Abandoned Roses

There used to be a "meditation garden" ...

At the now-abandoned-and-wrecked mega-church.

We still go there and meditate in our own way.
Amidst the hidden beauty
Of the overgrown gardens.

How to Win the Chicken Wars

The cute little chicks are all grown up now. They are way too big for their temporary pen, and busted out ... free to roam the yard. After they started digging up my mom's flower beds, my brother-in-law helped me build a larger new home for them.

I used an old drawerless dresser turned on its side for a small shelter. They roosted on the top. Yesterday I decided to add another partial (lidless) dresser on top to make laying boxes.

Evening came and the ladies went to bed. On top of the open "nesting" area. They fought for supremacy along the narrow slats at the top. Every time one of them moved, another fell off and the war for a sleeping area had begun.

And it was NOISY.

I decided to put a 1X6" piece of lumber across the top for them to roost on. When I had put in the dresser, the chickens went crazy getting away, so I figured I wouldn't have a problem.

Wrong.

As I slid the piece of board across the top of the nesting area, the chickens immediately decided that this was a very good idea. They hopped right on. So here I was, trying to position a board -- still halfway out of the pen, with 13 chickens crowded ONTO the other end. I had to tip the board back and forth, chickens swaying with each motion, to inch it into place.

Silence ensued.
Blessed silence.
Good night ladies.
Sleep well.

Rise and Fall of a Mushroom Family

I found this little family of mushrooms out by the driveway. I took their portrait, then hurried away to find my sister, who was part of the work party cleaning up my parents house.

We rushed back to where I had found them.

And ...

Sniff, this was all that was left.
Sigh.
Snort.
Mmmmmm I'm getting hungry.
Mushroom omelet anyone?

Don't Wok the Frog!

My sister and I were sorting through a pile of metal.
Look what we found watching us!
I hope his new home is just as comfortable and safe
As the bottom of this old frying pan.

Sweet Dreams, Chickens

Red and Vulture ...

I woke them up to take this picture. They clucked for a few minutes, then went back to sleep.

Every night they sleep in the same place, near the front window so they can see inside to their family. I guess the nights are getting cooler, because they scootch up like this on purpose!

Doesn't look very comfortable to me.

Providence Angel

Three weeks ago, my daughter was here at Providence Hospital in Newberg for surgery on her finger.

It all started as a small bump on the outside of her left ring finger, nestled against her pinkie. Then it started growing. The doctor said it was probably a "keloid", and not to have it removed because it would grow back.

Eventually, however, it started getting bigger. And painful. Over the past year it increased in size from a pea, to a marble, to the size of a nickel - and 1/2 inch thick. Back to the doctor we went. She wouldn't touch it. Then came the referrals. The general surgeon wouldn't touch it. The hand specialist wouldn't touch it. When the dust finally settled, we had found the perfect match - a plastic surgeon who was referred to as "an artist with a scalpel".

During the surgery wait, I wandered outside the hospital. Directly overhead, I saw the most amazing clouds ... and this wonderful angel. I knew my daughter was in good hands.

The surgery went fine, the "benign nerve sheath tumor" was removed, and my daughter has her beautiful hand back. It is now completely healed. Thank you God, Providence staff, and Dr. Gruber for doing what you do best and well.

Weddings and Things

The past few weeks have been wonderful. And awful. My little sissie, AKA "Honey" got married. She is so beautiful, it was wonderful.

My parents are getting ready to come home after their accident, and that will be wonderful as well.

Still, so much needs to be done so that they can be safe and comfortable in this old house. I sometimes despair that it will all get done. How could one house collect so much dirt ... cobwebs ... junk? Fifty plus years of living ... raising children ... memories ... here. So much stuff. Every nook and cranny jammed full of stuff. "I might need that someday". It's a curse we have. Something I am trying to break through myself.

It's hard to let go of the stuff of life isn't it? When I had meningitis 14 years ago I lost a lot of memories. To me, "stuff" helps jog those memories and old feelings out from the fog they are stuck in. I am afraid I will lose them forever. But I can't keep all this stuff.

Staying busy is not an issue now. Finding a moment alone and at peace is what I crave. I don't know when this will happen, if ever.

And the stuff? I guess I need to learn to concentrate on the words of my recently-married-little-sister ... "Sometimes you just gotta close your eyes and throw it away".