Focus on the Light

 

“Darkness will always give you an opportunity to create your own light.” Anonymous

 

If you look at the above picture closely you will find wisteria blossoms hanging in a tree. Today, having lunch with a dear friend, we noticed the purple blooms right there beside my car. It's those little "rays of sunshine" that brighten a dark day.

Or you find a glimmer of light sitting along the dark night, just sitting there waiting for you to notice.

 

 

It could just be a single bloom coming up through the dried leaves of a winter garden. Noticing creates little lights of hope, they light the way and brighten the day or the dark night.

As usual you know my wish for you is to always notice what you notice and let it lighten your day.

Sending love,

Marilyn

A little Tea and Play

 I finally feel like I have gotten back to normal life after a year of preparing and moving. Not sure if I overdid, but it felt good to play a bit.

There was open faced Coronation Chicken sandwiches, trout sandwiches, chopped black olive sandwiches, sweet peppers with a cream cheese filling, deviled eggs, fruit skewers, scones, carrot cupcakes, strawberries dipped in chocolate, and macarons.
 

Yes, Sunday was Easter. There were 8 people having teatime in my little apartment. It was pure JOY and a bit crowded.

 

Monday I took a walk in the neighborhood to explore "the ditch". Thanks, Jeanie, for that name inspiration. It is only one block from my new abode and quite peaceful. I can see I will be going there from time to time.

  

Wednesday I attended a fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity.

My friend, Annette, works for Habitat. It was good to sit with her son, Renze, and catch up on the news. Renze is sort of like a "god-son" or extra grandson to me. Isn't he handsome. He is graduating next month from University of Oregon. The speaker was excellent.
 

 

Thursday I picked up a friend and we had tea in my favorite apple orchard.

 

Friday I had a new friend from my church come for a cream tea and visit. She brought lilacs from her garden.

 Then we said goodbye to our little blue car while our red car looked on. The blue car has been donated to PBS. After all, how many cars does two people need. We also have a grey, sparkly car that is new to us. Isn't the new technology amazing? I love that I can connect my phone for the map and music. Picture taken from our patio.

And today I will soon venture out to the annual teabag art show. I will try to remember to share a few pictures next week.

Hope your week has been full of delights and JOY.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

 

 

“She was devoted to the moon.

In its darkness she found comfort.

In its light she found hope”

Kavi Keethu, unknown author.
Kavi refers to Indian poetry, so not sure this is an actual name. 

 

The first two pictures are lighthouses, one on the west coast and the other on the east coast. Very different, but they do the same job. Their light shines in darkness as a warning to travelers on the sea. It tells them that land is nearby and to take care. In it's way it gives comfort to the sailor lost at sea and shows them the way.
 

As the quote states in other words, there is comfort and safety in small lights or the light from the moon on a dark night.

Hold on! Notice the glimmer's! For soon the sun will shine again. We must not lose sight of HOPE.

 Sending love,

Marilyn

 

This Week - Back to the Joy of Flowers

 

 

 

Finally a week to take a breath of fresh air and flowers.

 

Last Thursday I had the first of two cataract surgeries.  I cannot see to read much, but I can still enjoy a flower or a thousand of them. It is springtime in Oregon and the flowers are coming in abundance.

 

 

Early in the week my "live-in gardener" and I ventured to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm.

Yes, I still call him the "live-in gardener" even though we have left the garden. He still appreciates the flowers growing and has about 20 or more pots on our patio for plants and flowers. Once we get them planted for the warmer weather I will share them (probably June), as we have a late starting garden here in Oregon. I have bought a few plants, but there will be many more coming.

 

 

Normally I pick out these pink tulips as my favorite, but this year I was enchanted by the orange ones. There was an orange marmalade that really sang to my heart.

Here is the orange ones I mentioned above.

Even the daffodils were pretty!

Then today I took an adventure with a picnic and friend to visit my favorite apple orchard.

The orchard is part of Portland, but out on an island. It is open to the public, but I never see more than a hand full of people visiting there. It is so peaceful to sit with a friend under the blossoms of spring and the ripe apples in fall.

My friend is moving away and I will miss venturing with her here, but it will always call my heart to sit right here and see the white with pink blush blossoms entice the bees and me.

Tomorrow I will venture to the Chinese Gardens for their first ever tea gathering, a festival of sorts. We will celebrate the sun with a cup of tea surrounded by the beauty of camellias blooming while searching to see what else might be blooming in the garden on this fine spring week.

 I hope you are finding some flowers and sunshine in your part of the world. Plan an adventure and savor the day.

Sending love,

Marilyn

 

 

Focus on the Stars

 

Spring time is like little lights found coming up from the dirt of life's ground.

"Iain Thomas, a South African author and poet, included this quote in his book “I Wrote This For You” published in 2011. This quote emphasizes that even in the absence of external light, individuals have the power to create their own sources of light and positivity. By applying this learning, individuals can take ownership of their lives, find their passions, and create their own path towards happiness, even in the midst of darkness." 

 I search for those lights appearing all around me. I find them in unexpected places.

“Never fear the darkness, for in it lies the power to create.”  – Brandon Sanderson, “The Way of Kings” (2010)

 And to create is like little rays of sunshine. Flowers are a creation of God. Was God smiling when creating these beautiful things? Did God know we would need them after the dark night of winter? 

Hold on, dear friends! We will survive the dark night and be better for it.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

 

“In the midst of darkness, light persists.”

– Mahatma Gandhi, Speech (1947)

I love that this stream under the trees still captures the light through the dark forest.

It seems that having chosen the theme this year has kept me focusing on the same rays of light. On Instagram I find myself saying "In darkness, focus on hope". I say it in so many little ways each day. Then I notice that others are also saying the same thing in their own ways. And in this I am noticing little rays of sunshine, laughter and hope. I know I needed this focus to get me through this year.

This picture was a couple years ago, but you might smile at seeing it. It's funny, but dressing this way to go to tea was hard for me to do. I tend to step quietly, not to be noticed. So wearing a fur coat and sunglasses was out of my comfort zone. But I was glad I did it. It was good for me to be bold. It created a memory of laughing at myself, a little silliness does the soul good. A little light in my day.

 Last Saturday I ventured out to the April 5th "Push Back" demonstration. I went with trepidation and concern for safety, but I went anyway. Parking was found close by and I soon found myself standing on a highway overpass with my sign that says "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Soon enough cars drove by and I was thoroughly brought to tears at the positive response. There were thumbs up and happy tooting horns. So many responded in a special way to the more than a 1000 people that showed up not far from my home to speak out. My heart swelled with joy to feel validated and for speaking up. We must step out of our comfort zone as often as possible. It creates memories, it makes us stronger, and brings surprises to our world. It is HOPE.

What glimmers of hope have you seen this week? Where are you stepping out of your comfort zone?

Sending love,

Marilyn

 

The Garden

 

“Sometimes since I’ve been in the garden, I’ve looked up through the trees at the sky and I have had a strange feeling of being happy as if something were pushing and drawing in my chest and making me breathe fast. Magic is always pushing and drawing and making things out of nothing. Everything is made out of Magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us. In this garden—in all the places.”

—Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, 1911

 

 

Gardens take many forms and in many places from visiting my lemon tree residing at my daughter's home, walking in a public garden, or walking a trail that displays flowers planted by God and the wind.

 

 

It is all a part of the magic of the universe.

 

 

The beauty of a humorous God. A God that sprinkles delight wherever God wanders.

 

 

A garden can bring hope for an abundant harvest of apples or just fulfill the delights of the heart by their beauty. Love can grow there and fulfill a satisfied tummy.
 

 We can sit for awhile and take in the energy of growing things all around us. It can heal us, fill us, and make us smile.

 

Surround yourself with growing things each day. Even in my "wee" little living space I am creating a "wee" little garden.

 

Sending love as you savor each day and walk in a garden.

 

Marilyn