Window Caulking Heart

The windows were broken out long ago ...
The frames ripped away more recently ...
A single piece of window caulking ...
Mutely shows it's heart.

Are you "tired" of Hearts???

I'm not!!!

Have you found a "tired" heart? There's still time to link it to this week's "Guest Heart Thursday!" - the link is open until Sunday night!!!

Guest Heart Thursday #55

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

Everybody in my house knows that every Sunday morning at 9:30 ... the TV belongs to me and "Art Wolfe's Travels To The Edge".

I was watching an episode of Art filming bears in Alaska, when I noticed a heart in several of the scenes. I had to wait nearly a year for the episode to be re-broadcast, and took this picture of the TV screen (which explains the odd lines and blurriness!).

Sure enough, there is a heart right over Art's shoulder!

When you visit Art's blog, "Art Wolfe", you will see some of the most amazing photography in the world ... Art's show "Travels To The Edge" airs on most US Public Television stations, and is well worth the effort to find and watch!

Thank you, Art, for being my inspiration ... and for sharing your heart!

Teri is a professional photographer who lives in Blacksburg, VA, USA ... and photographs clients worldwide.

She describes herself as "Photographer, mother, wife, and friend.
Every photo session and family event is an opportunity to realize and record the richness of life."

Teri and her sister collect "Wild Hearts" - and have for years!
(don't you just LOVE that description - 'wild hearts'?)

To see Teri's beautiful photography, visit her blog, "Teri H Hoover Photography".

Thank you, Teri, for sharing your Wild Heart!

Thom, who is from Oahu, Hawaii, posted this beautiful waterfall for "Weekend Reflections" last week ... Thom's delightful blog is called "Thom's Place 4 Whatever" ... and I absolutely love visiting there!

Thank you, Thom, for sharing your heart!

Al over at "Al's Photography Blog" recently posted this beautiful waterfall. What he didn't realize is ... there are hearts here! Especially the two at the bottom of the waterfall ... How many do YOU see?

Thank you, Al, for sharing your hearts!
(And for hosting "Sunday Scans" - a meme which I love!)

Owen (AKA Mr. Toad) and his blog "Magic Lantern Show ... Or Mr. Toad's Travel Diary" hold a very special place in my heart.
Owen describes himself as follows: "Originally from a foreign country, now French and living in France for the past 18 years. Am still adapting to culture shock. Frequently go out scouring the countryside, camera in hand, looking for my dream house, for my dreamtime, for my dreams. . ."

One of Owen's passions is WWI cemeteries. He finds the most amazing and unique viewpoints, and shares what he can about any history he discovers.
Owen also loves old rusty cars, flowers, old buildings, and more. But everything he finds and shares ... becomes Magical and special.

Thank you, Owen, for being such an inspiration to me ... and for sharing your heart!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - huge thank you to all who participated in Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing all of the delightful 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 ...), 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!

Camelia Blossom Heart in Pond

Mom was working in her garden on a rainless day last week. She told me I needed to go look in the pond ... next to the old shoe planter ... there was a heart.

Does she have the "heart eye" or what???!!!

Update: The baby owl from the last post died. It was just too young and too injured to make it for a second cold night out of the nest. As I stood for a moment of silence, a sound came to my ears ... that same peeping sound the owlet made when I first found it. I listened intently, and realized I was hearing at least 2 more babies ... scrabbling around up in the nest in the rafters!

And I felt a little better.

Burned Heart ... And an Easter Message

At about 5:30 this morning I heard loud voices outside. I opened the door, and saw a group of young males attempting to exit the driveway of the abandoned church property across the street. One of them ran into the gate in the dark and nearly knocked himself senseless.

After it got light, I walked over to check things out. As I got closer to the building, I noticed a peculiar smell - something was burning. It turned out to be a pile of debris in a corner in one of the rooms ...
I ran home, grabbed a bucket and doused the smoldering pile with water from the nearby pond.

In taking pictures of the aftermath, I noticed several indistinct hearts.
Sad ones.

But the REAL tragedy was yet to be revealed ...

Apparently the vandals' night of "fun" had disturbed the family of owls nesting in the eaves of the building ... and one of the babies had fallen out. It was still breathing, and was shivering in the cold.

I nudged it onto a small piece of carpet, and pulled it into the warmth of the sunshine. Then I cried.

When I called the wildlife people, they said that's all that could be done. Sometimes the parent owls will feed the fallen babies ... it may yet survive.

As I left the building, the early morning sun shone through a broken skylight - and I saw this cross.

I was faced with a myriad of emotions. Anger at the young people who caused this carnage ... sorrow at the predicament of the owl and it's family ... and joy at the cross that was revealed in the aftermath.

Then I realized ... isn't that what Easter is about?
Life.
Death.
Resurrection.
Joy.
Hope.
Jesus.

Guest Heart Thursday #54

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

Megha is an amazing artist, whose paintings and drawings depict India ... in all it's beautiful tradition and vibrant colors.

This is a small part of her most recent painting "Kali Maa". If you look closely at the flowers, you will see the heart - in a beautiful flower petal! To see the entire painting, visit her blog "Art on Sketchbook".

Thank you, Megha, for sharing your he'art'.

Sheryl captured this beautiful heart on her post of a bufflehead duck.
Sheryl's blog "Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo" is part of the hugely popular "City Daily Photo" series of blogs that I love so much. When I start missing my "ocean", all I have to do is visit here, and I'm okay for a while ...

Thank you, Sheryl, for sharing your Astoria ... and your heart!

Louis lives in the Southern California back country.
No internet access ... but as Louis says ... "this 'Broken Heart' is across the canyon in an avocado grove. I like to sit on our deck and take pictures of the flora and fauna."

How much closer to Paradise can a person be?

Thank you, Louis, for sharing your beautiful Broken Heart!

"Expect the Unexpected" is the perfect name for Beth's blog.
I always find something unique and interesting here!!!
Like this 'uniquely interesting' dead spider leg heart!

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

When Costas over at "Nature Digital" took a vacation from Greece to the US West Coast, look what he found. I love this heart! And I love Costa's blog ... when you visit, make sure you click on the pictures to enlarge them. What seems like an ordinary shot ... becomes absolute magic!

Thank you, Costas, for sharing your heart!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - huge thank you to all who participated in Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing all of the delightful 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 ...), 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!

Rope Heart ... And an Invitation to a New Meme!

Even an old knotty (naughty?) rope can be a beautiful heart!

Al over at "Al's Photography Blog" is hosting a new meme. It's called "Sunday Scans", and is a place for all things scanned. I have had so much fun going through my old photo albums and memorabilia!

I really want to see this meme succeed -- if only because it's such a wonderful excuse to pull out my old albums and scrapbooks, and revisit forgotten memories!!!

So pick up your old photo albums, ephemera, postcards, artwork, ANYTHING that can be scanned, and let's show each other OUR OLD STUFF (oops, that didn't sound right, did it?)!!!

P.S. The beautiful lady having her head scratched by a statue in Paris is my little sister, who lived with us in Germany for a year back in 1988. Ain't she cute???

Guest Heart Thursday #53

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

Susannah (you may know her as "Wanderin' Weeta") is one of those people who has forever changed the way I look at the world.
She sees the tiny beauty in her own world ... things I never ever would have thought to look for - until now.
When Susannah finds a heart, I KNOW it is going to be unique!

Thank you, Susannah, for changing my life ... and for sharing your heart!

Gemma over at "Gemma's 'Greyscale Territory' Poetic Songlines" is a wonderful photographer, and a great friend. When you visit her blog, which I highly recommend, make sure you read the Haiku she includes in every post. I've never seen anyone paint such beautiful word pictures ... with so few words.

Thank you, Gemma, for sharing your Haiku ... and your heart.
You are AMAZING.

Another wonderful friend and artist ... Darlene at "A Dancing Mango".
Besides being an amazing artist (check out the sidebar on her blog!) ... Darlene is one of the nicest, sweetest and kindest people in Blogland, I am honored to know her.

Thank you, Darlene, for the inspiration you are to me ... and for sharing your heart!

When you visit Jeannette over at "Mysteries", you are in for a treat. Her blog is a happy place ... with wonderful photos (and more!) full of beauty, and fun.

But if you want to see the STUNNING side of Jeannette, you need to visit her other blog ... "Art Notes". And prepare to be AMAZED (and that's all I'm going to say -- you'll see what I mean!)!!!

Thank you, Jeannette, for sharing your heart ... and soul.

Deann's "Whimsey Asylum" is another place I love to hang out. Deann is yet another FANTASTIC artist, whose digital artwork is stunning.

And she doesn't think I notice how many hearts find their way into her work!!!

Thank you, Deann, for your friendship ... and your heart.

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - huge thank you to all who participated in Guest Heart Thursday last week. I loved seeing all of the delightful hearts you found in your world! Here's to another wonderful heart seeking year!

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 ...), 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!

THCC Heart

While waiting for mom and dad to get out of church, I noticed that a lot of landscape work had been done. Where a raggedy old tree had once leaned up against the building ... only a heart remains.

Construction Equipment Makes Hearts

When the heavy equipment moved in to clean up the abandoned mega-church, they left behind their hearts ...

In the parking lot!

And on the cement floor inside the building!

Heart Reflection in Cup

I was cleaning up after dinner one night last November when I found this beautiful reflected-light-heart in a small cup.

To see reflections from around the world, visit James at "Newtown Area Photo" - and join us for Weekend Reflections!

Guest Heart Thursday #52

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

Why is it so special?
Because it's WEEK 52 -
One year since Guest Heart Thursday started!

I am featuring just a few of the many hearts found this past year ...

Dani over at "Snow Flowers" found this beautiful leaf heart, glistening with diamond raindrops.
Dani also has another blog, "A Lovely Home For Hearts", where she shares the amazing hearts that find their way to her!

Thank you, Dani, for sharing your hearts!

During this past year, hearts have been found all over the world ... from the US to South America, from Australia to India and China - and beyond!

Cheryl posted this beautiful bouquet of hearts on her blog "Nostalgia: Today and Yesterday".
Cheryl also has another blog called "March to March", which I am happy to say has reached it's second "March" and is still going strong!

Thank you, Cheryl, for sharing your hearts!

During the past year, there have been 243 featured hearts ...

Several years ago I found a memory card on the ground outside an old abandoned nursery ... now a fast food restaurant. I was never able to locate the owners.

But Anonymous had taken this picture of a driftwood heart!

Thank you, Anonymous, for sharing your heart. I'm sorry you had to lose it in order for me to find it.

So far, this has been the only Anonymous heart featured.

Jay Leigh loves nature, and that shows in her blog "Pacific Northwest Nature For Families".
Jay Leigh found this gorgeous bindweed leaf heart while on a nature walk with her kids.

Thank you, Jay Leigh, for sharing your hearts!

Guest Heart Thursday has been linked to more than 630 heart posts!

Tammie Lee found this driftwood heart ... so calm and serene. You can find more of Tammie Lee's stunning photography and poetry at "Spirithelpers".

Thank you, Tammie Lee, for sharing your heart!

I wish I could feature every single heart YOU have found ... but I don't have room!
Please know that I have visited and enjoyed each and every Guest Heart link, and am awed and amazed at the hearts YOU find each week!

One world. One people. One heart.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THE HEARTS YOU HAVE FOUND IN YOUR WORLDS THIS PAST YEAR. I LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL! I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER FANTASTIC HEART-SEEKING YEAR!

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 ...), please join us for Guest Heart Thursday. Just link the URL of your heart to Linky!
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!

Oak Tree Heart ... And A Surprise!

I was walking in the Metro park just down the road, when this beautiful moss heart caught my eye ... I carefully made my way across the field, being careful not to step on any emerging plants, and got my shot.

Something at the edge of the woods caught my eye.
Shapes that were out of place.
I slowly turned ... and!!!!

And caught a deer family grazing in the field at the edge of the woods.
I told them I was just taking pictures, and they seemed to be okay with that.

As I deliberately turned and walked in the opposite direction, I looked back. They had returned to their meal.

Landscape Rock Heart

Look at the beautiful rock I found in someone elses yard.
I was so tempted to pick it up. (LOL)
But it probably weighed a hundred pounds!

Besides ... the people in the yard were already looking at me funny!

Daffodil Heart

We had a few hours of sunshine today ... the first in a long time. I had been waiting for this moment - the daffodils had been up for weeks, and I hadn't been able to get a good picture!

I grabbed my camera and went outside, the sunlight felt so good.
As I searched to find the perfect daffodil, though, disappointment hit me hard.

This cold wet spring has brought forth critters.
Critters that LOVE daffodils ... for lunch!
Each and every beautiful flower was tattered and torn ... some buds never even made it into full flower. All ruined.

I felt horrible. No perfect pictures.
Then I saw this daffodil ... still holding it's head up despite the damage.
And in the center ... a heart.
Created by the very critters I was cursing.

I had to stop and re-evaluate.
The daffodils were still the same color, they still smelled oh so sweet ...
It was just their shape that was changed.
Not their true beauty.

Not their heart.