Brownie - Intrepid Explorer

She loves our walks. This morning, we didn't take one and I think she was a little disappointed. We went for a ride instead, but it isn't quite as thrilling as sniffing for yourself. I think of Brownie as my little mountain goat sometimes because she goes places only nimble mountain goats can go. No trail unexplored. No exciting place left unsniffed. She sees all and hears all. I love her attitude towards life. She's in it wholeheartedly, enjoying each moment as she is in it. I love to see the sparkle in her eyes when she is doing something that means the world to her. And her sweet little doggie grin makes me smile, too.

On our walk yesterday morning

It was a beautiful day yesterday, if a bit warm. It is starting to be so warm that we should take our walks earlier now. I was so enjoying the spring weather. Some seasons don't last long enough for me, in life as well as in nature. This year, one of my seasons came to an end after 37 years. Maybe that is why I've mourned for so long. It wasn't just losing my Grandma (who I miss), it was also a season ending. And when you've enjoyed that season for 37 years, it is kind of hard to adjust to the season being over. I wasn't ready for it to end. But it is okay. Along with endings, come beginnings, just like the changing of the seasons. And I can't live in the past, or in fear of the future seasons, but I can enjoy today.

Friendly squirrel at Woodward Park

I seem to get more pictures of squirrels than anything else right now. This is finally the last of the pictures from when we went to Woodward Park a few weeks ago. I do try to get them on sooner, but sometimes I'm just not able to get to it. Since you missed my blogs for the past four days (due to me not blogging), I'm making up for it today!

This little one was actually somewhat friendly (but I didn't try to pet it). It was quite close to us and didn't seem disturbed (we didn't have Brownie with us, which probably renders us less harmful). In fact, it seemed as if it wanted us to give him some food, which makes me wonder if people feed the squirrels at Woodward Park. It wouldn't surprise me. I would have fed him if I had anything with me (not sure what else they eat besides nuts, though). I really like watching squirrels move--they have a wonderful gait. Would love to touch them, but value my hands too much. Plus, the threat of being bit by a rabid little creature (and having to endure painful rabies shots in the stomach, not sure how many rounds of them) is enough to make me keep my hands to myself (for now).

Fisher Price Radio (1971)

Here is the Fisher Price Radio I got for Mom off ebay. So far, this has been the cheapest item I've been able to get for her, coming in at $8 (with shipping). I thought that was a pretty good deal. It works great. Kind of makes me wish I had the room to collect some vintage Fisher Price toys. I'd put them in the room I do my art in (assuming it was bigger). They remind a person of fun, of good times, of being a kid. Maybe playing with them would keep me "young" and let me be in touch with my inner child, to see what other creative avenues I could tap into. A child sees everything as possibilities, but sometimes as adults, we've lost that. And in order to dream, to create, to imagine, you need to believe the possibilities are endless and that they are possible for you. I'm tapping back in to all possibilities and am believing that all things are possible for me.

Our 12th Anniversary

We celebrated twelve years of marriage over the weekend (the 18th). We went out to dinner and a movie (Chronicles of Narnia, Prince Caspian which I enjoyed, but almost burst into tears at one point) and my sweet Pooker gave me a dozen roses. On our first anniversary, he gave me one red rose. On the second, two red roses, and so on until this year, I've earned the full twelve. He let me pick them out and so I got six red roses and six pinkish roses (the color of my soul!). I think he would have given me all red roses (for his great love for me), but when I got to choose, I thought the pink were really pretty. We had a hard time getting Brownie to come sit by me for the picture. She was more interested in playing (because we had just gotten home and it was time to play). Someone had to hold her tennis ball in his hand to get her attention. You can tell by her direct stare that she is just waiting for the ball to be thrown so she can run after it. I'm not even sure she blinked.

We had a really nice weekend together and I am just thankful, thankful to have my Pooker and my Buppa.

Oh, the squirrels

This little fellow was on the ground, eating a nut (aren't they all?) when we spotted him. While I whipped out my camera, he ran up into the tree. I thought he may scamper on up out of sight, but he didn't. He "posed" on this branch for me and every once in a while, he would chatter and look down at Brownie like "How dare you have interrupted my lunch!"

We walked by the water

We also walked a little bit down by the water. It is so peaceful. I loved seeing her little footprints in the sand. It says, "We've been here." We leave a mark on this world and the people in it everywhere we go. I hope the marks I leave are for the better.

Our walk this morning

We had a really beautiful walk this morning. It was overcast and with the weather forecast predicting thunderstorms the next few days, we really wanted to get our walk in. I'm always struck by the beauty I find on our walk. We've walked the same paths at least three days a week for the past two years and I almost always see something I haven't seen when I take the time to look. And if I see something new all the time on the same paths, I can see how in heaven the scenery and the view will never grow old, even for eternity. I had wondered how many artists could still continue to paint once in heaven, what would one paint when we are all seeing the same thing? But I think even if we all see the same thing, we wouldn't interpret it the same. We would still paint from our experiences, our feelings and that would make all of our paintings different. I'm looking forward to all the possibilities I have as an artist and as a person.

More roses at Woodward Park

And here are the rest of the roses! These last two pictures have something extra in them. The one above this last one has a little surprise in the center and this bottom one has a little surprise under the rose on the right. I thought I'd let you look and see for yourself what it is, but will put it here in case you can't see the picture that closely (a bee in the one above and a ladybug in this one below).

The roses at Woodward Park

We went to Woodward Park last weekend to see their beautiful roses. I've already shared with you the fountain, but wanted to save these roses for today. They are so gorgeous. I love flowers.