Blueberry Leaf - Autumn's Treasures and Shadows

The blueberry leaves are showing their Autumn colors ... Reds ...

Yellows ...

Greens ...

Shadows arranged on the leaves whisper of what will soon be ...
Empty branches, awaiting Spring ...

To see shadows from around the world, visit Hey Harriet - and join us for Shadow Shot Sunday.

A Walk on the (Not So) Wild Side!

Walking down our country road I spied something I have never seen before.
Peeking through the grasses in the ditch ...
Shhhhh, it's the elusive and delicate "Lipshade Tossitoutius" - and it's in full bloom! Look at how it uses reflections to blend in with it's surroundings!

I took a photo and went on my way ...
Paying careful attention now.
And look! Not 20 yards further ...

Three more "Lipshades"! Two were still in chrysalis stage!
One in the late stages of bloom!
What a day!!!

Leaving the "Lipshades", my attention was caught by a shade of orange not usually seen in the woods here. I went to investigate, and found ...

A very rare specimen indeed!
A "File-Drawer Vandelizeous"!
This one must have escaped from across the street - I've seen them there in the abandoned building! But I never would have expected to see one all the way out here in the woods!
Wow, my day just gets better!

Finally, I have found what I came to see ...

A "hearty foilus".
Tucked there in the grasses.

What a walk I have had!
What treasures I have uncovered!
I can't wait to go out again!

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

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

Mika Stands Alone ...

When I saw where Mika was standing, I couldn't help but think of a Sunday School song from my childhood ...

The B-I-B-L-E
Yes that's the Book for me.
I stand alone
On the word of God -
The B-I-B-L-E!

I am honored to link Mika with Pet Pride! Come join us, and meet the special friends in our lives!

If Only I Had a Video Camera ...

No pictures today, because I don't have a video camera ... and nothing else would do.

Cipole Road is a curvy country lane between two busy highways. Several run-down businesses line the street; no parking lots, you just pull over alongside the road onto the grass and walk in ...

I was bringing mom home from the doctor's office, via the Cipole Road shortcut. As I rounded a corner, I noticed a car pulled over in the grass in front of a large hedge. The driver had a peculiar stance in front of his door that made me slow down and gawk - you probably know the posture I'm talking about. Both feet spread slightly apart, hunched over a bit at the shoulders, arms overhead ... the coat hanger in his hands stuck in the edge of the car window, which he was desperately maneuvering up and down - obviously trying to unlock the door from the outside.

I felt a moment of sympathy. I have been there, and know well that sinking feeling when I realized my keys were not in my purse, but locked in the car.

I slowly passed the poor locked out frustrated soul, hoping he got his door open soon.

Until that moment when I passed him, looking back in the rear view mirror ... at the poor guy with the coat hanger ... fruitlessly punching at the door lock ... while the passenger door of his car stood WIDE OPEN against the hedge ...

Mom and I laughed hysterically all the way home.

Stay Away from Bell Road!!!

I decided to revisit the Bell Road Tree for Halloween this year.

Bell Road is a dangerously curved country road that claims many victims each year ... many trees that line it's twisty length are scarred from collisions with careless drivers.
Like this tree near the "big curve" that has claimed several lives over the years.

As I looked more closely at the scars, I found this praying lady.

And this scary troll.
Do you see him?

Happy Halloween!

Stay Away From Bell Road ...

Peace Well - Weekend Reflections

It is an abandoned well, tiny and lined with bricks ... we found it when we were kids, and called it the Peace Well.

Over the years the land around it has been trashed, thrashed, dug up, and replanted.

But the Peace Well remains hidden and protected under an ancient cedar tree. A quiet place to catch a few reflections ...

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

Leaf is Only Half into Autumn

Half Fall.
Half still Summer.

Soon it will have to make up it's mind!!!

Teenage Angst ...

My brother and his 14-year-old son on the bus ...
No additional words needed!!!

Hawthorne Berry Reflections - Weekend Reflections

During a lull in the Autumn rains, I found these hawthorne berries tied together by a single drop of water - reflecting the forest around me ...

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

All Taped Up And Nowhere To Go ...

I saw this car yesterday, parked across the street.
What a creative use for duct tape!!!

But I kind of wonder what would happen if somebody took off the tape ...

Tiffi and Jenna Reflect the Heat - Weekend Reflections

Can you tell it was a hot day?
My nieces Tiffi and Jenna were with me waiting in the car.
I caught them in the flip-down mirror.
Aren't they cute?

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

Load of Hey!

Friday afternoon traffic was brutal.
A crash on the interstate brought everything in town to an abrupt halt.

Except this guy.
I ended up following him for nearly 5 miles ... couldn't go around because of the oncoming commuters trying to use the back streets to get around the freeway jam ...

A truck loaded with hay is NOT an unusual sight around here; after all once you get out of town we're pretty rural ...

But this guy was really loaded.
And this load was NOT TIED DOWN.
Nope, not a rope, cord, wire or anything holding this stuff in place.

And I had to follow him, 20 miles an hour.
Little bits of hay drifting through my window ...
Keeping my distance. Just in case.
I hope he made it home without spilling his load.

Recycled Table and Bench - Shadow Shot Sunday

An interesting table and bench I found while walking near the river ...
At first glance, it's a peaceful and shadow-dappled oasis ...

As you look closer, you will see how creative it is ...
Made from old concrete slabs.

Talk about recycling!

To see amazing shadows from all over the world, visit Hey Harriet - and join us for Shadow Shot Sunday!

Peek-a-Boo Window Blinds

The windows at the abandoned mega-church are all gone now.
Broken into millions of pieces.

But a few window blinds remain ...
Tempting the blackberry vines outide ...
To take a peek inside!

They are probably just as curious as the rest of us!

What To Do With Bagel Dough ...

It was a hot day, and I was needed.
My sister-in-law, Bert, was stranded without a ride to the bank, and her rent was due by 5 pm. She had surgery on her feet Monday, and could barely walk.

So I went. No AC in my car ... Bert's three crying, sweating little ones in the back seat - one cranky sweating adult in the front seat (uh, that would be ME). It was Friday afternoon, not a good day for banking and traffic anyway, but it was also the Friday before the Labor Day Holiday and getting anywhere in town was nearly impossible.

There was no shade, so I had to park in the full sun.

Suddenly the back seat became very quiet. A tiny voice called out "uh Auntie Clytie?"
"WHAT!" I snapped.
"Uh, Auntie Clytie, there's DOUGH coming out of the box back there."
Uh oh.

How could I have forgotten?
Thursday. Gleaners. An entire case of frozen bagel dough.
Ack. It was still in my car!

I glanced back to the cargo area. Sure enough, the bagel dough had thawed in the heat, and was starting to rise. FAST. It had stretched the tape on the top of the box, and popped it open. There was a pile of gooey, sticky, thawed bagel dough towering over the top of the box. Any minute now, it was going to topple over ... all over the cargo area of my car!
Ack!

"Alright kids," I said. "Take off your seatbelts - QUICK!
Now turn around on the seat, reach into the back, and poke your fingers into the dough - HURRY!"

All three of the kids kneeled backwards on the seat, reached back and delightedly started poking the bagel dough. It immediately subsided back into the box. A giggle. Another giggle. Then we were ALL flat out belly laughing. Heat, sweat and crankiness were forgotten. The kids continued poking the bagel dough - and having a BLAST - until their mom came out to the car and I took them home.

What a blessing.
Bagel dough.
Childrens' laughter.
Creativity.
An afternoon I will remember for a long time. With smiles.
Thank you Tiffi, Jenna and Markie.
I love you all!

Lions and Tigers and CHAIRS, oh my!

It was the middle of the night ... 2:45 AM to be exact.
The dog started barking.
I woke up.

There was a commotion at the gate of the abandoned church property across the street.
Banging and clunking, then silence.
And a pickup drove away.

At first light, I went to investigate.
And found these abandoned chairs -
Lurking in the grass.

The new owners are on the property today, filling dumpsters with trash.
I imagine these will be the first to go away.
But I got my pictures first.

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.