gratitude

pull up a chair and join us for thanksgiving.

my sister and me

going thru pictures for my daughters thirtieth birthday party...i found this oldie but goodie of my sister and me. 

days of june

as spring is giving way to the brighter days of summer i am pulled into the light of the sun. 

the sun wraps it's arms of warmth around me and holds on tight.

this embrace is what i long for all winter.

i am a sun junky.  i need it, i want it, i can't get enough of it.

                           june evenin'

long work days give way to the golden rays and usually i am exhausted.

these last few weeks have been somewhat melancholy for me as we 

had to say goodbye and farewell to our long time companion, maggie. 

seventeen and half years was just not long enough. 

 she has been laid to rest on our farm underneath a golden desert ash. my amazing hubby picked out
this beautiful tribute tree and said it would always remind us of our golden girl, maggie.
the bark is an unusual amber colour and the leaves will turn the same hue in the fall. we have place it on a high point on the farm so we can see it standing there strong, tall in remembrance of our dear girl.

also i received this beauty, a black tulip magnolia for mother's day from my son, jesse. 

he and hubby planted it for me.

the days of summer are full. 

there is sheep sheering going on around here.

three of the sheep,  out of the four are done.

this is not an easy task.

we have all taken our turn and i have to 

say without a doubt dear hubby is the best

at it by far. 

ok wilma it's your turn next.

poor baby needs to be able to see.

we have had some very nice cooler evenings and so the firepit is always a great 

way to stay outside even into the night. 

the boys playing fire jenga.

 the animals around the farm are enjoying the sun too.
renny is awaiting dinner keeping a watchful eye out &
"the girls" as we call them, vivian and pearl like to hang out near me wherever that may be.

summer flowers are blooming and the wild strawberries are ripening. 

this handsome lad is our latest foster, tuxedo or tennessee tuxedo as my hubby calls him.

he will make someone a great friend...he is a real loverboy.

i have let the greens bolt and i am enjoying the fact that they 

are providing some nectar for the butterflies, skippers, and hummers.

our edible garden is somewhat confused with the flux in temperatures 

here in tn...some really warm days with cooler nights and some cool days with even cooler nights.

i still have lettuce growing but the herbs haven't really taken off yet.

this is a beautiful (new to me)  purple cinnamon basil. 

i am excited to try this in some summer dishes.

of course with summer days comes lots of pool time.

well for her at least. 

whatever this lovely purple stalky flower is came from seed but i am not sure which one.

my violas have just been spectacular this year blooming since the very early spring and just won't quit.

i love harvesting from the garden and cooking the freshest possible produce. 

  

summer foods are incredible not to mention lovely.

i do so love to be outdoors enjoying everybit of sunshine i can get. riding my tractor and cutting the grass is a real favourite of mine. it gives me plenty of sun, plenty of time, and plenty of comtemplating the artwork that is nature,  painted by the hand of God.

happiest of summer days to you.

getting some clarity farm style

life's a bit busy right now, gardening, farming, end of school hoopla, ballet practices and performances, hockey winding down/playoffs for the menfolk, lots of watering due to extremely dry conditions,  birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, friends experiencing death and divorce, then there is always cooking, cleaning, laundry, children, grandchildren, grown children, family that doesn't live here(traveling), animals(lots of them) fostering, projects due, straightening up(my full time job) and i know i am not alone in this but sometimes it feels that way.

there are plenty of other things that could also go on that list (replacing toilet paper in the bathrooms, my other full-time job)....but you get the picture and most of you are experiencing it or have experienced it in the recent past.

SOME DAYS i just want to do what i want to do but alas the needs are still there when i return from my mental escapes.  which includes photographing, painting, taking care of the animals, planting an edible garden...much less having dinner or time with grownup friends including my hubby.

don't get me wrong i love being a mother, wife, grandmother, gardener,  cook, farmgirl etc, etc. i am just no good at prioritizing.   i want to do or have it all.


some days just come together perfectly and i flow through the days like i am on a cloud whisking me around with perfect timing and such.  but more often there are the other days...forgetting to pack lunch, not making the deadlines for projects, late answering emails that were imperative, didn't take something out for dinner or no dinner at all, planting something only to see it wither away for lack of attention, letting the kids bedrooms look like a tornado landed there, leaving dirty dishes stacked neatly waiting to be washed(something i never did when all six kids lived at home), dirty paw paths in every-room.

more and more i need recuperative moments which makes me look the other way for the stuff listed above.

then there is the mind...that never lets up.  do this, get to this, why haven't you done this?   don't you think you should cook dinner?  blah, blah blah.  SHHHHHH!

then i put myself in my place...you aren't a superhero/mom. you can only do what you can do...more blah blah blah.  

i realize that breathing is something that takes purposeful thoughts about it.   long slow breaths.  slowing down takes saying to yourself....SLOW DOWN.

life is a bit busy(vast understatement) but i am still going to take time to have some fresh cut flowers in a vase, take photographs of an unfurling flower, smell the gardenias, paint a picture,  have a swing on the front porch, stroke the kitty, preserve memories by daydreaming, read that book with dust on the front cover, cook lavish meals that take hours, watch a sunset until it fads into stars,  find new music and just sit and listen to it, stare at the birds flitting about, and lay in the hammock with my hubby, girl, and as many dogs as can fit on there with us.

life is full of things some are "glorious" others not so much but all in all life is full to the brim and i love it.

sunshine

This scrapbook design generated with Smilebox

promise

i know we are all feeling the need to celebrate spring.

the hope that it brings is so necessary to our well being.

on this overcast, drizzly day the evidence of that newness is all around us.

the first unfurling of the peony leaves are a masterpiece.

violas haven't stopped showing their beautiful colours all winter long.

our fields are covered with clover(i am not bragging)

i used to hate it but now i see it as a sign of spring.

it shows that growth is on it's way.

i prefer a world of colour, too much grey is not good for morale.

there is so much bursting forth with life.

my first ever camilla bush is going to be a stunner.

something about everything leafing out makes me giddy.

watching things awaken after a long winter slumber is

so exciting, rewarding.

even though there is much work to be done...somehow

with things blooming it doesn't seem overwhelming.

the birds are flitting around in anticipation.

seeds are a sign, there is more to come and new life will arrive.

we are dusting off the bikes to take some gorgeous

rides on the winding roads of tennessee.

i look around and see all the containers that need refreshing

and i can't wait to get my dirt therapy on.

my hubby, the narrator, brought home

some calla~lily bulbs that say i can plant them now...who knew?

of course, i love the contrast of black and white.

he also treated me to some beautiful tulips in shades of yellow, firey orange and red.

i love fresh flowers and these hues are cheery for sure.

what incredible beauty God has created for us to view.

i am anticipating a wonderful spring with many outdoor hours

that include plenty of gardening.

happy wet spring days.