Happy New Year

Dear Friends,

I wish you health, love, peace

and comfort.

May your Joys be doubled,

and may Sorrows pass you by.

I want to thank all of you

for your loving messages

and encouragement.

I am fine, just way behind!

We had a lovely Christmas.

The house was filled with

family and friends and good food.

I'll bet none of you

had the excitement that we had.

I use the word "excitement"

with tongue in cheek.

Of all days,

the septic tank and plumbing

decided to back up and go on holiday.

We do strive for entertainment here.

Fortunately, the Lovely Pump Man

came right out.

Mr. L. is a bent over 80+ gentleman

who made the trek in the dark,

on Christmas Eve to save us all.

Whew.

I have missed being here

and hope to be back in full force soon.

I leave you with some collages

of images from 2012,

and with such gratitude to you all

for your presence in my life.

Love to all, Ellen.

What a painful day.

Where is the 

Peace on Earth

and Mercy Mild

for our children,

for families,

for the innocents

of our country?

When, when

are we going to stop

this absolutely awful and

heartbreaking trend?

When are we going to say

"No" to all of these

destructive weapons?

I do know that millions

of hearts, prayers and thoughts

go out to the victims

and their families.

It is a good thing to do,

but...we need to stand up

and scream and demand

NO MORE.

ABSOLUTELY NO MORE

and crap to the politics of gun control.

NO MORE.

Gone For a Bit

I will be missing for a bit.

I do hope that it is a very short time..

having surgery today

to repair a hernia.

It's always fun here.

Love to all, Ellen.

Honor and Remembrance

National Memorial of the Pacific
Close to my "growing up home"
on the island of Oahu.
It is a beautiful place
which also holds these words
for the thousands who are missing,
lost, or buried at sea.

IN THESE GARDENS ARE RECORDED
THE NAMES OF AMERICANS
WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
AND WHOSE EARTHLY RESTING PLACE
IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD

Feeling

a bit fragile

and vulnerable,

though it has been

a good day.

Quiet,

still and still.

Aren't we blessed

to have such beauty

around us?

Quiet, stillness

and transparency can be good.

Still, still, still..

that's how we find ourselves.

best. e.

It Happens

But it always makes me sad.

Such a short life,

and who is left to wonder

where he/she is?

I have learned that many times
they recover if left alone.
Not this time.
He/she is tucked in the flower bed
away from the cat and dog.
Fly away little soul,
and thank you for the beauty of your song,
the swiftness of your wings
and your feathers that reflected
the wide open sky.
best, e.

Autumnal Glory

..Seen in a few of our greenhouses..

Many pictures, I know.

Wasp taken by my son on his phone.

 Porcelain beauty of the ginkgo..

living fossil

coral or angel wings

Contrast in color that I loved

Beautiful bark..I am ignorant about which maple this is
but I can still rejoice in it's beauty

Again, loved the dappled beauty here

Dried, down to the bone
holds it's own loveliness

More of the same

Dappled, freckled

Old angel's wings

Bark with character
age has it's beauty

Always look down
for there is surprise and delight

Fairy pillow
Green in the land of reds and golds

Magical palette..

best to all, e.