Hippy-tie yea...

Guess what we did the other day? I love the patterns and colors. I love that I got to have three kids running around my backyard while I tried to coax them over to dye their own shirts. I love that my son was the least interested. Well, should I have expected anything else? I took photos of some of the finished ‘art work’. I should have photographed my feet. They were tie-died too! June 29th

Stirring up dreams...

I love to create. You name it; I probably love to create it. One of my favorite artistic outlets, running a close second to photography (which says a lot), is cooking. Cooking, baking, mixing, blending, creating yummy things that look lovely and taste heavenly, I love that stuff! Went to the mall to get some summer clothes and found myself wandering the aisles at the bake wear store. Mmmmm… June 28th

Bouncing off...

Remember pressing your nose against the nickel candy machines when you were young? Yes, they were ‘nickel’ machines when I was young. Jump off that train of thought right now! Where was I? Oh yes, remember putting in your coin in the slot and turning the handle, sure you were going to get the most perfect ring with pink stones and diamonds! Remember opening the plastic bubble and getting the skull and cross bones ring with the plastic opening in the back that pinched your finger and turned it blue? I do, which is why I did not give my son 50 cents to try for his team’s rubber ball. Ah, memories… June 27th

Swampy marsh...

After our bird rescue and subsequent drive into the swamplands of New Jersey (it is really beautiful) we decided to take a walk through the wilds of the Great Swamp National Park. OK, so my son and I decided to walk. My husband decided to sit it out in the car because we had forgotten bug spray and it was REALLY hot and muggy: hard to argue with that logic, really.

They have wooden, some faux wooden, walking paths and bird blinds for watchers and want to be watchers. Sometimes you see snakes and other fauna. Lots of flora, too, which you know I like. Two miles and some pesky bug bites later we came back to my comfortable, cool, and unscathed husband with stories of ants building condos in semi-dead trees and a small water snake that was cleverly hidden in the water plants. Actually, if we saw him, maybe he wasn’t so clever. June 26th

'Swamp Creature to Car Daddy, come in Car Daddy.'

Blackbird fly...

There are two posts for today. This one starts with a broken blackbird and ends at the place where they could fix him. The poor, startled bird found himself on his back in our driveway this morning. Well, that is where we found him.

Flashback: A few years ago, a morning dove had fallen from his nest onto our driveway and was seriously injured. After many phone calls, we found a vet who would help us. She told us that she transfers all her non-pet avian charges to the Raptor Trust. We drove to central New Jersey to see the place and were so impressed that we have gone back many times since. They are a nonprofit organization that cares for wounded birds of prey. Some of their charges that could not be returned to the wild are permanent residents, lovingly cared for and lovely to learn about. They can explain it so much better. Check them out here: http://theraptortrust.org/

Flashback back?: We gently transferred our blackbird to a roomy shoebox with holes punched in the top (In our haste, we used the one for the sandals I needed to return, rats!) and headed straight to the Raptor Trust. Our bird made it there fine and a sweet volunteer started caring for him as soon as we walked in the door. There are veterinarians that donate their time and many others volunteer to care for the birds and the upkeep of the grounds and buildings. Everyone there was so kind. My son bonded with the woman running the gift shop that day. We don’t know if our bird will make it but he is in the best place to try.

In the 30 minutes we were there, a family brought in another blackbird with a broken wing and a couple arrived after saving a red tailed hawk from a local highway. He had a broken wing too! Spring is a busy season at the Raptor Trust but they are up for the challenge. If you care to help them, there is a donation page on their site. If you live close enough, go visit. It is unique place with unique people doing wonderful things. June 26th

Viva la lilies...

There is not much I need to say about this one. My overgrown, woefully untended garden just keeps surprising me this year. These perfect lilies keeping poking their heads out to see if it is safe beyond the weeds. I promise, before the 4th of July I will give my few remaining flowers their independence from the interlopers. (Man, I hate weeding!) June 25th

Gumballs?...

I tagged along as my son helped celebrate the birthday of a really good friend. Five 9 year olds and large, round, manually operated projectiles, it was great fun. Well, for the ones who were winning it was fun. The ones who were losing were not so thrilled. Of course the drama shifted from player to player with each frame. There was a time or two that those of us seated in the peanut gallery felt the need to duck incase balls went flying in the wrong direction. Not because they were thrown that way but because the zeal that they were being tossed down the alley was causing a few strays to look like they were going to leave the hand on the up swing instead of the down. DUCK!

I couldn’t decide, do the balls look like large jawbreakers or very small, strange planets? Strange planets with large, deep craters located in very uniform patterns. Whichever, I liked how they looked in the viewfinder. June 23rd

Faux flowers...

A trip to the local Michael’s for craft supplies is like going to a theme park! I was looking for cone shaped cookie forms (don’t ask) and found so many other things I wanted too. All for projects I will start and probably add to the pile of ones I never have time to finish. Yes, I know, if I stopped starting new ones I could probably finish off… Hey!

I am never one to turn down a photo of flowers, even silk ones. Butterflies in any form are worth capturing with my camera too. The colors are so vibrant. Perfect for the start of summer. June 22

Other people's gardens, part 3, the organic addition...

The longest day of the year, the summer solstice, and we were invited for a play date at a friend’s house. Yes, we. While my son was playing with his friends I got to have tea with mine. It was lovely. The view was lovely too. You know how much I love gardens but as the old adage says, ‘Those who can, grow. Those who can’t, take photos.’ I’m sure it is something like that. I admit I can’t but I am so appreciative of those who can.

My friend, who designed this amazing garden, doesn’t have a green thumb she has a green hand. I think she might be green all the way up to the elbow. There is so much growing everywhere and it is all so healthy and happy. She even has a vegetable garden that generously lent its leaves to my dinner salad. It was so good. These photos are just a small part of what she has growing there, yes, all the pictures have things that she is helping to grow. I think the one with the gorgeous black hair may be one of her finest achievements. She has two of those specialty plants but the other had his roots wrapped around the wii. Trust me, she grows beautiful things. June 21st

Grande, hold the java...

The best part about meeting my clients at Starbuck’s is their tea. Yes, tea. I am not a coffee girl. The worst part is having to walk past their pastry counter to order my unsweetened tea. All the goodies looked so yummy. I knew I had to have some of them. I let my camera feast, right through the glass. I figured it would be better to expand the blog than expand my hips. June 20th

Heavenly view...

I was just about to scold my son for staring at the ceiling when he should have been focusing his attention on what was in front of him when I glanced up. I realized then why he was so fascinated. The lights shining through the green drapes against a spider web of beams, it really was something to behold. I tried to capture the feeling but don’t think I even came close to doing it justice.

Years ago, when I was missing my mom so bad, my son asked why I was crying. I told him that I wanted to hear my mom’s voice again but I knew I couldn’t. He hugged me tight and told me it would be OK. He was right. I told him my secret then: when I am sitting in the pew, missing her, I look to the rafters and try to figure out what one she is resting on watching as we pray. Ever since, he looks to the rafters and points her out to me. Today she was reclining on the greenery. June 19th