Distant Heart

This morning started out rainy, and progressed from there to "Noah Start The Ark".

I grabbed my umbrella to try to find some inspiration, and came across this heart in the distance. As I walked closer, the heart disappeared.

I guess some hearts are best viewed from afar!

We Carved Our Names ...

Remember the tree
Where we carved our names
Hearts intertwined
Promising
To love each other
Forever?

Well, the tree died.

I'm so sorry ... but whenever I see initials carved into a tree with a heart, I think of this horrible poem from my youth. Why is it I can remember this, but half the time I can't remember my own name until I check my driver's license???

Tiffi's Treasure

"Okay, Tiff, we have 5 minutes to find a heart, can you help me search?" ... my niece and I, bound and determined to find a heart and only a few minutes to spare. She'd gone out of sight for just a moment when -- "Hey Aunt Clytie! I found one!". Sure enough on the bark of the tree around the corner ... a perfectly beautiful and perfectly new heart scratched lightly onto the tree! Good job Tiffi! Because you know what? There are times when you really need to make your own heart!!!

Thank you for that reminder, Tiff. I can't wait to see what you come up with next time!

Cradled in Bark

I wasn't sure this heart would show up in the photos (just barely, but it's there!). The sun was in the wrong spot; traffic was whizzing by the road 2 feet from my behind; my camera was having seizures; the neighbor's dog was running at me. I took 2 pictures, then fled. I am so very glad they turned out - better than I thought they would! I love the way the curling bark cradles the heart, trailing ribbons below.

(Broken) Heart of the Forest

My sister and I found this heart when we went on our tromp in the woods last week. I have very mixed feelings about this. There is the beauty of the heart, but at the cost of the living tree. This whole area (about 14 acres of awesome woods) was clear cut by our local "environmentalist" group (AKA Metro), who purchased the property. They, get this, intend to replant it with neat little rows of "native vegetation". So what was wrong with the native vegetation that was here already? Can we Americans only enjoy our "nature" in neat little rows with identifying signs and cute little footpaths? In our effort to "preserve" our environment, we are ending up destroying the best parts of it.

Where will the deer herd go now? How about the birds? Owls, pileated woodpeckers, red tailed hawk, all manner of songbirds used to call this area home. Whatever happened to "enjoying it without destroying it". I scratch my head ... and then pray for all of God's creatures and creations.