Monday Mantra

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you will have ceased to live.

Mark Twain

Yard Art

I love spring!

Clematis

Cornflower sharing with a moth

Kangaroo Paw

I saw these growing in Arizona and was just amazed. I couldn't believe my luck in finding one here.

And the beautiful Darla. Auntie Pix thank you so much for the Ipiccy discovery. I have had more fun with it.

Hmmmmm, I guess you want a Monday Mantra?

"Beauty is not caused. It is."
Emily Dickinson

Monday Mantra

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it
goes on

Robert Frost

Cupcakes!

My friend Juliet at craftygreenpoet.blogspot.com sent me these darling little bird feeder cupcakes a few months ago. They come with seeds and you are supposed to add leftover cooking grease to the mix. I decided to go for peanut butter and add a touch of oats.

I am saving the other for winter. I normally don't feed the birds in summer (except for the hummingbirds) but I just couldn't resist trying one out. They are supposed to hang from a string but since they have little suction cups on the feet I decided to leave it in my arbor. Aren't they cute?

Stop by and visit her blog. She is a poet/writer, a teacher and an environmentalist. Her photos of Scotland just give me a thrill.

Thanks Juliet!

Anyone want to take bets on how fast the squirrels will destroy these?

Look A Turtle!

I cant bear to look

I beg your pardon

A Time To Be Glad

Howard Wobbles Naughtytrousers

After the worry and sorrow of the last 2 days and all the storms we need to have some fun. My heart goes out to all those affected by the twisters. I walked the yard this morning looking for baby birds and I didnt find anything in trouble. Lets hope I didnt miss them.

Pix I think you will like this one. I like to watch Inside The Actors Studio on Bravo. I could care less for most of the show but the questions at the end are a hoot. I love to hear what the guests answers will be.

1.What is your favorite word?
Grace

2. What is your least favorite word?
phlegm

3. What turns you on? (this does not have to mean what you think, it could be anything)
kindness

4. What turns you off?
people who are self absorbed

5. What sound do you love?
bells

6. What sound do you hate?
nose blowing

7. What is your favorite curse word?
shit...that is what I say the most but I will refrain from writing my favorite

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
Coast Guard rescue

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Coroner

10. If heaven exists what do you want to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
"See stupid, I told you I was real"

Have fun! Be safe and answer in the comments if you are inclined.

The Ones We Love

are never far from our minds

Dandi inspecting the laundry.

Briseis with her Papi

This picture always makes me smile. I wanted to do a post about it for a while but couldnt quite get the right words to form. When you write about other's loss and hurt you must tread carefully.

Brisi went across the bridge last year along with her sister Dandi. Brisi was a daddy's girl all the way. Dandi was a little tiger. The first time I met her she slapped the treats out of my hand and growled to show her disapproval.

Andrea and Chris (papi) are a bunny couple. They are also an Army family. Chris is currently serving in Afghanistan and Andrea is serving at home working in the library at Fort Knox. When one of their treasured family of bunnies passes into the Summerlands they are cremated and kept in special boxes so when Andrea and Chris get orders, their departed family goes with them. This is what Andrea wrote to me the other day:

"I received a package from Chris today. In it, two beautiful, handcrafted
wooden boxes with the picture of a bunny on the lids, the inside laid
out with velvet. Above the bunny, one box says "Dandi", the other
"Mamasan" (his name for Briseis). A short note attached said "I had
these handmade here; they're nicer than the old ones ... and more
comfy."

"We didn't want to bury them at a place that we'll never
come back to again. This way, they're with us not only spiritually, but
physically, wherever we move."

In a cold and lonely place far away someone is thinking of their bunnies. I have been thinking of a lot of bunnies lately (and other furry/hairy friends) So many have left for the Summerlands.

Briseis

Dandi

Sogna

Lucky

Snickerdoodle

Savannah

Satchel

Kris

Bella

Louie

Arabella

If I failed to mention someone please accept my apologies and mention them in the comments. This post is not about sorrow but remembrance and all the wonderful ways these creatures change our lives.

Life well spent is long

Leonardo da Vinci