Wildflowers

Monday, April 18th on another hike...so many wildflowers

Wild bleeding hearts crept up and over every cliff and rock forever..

Me and the little man out on the trail.
Beautiful wildflower picked for me by Johnny

Our Magnolia

This week...

our Magnolia tree...
took our...
breath away...

Sandglass

One of my most favorite things to do in the whole world is to go searching for something...I thought it was the finding, but the more I think about it...it's really the search that's important.

Sandglass is one of those "searches" that I am passionate about. (I have quite a few others, but today is a sandy glassy type of day). In the real world, it's actually called seaglass, but I grew up calling it sandglass and I'm sticking to it. Learn all about seaglass here. Oh my gosh...there's even a sea glass association http://seaglassassociation.org/.

I can, and have strolled, the beach for hours at a time just looking and pawing through the sand...the pictures to the left here are of the best sandglass DAY EVER! We found 11 pounds of the stuff! AND...tomorrow, we'll be doing it again! I love the beach!

Weeds

Well, I guess I have a theme going now. Weeds! The very word makes most people shudder. In honor of the weed in all its' shapes and forms, I decided to contemplate on its' more promising attributes. (I also had a blast with the macro mode on my camera!)

- they thrive in adverse conditions

- they can take root in almost any situation

- they are prolific

- they are unrelenting

- they flourish with little or no attention

- in the face of instant death by chemical or blade, if you listen hard enough you can hear them

snigger "HA! I'll be back!"

- they are survivors

- despite adversity, they create beauty

- they are protective (have you ever gotten scratched by one of those bramble bushes, youch)

I'd like to be more like a weed - hearty yet beautiful!

Buttercups...

We had to say goodbye to our buttercups on Monday. Yes, I'm aware they are weeds. And, that they have completely taken over my lawn from that first pretty patch of almost edible looking blossoms until now; seven years later.

This year, my little man was so upset when I revved up the lawnmower for the first cutting of the season. He said "Mommy, the flowers are so sad. Why are you cutting them?" I tried to explain, but he just didn't understand...and the more I thought about it, neither did I. What was the reasoning behind my wanting to banish these delightful bits of beauty from my landscape?

We came to a happy medium he, the buttercups and I...I raised the mower blades just enough to prune the jungle of my lawn, yet still allow the buttercups to shine up at us with their pretty little faces. But, before I did, he posed for these pictures. The first one is where I decided the best shot would be and the last is where he said "No mommy, stand right behind me and take it like that." I think it's clear who has the better eye.

Weed or flower? You decide...is a lawn really more important than receiving a bouquet of flowers hand picked by your youngest? I think not...buttercups rule :)

Let this be the day ...

Let this be the day I embrace myself. Let this be the day I allow myself. Let this be the day I give to myself. Let this be the day of clarity. Let this be the day of acknowledgement. Let this be the day I support myself. Let this be the day I praise myself. Let this be the day I honor myself. Let this be the day of achievement. Let this be the day I stay in the moment. Let this be the day I begin...