Looking forward!

 It's been a looooong time!  I'm not even sure posting will work...so lets see? 

 

The Rogue River in Oregon has and continues to be a favorite place! 

We weren't able to go this year but are planning to go next June and with some family in toe!!  

Can't wait!  

We will eat ice cream, take long walks, fish and drive up to Crater Lake!  We'll be sure to go early in the day as the line of visitors get quite long!

We'll find the bluest blue water and crisp clean air!  

I'll probably wear this same shirt and Jim will have his Beaver hat on!  

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!! 

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.

From the path....

....trillium's are observed. They grow randomly and often are seen standing alone beneath the covering of other plants. Deer must love to eat them because I find beheaded stems throughout the woods. Trillium's won't bloom again for years after this is done to them. They are also protected by the law and picking them is a crime! Tell that to a three year old!!

We try to teach the kids about this "no no" before they come across the temptation to pick them. I call this rather glorious mushroom, "cupcake!" It looks like a chocolate cupcake that screams eat me! I wonder if this one is indeed edible. Probably not!

We are promised an outstanding day! I have lettuce seeds to plant and eggs to prepare for Easter! What is your fancy for today? No April Fools here!

See....

...the fluffiest green moss. Some mosses stand out and catch attention, just like this clump that is hanging onto a large rock near the path leading into the woods. Where this Grape Hyacinth came from is a mystery. It has found a place to grow behind our woodshed and next to a sweet wild strawberry.

Johnny-Jump-Ups flourish in the spring. They are the same shape and size as white, purple and pink violets. Technically, they are a yellow violet, according to The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Western Region. They are the springiest flower I see today!

Another surprise, hidden deep in the woods, is this purple Hyacinth. It is not at all developed like a domestic Hyacinth, but does have the distinctive flower and scent. Probably a bird dropped a small bulb while flying through the woods. I'm glad!

English Daisy is part of the lawn and it can be seen throughout our place. Some weeks we don't mow so they can flourish a little longer.

While the sunshine is warm.....I'll be spending more time outdoors!

Where is your week taking you?

The weather man says.....

The weather man says it will sleet, freeze and maybe snow tomorrow. We live at a level of altitude where that could all happen. I had to get outside and make a record in photos of today, because tomorrow things could change in the landscape. I scurried outside to take a few pictures of the spring like weather, before it goes away. The fear is that the flowering trees will be hit hard and its fruit will be struck dead. This is a common happening, but there is always hope that the weather man is wrong! It is quite nippy out but the sun continues to shine! Hope!! The daffodils have been blooming for a few weeks. I don't like to cut them to bring in the house because then they fade and are gone. We have planted just enough to make the yard look bright and cheerful. I wonder if the freeze will harm them?

We worked in the "Cathedral" area today. It was a "burn" day. In our area of the country burning is prohibited much of the time. We have to call, and listen to a recording, to know if we can burn. Today was a go. We stacked limbs, dug up ferns to transplant (ferns won't die in a freeze) and racked up leaves. Woodland fires are kept very confined and safe.

As I wandered into a new clearing area, there they were.......more violets.....pink and purple violets!! There would be no clean-up in that spot! We stopped to appreciate natures surprise...but the day was not over yet!

At lunch time, we glanced out the living room window to see our three deer munching their way around the house and backyard. (The deer are ours because they are in our yard!) They moved with grace and seemed very comfortable. I grabbed the camera and walked outside,around the house, to get a picture without the glare of the window. I stood there and took several shots of the trio. They slowly walked into the woods to find a nice spot for a nap.

All this time Bart was at my feet meowing up at me. He caught on to what I was looking at and became quite serious in his stance. His meow ceased and we took in the view together.

In everyday there is opportunity to notice, record and be thankful. I like sharing my life treasures with you and I hope you enjoy the simple pleasures we are entrusted with.

Take a moment to get outside this week and see what's up!!

White violets, miners lettuce, pink plum trees and the kids!

I had the best day! It started out with a knock at my door, it was Claire, our grandniece. She came to spend the day with "Auntie Juju."

We made plans to go to "Mom to Mom" play time at our church. My daughter, granddaughter and another friend came along, too!

We all came back to the farm at noon and had omelette's for lunch. The eggs were gathered this morning from our brood of hens and we ate heartily!

Next, we took off out the front door for a energizing walk in the warm sunshine.

We discovered the White Violets...blooming a full month early! Last year they bloomed on April 5th. Aren't they beautiful? There are hundreds of them.

A jaunt through the woods is a ritual we don't neglect! The kids were equipped with bags for treasures and a snack of Fruit Loops...I know, but you're only a little kid once! I'm pretty sure they are organic Fruit Loops! :)

After visiting the hen house we walked upon a lush ground cover of Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata). Some people buy seed and plant this in their garden! We just get it....from natural means. It is organic, too!!

The goats beckoned us over to the fence. We clipped some grass and gave them a handful. It was more of the same thing they eat all day long!

The kids wanted to go into the barn, so we did. Getting really close to the goats doesn't always go so well. We stayed back and let them be.

My goodness...the Plum trees are in full bloom, a month early, just like the White Violets! In eighteen years we haven't seen an early spring like this.
The kids seemed to know that pink trees are something special and they celebrated by dancing around!

Being thankful doesn't begin to say what a day like this means...but it does do it for me!