A simple walk down the driveway gave me ample reason to be at peace with whatever is sent my way.  Earlier today I took Maggie, our little Pomeranian, to dogie daycare and found out that the person who runs it has just been diagnosed with cancer.  It was a stinging realization to just how life can change in the matter of a day.  Her life matters.  I know what to do. 
But, in the meantime, right here under my nose is Gods grace poured out and showered down in every small detail. 
A mother robin is out gathering worms for her little ones.....

and another mother sits under cover, waiting the arrival of this years babe.  Her one year old is sitting with her.  They see me and off they run.  Bop, bop, bop!

The wedding area is coming into it's own.  I can see the brides path right through the middle of the green lush cathedral landscape.  We have a few weeks before the big wedding day in this spot.

A wild iris peaks out at me....with more just around the bend. 

Each one a little different.....

...but related to the other.

A little further down the driveway a large mighty maple tree looms ....

and I stop to gaze up at its grandness.

Ahh...there is Bart face to face with a blue jay....he looks at me and looks at the bird.....

..then another bird twitters in.  They spread in opposite directions and ....

Bart scolds! 

It's ok!! 

The yard across the street....

.....is full of flowers and some of them we don't have in our yard.  This is a common Bleeding Heart that grows in shaded areas.  It reminds me of my childhood home where they were naturalized and in abundance.

The iris across the street was so interesting.  It is rain beaten, just about worn out but still worth a picture.  The heart of this flower is something to consider!

What happens when we don't put out slug bait?  Not a petal goes untouched from the rabid nibblers!

If the rain lets up this week, as we are told it will, I'll be out in the garden planting.  This is the week it needs to be planted or we begin to get nervous about the harvest.  Corn, beans and tomatoes take until the end of August to start picking.  Time is wasting!

Iris

It takes time to realize an Iris after the bulb has been planted.  Four seasons have passed since they were placed in our ground.  This spring is bringing us several Iris flowers and it's been worth the wait!

Iris

Thou are the Iris, fair among the fairest

Who, armed with golden rod

And winged with the celestial azure, bearest

The message of some god.


Thou are the Muse, who far from crowded cities

Hauntest the sylvan streams,

Playing on pipes of reed the artless ditties

That come to us as dreams.


O flower-de-luce, bloom on, and let the river

Linger to kiss thy feet!

O flower of song, bloom on, and make for ever

The world more fair and sweet.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Thank you, Iva! The Iris are magnificent!

Back to Critical Thinking.....

Back to "Critical Thinking" and forward to now.  I still haven't found the book by Thomas Kida with the title of  Don't Believe Everything You Think.  I will continue to ask for it from my local library but it may take a while to get.  In the meantime, I painted a portion of the "Junk?" picture and have that to share.  It was a fun picture to compose and render.  I used a simple palette of Windsor Red, Cobalt blue, Veridian Green and Azo Yellow on 160 lb Fabriano Artistico paper.  It measures 9.5 X 11 inches. 

 

Doing a work of art from a subject like the junk heap is rewarding.  It's not so much about the object as it is the shapes and forms created by the set.  In the original photo there wasn't a milk can, but in its place a gas can.  The milk can was more pleasing to my eye and it was out in our barn.  It now is sitting in the house and may become a part of another painting.  It has a very tired worn look and came from my husbands grandparents farm.  I like that fact and it makes the painting more interesting. 

Bellingham from waters edge to rich farmland

I've been gone for a few days.  My trip took me north to the new home of our daughter and her family.  They now live in Bellingham, Washington.  The area is breathtakingly beautiful! To start with, there are views of the Olympic mountains, San Juan Islands, and Mt. Baker.  The days I visited were clear, bright and cheerful.  We went on several outings that took us from the waters edge, to the rich farmland this area is known for. 

 

Hovander Farm is a wondrous old farm that was given to the state in 1969.  It must have been quite the place.  The stately home is one of the most stunning pieces of architecture in the county.  It was built with a Swedish flare and may be the prettiest home in the community! 

  There are plenty of animals in the farmyard, and these turkeys take the prize for attracting attention!  We also saw goats, bunnies, ducks, and geese.  As the season warms more animals are brought to the farm for all to enjoy.

We had free run of the farm for quite a while, until the buses pulled in and dropped off several loads children.  What a great experience for school kids. Many visitorscome here to picnic, pet the animals and play along the Noosack River.   Dogs welcome!

We look forward to finding out more about Bellingham.  There appears to be an endless supply of wide open spaces and natural beauty to explore.

Little Red Hen

Little Red Hen will not stay with the other chickens in the pen.  She has figured out how to jump up on a tree limb, work her way up to the six foot high fence, and fly over.  We have almost given up putting her back each night.  I like seeing her during the day.  She slowly walks around my flower beds eating bugs and the dreaded slugs!  One chicken roaming around won't do any harm. 

 When we first got chickens they were free range.  When it rained they would cover our front porch...our lovely front porch.  Need I say more?  (We have more than fifty chickens.)

Bartholomew takes Little Red Hen in stride.  He doesn't bother her and he even is nice to her.  I found him inviting her into the garage today.  She did go in.  I suspect that cat food might taste good to her.

Little Red Hen was handed some Rye bread.  She liked it!  I smiled and left them alone.

Peaceful living has an animal or two roaming the place.

Happy Mother's Day! 

  Donna's Garden in the evening light.
Take the link back to June 2008 and read about my dear friend.  She was a beautiful person and a wonderful mother. 

Snail sighting

Snails are mollusks, more specifically, gastropods. 
This guy is a Pacific Sideband Snail.  He lives in our woods, and was out crawling around after the rain last week.  We don't usually see them intact but do find the shells. He had never seen a human before and didn't shrink into that shell on his back. He stayed as is even after three flashes of bright light from the camera.  Slugs are more common and not nearly as interesting.  The most common remark when a slug is seen is "ick!"  "Where's the slug bait?"  I didn't encounter even one slug on this day! 
This little creature was left alone because there is plenty for him to eat in the woods.  But, he better stay away from my garden because the bait it out! 

Going to the source....

..to find the Camas Lily was on my list of things to do.  The sky was dark, a torrent of rain covered the sky but just as soon as the rain came...the sunshine poured out in a stream of light across the green earth.  I grabbed my camera, raincoat and put on waterproof shoes.  I was intent on finding the blue hued flowers and see that wave of color for myself!

Just beyond the Chritsmas tree field...I could see the blue Camas Lilies gently bending in the soft breeze.

Beautiful....Blue Wave of Color!  I didn't want to leave this spot but there was a possiblity of finding the Oregon Fawn Lily...deep in the woods, so on I went.

  

What is that off in the distance?  It is the Oregon Fawn Lily!  Another rare sighting and worth the trudge through the rain covered forest!

See the spotted leaf at the base of the Oregon Fawn Lily?  It is unmistakeable.   

The Oregon Fawn Lily does not lift its head but hangs over the stem.  

By simply placing the camera underneath the bloom and clicking, the heart of Oregon Fawn Lily is captured. 

After the rain, this was a good day to walk deep into the woods.