Have You Seen My Glasses?

At last I didn't lose them ... on my face (because that really has happened before)!

Gee thanks, Ribbit, for making me think I was crazy!!!

Wild Rose

The wild roses are coming into bloom.

I've always loved their delicate beauty and subtle fragrance.

I never before realized they were even more beautiful close up!

"I Heart Macro"

 

Why Do We All Hate Dandelions?

I think almost everyone has had one of these in their landscape a time or two.

People spend lots and lots of time and money trying to eradicate these flowery "pests".

Before you mow them over this year ...

Or pull them out by their (very long!) tap roots ...

Or poison them out of existence ...

Take a closer look ...

Inside a dandelion flower ... 

Did you realize they were this beautiful?
I Heart Macro
Today's Flowers

And so full of life?
Saturday's Critters

Now I really must go ... it's supposed to rain later today, and I want to get some yard work done before the storm hits.

Must pull up those darn pesky dandelions before they go to seed!!!

Farewell to a Lady

Gypsy

2004(?) to 2014

A wonderful part of our family.

You will be missed.

Snow Critters

During our snowstorm back in early February, I went for a walk.
As it turns out, I wasn't alone!
These deer were meandering up our road - they didn't appear to feel threatened by me and my camera.

A short time later, I saw movement in the woods - and this little coyote popped out and ran across the road right in front of me!
I had time to snap this one blurry shot, then my camera battery died. Aaarrrgh!
And he was gone.
(fortunately he left in the opposite direction of those deer!)

I'm linking this up for the first time with Eileen's "Saturday's Critters"

Why This Picture Warms My Heart ...

It's just a plain picture of mom's church in winter. Later in the spring, this plot will burst forth with daffodils, tulips and other spring beauties.

But wait a minute ... look closely at that bush in the middle ...

Is that a flower???

 (Click on the picture to enlarge ...)

Doesn't this just warm your heart?

 It does mine!

To see hearts (and warm your own heart!) from around the world, and to share YOUR heart - join us for "Guest Heart Thursday"!

 

Building Reflections

I spend a lot of time driving; and waiting lately.

On one of those days, waiting for my mom at the doctor's office, the fog finally lifted, and the sun came out.

I went for a walk - and found this building with the most amazing reflections.

A beautiful abstract work of art!

To see reflections from around the world, join us for "Weekend Reflections"!

Not Your Usual Winter Apple

The tree is old and scraggly, and only produces a couple of inedible apples each year.

Still, it hovers over the driveway as it has for the past 40 years or so, getting more gnarled and ugly with each passing year. 

 

This year, one of the apples dropped onto the driveway, where it was squashed flat by my car.

 

Into a disturbing and yet somehow intriguing heart!

 

To see hearts from around the world, visit Random Hearts - and join us for "Guest Heart Thursday"!

 

 

A Walk Downtown ...

Portland is known as "Rose City".
I don't think they meant the roses should look so ... well, dead.
Oh well, at least it formed a heart for "Guest Heart Thursday"!

And just around the corner was this intriguing building ...

I'm not sure what the most interesting ... the curious placement of the windows on this building, or the even more curious billboard message (stop honkaholism???)!

It's been a while since I've joined up with "Signs, Signs"!
 

Just an Old Garden Bench ...

Or IS it???

Because I think it's a beautiful setting for a tiny heart!

Do you see it?

To see hearts from around the world, visit "Random Hearts" - and share YOUR heart on "Guest Heart Thursday"!

Unplugged ...

I am technologically challenged. I don't have an i-anything, or e-anything (is there a difference?). I've never sent a text in my life. I don't have a gadget to keep track of what I'm doing or where I'm going ... I borrow my mom's (not-so-smart) basic cell phone when I drive places, but rarely use it (except when I pocket-dial my sister-in-law by accident - not sure how THAT happens!). I don't know techno-lingo, and am baffled by techno-speak (when I first heard the terms "3G and 4G", I thought perhaps they had started making bras for toddlers!). I am perplexed by people who are so busy documenting every minute of their lives to people who really don't care ... that they miss life itself.

I was driving on a winding country road the other day, taking my brother over the hill "the back way" to the hardware store. The day was clear and beautiful, and I was enjoying incredible glimpses of Mt. Hood and the Cascade mountains as I drove. My brother had his attention focused on his e-whatever gadget. Here is a summary of a bit of the conversation we had ...

You'll love this app I have.
Oh yeah?
Yeah. It's a map app.
Cute.
I plugged in the GPS coordinates from home and it's telling me where we are now.
I already know where we are now.
Seriously - it even has the name of the road we're on!
I've been driving this road since I was 16. I already know the name of the road.
Well check this out - it can pinpoint where we are to within 10 feet of the car!
Well I can pinpoint where we are right into the car itself - and I can see MORE than 10 feet from the car!
Some of the roads don't have names.
Yes they do.
Well technically yes, and as soon as we get to where there's a signal the names will show on the app.
Maybe I should pull over so I don't get lost in the nameless wilderness.
(sigh) You're no fun.
No, I guess not.

Maybe someday I will get one of these whoosiwhatsits gadgets ... until then, I don't really see the point.

Urban Wildlife Has Heart!

A couple of weeks ago, while Mom was undergoing a stress test in downtown Portland, I had the opportunity to wander around a bit.

I was amazed at the number of pigeons I saw.

This little guy was the only one willing to sit long enough for a portrait.

Maybe it's because he knew I would link him up to "Guest Heart Thursday"???

Bench with Shadows ... or Shadows with Bench???

I saw this intriguing shadow shot in town a couple of weeks ago.

It was hard, even when standing across the street, to tell where the bench ended and the shadows began!

I am joining in with "Shadow Shot Sunday 2" today.

The Guy Who Drew the Short Straw ...

I was back at the nature park last week, and happened to catch this guy ... whose unenviable job it was to pressure wash the (really crusty) sidewalk where the geese hang out to cross the street.

I hope he is well paid; but somehow I don't think so!

I am linking this up with "Friday's Fences"