Word Magic

The word this week is VOICE. 

The definition is:

the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
"his voice is hoarse"  Or a particular opinion or attitude expressed.
 
Finding the right pictures to share voice wasn't easy.
This first picture was taken this morning as I walked alone at a rose garden near my house. I had invited a friend to join me and had the backpack ready to go with tea and some special nibbles. I was looking forward to catching up, to using our voices in laughter. As I headed for the door the phone rang and because she wasn't feeling well, she canceled. I sat for awhile and realized that shouldn't deter me from an adventure to the planned rose garden. My voice was silent, but my camera enjoyed coming out to play.




 
This picture represents tea with another. Often my tea times are in silence, a time to meditate and pray.

 Can a voice be silent too? Maybe a body attitude/gesture or something written?

How do you best communicate what is on your heart, in your head?

 "Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes." Maggie Smith

I felt like this woman was sending a message by what she was wearing. She didn't need to say a word, but I knew she loved tea.

On a recent interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Isabelle Allende spoke of finding her voice when she wrote. That as a young woman she only saw books written by men and it took her years to realize that as a woman she could have a voice too. 

There have been times in my life where I have attempted to speak and had a man raise his hand in a stop motion to tell me I could not speak and he didn't want to hear what I had to say. It took me a long time to realize that I had the same right to speak as anyone around me. I still struggle with that at times. 

Voice is a powerful word and one we should all remember.

Yes, as a woman, we must speak and be heard.

Women can make a difference with their voice. 

Have a terrific week, dear friends!

Apple Blossom time on Sauvie Island

 

Whew! I started this post a month ago and just realized I hadn't shared. Maybe I was keeping it a secret?! Laughing! In some ways this place is my secret place, my peaceful place, the place that totally soothes and delights me. I know I have shared this place before, but once again I made it to see the blossoms and have a cup of tea with a dear friend at my side. We sipped tea from my new little cups and poured from a new teapot.

The blossoms always just make me smile. Apple blossoms have that beautiful pink blush. They remind me of the young girl I once was, dancing through my grandfather's apple orchard.

My grandfather always plowed up the weeds and grass below the trees; so going barefoot I felt the warm dusty soil between my toes. In this orchard they leave the grass, which I much prefer. It is the perfect place to sit awhile, feel the dampness as I walk through the grass, and not get covered in dirt. Now in my older self I can imagine I must have been a nightmare of dirt when it came to my mother's laundry time. I don't remember being bothered by the dirt though. I loved it.

Do you love the spring blossoms in your part of the world? Does this season bring hope and delight?

As you can see there was no one around. Rarely do I see more than a couple other people when I visit my secret apple orchard on Sauvie Island. Why is it, I wonder? Doesn't an adventure to the country and a special orchard not beckon to come, sit awhile, and dream dreams of adventures both far and near?

Come with me and we can talk of little things, sit in silence for awhile, laugh like there is no tomorrow and sip a cup of tea.

 

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Word Magic

 The word for this week is RELEASE.

When I hear that word what comes to mind is "catch and release" in fishing. I once upon a time tried to learn to fly fish, but never caught a thing. To tell you the truth I didn't want to hurt that little fish. But the joy of just standing either in the water in my thigh high boots or on the shore line was pure delight. Feeling the sun shine on my back and listening to the water flow by released tension in my shoulders. Nature does that for me and each morning I anticipate the moments that I walk out my door and snap a picture from my garden just to release tension, clear my mind and release sleepiness from my eyes to start the day.

The above picture was taken yesterday. It is a stream that was supposed to be contained to run a mill for grinding flour, but yet it ran free both above the below the mill. The sounds of a free flowing stream which was once confined but now was allowed to be released to flow freely was a beautiful thing.

from Merriam-Webster: to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude.

 Recently I watched hundreds of swallowtail butterflies in migration. I worried that I had not seen butterflies in a very long time and that global warming was hurting them. It was a thrill to see some still flying free and released into the world to populate and grow naturally.

Yesterday I took an hour to attend a gathering on zoom for meditation and a sip of tea. The gathering was called "Touching the Earth" and we were encouraged to walk out on the grass and breathe. To be aware of our connection between the earth and our feet, be open and then to release tension and what is holding us back, letting positivity flow through us. The leader encouraged us to create in our minds a thinking box. As we released tensions and worries to put them in that thinking box and to just celebrate being alive and embrace hope.

This little bird flew into my yard early one morning. He also gave me hope for the future. He visited me on my morning excursion in the garden. He helped me to release tension and focus on the beauty that surrounds me.

So for this week, create that "thinking box" in your mind to release things that are heavy on your heart. Tuck them away in the "thinking box" and release tight shoulders and grasp hope.

 

Walk in my Friend's Garden

 This week I was headed over the river to have lunch with a friend. She said come early so you can walk in my garden and see my irises. I love seeing irises in gardens. I am not fond of the fragrance, but aren't they beautiful in a garden. Walking in a friends garden and seeing the joy they bring her, brought joy to my heart.

"Nothing but heaven itself is better than a friend who is really a friend."

 

"And Pooh said to Piglet "Life is so much friendlier with two."

I have a fondness for California poppies since at heart I am still that California girl.

"A friend is a gift you give yourself."

"Friendship is Love, without his wings." 

 

"One of the most delightful things about gardening is the freemasonry it gives with other gardeners, and the interest and pleasure all gardeners get by visiting other people's gardens. We all have a lot to learn and in every new garden there is a chance of finding inspiration - new flowers, different arrangement or fresh treatment for old subjects. Even if it is a garden you know by heart there are twelve months in the year and every month means a different garden, and the discovery of things unexpected all the rest of the year."
-  Margery Fish, We Made a Garden, 1956   

 

 

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine."    -  Thomas Jefferson   

 

The petals of an iris remind me of butterfly wings.

Reason, Season, Lifetime Poem

by Brian A. “Drew” Chalker

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

This friend has come into my life during Covid times, yet we have been able to connect in the heart.

Yes, friends sometimes do come for a lifetime and some most definitely for a season.

Have a terrific weekend, dear friends!

Word Magic

 Green is the word this morning.

 

definition: of the color between blue and yellow in the spectrum; colored like grass or emeralds.  "the leaves are bright green" the color of grass and trees

 

 

 

Each morning as I sip my morning tea I watch out the window. I see the occasional neighbor walking their dog down the sidewalk, but mostly I see two amazing dogwoods, grass, and plants in the garden. Oh, plus the occasional appearance of a hummingbird. But primarily it is green.

 

Then up closer to the house is the plum tree. Can you see plums (in green) beginning to form in the green leaves? 

 

 In the definition it mentions emeralds. Both of my children were born in May and the stone for May is an emerald. Several years ago I had a mother's ring made with two emeralds representing my dear ones.

 

The past few years I have realized how the color green just touches my heart. I search for it around me. I want to be wrapped in this lushest of colors. It refreshes my soul. It allows me to breathe.  

 

My fascination with the color green has led me to search out plates, glasses, and teaware in green. It just puts a smile on my face to see it on my table. It just seems to go with everything to me. In this picture I have added the Wedgewood cabbage plate to my violet china. To me it is a fun combination and sings to my heart. 

 

Growing up my favorite color was yellow. I think I chose that color because it was a much maligned color.  Most little girls were loving pink. But as I have gotten older I find myself gravitating to green. It does bring me joy.

 

So this week notice the color green as you go about your week.

Where are you seeing this gorgeous color?

What is your favorite color?

Adventure to Blaine, Washington

After my adventure to California you would think I would come home to rest. Nope! That didn't happen. My sister-in-law had reserved a time share in Blaine, Washington, which happens to be very near the Canadian border. With a 12 hour stop at home to re-pack and hop in my car, my "live-in gardener" and I were off for a few days in northern Washington state. When we set this all up I was a bit doubtful about this quick turn around, but in the end it worked quite well. I loved both visits in California and then in Washington.

 Peace Arch Historical State Park in Blaine, WA

 "It is a uniquely beautiful park that celebrates the unguarded US/Canadian border"

We parked in the USA and walked across the border into Canada.

"A 19 acre park that spans the border and you can walk right into Canada without showing your passport."

"The 67 foot Peace Arch was the vision of Sam Hill, a prominent road builder, Quaker and humanitarian, who built many landmark structures in Oregon and Washington Hill bought property in both countries for the construction of the arch. It was dedicated to peace and is still one of very few in the world."

Then each evening we enjoyed the sunset from our place near the water.

On another day we drove to Ferndale, Washington to have lunch and explore.

After a delicious taco salad at a local restaurant I looked on the map and saw there was a Fragrant Garden nearby. It was designed with those that were handicapped or blind to enjoy, but I enjoyed it also.

It was quite easy to touch fragrant herbs and flowers as they were wheelchair height.

 

The tower was fun to climb; though not accessible for handicapped people.

 

 

The view from the top.

There was also a board walk out to a swampy, bird nature reserve. I loved the walk through the swampy, tree surrounding area. What a treasure to have found just on my phone map.

Did you guess, I love walking outdoors in nature! One of my favorite things to do. In both my adventure to California and then to Washington I was given the gift of nature surrounding me. What a treat!

Impromptu adventures can be surprisingly wonderful.

Have a great weekend, dear friends!

 

Word Magic

 The word for this week is quaintrelle.

"A quaintrelle is a woman who emphasizes a life of passion expressed through personal style, leisurely pastimes, charm, and cultivation of life's pleasures."

This is a new word for me, but I love the concept. It is something I think we all work to develop in ourselves, passion for life. 

My daughter on mother's day with her son amazes me with her passion for life and for the grace in which she moves forward.

My mother in a very different way moved forward with her passion for life.

 Both women had obstacles to overcome, but moved forward with a smile on their face.

My daughter has MS and still manages to be a special mom, work as a masseuse, keep her home moving along, and attend school full time. This week she is being honored at Portland State College with Phi Kappa Phi honor given to top students and has been offered a summer job on campus to work with students that have disabilities. I am so proud of her. She loves music and walking her dog in nature.

My mom, as she was growing up, was called "the stupid one" by her family. So sad for her. But she went on to raise two daughters on her own when her husband deserted her and I don't think she did half bad. She learned to drive when I was 16 years old and absolutely loved driving around the country. Her friendships and belief in God was so endearing. Oh and she loved to laugh and tease with a twinkle in her eyes. And she loved poetry too.

This post is to honor the closest women in my life at Mother's Day time. Both are loved and so much respect goes out from my heart for these women. I love the passion they portrayed to me each and every day.

 What passions have you seen in the women most close to you?

Adventure to California

My trip to California was two-fold. I had planned to visit my favorite cousin sometime this year, but when my half-brother passed away last December the memorial service was planned for the end of April about an hour from my cousins home. There was a very special visit with my cousin and her family. What can I say, the memorial service was as special as my brother would have wanted.

The poppies above always remind me of California, where I grew up.

My cousin is a walker, but not to go out in the wilderness hiking. I found this place not to far from her home and we went hiking at a nature preserve. There were egrets, herons, and other birds, but most were elusive when the camera was lifted.

It became a joke with my cousin when she would see me lean down to take a picture of what I called a "wild flower". She called them "weeds". I loved even the thistles and the yellow wild mustard.

There was plenty of water for the birds this year, which is a great relief after the drought of many years.

The two birds I captured with my camera were a American Avocet (a water fowl) and red wing black bird.

 Then my last day before returning to Portland and another adventure is the Sacramento Rose Garden.

I loved seeing the roses in full bloom, as they haven't started blooming here in Portland. They were spectacular. I think the first rose picture was my favorite of all the roses. Isn't is beautiful?

They were all picture perfect and ready for their close-ups.

If my cousin read my blog, she would want me to take this picture down. My cousin is on the left and her daughter (who is named after me and a cousin of her husbands - Mari Lyn) and myself on the right.

I see I have begun this post and closed with flowers. Of course I did! I love flowers everywhere I go.

It was a wonderful adventure to California and the sunshine was just perfect.

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Go out and smell the flowers of springtime today!