Bailey

Jim and I were at Glacier Ridge last weekend on a beautiful early summer morning. In addition to paved trails for us hoomans (LOL cat-speak) there is a nice bridle trail as well. Bailey and his fellow horses and their riders were also enjoying the fresh air. Bailey and I don't know each other, but he seemed quite willing to pose for this picture before ambling along the trail and his riders were kind enough to wait as well. I promised them Bailey would be a famous horse, and here he is, out on the web.
I have come to a new way of thinking about animals knowing that our rabbits are prey. They don't like being chased and fear sudden motion because such movements carry the danger of being eaten in the wild. Horses are also prey animals. They are herbivores, so not predators like dogs and cats, and I understand better now why they are skittish at times. It's hard to think of an animal this large being a prey animal, but there it is. Happy trails, Bailey!

Bag Bro

My husband has no control when it comes to purchasing bags. He's like a woman who has to have a purse for every outfit, just worse. In our basement we must have about 50 bags that have been purchased over the years; brief cases in leather, canvas (of varying shades), recycled tires. We have garment bags and many, many bags that a person can use to carry around on a daily basis.
I blame, to a certain extent, his bag brother, a Mr. Kurt Smith, who also seems to have a similar compulsion to have bags and more bags. (You know I love you Kurt.) Anyway, these two have dubbed themselves "bag bro's". When the UPS man drives up with yet another bag, I know I'll hear something about bag bro's and all that stuff. Well, Sammy seems to have adopted a similar desire, if not to own bags, at least to be IN bags. When ever any bag is left where he can get to it, Sam jumps in and makes himself at home. This bag is one of my grocery bags that holds a ton of stuff and is reusable. Groceries out- Sam in.

Celebration of a Life

Tammy Miller, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and my co-grandma-to-be, left this life- suddenly and tragically- on Monday. Her sons, Ashley (my Heidi's beloved and father of their expected child) and Aaron, age 12, never thought they would be without her so soon. She was only 49 and, we all thought, in the prime of health.
"It is good that the world is round. If it was flat, we could see too far ahead and know what awaits us." This is as close a quote to a statement made in my favorite movie, Out of Africa.
I didn't know Tammy well, but we had just gathered at Heidi and Ashleys' on Memorial Day for a cookout and Tammy and I first talked about our future grandchild. She was so excited, and had talked about her plans to babysit as much as she was allowed, and had even mentioned moving from her long established apartment so the baby could have her or his own room.
And now, we are left with memories and sorrow and mourning what might have been. Ashley and Heidi will become parent figures, at 27 and 24, to a 12 year old. Aaron has lost the most important person in his life. This grandchild will know his Grandma Tammy only from photos and stories, and I have lost the joy of sharing this grandchild with her. But we will all step up to fill the void left by her absence, and be the parents and grandparents we would have been , but more. We'll tell her stories and do things in her honor and memory. We'll celebrate her life even as we miss her. And we are all reminded, yet again, that tomorrow is promised to no one. Today is a precious gift.

How much is that kitty in the window?

Patience was hanging out in the upstairs window just watching the world go by.

Flowers are people too

I have come to realize in the past couple of days that I have an emotional investment in the flowers growing in our yard. I either planted the seeds in the dirt or brought the plants to my garden and they depend on me, especially when they are young, to provide for them until they are established~ kind of like my kids!
Maybe it's part of the reason why tending to the garden isn't a chore; I enjoy caring for the little plants and watching as they grow and flower. Especially my little impatiens I grew from seed make me happy as I see them spreading, growing new leaves and stems and producing flowers. By mid summer they will be bright and colorful. This peony was inherited from the previous owners. It had been planted in the backyard where, unfortunately Lady and Winnie were able to walk on it. Since I moved it to a protected spot in the side yard it has happily blossomed every spring.

In the garden

Yeehaa! I can head out into the garden and work for hours if I want to...What is it I wanted to do today? Let's see, the area around the clematis needs weeded and some mulch put down, and those irises I bought still need to be planted- and so do the lavender. I think I'll put the irises in the side yard by the daisies but where to plant the lavender.....Oh, that's right: I also should feed my little impatiens. They're doing well, but could use a little boost- and I can't forget to water the hanging baskets. It's already hot out and it's only 9AM. It looks like the foam flowers and Jacob's ladder is happy. They are so beautiful. Thank you flowers for making the garden so bright. How are you guys, my little forget-me-nots? Doing OK in your new spot? Oh shoot- the rain knocked the peony flowers down and they're all mushy. Oh yeah, before I go in I need to give the birds some fresh water and I think the feeder hanging under the dogwood is empty.......

Beautiful Music

Julie, my younger (I can't say "little" any more as she is in her 40s) sister, is a budding pianist. Our grandma, Alice, played the piano most of her life. Grandma's style was more honky tonk, although she did play for many church services. When Grandma died, Julie inherited the piano, and it is the one she has been using until just recently. This is my sister's new piano, and she is very excited to continue her musical pursuits with this lovely instrument. I admire my sister's dedication to learning- I tried lessons once but didn't have the patience. In the past year or so, Julie has called me to share her music. I am serenaded over the phone, and I enjoy these mini-concerts very much. It warms my heart that she can play so well, but most of all because she seeks me out to share her talents. Thank you Julie. and Bravo!!!

A rainy day

Sam has it right. It has rained, thundered and lightening has lit the sky all night and it doesn't appear to be ending any time soon. This is a nap day if there ever was one, and I admit to being just a bit envious of my boy who can sleep the day away!

Miracles

The miracles of nature are everywhere. This beautiful tradescantia grows in our side yard. The deep purple flower is so eye catching amidst the almost neon green foliage. Why did someone name this spider wort??
We witnessed a heart warming, wonderful saga in our backyard late yesterday afternoon. We knew there was a nest of cardinals in the tree outside the back door, and yesterday the babies left the nest. They are tiny brown puff balls with comically wide beaks and they are sooooooooo CUTE!!!!! At first they hopped around on the ground, with Mom and Dad everywhere, flying from shrub to tree to ground, chirping and buzzing and twittering. Even someone who doesn't speak cardinal could clearly understand what they were saying. Gradually, the little ones, with major fuzzy wing flappage, managed to get a foot off the ground. One flew into a little dish of bird seed; another flew up our back steps one at a time. It was precious and priceless and I am thankful for witnessing such a gift. I hope the babies grow up and come back to our yard to raise their own babies in our tree someday down the road.

New trails

My new favorite trail at Glacier Ridge Park winds in and out of wooded areas. I enjoy being out in the sun one moment, and the next, shrouded in the filtered light and softness of the green carpet and ceiling.
Friday after work I decided to have another run at the trail. I don't know the exact reason, but I felt like I had strapped 50 pound weights on my shoulders. Everyone who has ever done repetitive workouts can attest to the fact that most of the time, the workout is good- need a bit of warm up, but then you can move along. There are also the rare occasions when the stars align and you feel like you have wings and you can go and go. And THEN there are the times like Friday where I just couldn't get going. It was very windy, and this trail is very open in spaces, so that took more effort. But the small hills that I usually can blade fairly easily were bringing me to a stop and there was no glide.
So after a half hour I gave in and went back to the car, acknowledging that at least I got a half hour and assuring myself that, yes, it must have been the wind. But I'll be back!