Guest Heart Thursday #77

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

Once again, I have to break from tradition ... usually I spotlight YOUR found hearts here ... but it's been quite a week, and I find that between the near heart-attack/Emergency Room stuff, follow-up appointments, and following doctors orders ... I am out of time!

In looking back, I realize just how much my "heart" illness had affected my HEART! I hadn't picked up my camera in nearly a month ... and even though I had been "seeing" hearts everywhere I went, I didn't have the 'heart' to care.

I am feeling more and more like my old self now -- not just physically but emotionally as well - my camera has seen more use in the past 3 days than it has in the past 3 months!!!

So ... it is with renewed excitement, vigor and HEART that I welcome you to a brand new Random Hearts - and Guest Heart Thursday!!!

I thank you ALL - yet again - for your healing thoughts and prayers - this week especially. Your comments and messages are so much appreciated - YOU are a HUGE part of my healing process, and I hope together WE are part of healing the world!!!

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 ...), 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!

Thank you everyone for your patience while Linky Tools was down. It is up now, and I will be adding the links for those who left comment links.

A Heart(y) Scare !!!

My heart full of thanks goes out to everyone who has had me in their thoughts and prayers this past few days and weeks.

As you know, for the past couple of weeks I have not been feeling well ... I had a horrible burning pain between my shoulder blades and into my chest, and was diagnosed with acid reflux. It was a pain that was deep and burning, and came on mostly while I was walking or exercising. I changed my diet, and seemed to be getting better ...

This past Saturday, about an hour after I woke up, I had another "episode" of extreme debilitating pain - and it would not let up. The pain spread to my left arm and underneath my jaw. I knew it was time to go to the Emergency Room.

To make a long story short, I did NOT have acid reflux --
I had a significant blockage in two of the vessels of my heart.
Yesterday I had an angiogram, and a stent was inserted into the blocked area - a very successful procedure!!!

I am back home now, a little ragged around the edges, with a bunch of new medications to take.

It has been a very humbling and learning experience.
There were scary moments and times that made me laugh til I nearly split my stitches.

I urge each person who reads this to take a second look at your HEART life ... your health decisions ... those little things that may or may not "mean something" to your health ... don't overlook anything! Because if something seems wrong ... it's worth checking out. Please.

Because I love all of YOU - my heart seeking friends and family!
And I want you all to be HEART HEALTHY!

Again ... thank you all for your healing thoughts and prayers. You mean so much to me!!!

Guest Heart Thursday #76

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

When I saw this post that Namaki submitted to "Weekend Reflections", I was stunned beyond words - isn't this the most amazing reflection heart???

Namaki is from France, and I have had such a wonderful journey going through her blog "Objectif Regarder" - and you will too! Namaki's macro photos are amazing!!!

Thank you, Namaki, for sharing your heart!

Owen is from France as well ... and his blog "Magic Lantern Show ... or Mr. Toad's Travel Diary" is one of my favorite places to visit.

Owen loves rusty things, broken down old buildings, old cemeteries, and life in general. You will absolutely LOVE him when you get to know him!

Thank you, Owen, for sharing your heart!

When I think of Tina, I think PHOTO CHALLENGE!
Tina's blog "Leckeres fur Mensch und Katze
Goodies for a pleasant life" is full of them - and is another of my favorite places to visit!

Thank you, Tina, for sharing your beautiful photos ... and for sharing your heart!

I just couldn't resist featuring this wonderful "bake sale hearts" photo that my sister Leigh sent me in an e-mail. I laughed until I had tears in my eyes!

I know Leigh didn't take this photo, and I'm not sure who to give copyright credit to ... but whoever came up with this gem ... thank you!

And thank you, Honey, for sharing YOUR heart!

I found this beautiful heart rock in Dennis and Sharon's front yard - the focal point for one of their AMAZING garden spots. I love visiting their farm - what a peaceful place!

Thank you, Dennis and Sharon, for sharing your heart!

A NOTE for all of my wonderful heart friends ...
I thank you for all of the kind words, prayers and thoughts that have come my way this past several weeks. On a good note - My computer is healed!
My health issue, however, isn't so easily fixed. Knowing what is wrong, and knowing how to fix it are two very opposite concepts. I have good days and bad days. Learning what I can and can't eat is truly a LEARNING experience. I did fine yesterday until I ate a bit of onion with dinner, and had one of the worst "episodes" ever. But now I know I can't eat onions!

I haven't been able to visit you, my friends, as much as I want to ... and I truly miss you. I am working on being able to spend more time up and about, and I hope to catch up soon!

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 #75

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

Here is where I usually share with you hearts found 'round the world ...
Today, I must break tradition for several reasons.

First, my computer is ill. When I turn it on, I have between 5 and 20 minutes before my screen freezes, and I have to hard reboot ... my 'system administrator' has diagnosed an interface issue between two programs I use, with the end result being I must do a 'wipe and restore' before I can use it for more than a few minutes! It has crashed twice since I started working on this post! Arrrrgh!!! Treatment time frame is TODAY - with my computer going back to full health sometime this evening or tomorrow morning!!!

It breaks my heart that I was unable to visit everyone who linked last week, but PLEASE rest assured I WILL catch up, and am looking forward to visiting each and every heart I missed!

The second reason for breaking tradition is that I haven't been feeling well lately. I have had a painful burning sensation between my shoulder blades, radiating into my chest. After a particularly painful episode, my blood pressure went through the roof (for those of you who don't know, I survived a stroke nearly 2 years ago, which I documented here) - and I knew I was in trouble.

I went to Providence Sherwood's Urgent Care clinic, where I underwent multiple tests.
As I sat waiting for the results, I went over in my mind the 'possibilities'. Stroke. Heart attack. Lung cancer. Bone cancer. GERD - all of these have similar symptoms.

To make a long story short, each test result came back 'negative'. It turns out I had hurt my back while scraping some moss off the roof. This injury for some reason caused extreme acid reflux whenever I started moving around a lot, and the resulting pain (and stress) spiked my blood pressure.

By the time I left the doctor's office, I was feeling much better, and my blood pressure was back to near normal. I am taking one more pill per day, and making further lifestyle adjustments, until things get back to normal. Sigh.

Guest Heart Thursday should be back in full swing next week - I have a whole file of WONDERFUL hearts YOU have found that I can't wait to feature !!! In the meantime, PLEASE link your hearts this week! I will be around sometime tomorrow to check them out!!!

I THANK YOU for sharing YOUR HEARTS!!!
I will be visiting all of them. SOON.

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 #74

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

With just a few strokes of color on paper, Boki stole my heart with this beautiful drawing she has called "Love Confusion". This is not the first time Boki's drawings and photography have touched me - to see more, visit her over at "ninas y corazones" - you will be delighted!

Thank you, Boki, for touching my heart ... and for sharing yours!

I had to giggle when Cheryl posted this "rose heart in training" on her blog "March to March". It is a photo well named!

Cheryl has been a wonderful friend and inspiration to me. She has been here since I started blogging, and has helped me through good times and bad. I can't say how much I appreciate her!!!

Thank you, Cheryl, for being there, for inspiring me ... and for sharing your heart!

One of my favorite things to do is to find hearts in the posts of my friends ... hearts they don't see! When JM over at "Oeiras Daily Photo" posted this photo "Vertigo", I couldn't help but look for the hearts I knew I would find in this amazing shot ... Do you see any hearts here?
(hint: look just above the word "and" in the copyright watermark!)

If you haven't discovered JM's blog, you are missing out on some of the best photography I've seen in a long time. Every time JM posts, I am stunned at the beauty he finds ... and his unique point of view in which he shares it!!!

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

When I got the e-mail from my friend Louis, I knew I would find a special heart attached. When I saw this astounding shot, I knew Louis had found a heart in a million!

So ... my imagination has added something new to Louis' paradise in "backwoods Southern California" ... I will now add the sound of a low note wind chime to the picture in my head of Louis kicking back on the deck, surrounded by the beauty of nature ... listening to the low beauty of the chimes ... Sigh ...

Thank you, Louis, for this beautiful vision ... and for sharing your heart!

Laura has posted this beautiful tree heart before ... and I have loved it each time I see it.
I hope someday you will meet Laura. She in every way inspires me, shames me, makes me look beyond myself, bring me to tears ... I am in awe of someone who can take their own pain ... face their own demons ... and still shine with faith and grace. That is Laura.

"Shine the Divine: Creativity IS a Spiritual Practice"

"It makes me wonder how much my slender body can hold, how big will my heart grow through the years, am I up to the tasks that life has in store for me, and will I be able to withstand the storms of living with a fraction of the grace this tree embodies? It is an awe inspiring mystery, discovering a tree that grew perfectly into a heart."

Thank you, Laura, for sharing your heart. Your whole 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 #73

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

I love Jill's work. She is a phenomenal photographer, with the best job in the world!
When you want to see nature at it's best, just visit her at "Count Your Chicken! We're Taking Over!". Gorgeousness overload!!!

Do you see the heart in the clouds? Be sure to enlarge the photo - and look for the 'heart where the cloud isn't'!

Thank you, Jill, for sharing your world - and your heart!

Louis did it again - here's another backwoods Southern California heart!
Louis doesn't have internet at home, and sends me the occasional found heart via e-mail.

Sometimes I wonder if Louis doesn't have the right idea!!!

Thank you, my friend, for sharing your heart!

When Gypsy Lala posted this heart, I smiled - I LOVE creativity like this!
What a wonderful heart! Be sure to visit "Just Capture ... When It Happens" - for a fun place to warm your heart.

Thank you, Gypsy Lala, for sharing your heart!

Dani went on vacation for a couple of weeks, and I do believe this photo is from that vacation. I immediately fell in love with the glowing cloud heart. It takes my breath away!

Dani is my heart-sister, and shares the hearts that find her on her blog "A Lovely Home For Hearts". She shares bits and pieces of her life on her blog "Snow Flowers".

Dani is soon to be traveling back to school in China (she has been home in Macedonia for the summer break).
My heart will be going with you, my friend-sister!

Thank you, Dani, for sharing your heart.

Several people (thank you, thank you!) sent me a link to Charlene's blog "My Nature Photography", where she had posted a series of shots from Storforsen Camping, Alvysbyn, Sweden - including this perfect heart-shaped pothole. When I went to visit her, I was caught by her description of her world ... "To be with nature is like being in the arms of the Creator who, in His loving-care, put all these lovely things around us to
lift our spirits."

Thank you, Charlene, for lifting our spirits ... 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!

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!!!