Shenandoah In Spring

 

                                                                                                              

Sunset over the valley

A springtime day in Shenandoah National Park is a virtual feast for the senses.

The last two photographs were taken in a tranquil pondside garden at the Blueridge Pottery Outlet



 

 

Precious Partnership ... Memories of Pacey

PACEY  October 1998 - May 2013



Our beloved cat Pacey passed away early in the morning on May 3rd.  She took her last breath while held in my arms with Kevin right beside us.  We were awakened in the morning by plaintive wailing from her sister Jasper and found Pacey right outside our bedroom door with Jasper watching over her. She was still alive at that point, but just barely.  Jasper's call allowed us a final goodbye. We miss her deeply, but strive to remember her life, and the precious partner that she always was to all of us.



     

                                                                                    

 

 

Inseparable Sisters

 



  

In our memory and our hearts always!!!!

 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day

 

 

My daughter, Desirae, called me this morning.  As we were chatting, a woman arrived at our door with a gorgeous arrangement of sunny yellow roses.  What a beautiful surprise ... and they were from Desirae ... what perfect timing!!! :)  Knowing that we are often out and about on Sunday, Desirae planned the arrival of this special Mother's Day gift for Saturday.  It's a gray, rainy day here, so her call and these lovely roses did so much to brighten the day.  I'm so fortunate to be the Mom of such a thoughtful, beautiful young woman who has brightened my world since the day she entered it.

 

Gorgeous Garnish

 

Today, we picked some wild violet flowers to top our dinner salads.  They're chock full of Vitamin C and tasty as well as pretty ... plus they're blooming plentifully all around our little pond, so they're right at hand!

New Paints & Paintings

Sample of My Art Cards (2.5" x  3")


For my birthday earlier this month, I treated myself to some new, artist grade Winsor Newton watercolor paints.  I've been selling most of what I create now, so, I decided it was time for some new colors.  Today, I enjoyed painting the little skunk amongst the flowers pictured above.  His black fur was actually done in layers of Cadmium Yellow, Magnesium Brown, and Payne's Gray. The chipmunk under the pine boughs and the dragonfly & lotus flower were painted earlier.  It was so much fun creating all three of these miniature paintings.  Starting with a blank sheet and an idea, I love the process of bringing bits of nature to life.

Choices

All of us fortunate to be granted the gift of life make choices.  Our lives are one big continuum of the choices we make each and every day.  We need to be very cognizant that the choices we make build one upon the other to create who we are and how we, in turn, affect one another.

There will be much commentary about yesterday's Boston Marathon for both the heinous acts of destruction and the heroism displayed in its aftermath. We can't help but compare the duality of good vs. evil after such horrific acts of destructiveness take place.  In its simplest sense, yesterday's events, both the positive and the negative, boil down simply to choices made.

The Boston Marathon, in and of itself, is an event that reflects the choices made by so many:

The runner, who pushes him/herself to train the body to endure the rigors of a marathon, and, by so choosing, ultimately earns a place in this most prestigious marathon.

The fans and spectators, who choose to attend the event to celebrate and cheer those athletes whose choices, and all their previous smaller victories of grit and determination, earned each the honor to take part in the race.

The organizers and facilitators of the marathon who choose to work tirelessly to promote and continue a glorious athletic tradition.

The security forces and medical practitioners standing ready to protect and assist, whose life choices and sacrifices led them to professions of service for their fellow man.  The list goes on ...

Every person in attendance at the marathon was there because of choices made ... as was the perpetrator(s) who set the bombs that caused mayhem and destruction on a day meant to celebrate the victory of the human spirit.  No amount of anger, pain, or pathos justifies this choice to terrorize and harm innocents. There is nothing to be gained, no reward, no glory in such willful destruction.

As with all who choose to act out hurtful, destructive deeds, the perpetrator of yesterday's horror sorely underestimated the better angels of humanity. Those who chose to commit yesterday's horrific crime now hide in cowardice awaiting only the admonishment and punishment earned by their ill choice of action.  In stark contrast, the runners, fans, organizers, security forces and medical practitioners present at the marathon earned admiration for the choices that brought them there and for their subsequent courageousness and acts of heroism in the face of tragedy.

Although tainted by the inhumane choices of a few, nothing could dishonor the better choices of the many in attendance at the Boston Marathon.  Despite the violence and the pain inflicted, yesterday's marathon event still overwhelmingly exemplified the victory of the human spirit and brought forth the better angels of humanity.     

Garden Companion

 

When I went outside to spruce up my perennial herb boxes this morning, this beautiful, golden toned skink came out of a crevice in the retaining wall just behind my planter boxes to soak in the early morning sun.  That I was just inches away didn't disturb it at all ... unusual for what generally are such timid creatures.  My puttering about was of little concern, and the skink didn't even mind keeping still to pose for a few pictures.  The warming rays of the sun did feel really good!