Serendipity. Look for something, find something else, and realize that what you’ve found is more suited to your needs than what you thought you were looking for. - Lawrence Block There are no accidents.  I look around me and I see a life that speaks not to chance, but to … [Read more...]

 "I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers."-- Claude Monet   I will never be a painter in the vein of Monet.  I played with painting at certain junctures in my life discovering an inner child who marveled at the self expression available when I took a paintbrush in my … [Read more...]

I try very hard to not work myself into a stressful state.  I sometimes fail.  I am someone who may look like she is even keeled and able to handle most things thrown her way – for the most part true – but the outcome of the unexpected can put me off balance.  It often happens … [Read more...]

   "An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life."        I am a fan of nurseries.  So much so that you can count on the fact that I will visit one at least once in the week, no matter what time of year.  A better week involves more … [Read more...]

I take a deep breath and realize that I don’t know what to say next.  Life has a way of doing that.  You stand at a precipice and wonder, what now?  I am feeling exactly that.  I look around me and recognize I have a lot to be grateful for, but what does that have to do with … [Read more...]

Merlin caring for Bond  Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are. -   Alfred Austin,  1835-1913          One of the things that strikes me about Merlin, aside from his demanding wild ways, is his kindness.  At certain points of the day, we see him sleeping, cuddling … [Read more...]

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language. -  Martin Buber    At any given point in the day I can look in the eyes of an animal and see a language like no other.   There's Rocky with drooping almost pathetic eyes that you could get lost in.   Tucker's amber … [Read more...]

A garden is not just its flowers, shrubs and trees; it is also butterflies, birds, bees and bugs.  If I stand still long enough, I try to consider the interrelatedness that is inherent among the visitors to Merlin’s Garden.  They are abundant no doubt.  What is their role in the … [Read more...]

I found Tucker on a Wenatchee, Washington animal shelter web site. His name at the time was Scooter, hardly fitting to the dog I know now. He was six months old, 45 pounds, all black. He was found wandering the streets in Chelan, a popular lake resort town. When I saw his photo … [Read more...]

The angel room in Merlin's Garden was never planned.  I just stood on the soil and looked around me and thought why not start here.  I drew an imaginary line to create an entrance.   I pulled weeds and hauled soil and compost to nourish the earth.  Calling it the angel room came … [Read more...]