In time for Halloween . . .

These three little "street garden" pumpkins have been getting orange each day. Took this photo last week and am sure they are just perfect for Halloween today! I haven't been over to this garden to see if the owners have picked them. Maybe tomorrow. I never met the people who planted them but their little garden sure has given me a lot of pleasure watching it grow.

Tree MONSTER????????

It almost looks like it is walking towards me and coming to get me with its outstretched arms. . . Ü

Spotlight leaves. . .

When we were finished planting 1500 trees and plants at the park last Saturday, I walked through the big park to the other side and home again. . . That's when I spotted the way these leaves shone when all else was darker. It just takes that one ray of hope to light up something and it sure put the spotlight on these leaves that day.

Gold leaf magic. . .

I was struck by this clump of leaves. Never have I seen leaves so gold looking before. . . yellow, red, orange and brown but never gold. . . are fairies at work? IF you CLICK on to enlarge, you will see what I mean!

Today's Flowers -- Rose

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One of the last roses before they stop blooming. . . CLICK on to enlarge.

Postscript:
I was out and about yesterday and see roses all over the place, including the rose garden in the park downtown. I think someone forgot to tell them it was time to get ready for winter. . .

ODD SHOT MONDAY-- Balloon with invisible string

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I was riding the bus, on my way to Walmart, when I saw this. Got off the bus and took a photo of it. Even when I enlarged it, it does not reveal a string. . . HOW does it stay in the same place? I am sure there is a string but it is invisible to me!

Goodbye, Mary . . . Blog Your Blessings Sunday

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

Maybe not all my readers know but I am a senior citizen, a young one but one all the same. A little over a year ago I moved to this apartment building complex for seniors. Eight months ago, I met Mary. She was walking the halls, investigating community rooms on the 9th floor where we have a kitchen for potlucks, a dining hall for coffee hours and special events (usually involving food), a game room, a computer room, 2 cable TV rooms and the laundry room. You notice that I mentioned the most important place first? But, I digress. . .

It was a Thursday night. I had never seen her before but I decided to introduce myself and see if she was new or just someone I hadn't met yet . . . after all, I had only been here a few months. I don't often do this as I am a shy person. She was new that very day and her grand daughter who was 9 years old was with her, staying the weekend. We visited a little while and then I told her I would drop by and pick her (and grand daughter) up for BINGO the following night. Thus began a new, close friendship neither of us had thought we would be making at this time in our lives.

I showed her how to use the bus and we went to the Farmer's Market even tho it rained that first Saturday. She continued coming to BINGO on Friday nights even when her grand daughter wasn't visiting. We sat together and learned about each others lives like good friends do. She even showed up for a couple potlucks.

Then one day she didn't come to the Mother's Day potluck and I took her a plate of food and stayed for a visit. That's when she told me about her doctor appointment. Before I knew her, she had had breast cancer and had one removed. She told me they never told her to come back for further checkups and when you get older, sometimes you don't care to bother anymore BUT her daughter insisted she get a clean bill of health since she was living on her own again so she made her a doctor appointment.

It had not been good news. The cancer had spread and they gave her 'til Christmas to live, saying it was too late for her. What kind of cancer doctor doesn't have their receptionist call and tell her to make another appointment just to make sure everything was okay after the breast surgery? According to Mary, this one didn't and she thought that was the end of it. Actually, I think she wanted to believe it and ignored the appointments she should have made to not allow cancer to spread again.

I went to her apartment to visit and she came to see my Christmas tree in July . . . YES! I keep it up all year. I even turned the lights on for her and her granddaughter.

She got sicker and sicker and allowed hospice to visit her but would not go to a hospice hospital. She wanted to die in her own place when the time came. All her family knew the situation, including the youngest grand daughter. She had a medic alert button she could push if she needed hospice at a time when they weren't visiting her.

I stopped by often to visit and made a special card for her but anytime I was the least bit sick, I stayed away because I didn't want her to catch anything I might be spreading around. The last couple times I rang her doorbell she didn't answer. OK, so her family came and got her and were off visiting I told myself . . . or . . . Maybe she didn't feel good enough for visitors. . .

This past week, I hadn't been feeling good so I didn't stop by. I didn't want her to catch whatever crud was going around and shorten her time we had together on earth! Sunday afternoon, I got really sick and spent the entire time in bed. That afternoon AND Monday AND Tuesday. This was my JURY duty week. I lucked out and my number hadn't been called for Monday and Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday, I had to report. . .

That was today and I was the last juror chosen. We met until 5:30 and when I got home there was a note in the elevator that Mary had died on Monday! I couldn't believe it. It was some other Mary, not my friend, Mary. . . it couldn't be! I wanted to make her some more cards. I wanted to stop by and chat again. I wanted to share the joy in our friendship again. After all, the doctor had told her she would live until Christmas! I had MY plans. . . How dare God allow this to happen????????

I thought of other people with cancer. My twin had lived 12 years after her diagnosis. A lady at church was still going good after 5 years. I was really mad at God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went downstairs to look at the directory and see if I had the right number for her as was posted on the notice. It did. It was truly "my" Mary who had died Monday. Then, while I was in the mailroom talking to someone about this, Mary's daughter and one son came through the front door and went up in the elevator to clear out Mary's apartment. I had met them before so I hurried on the next elevator and knocked on "Mary's" door. . . Her son opened the door and just gave me a hug and daughter came to door and spoke to me too. I guess when I was sick Monday, they had knocked on my apartment door but I was so sick, I didn't get out of bed to see who was there.

Tears were streaming down my eyes. They told me her whole family was with her when she passed on and that she would be cremated like her husband, whose ashes Mary had in her apartment, and one day their whole family will take a trip to the Pacific Ocean and spread both their ashes there where they wanted to be together. I knew that was Mary's last wish so I am glad they will fulfill it. Tears were running down my face but when I left, after asking if I could help do anything, I felt at peace. . . a little lonely but at peace because I can just see Mary in heaven with her new body, cancer free! I'm sure my twin met her at the gate. . . I hope she will be there to meet me. I'm not mad at God anymore. . .

I thank Him for the blessing of Mary's friendship even tho it was so short. She touched my life and I hope I touched hers. I'm glad she didn't have to suffer any longer. I'm glad my twin, Margie, got to meet her too! If you read this far, bless you. MY INTERNET FRIENDS. Mary, and you are my blessing this week. This is just for you from Mary's memory and I. . .


There is beauty in the death of a weed because there is promise of a new one in the spring. Just like Mary with her new body now. . .

Blog Break

I am going to take a couple days off from posting on this blog. I have already placed new benches for at least a week or so on the new blog and they will come up automatically. I will try to be back on Sunday. I know I have a scheduled Odd Shot and Today's Flower's for Monday. I might get a little time to visit your sites but won't post. You will find out why Sunday. . . maybe

Blessings!

Another mural . . .

Our town has several murals on its walls downtown and elsewhere. This one isn't finished yet. . . it is downtown. I still like the WW2 ones best and also the "photo" of Main Street one. They sure spruce up old buildings. I am kinda disappointed in the results of the Turtle Place one but maybe the area will make up for it when it is complete. Pearson Airfield here was named for the aviator and his photo is painted on the side of a building in down town also.

Orange Pointed Tips for Today's Flowers

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CLICK ON TO see details,
I have no idea what this flower is so if you know, please tell me. I love its pointy tips on each petal and the way the sun has caught the back of the petals. The one bent petal is flooded with sunlight! The delicate flowers in the center stand out as does the lines of yellow or orange on the petals. There's so much beauty to observe in this flower that one knows only God could have made the original!

ODD SHOT MONDAY--Giant Cantaloupe

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I saw this at the Farmer's Market a week ago. I had never seen such a big cantaloupe before - almost looked like a watermelon! Definitely odd when you look at the rest in the box. I did not buy it as it was too heavy to carry the 16 blocks home.

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther


This week I received this envelope in the mail . . .stuffed. It had a piece of paper in it for which I was to fill out and return. It had a deadline of November 4th.

I walked down to the drop in vote box and did it today. Voting is not only a right and a responsibility but a blessing!

I've done my part. . . after listening to the candidates and reading what I could, I tried to use my best judgement of who would serve best in each office on the ballot. Locally, I believe any of the candidates from either party would do a good job so I voted "my party" this time. I am a person who switches if I know someone from "the other party" would be the best for all of us but this time, it was pretty even.

Of course, when voting for the President of the United States, I generally go with "my party." This time I wasn't so sure at first but the running mates came into play this time for me when making my decision. No matter who wins the election, I pray that they will be God fearing and keep our country safe. I respect the office even if my candidate doesn't win. Just to know I have the privilege to vote IS the blessing!

Orange kind of autumn day. . .

When I saw this pile of leaves, I couldn't resist taking a photo.

Sunset across the Columbia . . .

The pictures speak for them self. . . it's been awhile since I walked over to the river and I have missed it! CLICK on photos to enlarge -- especially the 2nd one. . .

Autumn is in the air!!!!!!

As the various leaves turn autumn colors, it signals that FALL is really here. For me, that means WINTER can't be far behind!!!!!!!!!!!! (I LOVE SNOW!)

Fence Beauty . . .

Saw this Dahlia next to this old fence and wondered why such beauty was not given a more special place to show off its deep purple tones among the white petals. CLICK on to see how beautiful it really is!

ODD SHOTS MONDAY

Today's Flowers is below

If you want to join ODD SHOTS, see Katney


There isn't much odd about a barn BUT this one on 78th in Vancovuer collects signs. . . In fact, there are a couple of ad memorabilia that aren't signs -- they stand beside the barn! CLICK to see the signs on barn. I think it is very odd to cover your barn with advertisement signs.

Today's Flowers -- Bee on Cosmos

Go here if you want to participate: Today's Flowers


This is another white Cosmos but this time it has a visitor! CLICK on to have the best view!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

If you care to join us acknowledging our blessings go here: Blue Panther

My blessing this week is autumn's arrival. A few days last week, I could have sworn that summer was still upon us because Indian Summer was l strutting it's warmth.
Now, the nights are chilly and I finally was forced to shut the windows that I had opened when the first days of spring arrived and hadn't closed since. Now, I am thrilled when the temperature rises during the day and hits 50!

Most of all. I now eagerly watch the trees changing colors and enjoy the spectacular beauty the colored leaves provide for me before the cold winter signals its arrival.
This weekend, I saw pumpkins in street gardens and at the Farmer's Market.
I saw sunflowers in full bloom!
I have to admit that AUTUMN is officially here.

POST SCRIPT. . .

With God's help, I finished the other quilt in time. It isn't perfect but it's finished and will warm one little girl it was made for.

My Friday Nite Sky . . .

I was running errands most of the day and when I sat down at my last bus stop, this is what I saw.

The sun was going down on a nice day (without rain) but with a high of only 49.
This is the first time I have ever been able to photograph the sunset in a frame and I love how it turned out.
This was Friday's moon at dusk not using flash.
The moon again a half hour later using flash.

Trying to cross off/"X out" those dark clouds . . . will little blue sky patch become victorious?

With so much help (crossed wires) you would think that little patch of blue sky would triumph!

Fall means pumpkins. . . of all colors!

This is a little different than the usual bright orange pumpkins you usually see.

Shell like flowers

Here's another one I don't know anything about except that I find it beautiful! It reminds me of sea shells, all gathered together.

Bees on the BLUE Beauty

Once again, I don't know the name of the flower but I just call it blue beauty. . . I liked catching the bees on it! CLICK to see this beautiful flower and bees better.

Bridges Between-- October 2008

RuneE is sponsoring this monthly challenge on the first Monday of every month. Bridges Between is subject to open interpretation.

As I worked on the two quilts I am presently making, I thought of how all the pieces went together and depended on each other.

Whether it was the larger blocks that were sewn side by side



or smaller groups of blocks of 4 or 9 squares connected together like little boxes

or even long strips. . .


each piece needed the other to make the final product. The seams held them together and acted like bridges to the other piece on all sides.
Thus, it took many bridges (seams) to make these quilts. The "connections" don't take us from one place to another but act as a whole. Two of these are being sewed to keep two young girls warm; to look pretty on their beds and maybe even connect them to the world of quilt making when they are older. What a concept that the recipients might become quilt makers when they grow up! These quilts could become bridges to a future hobby!

Yes, when I look at a quilt, I see many bridges . . . some I never "crossed" myself but I still have that "bridge" connection as a quilt maker.