I saw this on Blick Art Supplies page on fb.  It is the artwork of Aimee Myers Dolich of the shop Artsyville on Etsy. 

I need to take this to heart and make the time.  It will be good for me.  ♥

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

~John Muir

I could sure use some good tidings and peace, and to feel some cares drop away.  Now which mountain looks like the best one to start climbing?

Earth Day ~ 2013

You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers.  So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin.  Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother.  Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth.  If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves.

~Native American Wisdom

Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.

~Rachel Carson

The earth is what we all have in common.
~Wendell Berry

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.

DO NOT BE TERRIFIED;

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED,

FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD

WILL BE WITH YOU

WHEREVER YOU GO.

Joshua 1:9

Mom's Journey

Mom ~ February, 2013

Mom was transferred to a Rehab and Nursing Care Center late yesterday.  She had a bad night with little sleep, so she slept a lot today ~ she now has her days and nights mixed up.  I sure hope they can get her on a regular schedule quickly. I called her room tonight and when the nurse put Mom on the phone, Mom told me she was eating her breakfast.  That was the end of the conversation as Mom either dropped the phone or just couldn't hear.
We have a meeting on Thursday to go over Mom's schedule for care.  Eager to see how things go and knowing it is in God's hands, we still pray for a recovery that will allow Mom to return home and be able to be as close to her former self as possible.  Everyone tells us it will be a long process.  We are trying to think positive thoughts and be strong for her.  It is hard.  My sister and I are both feeling tired after long days of seeing a mixture of encouraging moments and then heartbreaking moments.  We are doing the best we can while hoping for the best outcome.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and love.  So many of you have been through a similar situation and have offered support and words to help us understand.  You, too, know exactly how helpless we feel. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Maria !!

Wishing you JOY!!  I hope today is a fun day that will bring you many good memories.  No doubt, the boys will do something that will make you feel special and make you see how happy you make them every day.

Sending Birthday hugs to Ohio!

♥

Personal Meaning of the Word "Stroke"

I wrote this while in the ICU this afternoon.

What a difference a day makes.  One never knows what might occur at any hour of any day.  As I sit here watching my dear mother moaning with every breath she takes, wondering why she has to suffer, I think about Wednesday morning and how normal the day began ~ no hint of what was to come.

Mom has endured much physical suffering throughout her life.  The most recent being the terrible pain she experiences off and on with her spinal stenosis since 2005.  Now, this stroke has taken the Mother I know and before me in this bed is a broken hurt woman.  It hurts so much to see her like this.  The strong TPA clot busting drug they gave her, did repair her mouth droop, she is saying words, and her left side is now responding.  But, she is showing signs of confusion, pain, and she has large bruises on her body from her fall when she had the stroke.

She was a mere five steps from her chair that she was walking to.  She fell in the kitchen on the hard tile, hitting her chin on the edge of the counter and scraping her throat all the way down her neck.  Her glasses put a small gash in her nose. Thank God I was there.  I heard her fall.  When I saw her face, I knew immediately and dialed 911.

She didn't sleep last night.  She needs rest.  She needs to eat but only took a few sips of some juice this afternoon and didn't want more.

They will be moving her from ICU tomorrow to the Stroke Unit where she will receive special care, physical therapy, and speech therapy if needed.  

So now we watch and wait and pray.  Please, dear God, help my Mother return to the woman she was Wednesday morning ~ the woman who has always had the strongest faith in You and who says many prayers every single day.  She's not able to pray right now.  Please hear my prayers and the prayers of all my friends and family on her behalf.  Amen.

Movie Star Mom and Colors of Spring

 Mom absolutely looks like a movie star!!!!  She had cataract surgery in one eye yesterday and has to wear these glasses when she goes outside.  She is NOT happy wearing the big plastic patch to bed at night, but it is necessary and she has 4 more nights of that to go.  Next Monday she will have surgery in the other eye and, uh-oh, eye patch for 5 more nights.  She has been a little miserable since the surgery that was at 6:30 AM yesterday, but tonight she suddenly sat up and said "I can see so much better!"  Thank God for eye surgery and a good surgeon!

 I drove around the neighborhood after taking Mom to post-op Dr. appointment this morning.  It is unbelievable that we had snow last Thursday and today it was 87* and gorgeous out.  Bushes, trees, and flowers are blossoming everywhere!  I thought I would share some of the beauty!!

Spring is here!!!

A Perfect Sunday

Haven't reached this stage yet ~ this photo is from last April.  But, today was the best!!!  Surely Spring has truly decided to arrive and stay.  The temperature was PERFECT!  I was outside in a tank top and flip flops working in my flower garden ~ raked the remaining Fall leaves from their hiding places, transplanted a cactus that was too close to Jake's favorite path (nasty long pricklies), trimmed a few bushes, filled the birdfeeder and put out one of the birdbaths.  The fountain is filled and running and now the warm sun can help the flowers push through the earth and bring smiles to my face.
Spring is a time of renewal, a time to be happy.  Today was a good start. 

Oh, YES !!!!!!

Will Spring Ever Come

This sweet bluebird was perched on top of the lightpost in the front yard yesterday morning.  Little did he know that by early evening everything would have a cold, wet, white covering, once again.  For the past week, he and his mate have been busy flying in and out of the bluebird house ~ doing some cleaning in preparation for this Spring's first brood.  I'm so glad we put the bluebird house up when we moved here.  We have watched many little bluebirds begin their lives.
Now if only we could have some warm weather.  The birds are just as ready as I am.  There were many singing with anticipation early this morning and the woodpeckers were busy pecking at the trees in the woods.  Perhaps the next beautiful warm day we have will be the actual start of Spring.  We can only hope.

A Fun Evening at Barefoot Studios

Jane Barefoot Rochelle recently opened Barefoot Studios and Gallery in downtown Roanoke.  This evening, she had a workshop ~ April Dream Boards.  We set our goals for the month by collaging those goals with pictures and words.  Amelia Glaser, owner of the S & W Market Cafe, provided us with wine and cheese samples (delicious), She described each type of cheese and what country it came from.
Jane is going to have some type of workshop every Wednesday night and has many other things planned.  I know where I will be any Wednesday night I can get away.  It was fun to meet new friends and to be in a creative environment.

This is Jane standing in front of "The Companion", a painting she is currently working on.  

This  is Amelia with one of her delicious plates of cheese samples.

Jane with special friends, Anne and Sher, who came from Raleigh, NC, to visit her and to help with this evening's workshop. They were so nice ~ I hope they return soon for another Wednesday night workshop.

These are just a few photos from the evening.  I didn't get photos of everyone who was there.

One of Jane's spectacular paintings.

Another.

And another.

One more.  Aren't they wonderful?

This is the window outside the building.  It is called 16 West Marketplace.  Inside you will find Jane's Studios, Amelia's Cafe, Cork & Crust Pizza, another gallery, a coffee shop, other businesses soon to open, comfortable couches to relax on while having a latte, reading a book, or working on your laptop.  16 West Marketplace is an exciting new addition to downtown Roanoke.

April

The Tulip Trees are in bloom all over town ~ they are gorgeous!

"A gush of bird-song, a patter of dew, a cloud, and a rainbow's warning,

Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue - An April day in the morning."

~Quote by Harriet Prescott Spofford

~Photo by Audrey

She's An Artist

Spring Arrival

How appropriate that Spring should arrive the day after our King has Risen!!  It is bright and sunny, warm and beautiful outside.  I hope everyone had a lovely Easter day.

~Photo by Audrey