Blog Your Blessings Sunday

This will be my final post for this meme. I looked it up and I have blogged on this meme 28 weeks on my old blog and 32 times on this one -- before this post. This will be my 61st post for it. My blessing this week is THOSE who faithfully participated in this meme and visited me regularly during the weeks I was participating. I think Neo had a wonderful idea to start it but because of his work and studies, the weekly meme lapsed in leadership. (THANK YOU, NEO for doing what you could.) The blogroll is terribly out of date with those who really participate but not Neo's fault with the non-functioning updates on it. Most of us that particpated just checked in with a few that had been faithful in returning visits. To those, I would like to say thank you!
Sandy, Sue, Matthew, Revolution Hour, Whatever, Story Teller, Cyber Celt, and sometimes Kuanyin and the newest member - Daisy whose blog I read each Sunday even tho after my computer crash, I couldn't post a comment while using my 8 year old computer because of the way she has her comments set up. I have to say that WHEN Neo posted, I really enjoyed reading his also and treasured the rare appearances he put in on my comments.

I also especially want to thank Story Teller for allowing me to use her winter BYB logo as I love snow and found it to be the cutest thing around! That little graphic was a wonderful blessing for me. I will miss using it!

Thank you all for touching my life during my time participating. Keep on counting your blessings! I will too, just not in this meme.

Here's a special photo for each of you to express my thanks:CLICK on photo to see how beautiful it is!

Blog Your Blessings

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

My blessing continues to be more Spring flowers -- although Spring also brings allergies, the beauty of the colorful flowers are worth it. Such a variety and they just keep on coming!







Well, blogger isn't cooperating so you will have to take my word for it about the variety of flowers all over Vancouver! I can't show you more that I wanted to but here's a teaser for tomorrow's post . . . roses from the downtown Rose garden!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

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

A friend in my apartment building asked me if I would like to join their family on a 5 KM walk over two bridges in Portland on the 17th of May. I like to walk so. of course, I said yes. We are walking for an organization called NAMI and that includes all kinds of mental illness. My friend has done it for 5 years already. This will be my first time.

Of course, the organizers want you to collect financial support for NAMI. I am usually too timid to ask anyone for support but I did ask a few friends at church and, through their generosity and my small donation, ended up with $105.00. THESE generous people that contributed to my pledges are my blessing this week. Thank you! I am so glad that our donations can help people in WA state even tho we are walking in OR.

Soooooooooooo, thank you, Yvonne, Elaine, Kathy G., Kathy H., Eunice, Gretchen, Roni, George and Joyce and me! You are a blessing to me and NAMI.

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Well, we made it althought the weather was above 85 during the walk! I took quite a few photos so hope to share some later on. Three miles is not too far to walk usually but the heat and the slowness we had to proceed made it seem like a longer walk and I am glad to be home.

Blog Your Blessings

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

My blessings today are the Mother's of the world. Without them, I wouldn't have any friends near and far who are so much a part of my life in person or on the internet. So, if you read this, thank your own MOTHER for me! If she has already gone to heaven like my MOM, then they are probably rejoicing together on this special day made just for them. So as not to leave any MOTHER out, I offer a photo in their honor instead -- to celebrate this special day. Blessings to all Mothers!

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

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

Do you see that beautiful photo up there right after the link to Blue Panther? No? You sure? Hmmmmm, well, that's ok because there isn't one. Ü So how can that be a blessing? Well my blessing comes without the printed photo today because my blessing is a friend who made it possible for me to still take photos even tho something happened to my camera and I am still searching for the receipt so I can send it in to the company and get it fixed.

You see. . . Katney over at this blog sent me a surprise in the mail. . . she loaned me her old camera to use until I can get my own. I didn't completely miss the tulip season or the Grand Opening of Turtle Place (which reminds me I need to get that blog up to date-- now that it is a reality.) When I get the card used up, I will go make a CD at Walgreens and then I will have photos to share again that are "recent." instead of digging into my archives. Ü It sure has lifted my spirits! In the meantime, she is looking for the equipment so I can download right to my computer. Sooooooooooooooo, this week, Kathy/WA is my blessing, a real blessing indeed! I post no photo to remind me that one day soon, it will all change because I was able to take photos of current things and not miss out on the photographic memories for lack of a working camera. It is good to have such a generous friend!

Blog Your Blessings

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

I am still using old photos to illustrate my daily writings. This week my blessing is the beauty that Spring brings to nature. Each season has a different kind of beauty such as snow in Winter, colored leaves in Fall and boats on the river in Summer.

I don't think there is anything as beautiful right now as tulips in springtime! Even tho I don't have a camera to use presently, I can remember some of the beautiful tulips I have had the opportunity to photograph in the past and this is yet another one. For others, see the three posts below. So my blessing this week is the memories I have of tulips whether with camera or my eyes.

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

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


I saw this compass symbol down on a business building near the Columbia River and even tho it has no direction letters on it, I recognized it as a compass. Today, I was hunting through old but recent photos that I have taken in order to find one to illustrate my blessing this week and it seemed a perfect fit. (My new camera which I took this photo with stopped working -- can't get the lens to open.)

Not only does it have 4 directions to choose for making personal choices but the center looks like a cross representation to me also. But, it's an empty cross -- a cross that reminds me to look to the ressurected Jesus for direction as I live my Christian life. My blessing is the reminder that I have "new life living in my heart" because I believe.

This is not a great photo of the cross, filled with flowers from last Sunday's "Festival of Flowers" service but the best I could take because it was raining and they hadn't moved the cross to the lawn yet.

Blog Your Blessings Sunday/Happy Easter!

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


I was trying to think of something special in my photo collection that represented the Christian meaning of Easter for me. When I saw this cattail, I thought it was the perfect picture for what I was seeking. . . Be sure to CLICK on photo to see the seeds breaking through -- photo is sooooo much better larger.

JUST as Jesus broke forth from the tomb and death on that first Easter Day to GIVE US new life with Him, the cattail bursts open and spreads new life through its seeds. A double blessing this Easter!!!!!!!! Happy Easter to anyone that celebrates it!

PS For an added blessing, check out the two unusual Daffodils in the post below.

Blog Your Blessings

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

I saw a pretty dandelion so I took a photo of it. . .
and another.
Then, I found one that hadn't opened yet. . .
and then decided to take a photo of just part of it. . .
AND THEN, we had a visitor!
It stayed on without bothering me or noticing that I had a camera. . . or maybe it thought it had the better choice.
It was more interested in the nectar it had found than an intruder with a camera.
So, in the end, we were both happy. It feasted and I got my shots in before it decided to go elsewhere.

Simple things that make one smile and are unexpected are definitely a blessing. I hope it blessed your day with a bit of joy in seeing it too!

Blog Your Blessings

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

My blessing this week was getting out to walk with a friend. If I can't get anyone to walk with me, I usually go by myself but this week, a friend decided to go with me again. It is good to have someone to talk to and share nature with. We started at the trail head near Vancouver Lake. The area is called Stewart Glen. This is the trailhead for Discovery Trail. We only walked from Fruit Valley Road to Main Street along this trail and then caught a bus home. My friend says she likes to walk, but gets tired real fast. She may never believe me again when I say I am going on a short walk. Probably, to her, that's around the block once or twice. Ü Anyway, even tho it sprinkled on us a little bit for a few minutes of our hike, it was a nice day for walking because it wasn't too hot. I even managed to get a few photos of Burnt Bridge Creek, moss on a tree and some plants gone to seed.

Blog Your Blessings

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

I walked to the Farmers Market Saturday for its opening day this year and on my way,
everywhere said SPRING was in the air!
Of course, it was raining too! Ü
My blessing this week is the re-birth of the Spring flowers
to remind us of change and that even when the flowers die off
there is hope for re-birth in the Spring again next year.
It's a good reminder for me after my brother's death. . . one day, we will all "live again!"

Blog Your Blessings

Before I post, I want to thank those of you who left a note of sympathy on the loss of my last brother. Blessings back to you!

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

I am using no photo today for a reason. . . I lost my camera last week when it fell out of my jacket pocket on a bus I was riding but I didn't know it until I got off the bus, ate lunch and then looked for the camera. I was frantic for the first half hour when I could see it nowhre on the sidewalk or at the bus stop. I figured it was a goner. I had just rplaced an older camera I couldn't get parts for not long ago. I couldn't afford another one, not even one on sale. I am lost without my digital camera when I go on walks. I walk a lot usually but hadn't been on one since my brother's death. I figured it was time to get out again and start living.

I finally decided to sit at the bus stop and wait for the driver that I knew had brought me to this point. If she did not get off at another transit center because of a shift ending, I might find out something. Meanwhile I called C-Tran and asked if my camera had been turned in to the office. . . didn't think I would have much luck there because a camera doesn't have a name on it. I waited for them to answer 5 other phone calls. . . Nothing back from them. One bus came along and I asked the man driver if he had heard anything about a camera being turned in on another bus. No. . .

THEN the bus I had been riding came along -- after the driver's break at the transit center. . . YES! Someone had given it to her and she turned it in at the office. I had an hour to get back there and claim it before they closed for the night. . . Well, I finally made it, described my camera and sure enough, IT WAS there. I was so relieved. I just wish I knew the person that turned it into that driver. I am so grateful for that "ANGEL"

I think I will write C-Tran a letter thanking the driver and the unknown person. Maybe even take a plate of cookies to the office. . . my unknown friend who turned it in will be in my thoughts and prayers!!!

Blog Your Blessings

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


My blessing this week is the joy of simple things because I own a digital camera even if it isn't as powerful as the old one that couldn't get parts for it . . . I like how this macro shot came out. Before I owned my first digital camera, I would not have thought to snap a photo of such things. NOW, I look for them. IF you click on the photo, it will enlarge and you will enjoy this shot as much as I do.

Postscript: EG Tour Guide identified this plant as catkins. The Elder trees produce yellow catkins in early spring, with the wind catching and spreading the pollen and the male catkins developing woody cones - the only deciduous tree to do so.

Blog Your Blessings Sunday

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

My blessing today is a dear old friend who has been as much a part of my life as my own Mother who died many years ago. Her name is Myrl and she had a stroke a few years ago and can't talk with her vocal cords anymore but she talks to me with her eyes and she understand what I say to her. When her one non-paralyzed hand reaches out to me, I get tears in my eyes.

She now lives in a huge caregiver home down by the Columbia River so I have to walk to visit her because there is no bus out that way. I do it because I love her. I saw something familiar on the entrance of the caregiver home this week --it was always there in front of her home where she used to live in before her stroke. This carved bear stump used to hold her spare house key in case she got locked out. I can tell that now since it no longer does but probably makes Myrl feel more "at home" in her new place.

This week when I went to visit her, I took her this simple Valentine I made but it was the words I wrote inside that expressed my love for her and reminded her of the "good times we had together" memories.

Yes, Myrl, you ARE my blessing this week and always!