Peculiarities

Beautiful day here in the UT.  I went on my second (yes, sadly only the second) bike ride of 2011.  As I rested on a bench and drank from my water bottle, I noticed there was an older couple taking pictures in the park.  I don't think they were tourists.  Maybe they are taking a  photography class.  Anyway, they were fun to watch.  Among other things, they took pictures of this fountain, so I thought I'd take one too.  As I got closer to the fountain, the graffiti in the picture on the right caught my attention. The singular "shoeprint" was painted on the horizontal surface of the concrete circular ledge that surrounds the fountain.  Stenciled graffiti?  Weirdly efficient.

The couple walked right past this tree without taking a picture.  After they left, I got closer to the tree.  I love naturally warped wood.  I've learned that if I just stop, sit, and watch for a while, I almost always find interesting things to photograph.  Both pictures are the same deformity from a different distance and angle.


The picture to the left is just another view of the same tree.  I see bulging eyes. The tree on the right is directly across from the eyes tree and looks like it has a nice little nose.  I wonder what caused such strange nodules in these facing trees.

Not Dead Heads

I bought a bouquet on Monday morning.  When I arrived home, I noticed one of the little lavender-colored flowers was nearly beheaded-- just barely hanging on.  I remembered seeing some beautiful, yellow, stemless flowers arranged in a bowl.  So instead of snipping off the head and throwing it away, I plucked a few more.  The flower needed company.

 I like the disorganization of color and texture in the bouquet I bought.  I put the sticks of wild, growing curly willow from a previous arrangement in the vase.

I love the sunlit dimples of water between flower petals.  

Beauty often survives tragedy and sometimes thrives.  

Guardians of Virtue

Baby Bouquet

I went to my sister-in-law's baby shower today.  I'd never seen a bouquet like this.  The vase is a rolled blanket.  Some of the flowers were rolled up onesies, pajamas, and washcloths.

I've seen diaper cakes.  This is a cute one.  The maker included washcloths and hair bows throughout.

My Little Leprechaun

Irish food and green food have been on the menu all day.  A happy day to you!

On Again

I believe in the power of fasting and prayer.
Miraculously, the sellers changed their minds.
It looks like we will be able to buy their home after all.

Faith is being willing to take steps into the dark, hoping, but not knowing if there will ever be light.

Seeking Peace

Mormon 2:23

"And it came to pass that I did speak unto my people, and did urge them with great energy, that they would stand boldly before the Lamanites and fight for their wives, and their children, and their houses, and their homes."

Who is manipulating who?

Agents, Sellers?

"He is bluffing," they say.

We are trusting people,

With emotions victim.

It’s all about money

And fear.

Dear Sellers,

We understand you are scared.

We are people like you.

Take responsibility.

No one forced you to sign.

Like us, try to not let fear

Control decisions and actions.

Compassion Requested

Forty years, an old couple lived and cared
For a home where they raised four children.
They planned to sell.
Accepted our offer.
We hoped their history would become our future.
At inspection, they smiled at us.
A week later, leaving became reality.
He claimed heart problems.
We gave reassurance, time, financial forgiveness.
Real reasons surfaced:
They are terrified,
Want us to give up.
We're resisting.
Our offer won't die.
I envision their tears and wrinkled clinging arms.
I've wanted to be the answer to prayers, not the face of nightmares.

Kindness

My youngest daughter sprained her ankle on Monday while she was jumping rope at school.  She stayed home all day yesterday.  Today, she's feeling better, but she's using crutches.  Because of some extra homework, she stayed home from a church youth activity last night.  One of their leaders is a florist, so the girls learned about flower arranging.  After the activity, while my daughter was still working hard on her homework, the girls came over and presented her with this flower arrangement.  I was impressed by their thoughtfulness and kindness.