The Power of One

A single hope ...
A single dream ...
A single life.

A single rose ...
A single petal ...
A single heart.

BEHOLD THE POWER OF ONE!

Independence Rock Heart

My sister and I took a walk along the Willamette River in Independence, Oregon last weekend. The winter/spring rains have taken their toll on the riverbanks ... yet the erosion has a bright side - it gave me this heart!

Independence is known for it's 4th of July celebrations ... complete with parade and fireworks. I can't wait until this weekend!

Howard and Freddy's Heart

Howard and Freddy are two of my most favorite people in the world. Howard is 83 (next month 84 - NOT yet). He and Freddy have been married for more than 60 years. They are still as in love today as the day they walked down the aisle.

We could all learn a lot from these beautiful people!

They have a beautiful little house out in the country, and they keep the yard and gardens immaculate ... though it's getting harder, and they need more help now.

This is one of their whimsical garden ornaments ... and it is my favorite.

A weathered and windblown heart,
Still bravely facing it's world.

Even after all this time ...

Guest Heart Thursday #11

Cheryl over at Nostalgia: Today and Yesterday, was stuck in traffic. As soon as she saw this heart, traffic started moving again!

I am in complete agreement - such a beautiful heart would be a traffic stopper!!!

Thank you, Cheryl!

Surprisingly, this delicate watercolor is one of only a handful of watercolors done by Beth over at Beth's Artworx.

They are wind chimes that have hung on every house she's lived in for the past 20 years ... their delicate music reminding her to pray for the person who gave them to her.

Kaori lives near Tokyo, Japan.
The sky was lovin' on her last Friday when she found this
delicate cloud heart.

More proof that hearts are the same all over the world!

You can find Kaori at Tokorozawa Daily Photo.

This is one of my favorite hearts - submitted by Dani on her Snow Flowers blog.

If you haven't checked out Dani's blog, then you are missing out! She is a wonderful photographer, and has a definite eye for beauty.
And for hearts!

This gorgeous heart shaped leaf was also caught by Dani over at Snow Flowers.
The drops of rain remind me of diamonds!

SOMETHING NEW!

Please bear with me ... I am trying a McLinky for the first time.
If you have found a heart, post it - and link it!

Raindrops Plus Mud Equals Heart!

June 2010 has been the "wettest" and coldest June on record in the Pacific Northwest.
And we have the muddy ground to prove it!

Heavy drops of rain falling from a
tree above must have displaced the mud on this path ..
Just enough to make this delicate heart...

River Dock Heart

As I walked along the dock, I was captivated by the messages left carved into the weathered wood edges.

I wonder if whoever carved this heart so long ago remembers ...

Curb Appeal

I was waiting for mom to get out of the doctor's office, in the middle of town. I'm so glad I decided to get out and look around (camera in hand, of course!) because I found this beautiful curb heart. I didn't even notice until I was finished that a King City Police officer was watching me carefully ... I hope she went back later to see what I was finding on this curb!

Just up the parking lot from the doctor's office I found a second curb heart.
Not just a heart, though ... do you see the bird right above it?

Guest Heart Thursday #10

Woody over at "Photoblog of Wayne Woodruff" captured this flowery heart. I don't think I've ever seen a heart so tiny before!

But it's not surprising - Woody takes amazingly detailed photos - of anything that takes his fancy - then shares with us the 'technical' data for each shot.

I don't understand the technical part, but I understand the beauty and emotions of his amazing photographs!

I found Dani's "Snow flowers" blog last week when she posted this cute cherry heart on Weekend Reflections.

When I started looking at her work, I was amazed at how many many random hearts she has found in her world! She definitely has the eye and heart for these elusive beauties! Dani is from Macedonia - I love it that random hearts are the same all over the world!

I look forward to including Dani's beautiful hearts in many future Guest Heart Thursdays.

Susannah captures my heart with every post she makes on "Wanderin' Weeta"
She lives in British Columbia, Canada, and finds the most amazing - and tiny - critters, plants and other things that most of us (myself included) would never think to look for.

Susannah has taught me to look for the tiny things in life. They hold awesome beauty.
Like these encrusted bryozoan - one of which is shaped like a heart!

I find, when I am walking, that I tend to have "Wanderin' Weeta" moments now - and when I do, I always find beauty. Thank you so much Susannah. You are amazing!

I love bleeding hearts. The plants, that is!
Which is why I absolutely ADORE this shot by Tamera over at "Colorado Springs Daily Photo".

But then again, I love her blog in general! She finds the best of "The Springs" and brings it to life. I lived there for 3 years, and miss it so much.
Tamera helps ease that hurt.
Thank you so much, my friend!

And look what my friend Halcyon over at "Jackson Daily Photo" found -
an entire plate full of hearts for breakfast!!!

Brings new meaning to the term 'eat your heart out' !!!???

Thank you for finding these hearts - BEFORE you ate them!

A huge THANK YOU to all who participated in
Random Heart Thursday!

Have you found a random heart? If so - I want to hear from you!
Leave a comment here, or send me an e-mail (see my sidebar for info).
Be sure to indicate that I have your permission to feature YOUR heart photo here.

"Changing the World - One Heart at a Time"
- Deann

Stop This Heart!!!

I was at a stop light when I saw this bushy heart.
I groped for my camera ...
Afraid the light would change before I got my picture.

My brother started counting down ...
Four ... three ... two ... (CLICK) ... Green!!!

I was so afraid my one shot wouldn't turn out - but it did!!!

Cloud Shadow Heart - Shadow Shot Sunday

The storm clouds of the past 3 months have gone, and yesterday was a beautifully sunny day. Before the clouds left, though, I caught this heart in their shadows!

To see shadows from around the world, please visit Hey Harriet, and participate in Shadow Shot Sunday.

Heart of the Rain

The Pacific Northwest has been inundated with rain for the past several months. We have recorded enough rain this month to make it the second wettest June on record - and there's still most of the month left to go!

During one of the torrential downpours, I found this cascade of water falling from the roof of the abandoned church down to the cement below.

If you look carefully, you can make out the heart in the center!

Guest Heart Thursday #9

I love the delicate yellow and orange of this beautiful buttercup heart found by Jeannette over at Mysteries.

She also surprised me with the information that hearts are a recurring theme in Delft blue dishes - and warmed my heart with some memories of her childhood spent mostly in Holland.

For those of you who don't know Jeannette, she is a very gifted artist who continually touches my heart - you really need to check out her work!

Thank you for these hearts today, Jeannette!
I will now keep my eyes open for Delft blue heart dishes!

Cheryl over at Nostalgia: Today and Yesterday found this heart-filled sky for her Skywatch Friday post last week. Look closely. How many hearts do YOU see?

I'll give you a hint - there are a BUNCH!

And does everybody know that Cheryl has a second blog?

No? Well the secret is out now - you can find it HERE!

Because she also found this beautiful fluffy moss heart to share with the world!

A personal note for Cheryl - I love the way you see the world - and share your world. You are one of the reasons why Random Hearts was started, and I appreciate your warmth, support and beautiful comments. Thank you!

Beth over at Expect the Unexpected found this beautiful heart in silhouette while she was at the beach. Isn't it amazing?

Beth is a wonderful and gifted artist who continually delights me with her talent and whimsy. You can see her beautiful artwork, including her amazing 'cloud paintings' at Beth's Artworx.


Thank you to all who participated in this week's Guest Heart Thursday!

Have YOU found a heart? If so, I want to hear from you!
You can post your heart, and leave me a comment here, or you can e-mail me and either attach your heart, or a link to where your heart is posted. For e-mail information, please see my sidebar. Please be sure to give me your permission to copy and use your heart on Guest Heart Thursday.

I am so very humbled and honored that so many people have found so many hearts and thought of this blog. It brings tears to my eyes, and joy to my heart.

"Changing the World - One Heart at a Time"
- Deann

Nut Butt Heart

This is a peanut I found in a bag of mixed nuts.
My question for you today is ...

Is it a butt?
Or is it a heart?

Is it a hiney?
Or is it a honey?

Okay, I'll stop now.

Groan.
Chuckle.

Salal Leaf Shadow Heart

The sun came out yesterday ... and for the first time in a long time I could go out and look for shadow shots!

I found this salal bush, still drenched from the rain.

But something about this bush was different ...

Salal bushes have long slender leaves that come to a soft POINT ... not a HEART!

To see shadows from around the world, please join us for Shadow Shot Sunday!

Spilled Paint Heart

At the abandoned church, vandals are still at work.
They found an old can of paint, and worked it open.
Then they went to work ...

I found this spilled paint heart at the bottom of the old swimming pool ...

Paper Trash Heart

Just someone's trash, thrown on the ground.
Right?
Not to me!
To me it is a beautiful heart.

Guest Heart Thursday #8

Judy over at Lilac Gate takes the most amazing flower pictures I've seen.
Her macros show plants in a way I never knew existed!

Like this gorgeous glowing bleeding heart.

I was so excited to hear that Halcyon over at Jackson Daily Photo was going to post a found heart. I was even more excited when I saw it!

This is MY KIND OF HEART!!!
And it is PERFECT!

My friend Cheryl over at Nostalgia: Today and Yesterday had the unique and wonderful opportunity to met a cyber-friend for lunch - to meet face to face for the first time.

Cheryl has been blogging a series of shrines and missions - complete with beautiful pictures and histories. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, Cheryl!

Anyway, her friend had been visiting a shrine, and came across a woman in need who made this beautiful palm frond heart.

I am in awe of this beautiful ornament. Simple, delicate and stunning. Thank you so much Cheryl for sharing it with all of us!

And how could I forget this post my sister Beth at Expect the Unexpected shared a long time ago. In fact, I think she forgot she posted it!

Her daughter had found this oddly-shaped M&M and gave it to her mom - A beautiful chocolate heart!

What a delightful gift. The absolute best.

Have you found a Random Heart? If so, I want to hear from you!
Please send me an e-mail (see my sidebar for information), or just leave a comment here (with link to where it is posted along with permission for me to use it) and I will find you!

Another Wet Moss Heart!

This picture was actually taken last week. You know how I can tell?

There's actually dry pavement in the frame!

Since then it has been rain, rain, rain.
Another storm today ... another record set for 'wettest'.

I'm glad I was able to capture this beautiful moss heart ...
Before it disappeared into a puddle.

Stepped On Heart

The field between our house and Uncle Dale's house gets very muddy. Uncle Dale put down a few pieces of old board in the worst areas ... and the grass grew up around them.

He must have stepped on something ... I'm not sure what ...

All I know is that it was a heart!