Thursday, May 15, 2014

You Hoo.....

You hoo....where in the world have I been?  I even let my 3rd year blogging anniversary slip by without notice.   The last time I posted was right before leaving for a women's retreat with the theme being "Finding My Inner Joy".  We were blessed with wonderful weather and I was able to be outside for an afternoon wandering around the beautiful grounds which indeed brought be great joy.  The weekend was filled with lots of joy-filled singing (in fact the Monday after I was still humming and singing those songs as I returned to my everyday routine), delicious meals, times of laughter and times for reflection.


We each had our own rooms, but I gotta admit that the walls were little more than paper thin, you could hear your neighbor drop a pin which indeed worried me.  Why would this worry me...??? because I am a terrible snorer and I didn't want to keep anybody awake with all my night noises. No one complained, but I'm thinkin' they were just being nice.



Began the massive clean-up in my garden last week, worked for 3 days and have barely made a dent (but I do think age may be a contributing factor too)....and then the rains came.  It has rained every day for the past week creating a soggy mess in the yard and garden.  The weeds have loved it.  The bushes, trees, and plants have loved it.  The grass has loved it.  But needless to say, it has created a feeling of anxiousness in me, each day is a postponement to the garden I love to see, neat, weed-free, turned soil, edged, and filled with happy plants and flowers.  Ain't happened yet.  And we keep breaking those weather records, wettest May, coolest May....blah blah blah.



The kids (dogs) went to the beauty shop (groomers) today. They both came back cleaner and a definite loss of hair and shortened nails with Toby now sportin' his summer look and Cinder looking a little chubbier around the middle.  Hmm, guess I have to cut out some of her treats.

Went to see my sweetie today.  I can't tell you how difficult it is seeing him, and unfortunately I can think of a million reasons not to go.  He is still healthy (generally speaking), still eating well, but the sparkle in his eyes is dimming and I really don't think he has any idea who I am.  As much as I don't like going to the nursing home and seeing my sweetie the way he is now, it still makes my soul a little quieter after seeing him.

Off to book club where we will be discussing Scott Turow's IDENTICAL.  A story of identical twins, one running for mayor of a large city, the other just being released from prison for killing his girlfriend, 19 years ago.  Very interesting info about gathering DNA and fingerprints from identical twins.  I liked it, thought it moved at a great pace, interesting characters and I didn't guess the ending which is always a plus in a "murder mystery".  I just finished, "YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN", really fascinating book about a marriage counselor/psychologist who has just written a book revealing what you should have known prior to marrying the man of your dreams, and if the marriage isn't working, then you should have known these insights before even considering marriage.  But guess what??? her own marriage begins to fall apart (along with a murder) as those things she should have known begin revealing themselves.  So instead of working in the garden on these rainy days, I have continued my pursuit of reading more with great success.  Probably another reason why you haven't seen me for awhile.

"There is nothing which persevering effort and unceasing and diligent care cannot accomplish."  ~ Seneca

Until next time......










22 comments:

  1. your photos are really gorgeous, deanna. as for rainy, cooler days, well, as you said, the plants are drinking it in. i'm glad you enjoyed your retreat.

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  2. Good to hear from you, Deanna! Always wonderful to see your beautiful photos and to hear how you're doing. I'm glad you enjoyed your retreat. It sounds wonderful. And I've read about Identical and thought it sounded good. Will have to add that to my list. I'm reading a book by Parker J. Palmer that I am loving. We've had LOTS of rain, here, too, and everything is green and mushy. :-)

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  3. You've been missed Deanna. You've got some beautiful flowers. I feel the same way about calling my dad as you are about seeing your sweetie. I'm grateful he he still remembers my name. Xo

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  4. Glad you're back, Deanna. You're getting rain, and I'm getting snow. At least the flowers will be there waiting when the rain stops. I've been doing a lot of reading, too. Hope your weekend is sunny and dry - your flower photos make me nostalgic for warmth and growth. Take Care.

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  5. Hi Deanna Glad to see you are back again, you were missed. it must be very hard going to see your sweetie but I think you are doing the right thing going. Sorry to hear about all the rain however you seem to be catching up on reading. Now these photographs are all amazing. You macro work is fanatastic.

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  6. I've missed your wonderful posts and beautiful images, so glad you're back! Gorgeous floral captures.

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  7. certainly knew you were missing Deanna and hoped it wasn't for the wrong reasons. Glad you enjoyed the retreat; gardening you will catch up eventually. Take care...

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  8. Deanna I always enjoy your updates. As a fellow snorer I understand your predigament (sp?) Anyhoo. Lovely shots and best wishes on cleaning up the garden. I'm trying to do the same.

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  9. I see your Snippets from Springdale and it instantly says to me . . . "I want to go there!" A joyful kind of thing to read your snippets and see your gorgeous photoed flowers. I am caught up into your life and thinking tenderly at this moment of your "visiting my sweetie."
    Not sure what I am even saying . . . other than a visit with you holds everything real . . . and sings authentic. I smiled at the, "you could hear a pin drop" with the next words, " I snore terribly. And Cinder being groomed revealing a rounder tummy, maybe it is time for less treats. Loved the words . . . "my sweetie . . ."

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  10. I adore those blue flowers. Not too many blue flowers in this world but what there are are always so rich.

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  11. I think we all get this way from time to time. I wanted to email you, but I was afraid something serious was going on. Good to hear from you and see your beautiful photography! God bless, Deanna.

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  12. It was so nice to see you popup in my reader, Deanna.
    I'd been wondering if everything was okay, but it sounds like you are doing what all of us who experience tough winters do. Lots of spring cleanup.
    For us this year, it is especially busy, since we got snow before all of the fall cleanup was done, so it's kind of double the work now.
    However, except for today's rain, the weather has been cooperating beautifully.

    I wish you a wonderful weekend. xo.

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  13. Well, howdy, padner! So good to see you 'roun' these parts. Come here often? Even though it's late, even though it's fickle, your spring photos are beautiful! I'm also going to check on a couple of those books you mentioned! Yes, I can but imagine how hard it is to visit your sweetie but I can imagine that it is necessary for your soul. Always thinking about you ...

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  14. Glad you are back Deanna and those books sound good, tell me about weeds this year with a warmish wet winter they are loving our early Spring !

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  15. Sounds like that retreat was just what you needed! So good to see your gorgeous photos again.

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  16. I've been missing your wonderful photos lately so it was nice to see you back again. I can understand the frustration of wanting to work out in your gardens and having rain. We had that earlier this month but now it's nice and I've been busy working in the flowers. Can't wait to see your furry kids new looks, all spruced up for spring.

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  17. Spring just seems to bring busyness and after a long winter, even the work outside can be satisfying. Our naturally hairless dog is grateful for the spring sunshine, now we just need the warmth to go with it. Your images are just beautiful! Your visits with your husband touch my heart...

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  18. Your photos are so gorgeous. I just love everyone of them. So happy to hear you enjoyed your retreat. I have been having a hard time as well keeping up with my blog. To much to do .. In a good way. I do hope you are enjoying your weekend.

    Hugs~

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  19. SO good to see and read you here, Deanna. Spring. It came. Take good care of your dear self. oxoxo Pam

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  20. My 'getting around' too has been curtailed; even so, I've missed your posts. Your flowers are wonderful and even though things have been a struggle, I hear a thread of optimism in your voice. If it is any consolation, there is so much weeding and house clearing needing to be done around here I'm on the verge of tears. Or it may have something to do with my baby graduating - either way, I'm on the verge and have to say it has been a cheer to catch up and see some of your photos. Hang in there Deanna, you will find something that brings a smile to your face, a gitty-up to your step, and a whistle to your thoughts.

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  21. You returned to blog land while I was away! Glad you had a respite; that always does one good. Now get that garden ready...there are a lot of photos in there somewhere!

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  22. Your flower pictures get prettier in every post, though I am totally smitten with the lilacs. Loving this glorious weather, too!

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