a Treat that Can't be Beat

~click on Any photo for a closer look~

A few days ago, I promised to show you what Bill did for me...

 He said, let's take a ride...

so through so much fall, winter, spring growth,

we rode down one of our less traveled paths 

in our woods,

past thick poplar growth, 

 so thick, we had to weave our way 

carefully past, so as Not to scratch the truck...

(not that it doesn't already have it's share of nicks.)

 The first food plot was already so thick

and in great need of it's first mowing

so the clover comes thick for the deer.

 He even stopped so I could zoom in on

a patch of orange and yellow Hawkweed, 

 and a hillside of Bunchberry blossoms.

 Bill's been so busy with the field work that

when rain was in the forecast, I was happy

to get out of my daily routine and

 ride along up my favorite less traveled drive

up and down the hills,

 around the bends, oh,

 to my favorite place in the world, 

our retreat that we have not retreated to

as often as we would like to.  No one ever

told us that retirement would be so busy.

 A calm comes over both of us the second we see 

our lil' cabin in the woods.

 Right next to the deck is a nice patch of

wild strawberries in full bloom.  I cannot 

wait to pick.  They are so intense in flavor,

Far better than any other...yet so tiny.

 He started a fire to enjoy while we listened 

to the creek and the birds enjoying it with us.

 There are always ' projects,' like the new seat

for the bench that did not get replaced last year,

and trees to harvest that strong winds had taken down.

Bill calls that, ' easy firewood.'

 My reclaimed Pink Rock shines since Bill dug

it out of the brush for me.  It's the size of our 

dining room table with one leaf in.  :)

 I'm not sure why, but somehow, 

everything looks so much brighter,

more intense, in the woods.

 I can never get enough of Murray!!!~

 Murray Creek, that is, 

 as she twists and turns...

 waiting, just waiting for the trout to jump,

or the frogs to jump off the shore for a swim.

 The rainbow colored area rug dries in the sunshine...

it once was under my Grandmother's rocker,

now it's the first thing my feet touch upon

getting out of the log bed when staying the night.

 One more look at Murray,

one more listen.

 Oh, no!  Take me back.  It's too soon to leave

our ' Creekside Retreat ' in the woods.

I always hate to admit it, but

we have to leave so we can come back.

Bless Ya

Come Back Again and Again

On the Level

 What do you do when you have restrictions?

I take pictures, lots of them...

from the house,

from the deck,

from the truck windows...

 Restricted to level surfaces during recoup

since mid-May when the ferns were unfurling

and the apple blossoms were full, 

only God knows when I can cut loose on the lawn,

has turned me Stir-Crazy!!!!

 I have had plenty of entertaining 

friends drop by, like this curious female

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.  I think

she's wondering why I'm taking her picture

from the house on such a beautiful day.

 From the deck I can see my Bleeding Heart.

I received this clump and another from Mel,

my sis across town, down the road and 

around the bend.  They are swaying over 4 ft. 

tall in the warm, moist soil.

 I'm always happy to see our 

pollinators, the bees, busy as ever.

 From the distance, my grandlove shows me

the new growth of the pinecones.

 The Heliatrope planter on the deck

gives me whiffs of vanilla scents with each breeze.

 The Song Sparrow sat still on the feeder

for the longest time, like he knew I needed

to adjust my lens...thanks fella!

 Restrictions haven't stopped me from rising

at 5 a.m. to see our gorgeous sunrises 

the Lord provides...unreal beauty~~~

 Bring it on Mr. Hairy Woodpecker.

Entertain me.  He spent a good half hour

flitting from the birdfeeder to the tree

busily stuffing seeds under the bark.

I wonder how many he will remember

where he put what???

 Way down the driveway,

the Mourning Doves were filling

their crops with gravel...it makes

for a bird's roughage, ya know.

 One day I braved the uneven walk down the driveway

to get the mail and spotted these mushrooms.

Does anyone know what they are?   They were first

much like a puffball but opened into flat surfaced,

close-gilled, black bottomed, straight stalks.  I cannot

bend yet, so I was unable to pick one and do a spore count.

I also could not find them in my Audubon field guide 

for North America.  Any identifier out there?

Can you tell I'm getting bored???

 More entertainment is out in our 1/2 acre garden.

Bill dug a 100 ft. trench for a couple of the Grandloves

to plant their Birdhouse Gourd seeds...

Do you think we will have enough?  LOL

 Yep, ya know I'm bored when I'm 

turning clouds upside-over (like the wee ones say)

cuz I thought they looked like waves...

Calgon, take her away~~~

 This is my view of 2 of the gardens

from the deck.  I must say, Bill is doing

a wonderful job keeping up with all of 

my duties plus his own.  I Love that Man.

 It's only 4 p.m. and I'm ready to see the moon.

One day real soon,

I will share what Bill did for me today.

Oh, What a Relief.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

I'm going to.

BlessYa

Gasp~~~Careful Where You Tread

Feeling poorly, like I've hit a glass door, smack!!!

 feeling weak and breathless,

 gasping, failing fast, until,

 remembering very little, if anything,

it seems for hours, days, but then~

  still in a daze, but coming around,

 I've lost a few feathers, and I'm sleepy,

but wait,

 I think I will make it.  

I feel stronger every second, until~

 I've made it to the other side of the mat,

and I can move slowly, until~

 Yes, I've regained strength, and

flight once more.  Back to my perch,

my safety zone, my home.

 Poor Goldfinch but he is fine and flying once more.

Not much unlike what I have gone through

this past month.  Only, my 'glass door' was

major back surgery.........again!

This hardware was removed from surgery #1 from 10 yrs ago.

It was replaced with new movable parts and a very much 

' then some.' like, cages, bone grafts from my hip, fusions,

more instrumentations. 

Keep this up and I soon will be the new Bionic Woman.

All kidding aside, I am recovering nicely.

The walker has been cast aside and I'm getting

stronger each day.  My list of restrictions is unreal,

quite literally not allowing me to do much of anything.

Another year from now and I will be ' more better.'

Now, if only I could take a shower without the brace....

I wouldn't be such a crank!

Don't ever mess up your back.

Take special care of where you tread.

and

BlessYourHeart

R & R

 I've been enjoying the intensity of the colors around me, 

lately, my Daffodils and the grasses, even the stones have 

been shining through with each touch of dew and rain.

 The sunsets are gorgeous, seeming more vivid than ever~

 turning brighter, more sharply edged,

 as it sets, Until~WOW!  What a Gift!

Rise early to see the Sun Rise, 

wait late, to see it Set quickly, before your eyes.

It's time I take a bloggers break.

I will be  bird-watching, sky-gazing

and day-dreaming for a while.

Have a bright summer.

from

my heart to yours.

God Bless