Admire

Here are the last of the Holland flower show.   Two cyclists ready for a ride in the sunshine.   Clever and I bet not easy to put together.   

and last but not least is a beautiful elephant all decked out.

Here is a great idea . . . make a wreath for your bird friends.   All it takes is patience and a little of your time.  It takes a bowl, a spoon, a whisk, non stick oil spray and a pretty ribbon .  The recipe:  one package of Knox gelatin, a half cup of warm water;  three tablespoons of corn syrup; 3/4 cup of flour which you stir together and it makes a big bowl of paste . . then add the bird seed and let set for at least 48 hours.   Daughter Christine was bemoaning how many trips she made to the store for bird seed this year.  She has a yard with a tree with cut limbs that has tiny bird  houses nailed on and this year the birds have come in droves.   Maybe they found a haven from all of the cold wet snow and rain this winter.    

I have pictures of me with my children when they were very little just like this.    As a lover of books and the joy of reading I wanted my children to learn  early  about the wonders within the covers.   Each one has a love of reading and I  am sure all the love and hugs made them feel content, it sure didn't do me any harm.  I finally decided to try writing a short novel, one could enjoy on  a trip and  finish by the time you got to your destination.   Such fun I have had.   I had a computer letter yesterday from a friend who just purchased "Decades" on Amazon.  She could equate with the theme of  'down-sizing' and the struggle to survive in a different environment.   She has a partner who has Alzheimer and  is now in a care facility and tells of the struggle to survive and accept the things that she cannot change.    We carry many crosses in life  and struggle to find the answers in faith and hope .  Many books have been written on this subject and our hope is that a cure will be found for Alzheimer and other auto-immune diseases that plaque so many folks.  Meanwhile, "Valley Haven" is getting good reviews.   So all that reading didn't do me any  harm.  

The weekend is here already. . . we are due in for a big storm.  The ocean waves were high and crazy yesterday and today the newspaper has a warning on the computer about the incoming storm with waves up to twenty-eight feet;  now that is a sight to see, a dangerous one if you get to close.  The rivers are running high so there could be some flooding.  We have many rivers that run from the mountain side to the ocean.    Erin is due to fly in tomorrow and we are hoping the storm lets up and she arrives safe and sound.    Come to think of it, makes for a good baking day, so may be that is a mission for today.

Remember to be thankful for your health, mental and physical, and take a moment to offer up a prayer or two for those who have lost their health, especially our wounded warriors.    Don't run around like a chicken with your head cut off, take time to organize and make your list so you can check off one thing at a time.   Save a little energy for you so you can have the energy to  walk into a hug and give some back.    Let your inner light shine and be a beacon of hope.   Hugs to all.