Thistle Macro

Thistles are like life ...
Delicate beauty surrounded by prickles.

Sometimes I see the magic,
Sometimes I grab the thorns.

Lately, it seems I have been faced with the part of the thistle that hurts.
Grabbing the stem ... the painful leaves.
Bleeding from my wounds ...

Today I am trying ...
To find the flower ...
To leave the thorns alone...
To handle adversity with grace ...

To seek the flower,
Not the stem.

False Alarm - Weekend Reflections

They pulled into the driveway of the abandoned mega-church,
but had to stop because of the chain.

They got out of their truck and wandered on foot ...
I don't think they were even on a call -
Just curious like the rest of us.

While they were wandering around the property,
I was wandering around their truck ...
Admiring it's beauty and reflections.

To see reflections from around the world, visit James at Newtown Area Photo - and join us for Weekend Reflections.

It's Been 8 Months ...

It's been 8 months, 1 hour and 46 minutes since I had my stroke.
It seems like a lifetime ago.

I was only 48 years old at the time.
The blood clot in my brain didn't know that.

In the time since I was rushed to the hospital - completely paralyzed on my right side, I have had to make changes in my lifestyle. Bye bye sodium. Bye bye saturated fats. Bye bye sugar.
Hello Mrs. Dash!

I have learned to read labels, and what I see scares me.
Foods that are labeled 'healthy' - have startling amounts of sugar and sodium!

I urge each and every person to learn the symptoms of a stroke. It can make the difference between a full recovery (yep, I'm back to 'normal' now - whatever that is!) and permanent disability or even death. Every minute counts.

Learn to read labels - especially the amounts of sodium and sugar. You will be shocked. You will be HEALTHIER by knowing to avoid these poisons (I know, I know, all things in moderation!).

I thank God everyday for my miraculous recovery. The only two real residual issues I have are that my memory isn't quite what it used to be ... and when I get tired/agitated I start to slur like a drunken mad woman.

Please take care of yourselves. I want to keep all of my friends around for a long, long time.

Reflections of A Fern - A Prospero Moment

Sissie and I had the chance to go for a long walk in the woods ... how much fun to tramp through the underbrush ... down the overgrown logging road ... hiking to the bottom of the canyon via the old deer trail ... to the magical place we called "Deer Valley". When we were kids we built forts there, waded in the creek, and played away the long summer days. What memories! What magic.

We took so many pictures in our magical place. So much is the same, like Huckleberry Bridge (a massive old growth log that fell over the creek more than 50 years ago). So much is different (the trees have grown huge, 'mud flats' is now gone).

I noticed the reflection of a fern in the murky waters of the creek.
The canyon walls, and the trees overhead cast strange shadows over the water, as did the few rays of sunshine that managed to sneak through.

I knew that FINALLY I had a shot that I could say ...
"It was a Prospero Moment"!

To see what I mean, check out Serendipitous Garden. You'll be amazed and delighted.