never 2 old

This was a surprise from my hubby. Isn't it beautiful? I love to swing in the backyard, read, write, or just listen to the birds. But, what I love the most is being able to swing with someone by your side, it is so relaxing and we end up having the best conversations. Ahhhh, good times...Thank you honey!

long before we made the pies

by Darlene Simmonds

long before we made the pies

we churned

and dug

we planted

and watered

we pruned

and waited

long before we made the pies

vines sprouted

grew quickly

leaves formed

and filled spaces

spines lengthened

hands wounded

long before we made the pies

buds appeared

quickly burst

flowers opened

beautifully bloomed

slowly dried up

and died away

long before we made the pies

there was hard work

a lot of time

continuous care

environmental cooperation

beauty and death

then succulent fruit

long before you and I are through

we get churned and dug

watered and pruned

grow and burst open

bloom and dry up

we work and protect

care and cooperate

pass a lot of time

and if we are faithful

and believe in our dreams

we eventually bear fruit

and are made into award winning pies.

...and what pie are you? :)

bad talking puppy!

Baxter talks... well, I guess I should say, Baxter talks back like a bratty child

who doesn't want to be told, "No bite, Baxter!"

he is four months old now and 3 lbs of teething terror

so everything goes in his mouth...everything

and if he can bite down...he does

I spend a large portion of my day saying,

"No bite, Baxter!"

and he then says, "NOooooo"

back to me...he really does, I have a witness!

so today I purchased tiny training puppy treats

to reward him when I say, "No bite, Baxter!"

and then chooses not to talk back to me

it is so hard not to let his little cute puppy charms

over ride his piss & vinegar behavior

because I still get sweet puppy kisses

on the spot

self portrait challenge ~ politic's me off...

...and personally hurts my head if I think about it too much right now.

I remember the day when there was no question about always voting with the party you were registered with. That's why it was such a taboo subject. People were so die hard and minds could not be swayed. So, why even bring it up and cause unnessary strife between two people?

This isn't about me telling you what political party I am registered with, this is about the fact that none of the candidates makes me feel all the things I am supposed to feel in backing them, not one. Safe? no.... Competent? no... Experienced? ...no.

So, I gently hold my head in hands that are lifting this country up in prayer to God in the hopes that things will end up fine, regardless of my indecision about who is the right person for this, oh so important job.

I am hopelessly confused and think we all need to go to Disneyland...maybe Mickey knows something I don't ;)

beautiful breathing

We celebrated Easter this year very intimately. Sissy came home from San Francisco Saturday night and we all got up for church the next morning, scrambling for showers, mirrors and blow dryers. The service was packed, as it is also one of our Pastor's last Sunday's before he retires. Mark arrived just in time and slipped in next to me on the pew. He took my breath away and I told him so. I'm not quite sure that he understands the full meaning of what I am feeling when I say that to him. I had Angela on my right and Mark on my left. Sissy kept getting misty during the song service and Mark shook his head 'yes' in affirmation to what Pastor was saying. I don't think I could have felt any more peaceful in that moment. There were adults sitting on each side of me, but the hands that I held felt familiar and smaller than usual, so I closed my eyes and took a long slow breath and it felt beautiful.

Later, we went to a near by restaurant and saw familiar faces from our city. Greeting one another with smiles and hugs gives us such a sense of community.

These were just a couple of the trees outside that were especially beautiful. And then the fun began...

I think that Angela is the only one who can talk her brother into taking a funny picture.

Yes, I am so proud sitting across the table from these two. Mark had a lot to say about college and how much he is enjoying it. He is still excited about the medical field and may even set himself up to be a nurse. Isn't it amazing how such a tragedy can give someone a clear sense of direction and purpose? Prior to his accident, he had no clue with what he wanted to do with his life. Pardon my gushing :)

And then the two of us. Still holding hands under the table and adoring looks now and then. It was a Beautiful Morning, a beautiful afternoon and we all left each other smiling. (I did let them know that I am ready for Easter egg hunts and baskets, as soon as they are ;) No hurry though...today, I breathed easy, watching my little family create yet another good memory for our futures.

Poetry Thursday

Two Couples in Carmel

a soft mist filled the air

and so did love

we relished every morsel

and every moment

long walks

longer kisses

they talked

we giggled

a gentle mood was in this place

and so was love

imagination turned back time

as did our hearts

long dinners

longer laughter

they ate

we sipped wine

then we had to say goodnight

returning back

two separate rooms, side by side

the angels guide

tender love

graceful movements

deep sleep

forever remembered

This was a trip, a small vacation of sorts, that Angela and I took with our Hubbies. As couple friends go...we bonded on that trip. The four of us enjoying each other's company. Angela's husbands cancer has hit home hard. I can't believe this is happening...and either can she. He is right now receiving his 2nd week of chemo, 2 down, 2 to go. I am sharing this with you to first, alert you on a spiritual level. They need your prayers and whatever it is that you can do to lift a family high into the heavenlies. Secondly, I want to declare my proud devotion to Angela, the awe that I feel as I watch her ward off the weapons of this warfare and the privilege that I can call her the friend of my heart.
Visit her HERE...any support is so greatly appreciated. Thank You so so much :)
You Are Loved!

I got my Angel wings today!

'click' for a better view~ Nikon D80, darlene

~ Lavaggi ~

Angels of Reconciliation are what Steven Lavaggi calls his beautiful creations.

Beautiful jewelry designs, paintings, murals, sculptures & products.

I purchased this sterling silver necklace and it arrived today...

I squealed at the UPS man (which was embarrassing :#)

and couldn't wait to put it on.

He quotes this scripture in the packaging,

"For He shall give His angels charge over you,

to keep you in all your ways."

Psalm 91:11

If you visit his site, I bet you'll want wings of your own :)

dog-gone-it

Now I am completely aware that these pictures are blurry, but my subjects were moving extremely fast. I have puppy wars going on in my house. The strawberry blond is Ellie, the 9 year old dog who tolerates Baxter, the new puppy who has no fear and thinks that every moment is a party where he is the birthday boy. Strange doggie behaviors are cropping up around here...

Ellie slyly steals one tiny tidbit at a time of Baxter's puppy food and hides them all in my daughters room...doesn't eat them, just hides them?

Baxter picks up one leaf after going potty and drops it just outside the back door before coming back in...he now has a fine collecting pile.

Ellie steals all the chewies and hides them (I don't know where?) but I do know she dislikes chewies and won't eat them.

Baxter steals all the toys and puts them on the puppy stairs that lead up to the couch...which then blocks his way to get up them. Later, he then looks at me like, "who did this and how am I supposed to get up there?"

Ellie happily plays chasing games with Baxter...only if she thinks I'm not looking, as soon as I appear, she growls at him and runs out of the room, but returns 1 minute later, guilt free.

Baxter chases Ellie behind Daddy's big chair and then runs from side to side keeping her there...the real funny part is when he fakes going right, halt switches to the left and tags Ellie's butt with his nose (hee hee...you're it!).

In between all of these entertaining events, we are potty training, teaching puppy that Mommy's hands are not for teething, constantly removing foreign objects from puppy's mouth and once again in my life...relishing nap times :)

The cute title of a newly released book: "Puppies Instead of Prozac" ^..^

"are you staying or going?"

<----This is just one small corner of my studio. I couldn't even bare to post the picture in full color, it really is quite daunting. Well, the closet has been emptied and the shelves have been put in. The bins have all been purchased and neatly arranged on said shelves and now all I have to do is, to decide what stays and what goes...blah! My 'stuff' is in piles on my desk, the floor, my chair and any other nook or cranny I could find. I have laughed out loud at some of the things I have previously saved...like, the smallest pieces of scrap paper to what?... squeeze out just one more leaf or flower? Yesterday I called it being frugal, today I just call it trash and way too insignificant to save...and THAT is the story of my life...

I Save Everything

Don't You?

Doesn't Everybody Else?

Save Things of Value?

Things of Worth?

Heck, I can think of a million ideas to do with That *wink*

Paint it, glue it, sew it, Save it!

My god...just don't throw it away!

And eventually, all those things end up in my studio, in utter confusing chaos and decisions have to be made. Big Decisions like...what gets to Stay and what has to GO. So, just in case anybody may be wondering what I'm doing this weekend?

The Trees

photo by Darlene Nikon D80

~*~

The trees are coming into leaf

Like something almost being said

The recent buds relax and spread

Their greenness is a kind of grief.

Is it that they are born again

And we grow old? No, they die too.

Their yearly trick of looking new

Is written down in rings of grain.

Yet still the unresting castles thresh

In full grown thickness every May.

Last year is dead, they seem to say,

Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.

by Philip Larkin

(August 9, 1922-December 2, 1985)

healing thoughts

~ This is an article from Sunday's newspaper, an insert called PARADE. You can read it for yourself here.~

You know those conversations you have internally with yourself? Maybe it's mulling over a recent conversation, or a subject matter you feel interested in...? and then suddenly everywhere you look, little things crop up that make wonderful connections? Well, I have been really thinking about the power of the mind lately and because of this article, I now have a few books on order that cover a lot of research on the mind, also dreaming and their connection with healing.

I'm a powerful night dreamer. They are very vivid, have tons of symbolism and I remember every detail upon waking. I already use my mind to control my pain, calm my nerves and muscle spasms. But, I have not quite got the hang of using every aspect of the mind when it comes to actual healing.

If any of you have experience in this, or can give me the name of a book or website, please share your knowledge with me. I will definitely share what I learn with you.

Hope you're having a great week!
Happy Healing :)

girls day

morning breaks into the perfect day

soaking up each single minute

discussing all and also nothing

silence holds our deep shared secrets

every step familiar rhythms

arm in arm this day is ours

two sets of hands are fitting perfect

that later will transpose memoirs

others here all seem transparent

they witness our warming light

it sends most eyes to sudden squinting

and they question their insight

the glow that goes along before us

the stardust left in every step

these moments all too soon are ended

leading us to homes doorstep

claiming just one imperfection

today will be left behind

but alas I'll be transcribing

these memories upon my mind

slumberless

things here are blooming

nature awakes

refuses to be shy

or go unnoticed

she sheds each bind

steps over the line

flaunting no shame

while making her entrance

so everyone else

will pale in comparison

to her lack of modesty

Levi is his name...

A young friend of mine just had her baby. First grand baby for her Momma and he is going to get spoiled with love. This is my 'Welcome to the World' card for him and my first try with mixed media. It was very relaxing and easy to do, considering my type A personality. Hmmmmm...yet another reason to collect and keep just about anything :)

*click on picture*

*to forgive seeing my mistakes ;)*