Guest Heart Thursday #72

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

My thoughts and prayers go out today to all who are dealing with the rash of natural disasters that have befallen our world lately.
For those who are recovering ... heart healing is my prayer for you.
For those who are preparing ... heart mercy is my prayer for you.

Once so vibrant and strong, my dad now spends most of his days reading and dreaming of times gone by.
Most of his life was spent living month to month, doing without in order for his family to thrive.
Now, at 85, he has the time and money to indulge a little ...
Onion rings are among his favorite "treats", and I had to giggle when he silently handed me this one, an adorable grin on his face.

I have to say thank you, Daddy, for sharing your life ... and your heart ... for all these years.

Susannah, over at "Wanderin' Weeta (With Waterfowl and Weeds)" has done it again - she found this upside-down rose hip heart - and didn't even know it! And even though I've said it before, I will say it again ...

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

When Texwisgirl e-mailed me this picture, I was stunned - and just HAD to feature it today. She was photographing some painted buntings, when she realized this one has a PERFECT HEART on it's shoulder!!! To see a bunch more gorgeous pictures, visit her wonderful blog "The Runaround Ranch Report"!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Texwisgirl, for sharing your most amazing heart!

Rick took a short hiatus from his blog, "Found Hearts by Rick Ruggles" - but he's back!
I love the random hearts Rick finds, like this pavement heart.

Welcome back, Rick, and thank you for sharing your heart!

My sister Beth sees things differently, and shares her amazing photos on her blog "Expect the Unexpected". That's where she posted this beautiful broken tree branch heart a few months ago.

She is also one of my favorite artists - and always has been. I remember as a child I was in awe of her "doodles" - amazing fairies, elves, hand trees and beautiful ladies in flowing dresses. Beth shares her awesome art on her blog "Beth's Artworx".

Thank you, sissie, for sharing your heart!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who participated in 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 ...), 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!

Cement Gouge Heart

The workers who gutted "The Abandoned" stripped the building of everything except some hanging pipes and metal strips ... as well as a few huge piles of debris.

But look ... they gouged out a heart in the process!!!

Cheese Sandwich Heart

Among the yummies we got from the Gleaners this week were a bunch of "cheese sandwiches". I decided to have one for lunch, and was delighted and surprised when I found this one has a heart in the middle!

(I played around with the photo on Gimp, and I think I like the effect. What do you think?)

Guest Heart Thursday #71

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

I am pleased to introduce to you - Pagan; a delightful Yorkie whose charmed life includes helping out in the garden! When I say "garden", I mean one of the most gorgeous gardens I know of!
Of course I mean "Sunray Gardens" ... a beautiful and magical place of beauty and peace.
When you visit, be sure to say "Hi" to Pagan - whose adorable heart-shaped face stole MY heart!

Thank you, Sunray, for sharing Pagan, and for sharing your heart!

Judy over at "Lilac Gate" posted this picture last winter ... do you see the whimsical heart in this "weed"?

I love visiting Lilac Gate ... Judy's flower macros are absolutely beautiful!

Thank you, Judy, for sharing your heart!

Rachel is one of my heroes. She is an amazing artist, she looks like a model, and she has devoted her time to life on her farm. Rachel documents the ups and downs of her adventures on her blog "Memories of Mine to Thine".

And don't you just love the mossy heart Rachel found on the roof of one of her outbuildings?

Thank you, Rachel, for sharing your heart!

Another blogger who has inspired me greatly is Susannah. You can find her over at "Wanderin' Weeta (With Waterfowl and Weeds)". Be prepared to stay a while, and look over some of her older posts. You will be amazed at the beauty she finds in her world!
Because of Susannah, I can no longer walk by a rock in a stream without wondering what is underneath ...
I see tracks in the mud and wonder what made them ...
I long to go to the beach to look for tiny creatures ...

Thank you, Susannah, for the inspiration you bring to my life, and for sharing your heart!

Another blogger who inspires me is Rachel over at "Yesterday's Trash". I am in awe of her creativity, her imagination, and her talent.

And don't you just love this pendant? I do!
But look closer ... it's made of something you would absolutely NOT expect ...
Vintage heart-shaped cookie cutters!
Seriously!!! Isn't that awesome?

Thank you, Rachel, for YOUR inspiration ... and for sharing your hearts!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who participated in 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 ...), 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!

Guest Heart Thursday #70

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

I first met Pamela when I was new to blogging.
I happened upon her blog, "Dum Spiro Spero" where she was pouring out her heart after the loss of her mother. Her honesty and the depth of her feelings touched MY heart, and I cried along with her. In the years since, I have followed Pamela around the East Coast USA as she went on one delightful adventure after another.

Pamela found this beautiful tree heart recently at a Mennonite school in Blackville, South Carolina. What a wonderful heart tree!!!

Thank you, Pamela, for sharing your heart!

Lani found this beautiful logo and posted it on her blog "Taipei Daily Photo".
It is the logo from last year's "Taipei's International Flora Expo".
Don't you just love the vibrant colors?
How many hidden hearts do you see?
I see a bunch!!!

Thank you, Lani, for sharing your heart!

Boki took a long break from her blog "Ninas y Corazones" - and boy did I miss her!!!

But she's back now, and I am SO looking forward to seeing more of her creative photos and wonderful artwork!!!

Thank you, Boki, for sharing your heart!

Do you have "junk" hanging around that you don't know what to do with?
Then I highly recommend that you visit "Junkin' Jane". She is one of the most creative people I've ever met - and she inspires me every time I visit her blog!

She made these luscious cheesecakes for a wedding ... but the REAL secret is that she repurposed a bunch of old glass to make these beautiful cake stands!

Thank you, "Jane", for your inspiration ... and for sharing your heart!

I am pleased to introduce you to the adorable Merfy. Isn't he cute? According to his mom Karen, "Merfy thinks he is a Dangerous Doberman..." so when you visit Merfy, er, Karen over at "Pixel Posts" ... Shhhhhhhh, don't let it slip that Merfy is really a Morkie (Maltese, Yorkshire terrier cross) weighing in at 8 pounds!

Merfy's adorable heart-shaped little tongue stole MY heart ...

Thank you, Karen, for sharing Merfy! ... and for sharing your heart!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who participated in 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 ...), 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 Flower Heart for Nina P

Sometimes someone posts something that touches my heart and makes me cry.
Today that someone is Nina P.
Her beautiful poetry always reaches out to my soul ...
But her post from several days ago reached in, and caught me deep down ... in that part of me that sometimes hurts to be brought into the light and revealed.
Nina P.'s words flowed through my heart, cutting and healing at the same time.

I challenge each person to read this post and be touched.
It may just change your life ...
It will certainly touch YOUR heart!

This flowery heart is for you, Nina P. Thank you.

Trillium Seed Heart

In the summertime, the woods takes on many colors - nearly all of which are varying shades of green. So when I saw purple, I had to investigate! Upon closer inspection, I found this battered trillium which had gone to seed ...

A critter had apparently decided to make his lunch here, and when he was done, he left a pretty purple heart!

Dead Wood Heart

I found this dead wood heart on the driveway of the once-abandoned church across the street. Since the new owners got in trouble with the City for using heavy equipment in clearing out the woods (which they weren't supposed to do anyway!) ... they had to use hand tools. For a week, the sound of chain saws was overpowering.

Then, wonderful silence.
After that, the REST of the story!
Seems they were already mad about the City's involvement (ahem!) ...
Then, because they had to use hand tools, and didn't really know much about plants at all, the workers all came down with a rousing case of poison oak! Snicker.

So all work is abandoned until at least the end of the year!!!
Official story is they "got another project that had to come first".

Yee haw!!!

Now THAT'S worth a dead wood heart!!!

Guest Heart Thursday #69

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

My friend Louis B. sent me this wonderful geranium photo. Instead of a blog, Louis lives in the "back country of Southern California" - internet free! I picture Louis kicking back on the porch in the early morning air, cup of coffee in hand, finding the beauty of nature ... finding hearts! Do you see the little hearts in this picture?
Ahhhh, what a life!

Thank you, Louis, for sharing your heart!

Another found heart this week comes to us from Australia ...
She is known on her blog "Pieces of Contentment" as "Pieces of Sunshine" ... to me she personifies both wonderful contentment and beautiful sunshine.

I discovered her blog through a post on Tina's "Weekend Flowers", and have been enchanted by her amazing photos (like this stunning heart-in-a-flower!) ever since. If you want to feel true contentment ... and bask in the beauty of sunshine ... visit here!

Thank you, Pieces of Sunshine, for sharing your heart!

Another flower heart ... this time found by Kristi over at "Kristi Bowman Design". Kristi is an amazing artist, who creates beautiful jewelry. This rose heart completely stole MY heart; and I wasn't the only one! Kristi's submission to last week's "Weekend Flowers" was voted as favorite for the week! Congratulations Kristi, although I have to say I'm NOT surprised!

Thank you, Kristi, for sharing your heart!

One of my favorite people to visit is Sunny over at "Barnyards & Barnacles". Sunny is a gifted photographer ... her farm animal shots are amazing (like this sheep-with-hearts shot) ... as are the rest of the photos she posts. Sunny also has an incredible sense of humor, which I adore!

Thank you, Sunny, for sharing your heart!

Costas' photos long ago captured my heart.
I have many times encouraged those who visit his blog to be sure to enlarge his photos to see the transformation from ordinary picture to magic!

Costas' series "Secrets of the Rock" is outstanding - one of the "secrets" involves these beautiful little flowers ... picked one day a year ... and made into beautiful designs - including hearts! To learn more "secrets of the rock", visit Costas over at "Nature Digital!"

And thank you, Costas, for sharing your world ... and your heart!

One world. One people. One heart.

As always - a huge thank you to all who participated in 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 ...), 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!

Guest Heart Thursday #68

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

Tina didn't know it, but she found a heart!
Do you see it?
It's a red leaf heart, tucked into the left corner of this striking photo (and that's not the only heart I see in this shot - do you see more too?)!
Tina is from Germany, and has stolen my heart with her beautiful photography.

You can find Tina at "Leckeres für Mensch und Katze - Goodies for a pleasant life". Be sure to check tomorrow, and join in on her new meme "Weekend Flowers on Friday"!

Thank you, Tina, for sharing your flowers - and your heart!

I have loved Squirrel Queen's blogs for a long time now.
Especially her flower photos - like this beautiful dahlia - that shows it's heart!

Squirrel Queen has two blogs to check out - "The Road to Here", and "Through Cat (?) Eyes".

Thank you, Squirrel Queen, for sharing this GORGEOUSLY STUNNING heart!

I found these delicate hearts on Elke's blog "Elke's-Scrap-Place" when she linked up with "Weekend Flowers on Friday" (see Tina's heart, above!). I don't speak (or read) German, but it turns out that's okay - her photos speak beautifully all on their own!

Thank you, Elke, for sharing your heart!

I have been following "A Home Far Away" for a long time now - this is a wonderful blog written by "a Swede living and enjoying life in tropical Singapore. Mummy-life, glamour-life, baking-life, photography-life and decorating- life is what my blog is all about. And some shopping..."

I don't know her first name, but I value her work so much - like this photo she posted as a memorial to those who lost their lives in Norway this past week.

Thank you for sharing your beautiful photography - and your heart!

When you last saw this heart on Pam's "Simply Coastal" blog, it was nestled on a beautiful beach on a bed of seaweed, remnants of shells nearby -- the ocean in the background.
Now this special Florida heart has a new home -- in Oregon!!!

Pam - I can't say "thank you" enough. When I opened the package I could hardly see the treasures inside because of the tears. You brought such joy to my heart today - I can't wait to find some Oregon treasures to send to YOU!!!

Thank you, Pam, for REALLY 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 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 ...), 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!

Tagger Left Spattered Heart

The taggers across the street bring their own paint ... usually the spray kind.
One of them, however, brought a small can of regular house paint ... only to find it was messy to apply since they apparently forgot to bring a paint brush (they used a stick).

But their lack of foresight resulted in this paint splattered heart - so I won't laugh. Much.

Cut Grass Heart

I find myself seeing hearts in the most unexpected places ...
Like the grassy berm across the street, shortly after the workers mowed.
Did a critter make this shadowy heart?
Did one of the workers kick this heart into being by accident?
Who knows?

Guest Heart Thursday #67

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

I had tears in my eyes when I found what Pam posted over at "Simply Coastal" yesterday. A beautiful sea heart, nested in a bed of seaweed ... surrounded by pristine and beautiful sand ... a rare and special heart-gift from a Florida beach.

My favorite place in the world is the ocean (ANY ocean!).
I would live there if I could, but right now I can't.
Pam's posts fill a void in my soul, and I appreciate her SO very much!!!

Thank you, Pam, for sharing your ocean when I am missing mine, and for sharing your heart!

I meant to post Lois' beautiful tree and sun heart a long time ago (shortly after she posted it on "Tallahassee Daily Photo") ... but it was lost in my computer. Well, the lost has been found (lurking in an obscure file in my external hard drive)!!!

Lois is one of my original blogging friends, and I hope she knows how much I appreciate her!

Thank you, Lois, for your friendship ... and for sharing your heart!

Lynnette wanders the city of Portland, Oregon, and takes wonderful pictures of the citizens and landscape of this beautiful city for "Portland, Oregon Daily Photo".

She took this candid shot of a little girl playing in a fountain on a (rare) hot day in the city.

If you look closely, you will see that the little girl seems to be reaching for a watery heart!!!

Thank you, Lynnette, for sharing your city ... and your heart!

Robert of "Daily Athens" found this heart someone drew on a wall.
I truly appreciate Robert and his views of his country.
He is away from blogging for a while, due to "unforeseen circumstances", and I am looking forward to his return!

Thank you, Robert, for sharing your heart!

One of my favorite hearts that my sister Beth has found is this wonderful heart-shaped bit of red candy (I really like the dish she photographed it against too!).

I am constantly in awe of the beauty Beth FINDS in the world ... whether it's a random "Geometric" shape in nature, a hauntingly beautiful glimpse of "The Abandoned", a wonderful photo for "Expect the Unexpected", or a quaint card for "The Best Hearts Are Crunchy".

I am equally in awe of the beauty Beth BRINGS TO the world in her amazing artwork (check out "Beth's Artworx" - you'll see what I mean!!!)

Thank you, sissie, for being my inspiration - 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 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 ...), 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, Stolen From A Tree

There is a story behind these hearts ...
A sad story of the destruction of a small strip of forest left alone for 100 years ... until this week. You can read about it in my "Random Nature" post "The Brown Side of Green".

My heart was as broken as these hearts stolen from a once-beautiful tree, and I knew I had to do something ... you can read about what I did in my "Random Nature" post titled "When it Pays to Do Your Homework".

I will miss the shrubs, trees, flowers and plants that were already taken.
But I am proud to have played a roll in saving the rest!

Because, although beautiful, THESE are the kinds of hearts I NEVER WANT TO SEE AGAIN!