Music

Hope you enjoy some of my favorite music. You can change songs by clicking the right or left arrow or turn it off. Enjoy!

Happy 4th of July

You're a grand old flag, You're a high flying flag And forever in peace may you wave. You're the emblem of The land I love. The home of the free and the brave. Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue, Where there's never a boast or brag. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

It is through many years of fierce battle and struggle, that we enjoy the freedom we have today. Stop this holiday and thank the men and women who fought for this country and our way of life. As Patrick Henry said, "Give me Liberty or Give me Death". That famous quote still stands true today. On the 4th, say a silent prayer for our armed services. Pray for their families to be strong until their safe return. Use this day to celebrate our nation. Hope you and your family have a safe and happy 4th of July.

God's Color Wheel

Does God have a color wheel? Or does he need one? This was my mind boggling thought yesterday while working in the back yard. Artist spend hours blending and mixing colors to achieve the colors in nature. Paper artist read and study color and balance to perfect their pages. God does all of this with the wave of his hand. The next time you are outside look around. Does something catch your eye? What about it catches your eye? I bet it is the color combination. Notice the way the colors are blended together. God's never worries if it is in fashion or if it clashes. He knows it never does. His color combinations are always perfect. Clink here to view what caught my eye yesterday. Enjoy and have a summer happy day.

Puppy Love

"And they call it Puppy Love!" This tiny little dog has captured the love and devotion of my big husband's heart. This baby is his little "rats", "ratski". She can't wait in the afternoon for him to come home. You can see the love on her face. All I have to say is "Daddy's Home" and off goes all seven pounds of her. Happy to see her buddy. Have a wonderful day.

III Lay Out for July

Three lay outs in one month? I'm getting better, maybe. The assignment for this lay out was my friends circle journal. The topic was to pick my favorite flower, include gardening instructions and a photo of myself. I like to say that scrap book paper is like flowers. How can you only pick one? They are all so beautiful. So is the assortment of flowers on this page. They are all from my back yard. I love and enjoy them all. To care for them they need sun shine, water, good soil and lots of love. From my back yard to yours. Have a great day.

Sunny Summer Bees

These pretty bushes are a part of our new landscaping. The leaves are an elongated, moss green color and the flowers look like yellow pom-poms. They sit atop yellow petals with a candy drop in the middle. I just love them. I would have to pull out the plan for the name but they are great. While taking pictures, this little bumble bee decided he wanted his picture made. It felt so good to photograph him. This little guy just made my whole self smile. He worked and worked on the puffy flowers gathering nectar to take back to his hive. Okay, I am sure he has a wife bumble bee and baby bumble bees at home. Check out his fuzzy little body and his wonderful colors. Do you agree? He is summer.

Grace

Sometimes I realize a life lesson in the strangest ways. After a shopping trip with Marlee to "Ulta Beauty", the word Grace has been on my mind. Webster's dictionary defines Grace as 1.) beauty of form or movement 2.) favor; goodwill 3.) prayer of thanks 4.) God's unmerited love for man.

A perfume that I wear defines Amazing Grace as: how you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you get down the mountain and, so it is with life, which for many of us becomes one big gigantic test followed by one big gigantic lesson, in the end, it all comes down to one word, Grace. it's how you accept winning and losing, good luck and bad luck, the darkness and the light.

One more description of Grace that I like is: life is a classroom. We are both student and teacher. Each day is a test. Each day we receive a passing or failing grade in one particular subject: Grace. Grace is compassion, gratitude, surrender, faith, forgiveness, good manners, reverence, and the list goes on. It's something money can't buy and credentials rarely produce. Being the smartest, the prettiest, the most talented, the richest, or even the poorest, can't help. Being a humble person can and being a helpful person can guide you through your days with Grace and gratitude.

All of this about Grace leads me to my first thought on Grace. My step-mother. She is all of these things. Betty faces life's challenges with the Grace of a saint. She always seems to see the best in every situation and with a smile on her face. When we should be boosting her up, she is thinking of us. Through 3 bouts of breast cancer and now facing a 4th, Betty has encouraged all of us that it will be okay. That God will be there for her.

Betty is the definition and the picture of GRACE. My prayer of her is, please God, watch over her. Heal and bless her. Please give her a peaceful and happy life with a loving family around her. Wrap your arms around her and protect her. Amen

Soul of Pike's Market

Can you tell by the number of post about Pike's Market, that I really enjoyed it? Well it is truly an amazing place. The smells, sights, noise and excitement make up this place. Pike's Market was founded in 1907 and celebrated 100 years of service to the public in 2007. Of course it has gone through many changes. Fish and vegetables have always been the main stay of the market. It is a place for local farmers and fishermen to bring their goods to sell in one location. The little fish monger in the orange with blond hair was the cutest thing. She was like a little pixie selling fish. The Chinese dominated the flower market. The lady with the brilliant smile was my favorite. She just kept arranging flowers and laughing. Past generations of these same Chinese people are the ones who completed the rail road. The fresh fish looked yummy. It was really hard not to get hungry while walking around. Of course there were samples every where. The fresh peaches were a special treat. I also enjoyed the chocolate pasta. Hope you enjoy another slide show from Pike's Market. Click on the web site in my photo collection and then click Soul of Pike's Market. You may have to click slide show also.

Glory in Pike's Market

I am trying to show you the wonderful flowers of Pike's Market in Seattle, Washington. I some how got the veggies and the flowers in the Flower Market set. I will figure all of this out one day. I am normally so good at this stuff but for some reason Flickr is driving me crazy. When I get my good buddy on the phone for directions they will be written down word for word. Just skip the veggies and enjoy the flowers. The lovely Peony pictured is my favorite photo. Peonies are such a gracious ladies flower. To enjoy the flowers of Pike's Market click here and select slide show.