Thursday, April 30, 2009

Happy May Day!

"....All things seem possible in May." ~Edwin Way Teale
Tis like the birthday of the world,
When earth was born in bloom... ~Thomas Hood
Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's rebirth? ~Edward Giobbi
When April steps aside for May,
Like diamonds all the rain-drops glisten;
Fresh violets open every day:
To some new bird each hour we listen.
~Lucy Larcom
For winter's rains and ruins are over,
And all the season of snows and sins;
The days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins."
~ Algernon Charles Swinburne (1890)

NOTES: white crysanthemums from my garden, azaela in North Carolina in the spring, yellow blooming palo verde tree (Arizona), robin and baby in holly tree, cactus bloom (Arizona)

photos by me© 2006-2009

Monday, April 27, 2009

Garden Dreams

Kilver Court Gardens, Somerset, England

Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.” ~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky (The Brothers Karamazov)

garden melody
blossoms float on gentle breezes
my heart soars in song

My dream garden would be lovely with greens of various shapes and heights. Blossoms of all variety and color would softly nod their (sometimes) perfumed heads. Bees and insects would buzz their joy as they diligently polinate. Butterflies would float on rainbow wings. Woods would edge this garden with a stream flowing through it. A comfey chair and table would be in place for reading, eating, observing, daydreaming. I realize I am fortunate to have these already. My mind roams free while digging hands into the soil, tending graceful plants. ...aaah...the mysterious divine....


PS: While thinking about this post for the etsy bloggers street team carnival, I was originally going in a different direction, researching gardens. I came up with some links of note I wish to share:
1. first photo above from Water Garden Magazine
2. I recently visited the magnificient Desert Botanical Garden" in Phoenix, Arizona, USA
3. Riga Botanical Garden (Universiy of Latvia)
article from The Baltic Times; 15 hectares with over 400 species of Latvian plants in addition to plants from all over the world
4. Botanic Gardens Conservation International
Check out our work
5. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in Surrey, England, a World Heritage Site
link to images
6. BANKING ON LIFE a post from the blog Janet Marinelli.
Kew article about the exhibition. Kew's Millenium Seed Bank which collects wild seeds from all over the world, has a goal of collecting seed from 10% of the world's plants. amazing photographs by Rob Kesseler and Madeline Harley
7. Gardens of a Golden Afternoon a wonderful, delightful, inspiring blog with lots of splendid photos


Gardens are a form of autobiography. ~Sydney Eddison (Horticulture magazine, August/September 1993)
This one is for the etsy bloggers street team carnival!

middle 3 photos by me from my garden © 2007-2008

a treasury!

in the pink
Here I am--second row--middle and right! Thanks to Patti of PeacoxCreations. Here are some of her lovely creations.

visit her blog here

3 photos above © peacoxcreations

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Happy Earth Day!

Ophir Pass, Colorado
photo by me ©2007

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Artichoke Tapenade

Artichoke, Tomato, and Pine Nut Tapenade

@ 14 oz can of artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
12 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped
4 T pine nuts, lighted roasted, and coarsely chopped
3 T fresh parsley, chopped
1-2 T kalamata olives, chopped
1 (or more) clove garlic, pressed
1 t balsamic vinegar
salt to taste

Adjust ingredient amounts to your taste. Mix. Serve with flatbread. I cut Italian herbed flatbread into triangles, brushed with olive oil, and lightly browned on both sides in an iron skillet on top of the stove. (The bread stays flexible and can be rolled around the tapenade.) Enjoy!

photo by me ©2008

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Pay It Forward!

Here is a really cool idea I discovered on Candice's blog Sweet Romance. She says that Karen at~Extroverted Introspection started this. If anyone knows for sure, please inform me. This is such a fun idea! I love the concept of sending someone a little piece of happiness.

So far: Mishcat and GloryBe


Here's how it works: If you are one of the first three people to leave a comment on this post (stating that you'd like to participate), sometime in the next few months you will receive, in the mail, something cool that I've hand~ made~Just For You !!! Come join in the fun! The only request is that you include the above logo on your blog. And on it goes! This should be fun! Leave your comment below and start watching the mail!!! Be sure to leave your email so I can contact you to get your mailing address. (needed to ship your gift) .......Let's see how far we can "Pay It Forward".

Now go check out Candice's blog and etsy shop and lollishop!


And in the spirit of sending out little packets of happiness, I love this quote I read on Savon Shoppe'sblog.

It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it.
~Quoted in The Angels' Little Instruction Book byEileen Elias Freeman, 1994


PS: You absolutely must check out the incredible soaps at Savon Shoppe!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What is one strange thing...

...you have seen in your travels?
for me it is this Shoe Tree in Nordman, Idaho, USA.

It is an old growth cedar festooned with cast-off shoes. This glorious tree is located in the National Forest area of Priest Lake near Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars/Granite Falls and the Tillicum Creek trail. I came across this tree unexpectedly last September, and, of course, was enchanted. In researching for this post, I discovered that other shoe trees exist. Go visit a tree or start one of your own! 

Check out the following links:
other shoe trees:

Addendum: April 16, while traveling in the Salt River Canyon area of Arizona along a dirt road, I saw the very beginning of another shoe tree--just one pair. And here's the photo!

In general, it is old, worn-out shoes that people are throwing into trees.


OTHER STRANGE SIGHTINGS: 
my friend,Beaded Tail saw Carhenge in Alliance Nebraska-- HERE!  Check this out!


photos by me ©2008

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Two Zany Zebras

What could be cuter.... than little monsters from Two Zany Zebras!


Meet Dewey (left) and Godfrey (right), two of the zaniest monsters that live in Zany Mama's esty shop.


Seriously cute monters, some of whom belong to the Zarkle family live in the shop with them. But they would love to live at your house!

Check out all the wonderful products in this shop--T shirts, blankies, toys, and more. And then go read her illuminating blog where she tells of all sorts of creative endeavors and the joy of having fun with her family. What sorts of fun you wonder. I'll not tell. You'll have to read her blog!
TwoZanyZebras is the etsy blogger of the month!
Read about the esty bloggers' street team here.
photos by TwoZanyZebras ©2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

snippets (number 4)

of happyment

happiness is Spring

dancing on slender green stems

lacey white snowdrop

"snippets of happyment" is inspired by a post on Rasa's blog happyment. I just love that word because it is a combination of the words happy and content. Sometimes something small can just fill your soul with a thrill. So, from time to time, I will capture one snippet of happyment and post it here.

These flowers, snowdrops, grow from bulbs and flower in early Spring. The variety here is Viridapicis. Here is a link: http://http//www.theplantexpert.com/springbulbs/Snowdrop.html
photo by me ©2009

Monday, April 6, 2009

look what I won!

for agreeing to pay it forward!

Candice of Sweet Romance sent me this sweet little gift package! It arrived today and I just cannot wait to share it! So come and open the package with me...

I open up the padded envelope and discover this cute little box inside. Candice's card is attached on the bottom.



Now look at how lovely this box is! A nest of eggs is stamped on the top and the box is tied with fushia organdy ribbon. I can't wait to see the surprise inside!


And when I open the box I discover a pair of beautiful silver earrings! (In the above photograph you will also see a couple lovely hand~made clasps which I ordered and that Candice included. I can't wait to use these.)

So now you are wondering how I was so lucky to receive such a lovely gift. It was all because I agreed to "pay it forward." Check out Candice's post for details. I will be posting my own PAY IT FORWARD on April 20.

Candice makes the most gorgeous jewelry. Please check out her shops: etsy lollishops

photos by me ©2009

Friday, April 3, 2009

snippets (number 3)

of happyment

I decided to post something happy because my mother was taken to the hospital today. This is her 4th trip this year. I love her so much and this is distressing. So in honor of her, because Spring is beautiful, and because YELLOW is her favorite color, I am posting this cheerful daffodil.

"snippets of happyment" is inspired by a post on Rasa's blog happyment. I just love that word because it is a combination of the words happy and content. Sometimes something small can just fill your soul with a thrill. So, from time to time, I will capture one snippet of happyment and post it here.
This poem, written in 1804, was shared by AlpHa Buttonpusher.
Go check out her blogs! Here is INduCed MEtaMoRphOsis.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced;
but theyOut-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,In such a jocund company:
I gazed---and gazed---but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
~William Wordsworth
photo by me ©2009