Rose moss is one of those flowers that evoke strong memories for me. Every summer my Grandma Sisco would have an old enamel dishpan filled with rose moss by the backdoor. She was a busy woman and summer was filled with the extra work of canning all the summer vegetables and fruits that Grandpa would grow.  This was serious business as it gave them food for the winter. So she didn't have much time or energy for fussy flowers. To be sure the flowers she did have were carefree flowers like four-o-clocks and rose moss. So every summer I try to have a bit of rose moss in honor of a remarkable woman.

With a sunrise like this, it's just gotta be a good day.

Summer fruits are the best, sort of like a vacation. You know they are only going to last for a short time so you better enjoy them while you can. Plus, they are just beautiful!

Be Open

Be open to new ideas

Be open to unexpected surprises

Be open to others

Be open to being uncomfortable sometimes

Be open to change

Be open to being wrong 

Be open to forgiving yourself

Being open means being yourself and knowing exactly why. 

I guess that says it all 

Every day may not be a good day, but there is something good in every day.

I finished this art journal page yesterday July 19^th and for some odd reason I dated it for the 20^th. Why did I do that?  Very odd.  Then the tragic news in Aurora Colorado happened and had me thinking of out fleeting life can be.  People go to a movie to have fun and a crazy person interrupts their normal life with his insanity.

I photographed this page this morning and while tweaking the photo I thought of my journaling that every day is a gift and with my head full of this recent tragedy I decided to dedicate this page and was dated correctly, to the survivors and families touched by this awful awful event.

Hug people often, be good to yourself, smell the roses and let the warm morning sun shine on your face. 

Every day is a gift. 

Enjoy it.

this is me today, an empty chair, think I will coast today and hope that will be enough.

So I was at the farmer's market and talking to a friend that sells there. She had this strange cantaloupe thing labeled an Israeli Cantaloupe and I thought I must try it. I love the color of the rind and it was smoother than our regular cantaloupe. This one had soft flesh and a citrusy mild flavor. I would have liked it a bit sweeter but still an interesting fruit.

So how great would it be to work in a building like this? Perched on the river and watching the river and sky, love it.

Note to self: This one is a keeper, stick with him.

How can two pint-size humans have such power over me?  Why does my heart jump summersaults when I see them?  Why are they my Kriptonite? Because of love, simply love. 

Looks warm and inviting doesn't it? It was inviting but it wasn't warm. I had left without a jacket and it was one of those deceptively cool spring mornings where the wind had a bite to it. Plus being on the water magnified the chill. No problem, it was worth every shiver. My sister and I had left before dark to get some sunrise pictures and with the cloud cover we thought it might not happen. Then for a few seconds the clouds parted just bit, but just enough. This will always be a special picture for me as it reminds me of time with sister doing what we both love.

No other flower says summer like a sunflower, none!

Okay, I'm nuts about these two. They fight so often I sometimes I forget how close they are. Maddie adores her brother and allows him to make her the prop of all his antics. Evan tries to act like he isn't into lovely dovey stuff but he is super protect of her. Unless he is trying to whack her that is!

I love to go to the farmer's market. I love seeing all the fruits of Mother Earth lined up on the tables. I love when someone ask "you got okra?" and the farmer says no and hollers over to his competitor "Hey Herb, you got any okra left?". So willing to help you.

I love to look at there beat up hard working farm trucks. No shiny paint here, just mud and a bit of honest rust. I like walking by the tables and smelling all the smells, garlic, cantaloupes and onions. I love to watch all the "unusual" people and to listen to the friendly conversations. Yes, it's all entertaining and rather satisfying to take home food grown by neighbors.

The Livin' is Easy

I always think of peacock feathers when I see a water hyacinth in bloom. The purple and orange spots could masquerade as peacock feathers in the most royal of courts. I also feel lucky to see these blooms because like the day lily, their lifespan is only one day. On day to shine for all the world to see, one day to soak up the sun and make every minute count! I reminds me that every day is a gift.

Washed Cherries

Wednesday July 11


I've failed. I can't do it. For the life of me I can't capture the beauty of these wonderful Bing cherries. Their marvelous color, the smooth translucent skins, the depth of color, it all eludes me. Which means I must buy more cherries and keep trying. Yes, it's tough, but I'm sure I'm up to the task! I'm sure.

I just never know when that great shot will happen. There is often so much that is out of my control and it's not till later when I can study and evaluate the photo that I know it's a keeper.  In McAlister's Deli I passed by this set of windows and think it would make a cool angle shot. But there were diners in the way so I turned my attention to my lunch. A few minutes later they left and I grabbed my iPhone, popped over and snapped this picture quickly before the lady on the other side of the window noticed I was taking her picture. 

I love the story. She is ready for lunch walking ahead of her partner but she doesn't see that there is something that has his attention. What is it? Is there a third person?  Did he lock the car? Did he set the DVR for the game?  Don't know, but that is part of the beauty of photography, capturing an unexpected moment in time. 

Monday July 9 8:46 a.m.

Time to slow it down, time to listen to the birds and their excited chatter. Time to remember this day and the blessings that came with it. Calm.... peace.... and joy.

Sunday June 8, 11:23

A simple lunch with Tom to decompress after a busy week. Jenn gave us some McAlister's coupons a while back and for some reason I kept forgetting to use them. Tom had the new Ham & Cheese Toastie and it got the Mr.B seal of approval. The man loves his ham and cheese sandwiches.  I had Chicken Salad on a croissant. Good too. I think this is the first time I had their tea and it was perfect. No wonder they promote their tea. I'll have to remember that.