the color of happy

I belong to a monthly photo challenge group on Facebook. 

Every day of the month there is a different prompt

for what to post a picture of.

The group is made up of both professionals and amateurs, 

those with expensive cameras full of do-dads and what-nots, 

and those who snap furiously away with iPhones and Androids. 

The point is, we are taking pictures, 

which means we are LOOKING. 

Looking for opportunities, looking for details, 

paying attention to the great big wonderful world around us 

and trying to capture it in 1/1000 of a second.

Maybe the world we live in 
is much different from the world of 
Dick and Jane and Spot 
in the sense that there seems to be 
much more brokenness,sadness and waste, 
but the importance of the "biggest word of all: LOOK" 
hasn't changed. 
Having my camera and list of photo prompts 
spurs me on to LOOK, 
and it's beauty I seek. 

The prompt for this particular day was Yellow; 
an appropriate choice for the month in which Spring arrives.
As I set out on my morning walk, 
I was purposely looking for yellow. 
Not just for the prompt but as a sort of challenge to myself.
How much yellow could I find in the world around me?
The results were surprising. Spying each flash of yellow
caused a little spurt of happiness inside of me.
It was fun to recognize 
how certain colors are associated 
with certain moods and emotions. 

For me, yellow is Happiness.

What colors represent happiness to you? 

Psalms for the Soul

Last week, despite the biting cold, we had some spectacular sunny days to ease the chill. I got out there every day for my walk and managed a few pictures along the way. Afterwards I was just struck by the notion to soak in the Psalms for a time. The words of the psalmist and the photographs of God's amazing creation seem to come together like notes to the words of a song.  Enjoy!

spring is coming...

I've been playing with Picmonkey!  

Last week we got a rare taste of spring... just to tease us before the Lion of March unleashed what we hope was it's last dose!!  These were taken on my favorite local walking route... so lucky to live in a such a rural area... small town.... so close to the river and the hills. So much beauty to appreciate. So much goodness flowing down.

I actually count myself blessed to hear the train rolling through each evening and occasionally in the middle of the night.

wondering if these geese were preparing a nest. the 'papa' goose was quiet loud in his honking as I passed by making me think perhaps he was acting territorially protective.

this was a fun picture to enhance. I love the blues and orange and making them 'pop' was a true delight.

close up of mama and papa honkers.

the colors came out looking like autumn in this one.

looking east towards the mountains. the cloud cover blocks the peek-a-boo view of majestic Mt. Baker

this frame is called 'cinema'. kind of cool. and you can choose different colors.

this was another fun one-- so much so that I did it once in sepia tones and again in Black & White. (below)

Thanks for walking with me. We'll do it again soon!

Birthday Recap

It's been almost a week since I turned >>>53<<<
I'm not afraid to say my age. (I would rather tell you my age than my weight that's for darn sure!!)

I was just reflecting on how last year at this time, I was working on my goals for 2011. And the one thing I shared with several people was that by the end of the year, I wanted to be able to see myself the way God sees me. See it and believe it.

Well, I'm not sure that I arrived at that goal -- at least not 100%-- and I think that might be partly because perhaps it is not entirely possible to see myself that way?  Maybe that's something only God can do. But I do think I moved closer! I think I can really look at myself and see a beloved child of God. Some one forgiven and redeemed. Someone with a lot to offer. Those are valuable qualities and I feel pretty awesome about knowing this about myself. YAY!

My birthday was a day of spoilen' to be sure. The spa treatment was amazing! I spent a good hour just in the relaxation room before the massage appointment, sipping tea, listening to soothing (non-christmas) music, and writing thoughts in a journal supplied by the spa for all guests to share whatever was on their mind. I doodled and scratched out thoughts and feelings happily and wish I had someway of taking all I wrote with me, but maybe sometimes it's better to just offer a piece of yourself to the world and then walk away not looking back.

The massage was incredible. One of the best I have ever had! (Not that I get to indulge that often, but I have had a few and they are all wonderful but this one was over the top) Hot stones, oils combined with the heavenly scent of chocolate and mint, precise massage action, steamy hot towels and soft music.... ooh, my I was like a little bowl of butter in the noon day sun by the time she was done!

I spent the rest of the day in my room, alternating between reading facebook birthday greetings, channel surfing and napping!! Later, I showered, dressed up as best I could for the low profile wardrobe I had packed and awaited my prince's return from work.

"hi honey, I'm home"

church in Mt. Angel

I am not sure about that one sign.... any german translators out there?

Bruce took me to dinner in nearby Mt. Angel, a small community about 4 miles north of Silverton. A restaurant had been recommended  to him by one of the men from the nursery. The town has a sort of Bavarian Theme going on, kind of like Leavenworth, but not as serious.

located in 'town square' -- or is it town hexigon?

the Glockenspeil

They do have an Oktoberfest every year. Anyway, we arrive early because we were told the place we were going to eat at has a huge clock tower with life size figures that come out -- like a cuckoo clock-- at certain hours of the day. 7 pm being the last one. We arrived at 6;30 and it wasn't too cold so we walked around the town taking in the sites.
At 6;55 we parked ourselves on a park bench across from the Glockenspeil and waited for the show....

~~so happy together~~

At 7 ;04 the music started and the doors on the tower opened and the figures started to appear. Kind of like a totem pole, the figures told the history of the settling of this community, starting with the Native American Brave, followed by the nuns and the priest, the pioneers and finally the children, swinging on a swing, singing Edelweiss,  representing the future. It was very sweet.

then, we went inside and enjoyed hot mulled german wine and made friends with a nutty sort of guy...

I was teasing Bruce about how much they looked alike! ha ha. what do you think?

dinner was yummy! I had meatballs and mashed potatoes-- comfort food! and dessert of course. not birthday cake but just as good.

the hot mulled wine was really good. and it felt good to hold too!

Happy Birthday.... Merry Christmas!!

going home

I'm ready.

my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

it's been a great week; relaxing, refreshing, romantic, but I'm glad to be heading home today. The last couple of days have been slow. cold foggy rainy days have made staying in the room extra inviting but that can get stifling after awhile. And, can I just say TV sucks? Really. We don't have cable or TV reception at home and don't miss it. Staying in a place where the TV boasts 100's of channels does not impress me. I channel surf and find nothing. LOL, I'm more comfortable on the web!

Friday afternoon I caught the Silver Trolley shuttle service again and walked around downtown for a couple of hours. Did some shopping.... hey we were running out of clean clothes!  The plan was for Bruce to meet me at a recommended Mexican eatery for dinner. He was working late and I was having a bad hair day for the 3rd day in a row. I took a chance and did a walk-in to a hair salon close to the restaurant. The gal did a great job; I was very pleased. Nothing different-- just a good trim.  Dinner was excellent.  Can't go wrong with Mexican!

sporting "new" (thrifted) long sweater and yellow T, plus the trimmed up neatly haircut.

Saturday afternoon, with no fog lifting in sight, I forced myself out of the room and back onto the garden walkways. Meandered through some different areas and finally made it to the Gordon House, a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home turned museum.

I got a private tour as I was the only person visiting! I feel a little bad that Bruce couldn't take this tour as he appreciates the architecture oh so much more fully than I can. Still, I do recognize the ahead of his time designs woven through out the home.

We ate dinner in our room last night and then-- finally-- got to enjoy the jacuzzi! It has been out of order all week but finally it was fixed. We sat in the steamy waters for about 30 minutes before our solitude was invaded by a dad with FIVE children. :)

This morning Bruce is back at the site, finishing up a few things. He will come and collect me by 11-- check out time --and we will head back to the job site where he will hook the empty trailer up and I will get some pictures of 'finished product' and we will be on our way!

it's been a GOOD WEEK!!

Rest for My Soul

9 years ago, in a moment of desperation I told to my husband that I wanted to run away from home. I wanted nothing more than to escape to a sterile hotel somewhere and do nothing for 48 hours. He looked at me like I was quite possibly deranged. He tried to qualify my statement by paraphrasing. "You mean you and I running away for a weekend." (Not a question.)

I shook my head quite vehemently. "No, not you and me. Just me. Alone."

I wasn't mad at him or wanted to leave him. We hadn't been fighting. It was just that life had gotten incredibly crazy and my house was too full and my personal bubble had been seriously invaded. And I wanted nothing more than to be completely alone with no pressures, no expectations, no obligations or responsibilities.

I never did get my 48 hours of solitude and I did survive the crisis but when ever life has dished out some rougher times I have returned to that particular little dream of holing up somewhere by myself to just 'be.'

Oh, sure I have had lots of alone times at home. Bruce goes on his 'wild at heart' adventures with the boys or on a mission trip and I am home alone and I do fine. But there's just something about going to another space to rest and relax....

here I am this week living out my little dream.....
someone else is preparing the meals and cleaning up the bathroom and even making the bed. With one click of a switch I have a romantic warm fire burning and I never have to throw a log on the fire. The bed sinks softly around me, enveloping me with clean pristine sheets and comforter, the quietness soothes me.

I took a walk yesterday in the frigid air, bright sunshine making it possible to endure the biting cold. The possibilities for a walk were endless; over 5 miles of trails to choose from in a garden that come summer time must be breath taking.

Even so, in this winter shrine, the stark beauty stirs me.

Twisted vines, frost bitten plants, scruffy bushes, frozen ponds, hopping robins scratching out food to survive.

For an hour I explored the garden and breathed in deeply the invigorating air. When my nose was as shiny as Rudolf and my toes were numb I  finally headed back to my hotel room where my cheerful fire awaited me. I snuggled under the blankets and mindlessly channel-surfed. I skyped with my sister, I shared photos on facebook. I sipped coffee and made a carefree lunch of meats and cheeses. And my soul sang from the activities.

When Bruce got home from his day of labor, we dressed up and went for dinner in the resort's dining room. Feasted on Pacific NW Salmon and shrimp and scallops and rice pilaf and fresh steamed winter vegetables. Drank far too much wine and laughed hysterically over everything. We came back to our room and collapsed on the bed, fully connected in heart and soul.

I have expressed to him that this week, despite all the hardships we endured to finally get here, is such a gift to me. To think that with out much effort on his part, he has provided me with the perfect birthday gift, giving me more than 48 hours. He understands me so much more than he did 9 years ago. Understands my need for rest and solitude as necessary ingredients to a healthy balance in my psyche. So when I thank him again for this week, he merely looks at me and grins.

Autumn, Vibrant, Golden

 One of the distinct pleasures about my little rural town is the ability to take a walk down to the river.

 to be able to look up at the mountain side, it's color palette loaded with glory

to know that the road runs east and west and both directions will take you a little bit closer to heaven.

that neighbors won't mind if you stop in their yard and enjoy their generous display of crimson. in fact they welcome you!

that you can find surprises where you least expect them....

and still be awed by little furry creatures

my favorite place to go in all of Deming is just down the street, turn right and cross the rail road tracks...

the river has changed course so much over the past years but it still takes my breath away to see it

rain or shine, the Nooksack River is beautiful

winter~spring~summer~fall anytime is a good time to visit the river~~

~~shimmer and shine; sunshine on the water looks so lovely~~

~~take a stroll down the river dyke and sing a little John Denver~~

relax on a "rock"ing chair~~ :) and sing some more.....

sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy!

sunshine on my shoulders makes me high

~~if I had a day that I could give you, I'd give you a day just like today~~

goldenrod and sage

 a perfect day for reflection and praise!

and yet, summer is not completely gone....

for in my yard, a little bloom lingers

I love the overlap of the seasons.