Gratitude is the heart's memory-- French Proverb We can go through life quite quickly without really realizing how much we have.  Despite our failures in recognizing our blessings, life often gives us several chances to make things right.    Thanksgiving comes once a year, but … [Read more...]

We all die.  The goal isn't to live forever.  The goal is to create something that will. -- Chuck Palahniuk The other day I was speaking to my friend Rose who lost a kidney recently.  She is fine now, but the experience did change her.  Not surprisingly, Rose told me that the … [Read more...]

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall -- Confucius In the matter of our lives, we fall a great deal, but we are distinguished by our ability to rise again.  Ask Confucious.  Daily the garden speaks to this.  Today I did my share of pruning … [Read more...]

I woke up early today to the sound of mist barely discernible to the human ear.  It would turn to rain when I took to a path with a friend for a morning walk.    Merlin was in tow or rather I was being towed by Merlin.  He loves this time as do I.  He insists on coming, slamming … [Read more...]

Today a male monarch butterfly flew down to my patio and made the slow journey to death.  It lay upon the patio flooring and was soon joined by a female monarch who laid her wing upon her friend.   I was awed by this action wondering what silent communication might exist between … [Read more...]

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. -- Oscar Wilde I am still practicing being myself.  After years of aspiring to something other than me, time is slowly giving me the wisdom to consider that I am not so bad afterall.  Thank God.  We can waste a lot of years -- and … [Read more...]

Nature is testimony to second chances.  Today reminded me of this in so many ways.  Fall is definitely in the air and there is the ardent task of cleaning up the landscape as leaves drops and plants begin to incubate for the winter not too far away.  Seasons don't stand out so … [Read more...]

Express yourself completely. Then keep quiet. Be like the forces of nature; When it blows, there is only wind; When it rains, there is only rain; When the clouds pass, the sun shines through. -Tao te Ching Today hit 100 degrees so there was no gardening to be done outside.  … [Read more...]

We have several names for him -- Tucker Boy, Big Boy, Big Man, Mr.Black.  But no matter how you slice it, he's our Tucker.  130 pounds give or take a few and about to turn ten this December.  When my husband Jim and I started dating, he met Tucker with an oh, my God.  It was … [Read more...]