A Year of Hearts ... 2011 Remembered

2011 started out cold; the first heart I found was this frosty one I called "First Heart".

Here in Oregon we had the coldest and wettest winter/spring/summer ever.

But there was still beauty to be found - especially when the flowers began to bloom in spite of the cold and wet!

The world recoiled in shock at the tragedy of March 11, 2011 - when a gigantic earthquake and tsunami hit Japan ... we all cried together at the images of destruction ...

Our hearts are still hurting for Japan ...

On a personal note, I lost one of my favorite people in the world in 2011 ...
Howard. I still miss everything about you. My world is a little dimmer with your absence; heaven is a little brighter with your presence.

In May I found out that one of my favorite bloggers, Yolanda, had passed away from the cancer that she had been fighting for so long.
Heaven is a little brighter with her presence too.

In July, a large portion of my beloved woods was stripped away ... unnecessarily.
I hated it ... and did something about it! You can see what I did here.

The year wasn't all gloomy ... family played a huge roll in 2011 ... one of the highlights for me was our annual 4th of July pilgrimage to Independence (Oregon) to share the festivities with my sisters and families!!! My darling niece shared the heart worn into the nose of her favorite stuffed bunny. Sweet!

As the summer wound down, and fall started to sneak into the air, I found myself in the Emergency Room - with a heart attack. It didn't seem right ... I'm only 50 years old! After the placement of a stent in my heart, I rapidly recovered, and was able to enjoy Autumn in a special haze of thankfulness - filled with a new joy in life!

I found more hearts than ever ... and my sense of humor returned.
As you can see by my Halloween post "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night".

Now Thanksgiving has come and gone, as has Christmas ...
Already, a NEW YEAR is upon us ...

I welcome 2012 - with a heart full of JOY!
I can't wait to see what this year brings ...
I can't wait to see the hearts I find ...
I can't wait to see the hearts YOU find!!!

Yee haw, and LOOK OUT WORLD, HERE WE COME!!!

Guest Heart Thursday #90

Welcome to a Special Creepy Crawly Edition ...
of Guest Heart Thursday!
A place to share YOUR heart!

I couldn't believe it when Susannah posted this heart shaped spider shield on her blog "Wanderin' Weeta (With Waterfowl and Weeds)"! Susannah finds the most amazing critters that most of us walk by/step over/step on!!! Susannah has taught me to look DOWN - and pay attention to the tiny beauty that surrounds me.

Thank you, Susannah, for sharing your creepy crawly heart!

Beth, whose artwork over at "Beth's Artworx" will warm your heart, found this amazing spider ... whose legs had become a heart! Beth has taught me many things ... most importantly she reminded me to look UP ... there's a lot of beauty going on over our heads that we simply don't see!

Thank you, sissie, for sharing your creepy crawly heart!

Inger is from Norway, and shares the beauty of her amazing country on her blog "A Picture in Time".
Inger also delights my heart - by finding hearts!

Even in pony poop! (I LOVE it!)

Thank you, Inger, for sharing your creepy crawly heart!

Rick shared this "bird business" heart on his blog "Found Hearts by Rick Ruggles".
How could I not smile?

And say thank you, Rick, for sharing your creepy crawly heart!

Not to be outdone, Beth, who delights me with her blog "Expect the Unexpected" shared this elk dung heart she found on a trip to the Oregon coast several years ago.

Thank you, sissie, AGAIN, for sharing your creepy crawly heart!

One world. One people. One heart.

A special thank you to all who sent healing thoughts and prayers in my direction - I am feeling MUCH better - and looking forward to a new year filled with YOUR HEARTS and mine!!!

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing all of the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...
There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to Linky! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!
The link will be open from Thursday morning until Sunday night.

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!,

Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL link to that post!

Taphophile Tragics #1

"A taphophile is one who finds they are attracted to walking around cemeteries, reading the headstones and musing upon the family history contained therein."

On a blustery day last May, I spent the day in Dayton, Oregon, USA while my mom attended a writers conference.

I knew there was an IOOF cemetery just outside of town, and headed off to find it.

The only other (live) person there was an old man in an ancient military uniform, kneeling over a headstone, pulling up minute bits of grass. He soon wandered away, and I was left alone.

The stone he had been cleaning was for Ralph (1906 - 1988) and Mildred (1913 - 1981) Hedgecock, who were married in 1931 (wow - 50 years of marriage!). I wondered about the old man's relationship to the Hedgecock family ... although the cemetery is maintained by volunteers, and he may have been one of those caretakers.

I spent several more hours walking through the cemetery, letting my imagination paint pictures of the lives memorialized there. When I left I carried away with me some of the peace I found amidst the silent stones.

Julie has created a new meme - Taphophile Tragics - "A Warm Touch Upon Cold Hard Stone" - it's worth a visit!

Fir Cone Heart ...

My Christmas experiment (we decided to not exchange gifts this year, and to concentrate on CHRISTMAS) benefited my life in ways I will always remember!

Christmas Day was peaceful, quiet, warm and happy.
Most of all, the stress which has always surrounded Christmas was gone.
Just ... gone.

The weather cooperated enough for us to take a short walk and enjoy the silence of the day ... and, of course, to find a heart!

Will I do this again?
Exchange chaos for peace?
Presents for presence?
Shopping for family and friends?

The answer is ... a resounding YES!

Angel Wing Heart

Christmas Angels Show Their Heart ...

I would like to take a moment to say "Thank You" to those who have touched my heart this past year ... from the cardiac surgeon who rescued my heart (literally), to those whose words and photos touched my heart and brought beauty to my life (that would be YOU!)!

Thank you to my children who ARE my heart ... and Pam - a total stranger at Rite Aid who brought me to tears just yesterday with her generosity and beauty.

This Christmas is an experiment for me. For years I have said "no more commercialization", and still found myself last-minute shopping with sore feet and a bad attitude.
This year, I have not bought one single gift. I have not wrapped one single package.
Has the spirit of Scrooge overtaken my life? No!

I still love the beauty of Christmas ... the lights, the decorations, the cookies, the FUN, the magic. I guess what I'm doing is trying to find the simple HEART of Christmas (for me) .

How is my experiment working?
I have to say I have mixed feelings ...
And I will let you know after tomorrow how it all turns out ...
But so far, I have a peace surrounding my life that I haven't felt in years! I am looking forward to reading the story of Jesus' birth ... with a fire on the grate and a cup of hot cocoa beside me ... my family tucked close.

My heart is full.

Merry Christmas!

I actually posted this a couple of years ago - a leak had developed over one of my Christmas boxes and I was frantically trying to rescue my treasures.

I found this old giant Christmas stocking, and threw it in the wash.
It disintegrated!
But I had to laugh when I realized two of the holes had become a distinct heart, and a dove!

Merry Christmas to everyone.
I hope any "disappointments" you have are "HEARTY" ones!

Another Fall Leaf Heart

There are a few leaves still stubbornly clinging to the trees, but most of them have fallen.
The ones on the ground are losing their beautiful colors ... this one in the shape of a heart!

Graffiti on a Fence

I found this graffiti on a fence in a nature park area. I was saddened to see it - I don't get the point of ruining somebody elses property. I would much rather find a heart MADE by nature!

So ... this is a found heart that breaks MY heart ...

Don't forget, "Guest Heart Thursday" is open through Sunday for you to link YOUR found hearts!

Also ... it's Jan and Jer's FRIDAY'S FENCES time!

Guest Heart Thursday #88

Welcome to Guest Heart Thursday -
A place to share YOUR heart!

When I got a link to Kerri's blog in an e-mail from Laura, I couldn't wait to visit.
What I found was Kerri's blog "A Little Piece of Me".
And this gorgeous tree bark heart that stole MY heart!
As I looked back through Kerri's blog, I came to the decision that maybe she should rename her blog to - "A Little Piece of HEAVEN"!

Thank you, Kerri, for sharing your heart!
Thank you, Laura, for sending the link!

I love to tell everyone how special Bhavesh is ...
After all, he is the reason Guest Heart Thursday exists!
The very first guest heart ever posted here came from Bhavesh's "BLOG".
And Guest Heart Thursday was born!
Bhavesh is from India, where he takes some of the most amazing photos.
Like the cute little dog in this shot - do you see the heart around it's eye?

Thank you, Bhavesh (and Megha!) for sharing your hearts!

I have come to love the desert because of Diane, and her blog "Desert Colors". I never knew that what I always considered "arid" countryside could be so full of life and beauty!

Diane has captured so much of the life of the desert - including the hearts she has found along the way!

Thank you so much, Diane, for sharing the desert - and for sharing your heart!

Judy is an amazing artist - her photos prove that.
I have enjoyed following her blog, "Lilac Gate" for a long time now, and am always delighted by the beauty she finds in her world!

Like this wonderful heart-shaped milkweed pod!

Thank you, Judy, for sharing your heart!

I absolutely LOVE Helen's "Frumpy Heart" that she posted on her blog "Natures Walk Studio" - it makes me smile!

What made this post so special was the Haiku Helen posted for Frumpy:

Sidewalk mystery.
I wonder who 'hearts" Frumpy
writing it in stone.

Not to be outdone, one of the comments on Frumpy came from Madeleine Begun Kane who wrote ... "Fun haiku. I've written this in response:

Frumpy's adorer
clearly wanted to cement
their relationship."

Thank you, Helen, for sharing Frumpy's heart!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing all of the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...
There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to Linky! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!
The link will be open from Thursday morning until Sunday night.

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!,

Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL link to that post!

Hearts "In the Kitchen" - Tina's PicStory

Tina's PicStory challenge this week is "In the Kitchen".

So ... we start our meal with heart pizza!

Unless you would prefer a frozen chicken heart.

A 'hearty' tea is our beverage of choice!

With a delightfully yummy strawberry heart on the side.

For dessert, cake - with a frosting heart!

Thank you, Tina, for hosting PicStory!

Cold Hearted Leaf ...

I was waiting for Dad to get out of his doctor's appointment at the VA ... the fog was thick and freezing. I took a short walk, and found this amazing heart on a fallen leaf ... complete with frost(ing).

Guest Heart Thursday #87

Welcome to Guest Heart Thursday -
A place to share YOUR heart!

"Yesterday's Trash" is where Michelle shares her "unique art made from found and everyday objects". But it's so much more than that. Michelle's art is definitely unique, and the work she does AMAZES and inspires me!

Michelle posted this heart along with a wonderful heart-warming story in keeping with "Random Acts of Kindness" - I urge you to read her post, and keep the circle going!

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your art ... and your heart!

Gail found this little stone on the beach on the Washington State Coast last summer. It was about the size of a quarter and caught her eye immediately. Gail had so much fun seeing all the hearts in her world that she created a special place to share them!

Please come visit Gail over at "My Hunt For A Heart!" You'll love the amazing hearts she has found!

Thank you, Gail, for sharing your hearts!

When Laura sent me a link to "Ecobirder's" blog, I was curious.
When I visited, I was enchanted - and not just by this beautiful dragonfly heart!!!

Ecobirder is a self-proclaimed "Nature's Paparazzi", whose goal is to "use photographs, facts, and stories to entertain, educate, and inspire people about the natural world around us."

Thank you, Ecobirder, for sharing your inspiration ... and your heart!
Thank you, Laura, for finding him, and sending me the link!

Dorincard makes beautiful postcards ...
and posts them on his blog, along with research about his subjects ...
I am always amazed by the wealth of information he comes up with - and I learn something I didn't know - every time I visit his blog!!!

But my favorite posts from Dorincard are his Guest Heart Thursday posts ...
because Dorin finds hearts that I probably would have missed ... like the PERFECT heart he found on this turkey ... do you see it? (Hint: It's red!)

Thank you, Dorin, for sharing your heart!

Sandra over at "MadSnapper" sent me a heart.
It is a very special heart ... taken by her niece Patti in PA ... and touched MY heart with it's wispy and ethereal beauty.

Thank you, Patti, for sharing your heart.
Thank you, Sandra, for sharing Patti's heart!


One world. One people. One heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing all of the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...
There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to Linky! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!
The link will be open from Thursday morning until Sunday night.

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!,

Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL link to that post!

Fireplace Heart and Random Acts of Kindness

We heat our home with a fireplace only ...
Having a warm fireplace heart greet you at the door is very special!

I was reading through Michelle's blog "Yesterday's Trash". Last week, a friend of Michelle's did a blog post about Random Acts of Kindness. She pointed out that the holidays were a perfect time to give the gift of kindness, and shared her own personal Christmas story. Michelle then shared her own beautiful story that made me smile - through my tears.

It also made me think about a story similar to her own ... that happened to me just after my brother passed away nearly 10 years ago.

First, you need to know that my brother was a "bum". Yep, the kind you see on the street corners, or out picking up cans to eek out a living. He was a criminal, having spent a number of years in jail.

He had been "clean" for several years, holding down a good job, living in a small trailer at my parents' house.

Then the cancer came and took Dow away. It was nearly unbearable. At his funeral, drug dealers rubbed shoulders with preachers and missionaries. That's the way Dow was. He accepted everyone where they stood, no matter who they were.

Several weeks after Dow died, I left a convenience store with a cup of coffee. One of the local "bums" was standing outside, counting change into his dirt encrusted hand. He looked longingly at my coffee and asked me if I had 17 cents. "That's all I need for a cup," he explained.

Usually I would have said "NO!" and walked away. But there was something about him ...
I reached into my pocket, and pulled out what change I had.
I counted out one dime, one nickel and two pennies.
Exactly 17 cents.
And gave it to him.
For my brother.

What random acts of kindness have come your way?
I would love to hear your stories!!!

Winter Fern Shadow Heart

I was trying to capture the heart I saw in the fern ... and became fascinated with the play of sunlight and shadows on the overlapping fronds.

Perfect for "Shadow Shot Sunday"!

A Special Birthday Wish ...

Jenna!!!

I hope you have the best birthday ever!

With Love from Auntie Clytie

Guest Heart Thursday #86

Welcome to Guest Heart Thursday -
A place to share YOUR heart!

Kavita is from India, and her blog "My Room" is full of the beauty of her country.

What I enjoy most of all is how Kavita shares not only her beautiful photos, but also the history behind the places she visits.

Do you see the heart she included in this colorful photo collage?
It's a balloon!

Thank you, Kavita, for sharing your heart!

"Marges8's Blog" is where Marlendy shares her awe-inspiring collection of (mostly) paper dolls. I am not talking about the kind I used to cut out of the Sears catalog either ... these are absolutely AMAZING!

Sometimes Marlendy shares a greeting card - one special to her. I love these as well.

Do you see the heart in this card?
Hint - It's the hair bow!

Thank you, Marlendy, for sharing your collection - and your heart!

LouLou is also from India - although this award-winning photographer sells her work all over the world.

I am privileged to know LouLou through her blog "Indiaphragme". I have to issue a warning, though ... when you visit her, be sure to be prepared to stay a long time - because you will want to spend the rest of the day going back through her older posts!!!

Thank you, LouLou, for sharing your HEART!

For some of us, Lesley needs little introduction - Lesley hosts the wonderfully fun Wednesday meme - "Signs, Signs" - which I dearly love!!!

Lesley can also be found at "Southern Ontario, discovered"!

Thank you, Lesley, for sharing your Signs - and for sharing your heart!

Halcyon is a world traveler, who has been so many places I can't keep track of them! To check out her travels, you can find her at "Halcyon Travels".

She found this floor grate at the Vatican - complete with beautiful scrollwork hearts!!!

Thank you, Halcyon, for taking me places I've never been ... and for sharing your heart!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing all of the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...
There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to Linky! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!
The link will be open from Thursday morning until Sunday night.

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!,

Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL link to that post!

Bird Nest Heart

I watched from outside the abandoned building as the barn owl dive-bombed the small bird. Even though I know it is the circle of life, and the owl, with it's 2 babies, had to eat ... I still felt myself rooting for the bird trying desperately to escape.

The owl's wing hit a piece of hanging wire, and she missed her prey - which promptly flew out a broken window, and the owl swooped away to find her dinner elsewhere.

I let out the breath I had been holding, and watched as bits of grass drifted down from the beams far overhead - the bird had been interrupted while making a nest.

She survived the day, but her nest did not.

Instead, it was left on a pile of debris ... a heart with a story I would never have known had I not been there.

Guest Heart Thursday #85

Welcome to a special FAMILY Edition of
Guest Heart Thursday -
A place to share YOUR heart!

Here in the US we are celebrating Thanksgiving today -
In our family, there is so much to celebrate this year!

Like Dad's onion ring heart that he found in a bag of chips ...

And this elusive wet spot Mom found on the counter - in the shape of a heart!

My sister Beth found this wonderful driftwood heart on a trip she took to the beach ...

While my sister Leigh made me giggle with these hearts someone sent her in an e-mail!

My sister-in-law Bert found this perfect heart outside her apartment manager's place.

While her husband (my brother Darren) found this water lily heart in the pond at Dad's house.

Thank you, my family, for sharing your hearts.
For sharing your love.
For sharing your lives.
It's been a hard year, and I am so thankful that my family is still around, warts and all, to share this wonderful day.

A special thank you as well, to my FAMILY here at Random Hearts.
You are ALL special to me, and will be part of MY Thanksgiving celebration!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who linked up with Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing all of the delightful and amazing hearts you found in your world!

Would you like to share your heart on Guest Heart Thursday?
The rules are easy ...
There are none!!!
As long as your post includes a heart!

If you have found a heart (or drawn a heart, or designed a heart, or written a heart-felt poem, or ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart post to Linky! It would be nice if you linked back to Random Hearts ... but it's okay not to ... we just want to see your hearts!
The link will be open from Thursday morning until Sunday night.

Have you found more than one heart?

Put in more than one link!,

Is your heart from a long time ago?

It doesn't matter, as long as you put the direct URL link to that post!