Partly Cloudy Afternoon

My sister Beth and I spent a day together, cleaning my parents' house in preparation for their return after their accident.

Afternoon came, and we had accomplished much! Up until the point when we both looked up and saw the clouds. We raced for our cameras and spent much of the rest of the day discovering one miracle after another. Like this beautiful heart.


Thank you, sissie, for such a wonderful day!

Roadside Stump

Bell Road. A small, curvy, dangerous road. It is popular with motorcyclists and teenagers out for a joyriding thrill.

I was walking along Bell Road when I spotted this stump, complete with animal-carved heart.

It was worth the walk!

Glowing Heart Cloud

The clouds were fantastic that early evening. I found so many beautiful designs and images. Then I spotted the heart - it seemed to glow.

I also saw a sheep(?) jumping out of the heart. What do you see?

Plastic Wrap

Someone enjoyed a piece of candy.
But somehow dropped the wrapper.
It blew about in the wind.
And ended up in my heart.

Another Tiffi Heart

We found this beautiful heart high up in a cedar tree.

Yesterday I got to spend some time at the park with my beautiful niece Tiffani. We played on the playground, then explored the woods. We ate blackberries, admired beautiful flowers, enjoyed nature -- even when we had to brush off the spiders/webs that we ran into.

Thank you for a wonderful time, Tiffani. I 'heart' you!!!

Insulation Dedication

I spent part of yesterday wandering around the abandoned church (across the street) with a veterinarian from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. You see, I found some birds. Dead birds. Four dead owls and a Cooper's hawk. I was very worried that something or someone was killing these beautiful birds.

Turns out the owls were fledgelings and probably died of natural causes - most likely starvation. They came out of the nest too early and wandered around the massive building. The parents couldn't find them to feed them, and they died. The hawk apparently tried to exit the building through one of the few remaining windows and broke its neck.

I thank Dr. Vandenburg for driving all the way out here to investigate. He was patient and kind, and taught me much about the beautiful birds of this area. He also took the birds with him to further investigate ... just in case.

During our walk, I found a piece of insulation and couldn't resist the heart. It helped dry the tears in my eyes.

At the Playground

When I find a carved 'tree heart', my imagination starts on a journey ... I wonder who carved it; was their sweetheart with them? Did their 'happily ever after' ever happen? Maybe it was a little girl, bored with playing on the swings, who decided to draw a simple heart. Does she remember?

I wonder if, years from now, the person(s) who carved this heart will return. Will the heart tree still be there?

I wonder ...

Don't Make Me Cry

Now that our heat spell has subsided, I am able to go back into the kitchen! As I wiped down the counter, I found this onion slice drying in the corner. I pulled it out marveled at the perfect heart it was becoming. No crying here!!!

Flattened Copper Wire

I found this piece of copper wire all wound up and flattened.
I mean, I found this copper wire HEART all wound up and flattened.