A LITTLE ACT OF KINDNESS

                                       So Tiny

Our human society raised funds for a brand new shelter.  When it was built, they became a no kill shelter.  I love animals so loved to hear that.  Before they were no kill, I was visiting with my daughter when a lady came in with a box of tiny little kittens.  The crew told her they could not take the babies, as they were to small to leave their mom.  The lady did not care, there was no way she was going to keep those kitties.  So with tears in her eyes, one of the staff, took the kitties to the back to put them to sleep.
Now, things have changed and they work through volunteers that will take the babies and give them a home, and loving care until they are big enough to go back and find a forever home.

                         If I remember right, they have 
                          to be three pounds before
                          they go back.
I am so glad there are people that will open their hearts and homes to lost dog's and cats in need of love.
        

RANDOM THOUGHTS

                                JUST THINKING!

Random thoughts  that flow throw my brain are not always good thoughts.  sometimes they are so jumbled I don't even know what I am thinking.
Right now, my thoughts are on those in Texas.  I check the computer often for any post by my Texas friends and hope and pray they are alright, so far they are all safe.
That leads me to think about the kindness of strangers, some risking their own lives for people they don't even know, and I think how kind and wonderful people are.  Then, of coarse the story is interrupted by someone looting or price gouging and I wonder why.

My thinking goes to the fact that we have so much, all the food we need, we live in a world where so much is just handed out to people and they are bored.  There was a time, when our very lives hung on the amount of work done. Each day was about survival.  There was no time, to even think about being unhappy with what we didn't have.   Not so these days.

I don't want to be a downer person, there is so much good and love in this world.  Let us pray each day, let us always find the good in others.

 Let us fill our cup with joy.  This cup is special and always reminds me to have a good day, it was given as a gift when I finished my last chemo. 

 

RELAX__SHE IS NOT COMING

I hate to be the one to break it to you but!  The Queen is not coming for tea.   I know, you have been cleaning, polishing and chasing every little crumb but she is not coming.

                     You have the tea set all ready.

                       your about as ready as you can be--
                             she still is not coming.
So, use your best china, that fancy tea cup?  use it!!  Use it today.   
In the morning, pour your coffee in the fanciest set you can find and treat yourself.  That special occasion you are saving all your fancy dishes for, well, that day is today.
Turn up the music and dance.  Name the dust bunnies and celebrate dirty dishes, they represent good food and a good time with family.
Never put chores before fun.  Those day's when the thought tries to over power you and you feel the urge to clean and polish, resist and spend your days doing what you love, with those you love.  Remember the queen is not coming!!

MY MAGNIFICANT SEVEN!!

                                      Seven members!!

I have seven, wonderful members who have joined my new blog.  I am so happy!!   Now, I feel like I am talking to you instead of my pretend people.
I also have met some wonderful new people, so giving and helpful in giving me a shove in the right direction.
I try hard to comment on your blogs, to let you know how much I appreciate all the work you are putting in your blogs.
I have learned more about gardening, finding plants I didn't know would grow in my area.  I have learned decorating on a budget, you don't have to be rich to have a rich look.  I have learned new recipe's.  Most of all I have new friends.  

 

LETS BAKE A CAKE

                                No Recipe 

This has got to be close to my all time favorite cake and you do not need a fancy recipe to make it.

 All you need is:  Yellow cake mix, although they make pineapple cake mix now.  some brown sugar, can of pineapples, some maraschino cherries, lots of butter.  

 A mixer would help and so would an oven to bake it all in.oh, yes, my favorite.  so yummy and moist and just plain good.

THE MIGHTY COLUMBIA

                   Our Amazing River

I guess I am what could be called a river rat.  I love spending time on the river.  One of the things I love the most is all the birds that also love the river.  I was going to say animals, but I didn't get the picture of the otter, I tried but he was to fast.
                    The Osprey are amazing.

I will do another post and tell you more about the Osprey. They are a protected bird and return year after year to the same nest.  Our PUD, has built places for them to nest, to keep them off of the power poles.  Along the river you will find these huge poles with Osprey nests on top.

By evening, they all seem to be home and ready to call it a day.












Another bird that we spot along the river is the Heron.

They really don't look like they should be able to fly, but they are amazing.  When they dive for fish it is really something to see.

It is time to call it a day, but we will be back soon. Nothing compares to the time we get to spend on the river.

 

BEES AND BUTTERFLYS

                                                103 is still to hot!

So I will keep planning my garden.  The good point now over the planning I will do this winter is-- in about two weeks the temps should drop and I will be able to do a lot of fall planting.

Big on my list is the white bombshell hydrangea.

 It will work perfectly in the spot I have chosen.  I will plant about 5 of them and make a hedge that will separate us from the neighbor.  It blooms in summer right when we need something new to bloom.
For my tiny patio area, I will concentrate on butterfly's and bees. 

 When I was at Lowe's this morning the bee balm plants were just humming away with bees, making the local honey I love so much.

 The colors were so pretty, but at 103 temps, now is not a good time to plant.

I will also be planting milkweed, and try to attract butterfly's.

 Also will plant a butterfly bush.  I had one in my old garden and it was planted by the patio, the smell was heavenly.  So one of those is also on my list.
Maybe staying in away from the heat and smoke is not such a bad thing.

MY NEW GARDEN

                                            Way to hot!

No gardening today but I will dream and plan of what I want to do. One thing about moving is you get to make things new and to your liking.   The previous owner was not much of a garden person so I get a clean slate.  Although tiny, very, very tiny.  
I didn't know what this bush was, it is so different from anything I have seen.  So, I took a picture, posted on FaceBook and am told it is a sweet bush and they grow in the south.  why it does so good here is a mystery.

This is the sweet bush.  The pods smell like nutmeg to me. some of you being from the south probably recognize this bush

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I TOOK THE CHALLENGE

                                    31 days to Joyful living

Rattlebridge Farm blog, just finished a 31 day challenge to joyful living.    I found myself watching the clock waiting for her next blog post.  I was captivated by her writing, and a bit of envy.  How could this person who it looked on the surface have everything and not be joyful.  Boy!  did I learn a lesson.
I learned so much about the person but also about life.  
I don't think there is an age where we can stand up and shout "I got it!  I know the meaning of life".  Just not going to happen.
We can learn, to be joyful where ever we are planted, what ever difficulties we face because everyday there is something to be thankful for.
I have had a rough time with our last down size move.  This was not the house I wanted, the not you buyers got to it first. So I thought I would 'settle' for this one.  How pathetic could I be?   We had the kitchen remodeled and it is beautiful, but I just found something else to be unhappy about.
Then!  I took the challenge and now I have so much to be thankful for, so many ways each day to find joy.  I will share those, joyful day's with you.

 My lilies bring me much joy.  They were an Easter gift many years ago and yet the continue to grow and flower.