Family Times

Life has been busy these days.  A holiday like Memorial Day always alters the flow of life.  But how wonderful to have time with family!  Dad and Alma came to visit for four or five days.  They were busy visiting not only our family, but a plethora of friends in the area.  What fun they had visiting with friends from days gone by.  And what fun we had visiting with them!

Sis and her family were here too.  We saw nephew Matthew off at the airport.  He's in Montana now, selling books with a team of twenty students from his college.  They are working to earn tuition money and then will be heading back to Arkansas in August for the start of the school year.  Matthew was excited about his summer plans, even though they involve sleeping on church and gym floors with a camping mat and sleeping bag.

Some of my spring flowers finally decided to bloom.  And a few of the weeds decided to grow as well!  I've really been enjoying the dianthus which seemed to weather our cold winter quite well and grew well this spring, even when other flowers were reluctant to show their faces.

Dad and Alma brought their "turtle house" with them on the back of their pick-up.  It was so cozy and comfy.  It was fun visiting them in their cozy nest, although most of our visiting happened in the house or around a campfire.

Family times are special times!

Siberian Iris

Spring has been very slow to arrive this year. Or maybe I should say warm weather is slow to arrive. We've had rain showers, breezy days, gray skies, and general coolness. The usual vibrant flowers of May have been slow to bloom. One news report shared that the season was three weeks behind, and according to my flowers that is so. The Siberian iris is usually in full bloom the first of May, but it has only been the past week that it blossomed fully in my garden. After the dreary, dark days I couldn't resist picking a bundle of them and bringing them indoors. Their long stems exuded elegance and grace. Not wishing to detract from their natural beauty, I decided a simple quart jar was the perfect container to display them in. A satin ribbon tied around the rim acted visually as something to bundle them together. For a week they charmed me every time I walked through the living room! Simple, sweet, and fragrant; they create a delightful dash of purple in my day.

Tea and the Sea

When the world is all at odds
And the mind is all at sea

Then cease the useless tedium

And brew a cup of tea.

There is magic in its' fragrance,

There is solace in its' taste;

And laden moments vanish

Somehow into space.

And the world becomes a lovely thing!

There's beautify as you'll see;

All because you briefly stopped

To brew a cup of tea.


Newport
Depoe Bay
Florence

A Heartwarming Cup

"It was George Eliot who earnestly inquired, 'Reader, have you ever drunk a
cup of tea?' There is something undeniably heartwarming and
conversation-making in a cup of steaming hot tea. . . It is an ideal
prescription for banishing loneliness. Perhaps it is not so much the tea
itself, as the circle of happy friends eager for a pleasant chat."

Book of Etiquette 1921
Twigs, Port Townsend

Spring Picnic

Pack the picnic basket 
with all the foods we love,
take along a frisbee, 
a baseball, bat and glove.


Bring a blanket to sit upon,
bug spray, and sunscreen, too,
get the kids into the car
with the dog, and me and you.


Finally we are on our way
to have a day of fun,
searching for the perfect spot
to frolic in the sun.


A grassy knoll and shade tree
beside a lazy creek; 
pull over, this looks just right
for a picnic quite unique.


Setting up a lavish feast,
joy we can't contain,
our happiness is dampened
when it begins to rain.
by Carol Gioia


Click twice on collage for larger view.

His Compassions Fail Not

 

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. 

Lam. 3:22 - 25

Blessings on this beautiful day! 

Flowers from Grandpa's early spring flower garden.