(Broken) Heart of the Forest

My sister and I found this heart when we went on our tromp in the woods last week. I have very mixed feelings about this. There is the beauty of the heart, but at the cost of the living tree. This whole area (about 14 acres of awesome woods) was clear cut by our local "environmentalist" group (AKA Metro), who purchased the property. They, get this, intend to replant it with neat little rows of "native vegetation". So what was wrong with the native vegetation that was here already? Can we Americans only enjoy our "nature" in neat little rows with identifying signs and cute little footpaths? In our effort to "preserve" our environment, we are ending up destroying the best parts of it.

Where will the deer herd go now? How about the birds? Owls, pileated woodpeckers, red tailed hawk, all manner of songbirds used to call this area home. Whatever happened to "enjoying it without destroying it". I scratch my head ... and then pray for all of God's creatures and creations.

I heart coffee

C .. O .. F .. F .. E .. E ..

Mornings wouldn't be the same without it!

Almost threw out this used filter w/grounds ... then saw the heart within.

The grounds were still hot, so I got a little steam on the lens, but I like the effect! Makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Or maybe it's the stuff I'm drinking right now that makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Who cares, as long as I can feel warm and fuzzy and still be awake!!!

Barbie!

One of the most amazing hearts I have found was near the kids' playhouse by the woods. I hope you can appreciate this head's, er, heart's unique and total randomness!

Junsu's Heart

This is Junsu, he owns my daughter Georgia. I knew he had a spot of white on his tummy, but didn't realize it was a heart until this morning, when he so thoughtfully posed for me on the couch. What a "sweetheart"!

Gravel heart

Just goes to show hearts are everywhere! I found this one at the road's gravelly edge ...

Right On Target

At the abandoned megachurch across the street I came across a section of wall that had been used for target practice. The impromptu shooting range was closed down by the police, and all that's left are some holes ... and hearts.

Tagged!

This is street art? For me it is street "heart"!

Ah nuts!

It looks like a squirrel is using the last of his winter stash of hazelnuts ... he probably can't wait for spring either. But he left me this beautiful heart in anticipation.

Tweaker Heart

There is a spot down our little country road where it's possible to pull off onto the shoulder and look over the edge into the forest and creek below. A beautiful sight. Unfortunately, this area has become a place where, as evidenced by the garbage accumulating, people stop, but not to admire nature. They come here to get high. Or to drink. Or to throw out their trash ... old chairs ... computers ... car parts ... stolen and plundered newspaper boxes ...

Tweakers are people who get high on methamphetamine, a highly addictive drug. You know they've been there by the small squares of scorched tinfoil they inevitably leave behind. So sad. Such a waste of life.

I found this tweaker heart here, next to the road. Did the person(s) who dropped this heart notice the lush ferns nearby when they got high? Or the big leaf maple, fir and cedar trees overhead? Did they stop to listen to the birds calling and the sounds of children playing in the woods? I think not.

They probably didn't even notice that they left behind their heart.

Extension

Even the mundane can be beautiful. I found this heart hanging out by the front door of the house. How many times have I walked in and out of that door and never noticed it?

Fossilized Clam Shells

Everywhere I go, I find myself searching the ground for beautiful, interesting, and funny shaped rocks (and other things that catch my eye!). One of my favorite "rock hunting" areas is the Oregon coast. I have been known to wander around for hours, and head home with pockets and buckets full (don't have either? I take off one of my socks and fill it too!) of rocks, driftwood and other treasures. These I put into my little "rock garden" at home, which is -- and always will be -- a work in progress. I was walking by my rock garden this morning when I "found" this awesome heart. I probably picked up this rock at the beach, never even noticing this perfect clam shell heart!

Red Lichen

My sister pointed out this heart to me while we were tramping in the woods behind the house ... revisiting our childhood haunts. She actually saw the red of the lichen from clear across the "crick", and we climbed back across "Huckleberry Bridge" to take pictures. Thank you Beth!

"What's Taters, Precious?"

A potato I found while unloading a produce delivery at the Canby Gleaners. The other members were a little confused when I suddenly yelped, then grabbed my camera out of my pocket and started snapping pictures .....

Reflections

This is one of my favorite found hearts. It is a cloud/sun reflection in a puddle in the former Living Enrichment Center (now abandoned) parking lot.

Ah Bananas!

I mixed up some granola with dried fruit, nuts and Reeses Pieces for a trail mix type snack-slash-breakfast cereal. I found this dried banana heart right on top!!!

Heart of the River

Since I started looking for hearts in my world, I find I see them everywhere. So I decided to start a separate blog to showcase these many random hearts ... some will be duplicates from Random Stuff, but worth taking a second look.

I found this "holy" rock near the Willamette River in Oregon City. It's one of the most perfect hearts I've "found" lately.