ranier Maria Rilke

 Happy Spring 2015!
xo

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Seeing Green

                                                            


Well, not exactly green! A little bit of brown is more like it, but the truth of the matter is, the snow is starting to disappear. The deer are enjoying the tender feel of the bare earth instead of  frozen snow and ice.  On those frigid days they would slowly approach the back deck, hearty and healthy. They would settle themselves on a little hillside next to our backyard each evening. There has been a group of 4 most recently. I'm happy to say, today their numbers jumped to 7! They continue to tug at my heartstrings with their beautiful big eyes, ears, and fuzzy faces. They look at me with a sense of Hope that some corn will trickle down to them like magic. I've noticed that they grind their teeth when they are relaxing!
         So, here's a little bit of green, I mean brown as we get ready for Spring!
I love Spring!
  Happy St. Patty's Day!
xo


Saturday, March 14, 2015

Mysteries, Yes


Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
 to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the
 mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity,
while we ourselves dream of rising.

How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the 
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always,
from those
who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.
~Mary Oliver 
xo

Friday, March 6, 2015

Harper Rose

My heart is swollen!
Our little rolling stone 
has given us
the sweetest little bundle 
of  Love!
6lbs.,12oz.,  and 21.5 inches tall!
Mommy and Harper are both well.
Sweetness supreme!
xo

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

My Little Chickadee



More snow coming, so she's gathering her seeds!
xo

Monday, March 2, 2015

Hello, March!

Looking forward to a new kiss of pink!
xo