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!

Frosty Morning Beauty

I woke up yesterday to cold ... the first frosty morning of the winter.

It was foggy at first, then the sun started to break through - what a moment!

The world I found was magical ...

Then the sun peeked through some more, and the ice started to melt.
But not before I found a heart!

I am linking this post to "Straight Out of the Camera Sunday" over at Murietta 365.

Heart Found on Sidewalk

I found this heart on the sidewalk in town ...
And I don't EVEN want to know what it is!!!
I will just accept that it IS a heart, and leave it at that!

Graffiti Heart

Graffiti is constantly being added to the walls of the abandoned church ...

Sometimes a heart shows up!

Guest Heart Thursday #84

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

One of the most amazing random hearts I've ever seen was sent to me by Kay.
When I opened her e-mail, I was blown away!
I couldn't believe the heart Kay found on one of those restaurant jam container tops!
But what I love most is that Kay kept this heart.

Kay and her daughter Adrienne are wonderful heart-seekers, and I can't wait to share more of the hearts they send!

(Kay has a Facebook account, but being "Facebook challenged", I don't know how to access it to link here. I'm sorry, Kay!)

Thank you Kay and Adrienne, for sharing your hearts!

Ruth found this amazing heart at an orchid show in Thailand, and posted it on her blog, "Heart's Garden".

I found Ruth's orchid heart linked up to Tina's PicStory's "Weekend Flowers" - and of course it caught my eye right away!

When I visited Ruth's blog, I was touched deeply by a quote on her sidebar ...
"When I'm in my garden, I'm also gardening my heart. I sow seeds of love, patience and joy, and I pull out weeds of discouragement and despair. Every morning I wake up with the hope of harvest in mind."

Thank you, Ruth, for sharing your garden ... and your heart!

Scrappy Grams posted this heart-shaped photo of her late husband's father and step-mother on her blog "Scrappy Grams" - where I found it linked up to Al's "Sunday Scans".

If you have never visited Scrappy Grams, you are in for a delightful and whimsical journey!

Thank you, Scrappy Grams, for sharing your heart!

Isn't this an amazing wooden bowl heart? Judy was taking a walk when she found it in a garden, and posted it on her blog, "Lilac Gate". I love that she took the shot as-is ... weathered over the years, leaves and garden debris included.

Judy takes amazing photos of the world around her -- her macros are STUNNING!

Thank you, Judy, for sharing your heart!

When I think of Montana (US), I think of snow ... of mountains ... of indescribable beauty ... and I think of Tammie Lee.

Tammie Lee shares her stunning photographs and heart-touching poems on her blog, "Spirithelpers" ... and her beautiful artwork on her blog, "Beauty Flows".

Thank you, Tammie Lee, for sharing the beauty of your soul ... 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!

Hearts Revisited - PicStory

I am revisiting some of the hearts I have collected over the years ...
Here is a rusty heart, found on an old light fixture at the abandoned church across the street.

It was springtime when I found this feather heart tucked in amongst the hawthorn blossoms.

And one of my favorite hearts of all time ... I called it
"Worshiping the Chicken Wing Heart".

Tina's "PicStory" photo challenge this week is HEARTS - how could I resist???

A Furry Little Heart

The ruffled fur on Ribbit's chest becomes an adorable heart ...

But it's the story behind her life that SHOWS her heart.
You see, Ribbit was born with square delicate ribs that didn't even reach around her chest. She developed much slower than her siblings, and would have died had it not been for the care and attention of her "adopted" moms - my daughters.

When it was time to nurse, my daughters carried Ribbit to where her mother was.
When the babies were moved and Ribbit left behind, they found the others and moved her with them. She slowly learned how to crawl, then walk, then run. Much behind the rest.

When the other kittens were old enough, they went to their new homes. Ribbit stayed behind as a "family cat". And thrived.

Today the only evidence of her disability comes when you pick her up - her ribs are small and don't touch completely, leaving a depression in her chest. Otherwise, she is active and loving.

Oh, and do you get the name? Square ribs - "Rib-bit"?
Smile.

Goat Nose Heart

I tried ... really I did!
I was so inspired by Debbie over at "It's All About Purple" that I snuck between the fences at my neighbor's place to try and photograph her delightful goats.
This is the best shot I got - the darling little creatures just did NOT cooperate!
But this curious little one showed me it's cute heart-shaped nose!

From now on, I will leave the "Critter Cuteness Overload" to Debbie - who does it BEST!

It's Friday's Fences time! Check out "Life According to Jan and Jer" for some wonderful "fenciful" shots!

Guest Heart Thursday #83

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

Laura sent me this wintertime heart she had found ...
I love it for many different reasons!
It's beauty mirrors the seasons of life changes that we all go through ... and reminds me that even when life doesn't go the way we planned, there is still beauty to be found.

Laura personifies the beauty of this heart.
She is going through more adversity in her life than I can imagine, yet still shines, encourages, inspires.

Visit Laura over at "Shine the Divine: Creativity IS a Spiritual Practice" - you will love it there too!

Thank you, Laura, for being you - and for sharing your heart.

I have introduced you to Costas before - he makes MAGIC over at his blog "Nature Digital".
Costas is from Greece, a country in turmoil.
Yet it's beauty is undiminished - as Costas shows in every post.

So ... where you ask is the heart in this picture?

It's tiny, but it's there! Right near the bottom of the shot!

Costas has turned off his "Comments", and I wanted to take this opportunity to say "THANK YOU", Costas, for the magic you bring to my life!

And thank you for sharing your heart!

When I think of Tina, I think of her blog "Tina's PicStory" - and I think "photo challenge"!

When she posts her photos, however, I am amazed at her beautiful photos! Like this sunflower heart. I am in awe of you, Tina!

Thank you for all you do ... and thank you for sharing your heart!

JM's blog "Oeiras and environs daily photo" is fast becoming another of my favorite places to visit. JM is from Portugal, a country I will probably never visit in person ... but I am able to visit daily through JM's beautiful and evocative photography and narration.

Thank you, JM, for sharing your beautiful environs ... and for sharing your heart!

And what can I say about Owen???
His "Magic Lantern Show (OR ... Mr. Toad's Travel Diary)" is filled with fun, beauty, humor, history, rust, cemeteries, and just about anything that catches the eyes of Mr. Toad. I LOVE it!

Owen found these Chinese Lantern plants in his garden unbidden - and decided to leave them. I'm so glad he did - they are absolutely beautiful!
And "hearty"!

Thank you, Owen, 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!

Autumn Shows it's Heart

Walking with Sissie yesterday was a delight to my heart!

The rain held off ... the sun even peeked through the clouds a time or two.

And the colors - unbelievably beautiful!

Everywhere we went we found reds and yellows and greens and oranges. ..
And HEARTS!

Chocolate Sweethearts ...

There is, of course, a story behind this little box of chocolate heart candies ...
I'm not sure where or when it started, but it ended yesterday when I brought my neighbor to the auto parts store - just after he dropped the broken drill bit between the seats and I had to dig for it.

I have had this car for 5 years (give or take), having bought it used for really cheap from a Tweaker (don't ask). Due to it's varied history, my car came complete with the stereo torn out, and drug stash stickers in miscellaneous places on the interior (no drugs thank God!).

The car had been in an accident at one point, and the rear drivers side door is damaged.
The taillight is taped up with red tape (with it's own inherent issues, documented HERE).

There is red fingernail polish adorning one of the tire rim bolts ... Not sure why, I just call it "Tweaker Girlfriend Moment".

Oh, and there is a real bullet hole in the passenger rear door. Seriously!

But I'm getting away from the real story!
I was digging between the seats for the recalcitrant part, when my fingers dislodged a little box that had been lodged in tightly between the seats and center console.

And I pulled out a box of chocolate heart candies! The candies were so old the cute sayings were now just red smears on brownish blobs ... not very appetizing.

I wonder how long those chocolate hearts had been living in my car? I don't recall ever having bought such a thing, so I'm assuming they are over 5 years old. I looked up the UPC code number and it "expired" in 2006.

It just goes to show ... hearts of any age and condition are fair game for me!!!

And I really MUST clean out my car more carefully ...

OH! I almost forgot - it's the first Sunday in NOVEMBER, which means Al has opened up this months SUNDAY SCANS!!!

If you have scanned something ... ANYTHING ... come on over and link up!!
We want to see what you've got!
(I think I must be in a mood today, 'cause that just somehow didn't sound right)!

Guest Heart Thursday #82

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

My heart-sister Dani found this PERFECT heart in her tea cup.
Dani is still on sabbatical from her blogs, and sent this to me via e-mail.

I know you see some of these posts, Dani, and I just want you to know I MISS you!

Thank you, Dani, for sharing your heart.

Debbie over at "It's All About Purple" has done it again - I'm talking CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!!
Debbie humbles and inspires me for many reasons - one of which is the way she sees and captures the world with her photos. She doesn't just capture the subjects in her pictures ... she somehow captures their very essence ...

And sometimes she captures their cute little nose-shaped hearts!

Thank you, thank you, THANK you, Debbie, for sharing your world ... and your heart!

Terry over at "Bent Objects" is my hero.
I'm trying to come up with a description of his work ... it is delightful and whimsical and indescribable. You will just have to visit him to see what I mean!!!

Thank you, Terry, for bringing delight to my world, and for sharing your heart!

My sister sent me a link to Karen's blog "Contemplations and Ruminations" - and this post in particular. Karen had found a fascinating restaurant where all of the entrees had celebrity status ... for instance, this wonderfully delicious looking dish was called "Kurt Cowbain".

And was shaped like a heart!

Thank you, Karen, for sharing your laughter - and your heart!

Sandra was a bit worried about this shot ... She thought maybe this fierce looking Florida crocodile would be a bit too scary and gruesome to link up with Guest Heart Thursday ...

"On the contrary," I cried!!! - "It's all about hearts!!!" - cute and cuddly, ugly and gruesome, or just plain yucky ... ALL found hearts are BEAUTIFUL - even this one. In fact, it's PERFECT!!!

With that said, do you see the croc heart Sandra found?
Check out the end of his snout, you'll see. Isn't it perfect?

Be sure to visit Sandra's wonderful blog, "Mad Snapper" - you'll be delighted as you travel back through her archives ... I know I had a wonderful journey!

Thank you, Sandra, 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!

A Fern Heart for Beth

I went for a long walk in the late afternoon sunshine yesterday ... this time I tramped through the woods. The beauty of the day delighted my soul, and hearts were everywhere!

But something was missing.
What could it be?
Then I knew - I was missing my sissie. The last time I went off into the woods was with Beth - we had so much fun! I love seeing the forest through her eyes!

So I dedicate this fern heart to you, sissie!

For those of you who don't know, Beth is a wonderful artist, and you can see her work over at "Beth's Artworx". When you go visit her, be sure to say congratulations - her meme "FATuesday Artist Spotlight" has hit 52 weeks - ONE YEAR!!!

Beth started FATuesday to encourage and inspire the artists she finds and features each week. In her own words - "Each one of us is creative in one way, or another -- FATuesday Artist Spotlight celebrates the creativity found in every person."

So hop on over and tell her happy memoversary - and be sure to link up YOUR art - you'll be encouraged and inspired as well!!!

Clean-up Hearts

After the roof repair, there were lots of scraps of rotten and discarded wood lying around the back yard. I was happy to see these pieces were shaped like hearts!!!