On My Mind

Mid-Summer Update

As I sit here, I can look out my back door and see the breeze blowing in the flowers and birds in the feeder. The sun is golden and the grass has gone dry. We're harvesting our garden and delighting in seeing our lovely property bloom over the last year that we've lived and loved here. 

I don't really know why I feel this way, but this seems like the summer of "relish". 

I'm relishing everything that presents to my senses. Every thing I look at is "art". I'm taking it all in, living in the present. I have an immense feeling of gratitude and it makes me feel happy, peaceful and appreciative. 

* Maybe it's because I have a lovely husband of one year who shows me love & support I've never known *

* Maybe it's because I have 3 wonderful children who love me as much as I love them ~ they are my greatest accomplishment *

* Maybe it's because I have a loving family that is fairly drama-free and extremely appreciative of FAMILY *

* Maybe it's because I know time is short and of the essence and knowing this, I make the most of every moment *

* Maybe it's because my mind is always taking artful snapshots and I CHOOSE to see the beauty in everything *

or

*Maybe it's because I have summers off and I'm relishing this time off before I go back to the mayhem *

or 

*Maybe it's because certain toxic people have not been front and center in my life for the last year, and now the restraining order is no longer in effect and I know that the peace may not last * 

MAYBE IT"S BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE ABOVE

at any rate, overcoming obstacles with a right attitude has gotten me to this grateful place in my life, and knowing when it's good and appreciating that. THANKING the Universe for the opportunity to live a life well and hoping I am doing it right and enough. 

That's what I think about... doing it right and doing enough of it. Life is so short and full of complications and Mean People. We have to do things to nourish our souls and recharge when our bliss meters point to near empty. I'm all about BLISS and I am thankful my

life has enough blissful people and things to keep my meter up in the medium to high level almost all the time. 

Some things I've done this summer *so far* that make my heart sing:

*camping with Wade's family, 46 people and 14 dogs all got along*

NOT working, at work. Not missing it one iota. 

Working at home: on a garden, on to do lists, housekeeping, cooking.

Tending a garden and flowers. Reading. Sitting in the quiet. Rocking in my rocking chair.

Camping at the Mopar Nationals, just me and my hubby, our yearly tradition. Rodeo's and fairs, floating our boat on the river. Gathering river rocks. Sitting in the swing and laughing with my girl. Morning coffee on weekends with my husband.

Birthday bash for Kristina and Wade at Kitty's. FAMILY getting together and feeling 

the love, clearly.

LISTENING to the quiet. Taking care of myself. Banking my bliss! I COULD GO ON! 

We'll see how the rest of the summer goes. Update soon! 

First Day of Vacation

Here it is, finally. 

Summer!

The years go by so fast! I look back on my blog posts and 

I was JUST blogging about summer coming and appreciating life by slowing

down.... and here, it has raced yet again, to another summer.

We had a very rough year. And a magical one, too.

Lots of heartache and sorrow and struggle. People we thought loved us

tried to destroy us. Now I watch my back everywhere I go.

But, not to be overshadowed by that, we also had much LOVE!

We got MARRIED! And, it had the look and feel of the wedding of my dreams.

Our family came together and made it beautiful.  

And now we live in a house on a hill with 7 gorgeous acres that I find like paradise.

I LOVE it here, and I love the people I live here with!

This morning was my first vacation day. I savored it.

I moved my glider rocker out to the front porch where I can sit and look at that magnificent

oak tree and gaze out at the mountains and trees. The birds chirp and the dog lays at my feet.

I sip coffee and READ, read, read to my hearts content. 

Then I got up and did a little housework, and then I did some creating. Then I sat back down and 

rested. Did some gardening. Fertilized plants. Admired flowers..... sat and rested. Sipped rootbeer in my 

rocker again. Just love it! 

Taking time to sit and rest and enjoy life..... priceless. 

Our porch is in transition. We poured the concrete and next year it will be  fabulous outdoor room!

This is a wedding item I refurbished by cleaning up and giving it chalkboard paint. Now it's a cute vignette in the yard! (safe from rain, of course!)

Above, partial view of the oak tree. 

Stay tuned for more summer stories! 

Taking Time

We rush around every day to the next task and seldom

 stop to just do nothing at all. 

The beauty is in nothingness, if you know how to look at it.

 I like being alone. And I like the tv off. And I Iike to just sit and watch

leaves falling from trees and I like the radio off in the car sometimes. 

I don't always like to continuously be thinking. 

You have to turn it off sometimes.

It's that way with your computer, and your smart phones and GPS and

all the other things that interrupt life.  You need to turn it off sometimes.

Children are dying for their parents attention. Turn it all off and look 

at that beautiful thing you created. It won't be there for long and

trust me you will be wishing you'd turned your eyes and ears on them

because they'll grow up and out. 

You can be in a room with someone and not have to say one word and

it can be beautiful and say everything that words don't need to.

My daughter and I had a day together today, just the two of us.

We watched a few House Hunters episodes. We watched the leaves

falling outside the big front window.

She worked on her scrapbook and I put family pictures on Facebook for my 

dear husbands family. 

We sat at the breakfast table talking and listening to good music: Zac Brown, Nora Jones, Ray Lamontagne, Jack Johnson. 

There wasn't a lot to it, but it meant the world. 

Connect without having to entertain or purchase anything. 

Just be together.

It's not just good for them. It's good for you, too! 

On Gratitude

On Gratitude.

 I am grateful for old fashioned style love. 

(He did this on his own <3)

I am grateful for traditions.

(this is my brother in law Rick, who always guts the pumpkins before

our annual pumpkin carving family gathering)

I'm grateful for a family that loves to

do things together.

  I'm grateful for natural beauty, 

and even more grateful for the

ability to notice and appreciate it.

I'm grateful for humor. 

And the ability to be different. 

(above, my 83 year old friend Betty, on the left, being different)

I'm grateful for good health, fresh air, beautiful sunsets,

rocks, and even Nascar. 

 My children mean the world to me.

 And so does living in this beautiful, FREE country.

(God bless the USA)

MAY I NEVER LOSE THE ABILITY

TO FULLY APPRECIATE

ALL THAT I HAVE. 

May I always be grateful.  

Camping Alone With Your Honey Can Be Nice

My Wade & I went camping last weekend.

All alone.

That hasn't happened before, and it was quite nice.

Usually we have at least one to several others with us.

This time we decided to go it alone.. a much needed getaway.

We went to MILO McIVER State Park, near Estacada, Oregon.

It's beautiful in the fall, though we've not been any other time of the year till now.

They have two dams, a lake, a river and tons of forested campgrounds to bike, 

hike or walk.  

I'll be excited to see where we go next. On MY wish list is:

Southern Oregon

Redwood Forests

Seattle area

The Gorge 

Silver Creek Falls 

and any other state, anytime. 

 The view from above the park. You can't tell but this is WAYyyyyy above where we were. I zoomed in.

 Milo's tribute.

 The fishing (and the view) is good here.

 The dam, under construction.

 On our way to the fish hatchery at Milo. This is My Wade & Zeus.

<3 is camping alone with my honey. Well, and the little dog, too.

SUMMER IN REVIEW

Our most recent camping trip, this weekend.

A wedding attended and looking forward to our own next summer.

Me and my very special dad.

MISSING TERESA.

CONCERT in Brownsville.

Our trailer, er... love shack?

These beautiful sunrises and sunsets out in the country. I thank God for them every day.

Beautiful fields of wheat, and hazelnut orchards. Right out my back door. And side door. And front door.

A very romantic moment. FLY ME TO THE MOON playing and dancing after we set off our paper lantern.

My favorite picture of us. So in love. Holding on to each other like we never want to let go.

And dancing with my dad. That ranks way up there too.

Reminding myself what is important. I need no reminding.

Garden visitors.

Time with my kids, who are wonderful.

Remembering that time is precious and it goes very fast. I treasure the time I've had this summer.