Tree of life as I see it 2014.08.10 (August)

Can you imaging the feeling of greatness and smallness as I walked out of the nature path and came to find this Grandfather Time tree growing there in the clearing just waiting to be discovered.

How old are you? I wanted to ask, but knew in it's own kind of wisdom it would leave me standing there just wondering. 

Does each bump and growth found on what was once a smooth bark covering stand for every scar on our earth's crust? 

Or perhaps for every season you have seen come and go in your tree life?

As I got closer to this old gnarly remains of what was once a new and fresh tree life I just had to stand there and share thanks for having been here today and for the opportunity to view and experience the life and markings on this old tree.......as I stood there in amazement I glanced up to the very top growth.  

Up there, do you see it yourself. Life is still growing from withing the heart of this tree.  Still giving oxygen to our world, still providing shelter for our birds that might come to rest in these lofty branches.

Even when we are old and wrinkled and wondering what our future holds, we can think of the wonders in our forests when we just happen to turn a corner and see the works of nature just waiting there for us and wonder through our own lives' scars what will the beauty be when we are finished?

.......Aug 10, 2014 

July 2 2014 Falling through the Cracks in Life

 2014 Jul 2                        Falling Through The Cracks in Life
Life in today's busy world

 Do you ever feel like....

You have fallen into a crack?  Well, take strength from this photo. On July 1, yes, Canada Day Lou and I went for a walk about town. To celebrate Canada and where we live. I stopped along the way and took many photos, but this one truly stayed in my vision, long after the camera did its job. 

Falling through the cracks can be very upsetting at times. But if we just wait, and give life a chance we all may be surprised at the beauty we will find after the wait. Imagine this flower. I know that it was a seed from last year's town flower decorations growing in those half wine caskets that are usually placed along the sidewalk near the road.  Last years was filled with pink petunias. I know this because this year we have bright reds and whites. Smart little detective that I am.

So......this little seed found its way there last fall, and waited patiently through the winter storms, the spring cold and rain, dark nights, and long days. Waiting patiently until that magic moment when suddenly something inside this little seed says......it's time to make my move.

From the little seed grew this beautiful flower, albeit, small, it is beautiful and strength of character is just blooming there for anyone who chooses to notice.  What amazes me most, no one has picked, stepped upon, or in other ways destroyed this determined little bloom.  

So let this be a life lesson for all of us. Be strong, grow where you are planted, and let your own colours shine for all the world to see.

:) July 2 2014

2014 Jun 4 That little creek that fcouls

2014 Jun 4         The Little Creek That Could
Here we are....spring has sprung, the creek has risen. Thankfully not over the bridge and will probably never get that high. Instead it reaches out and covers all the land around.  Do you remember the photo taken with description of the fish swimming upstream.   The picture on the right shows how swiftly the current flows now. The fish wouldn't stand a chance to get up that creek now.

Today, as I type this note, the creek is way down in size now, almost back to normal flow size for the spring season. I will try to take a photo come the hot, dry part of summer so we can once again compare the difference.

Stay Tuned
:)
Jun 4th.....

April 25 2014 A miracle of nature....

April 25 2014
A miracle of nature....

This is the little creek that runs through our little village.  It is spring time here now. The fish were coming up stream back to their spawning grounds for a few days.

The most amazing sight happened two days ago when my hubby and I were out for our daily walk.

We looked down into the very swiftly flowing water and we saw about 30 fish between 10 and 13" long swimming in little groups between the waterfall above and the shadow of the bridge across the road, which we were standing on looking over into the depth of the water.
As we watched we saw the nautical struggle to get upstream, fighting a strong current.....they would swim up so far and then becoming tired from this struggle float backwards with the current...back under the bridge.

Each time they got a little bit closer, and the little band of swimmers drew closer and closer together, forming a stronger knot of bodies.  We watched, and we were rewarded. A particular band of 4 fish came right up to the rock....see the large grey one on the left side of the top of the photo....well, just to the right of that rock there was a branch of the creek that was deeper and the fish kept squeezing one of their members until suddenly with a huge struggle, several body flips, a tail going so fast it was propelled into the deeper pool at the top (the spot showing smooth water).  He seemed to wait by the rocks for a few seconds. I'm not sure if he was getting back some strength or if he was waiting for one of his buddy fish to join him......finally away he went. See the photo below shows you he is now over one rough spot in life and has gone on to start many other lives.

It really felt like seeing a miracle of nature. I never would have believed these small creatures of God would work so hard, and so hard together to help each other.

Today, the day after this spawning time, we walked past the same area. Do you know. There wasn't a fish to be seen. It is as if with that last jump we witnessed the school of fish turned around and swam away. I guess they had enough of this game or struggle and called it a day.

April 25 2014 7:15 pm

Is today really a bad hair day?

Apr 4 2014   Is Today really a "Bad Hair Day?????"

And today is a day I can only shake my head at and laugh.
What a day.....aching knees (yes, Dr. said you have arthritis)...no kidding
Yes.....it has been cloudy, grey day and expecting a rainy, windy night....so it is April....what else do you expect? May flowers??????  No, not yet, but stay tuned for next month.
The road muck has made a mess of our little white car......well, don't complain it isn't something you have to sweep out of the garage in a few days....Idea!!!!! Leave the car in the driveway and let Mother Nature give it a bath.

Oh the day is better already.  Yes,
Sometimes it helps me to get things straight in my head when I stop moaning (what's that? I have a new name.....MONA!!!!) and see where this day I've been given is taking me.

I have a great daughter who called me from her cell phone during a long drive to catch me up on her medical status....and her good news......and life in general......yes, she was using her hands free equipment while she drove......

I have a wonderful husband who drove through the rainy day and played upbeat music for us...and we even sang a few lines together. He treated me to a nice late lunch or early supper so I could come home and do computer things, or crafty things.  Whooohooo! no meals to prepare tonight.  :)

I have friends who call me on the phone to chit chat away, and others who send out wonderful emails.
I have my quilting times, my new craft making Temari balls (go to my Diamond Days Blog to see my first effort if you wish), and a lovely newly refinished playroom called The Creative Quilter's Room.....which reminds me I'd better stop this chit chat and go get some work started, or finished, depending on that which I choose to do.

Don't go away, I'll be back another day.....
:)
Apr 4 2014

2014 May 12 Erma Bombeck Poem

2014 May 12 In Memory of All Women and Erma Bombeck

This month is special for all women. I wanted to add this special writing in memory of all loved friends and family members. Special thoughts in this poem.

   In honour of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck and all who lost their fight with cancer.
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck 
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).
     I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
     I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
     I would have talked less and listened more.
     I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
     I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
     I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
     I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband..
     I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
     I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
     I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
     I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
     Instead of wiling away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle..
     When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later... Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's, more 'I'm sorry's.' 
          But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute; look at it and really see it; live it and never give it back.. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!
     Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what
     Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us... 

Feeling Good...who couldn't be after watching this video. It was sent to me by my friend Jackie in Chicago.....well, just look at the smiles on all those faces. 

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=wm#inbox/144bc40677fc29a1?projector=1

Spring is coming closer each day, the clocks have changed so now we have one extra hour of daylight, and soon a whole lot of sunlight. This is March, and we have been having winds blowing around the house and even another snowfall that left behind about 9" of snow for us to shovel from the driveway.

Yes, we are alive, we are happy, and we are sure feeling good. Enjoy the video
:)

Back To My Blog Again, Hopefully MoreCconsistently.

2014 March I am back, but for how long? I am not sure. It has been a long time checking a new friend Kalia from Temari Group asked me if I had a blog, so this brings me to now. Question I....is it still working?

YES! I found my blog again.........An update of events for us 
basement renovations has brought my machine and sewing up above ground for a few days, maybe a week or so.but when finished we will have an office ad a quilting area.  That would be Lou's lair and Dee's Creative area......nice. I now call it my PLAYROOM. I'm just like a little kid in there with all my toys.

Meanwhile I've used this time so that working ahead on the latest Scrappy flimsy is moving ahead..I have made a 3rd row now of 8 blocks. Many more to go for sure, but this is helping me go slow and steady. I have named this one MaDan after the lady who designed this pattern.  I love it, all scraps.

Today was to have been lesson day for my embellishing students, except along came a March winter storm of snow and freezing wet stuff....oh well, I will practice the roses and leaves again in 2 weeks time so that it will be fresh to my
mind.

Well, for today this is a great start of my coming home to TAKE A STITCH A DAY. 
I will have a good one. You do so also.

2011 March 03 Where has time gone

2011 March 03  Where has time gone

I hope I remember how to move forward. It's been a long long time. Yes, we moved and are happily settled now in the country. We have a pear orchard behind us which provided a spring of blossoms, a summer of growing and ripening pears, and now fall is here and we have fallen pears all over the back yard.
The amazing thing is a neighbour has seen a little heard (do we call them that now) of deer. A Stag with his harem of wives and babies. We think we actually saw (quickly) a little white tail going to the back yard from between our and a neighbour house.right to the right of our Rondo....maybe they are checking out the "new people in that long vacant house". Who knows. but it was surely a quick peek and gone.

I have newly retired and am spending hours and hours catching up on my quilting, sewing and dreaming. I have worked on a quilt for Emily, and hopefully a little pillow to go with it as well. I'm calling this one Panda's Fantasy. It is a black & white jelly roll with little dalmatian puppies on the back side in flannelette....nice warm and cozy. Front and back completed, but we'll see if I can get it all quilted.
I've also made 5 placemats, about 20 mug mats, and now working on seasonal hanging towels to go over the stove handles. Yes, some of these are surprise Christmas gifts, so please don't tell the receiver.........teehee.

In order to get all this accomplished each day, I've been playing Christmas carols. What better inspiration do we need than the lovely Christmas music....none for me. This so works, I'm still inspired to get to work on all the projects I want to make.

When I remember how to add pics, and all the things we do here on the blog, I will then be able to add some pictures. Hopefully it won't take too long.

That's it for a catch up time of being together again.

Thinking of Fall coming soon

Here I sit on the one day between high temps and lots of humidity. We are moving forward towards the beginning of another season....FALL. I love this time of the year. One can go outside and breath, do a bit of yard cleanup that summer's heat left us dreaming about but not doing.

I haven't visited here in my blog for a while because of life always pushing us forward and not giving us time to sit still and just breath. This past week I visited for 3 days with my Mum. She is such a lovely person, but to see her needing more naps in the day, or just sitting reflecting on flocks of birds that are gathering for their coming winging time away. Just talking to her about days and times past. It was refreshing just to sit, but it is a new phase for Mum and I in our busy times together. Usually one or the other pairs of hands are busy doing, creating, changing or thinking of a new thing to keep busy doing.

Well, Mum, thanks for this time to graciously sit and renew our love together. Our memories, and the fact that of the original family of 4, we two are left to hold all these precious moments in our hearts and minds. Together, remembering, seeing with older and hopefully wiser eyes the coming and the changing of the seasons.

God Bless our times we still have left together and even more our memories which soon I'll carry for both of us in my heart and mind.

Picture taken for Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary Dad, Driscilla, Denise and Mum seated.
Jun 5/19?? (90-95 just can't remember)