Lessons learned.

Wow, I am so happy, my 5th grandbaby has been born, YEAH!!!!  I cannot believe it, its too exciting, so exciting, and I am so happy for my son.

Life is so precious, and it is so short. We have so much that we would like to accomplish in this short time that we are here, we need to take advantage of ourselves, and make sure that we let those that we care about, know that we care about them. Let those you love know you love them. Always smile, as it does bring happiness, however small, into someones heart. A pat on the shoulder, a hug, a look. Words of comfort, love, kindness. Acts of kindness, love, caring, generosity.

We know that we can do this, so just do it. Its not that hard. Its not time consuming. It doesn't cost you really much at all. What does a smile cost?

Take your time as you got through your day. Look, smell, feel, hear, taste, watch all that is around you. There is so much more that work. Slow down, and when you look at something, start looking. You will be amazed at the difference this makes in your life.

Love with your heart, your soul. I would rather have loved, to have been brokenhearted, to know failure, know hard times, than to never know love or to have known that feeling, and to be generous with that love. It feels you. Yes it hurts so much as well, but when it runs its course, and fills you, its like no other feeling.

Don't hold grudges, let bygones be bygones, and move forward. Forgive and let it go, learn, it is hard, but it is attainable. Learn from your mistakes, learn from others mistakes, go forward.

Our life here is too short to hold out against our friends, families and all those we treasure but can get angry with. Love. Forgive. Understand. Let go.

Yellow, flowers, gardens.

I have to say that yellow is one of the most prettiest colors in nature, and just happens to be my favorite color. And then green. I have a prickly pear that bloomed, and the color of the flower is just so pure, such an uplifting color, like a breath of fresh air.

My cacti are growing new pods like crazy, and every year I tell myself that I am going to pick some of the nopalitos and fry them up, but I never get to it. So with all the new pods coming, I just might get it done this year, as this year I am getting so many new things done.

I finished up another lap quilt, but I didn't get pictures. Tonight I will take some. I also made the matching pillow cases for both blankets and they came out really cute. I had a blast sewing, it was so much fun.

I planted some flowers that my brother-in-law gave to me, natural growing flowers to this ole desert, and I put them in a pot yesterday, and today, they are smiling the biggest smiles ever. They are purple and really compliment my marigolds. 

All of my flowers look so happy, they are really growing and flowering like crazy. I just love all the vibrant colors. When you put purple with yellow, it makes both colors stand out so much, its beautiful. 

My apricot tree bloomed this spring, I was worried about it all winter long, first because my goats got out 2 or 3 times and thrashed it pretty good, but it recovered ok. And then, it was such a wierd winter, cold, cold nights and I didn't get any protection to it. Then when it started blooming, I was worried that we would have another hard freeze that would have taken all my blooms and potential fruit. 

Well, I do have one apricot, and its about the size of a pecan, but it is there. My little tree is all of 4 feet tall. So, next year, I think we will get some useful fruit on it. I think I will have to plant another one or maybe I will just have to get a peach. 

Gardening is so rewarding.

Smoke and light

There is a fire up on the reservation, and the smoke on Tuesday was terrible here in our valley. It was really thick and hazy, the smell of fire was very strong. I gave lessons to my two newest students, and they did really well.

After the lessons were done and they had left, we sat and visited. As we looked outside of the shop, David says, look at the color of the palm trees. They were orange from the smoke in the air and from where the sun  was shining through. It was really pretty. So I took some pictures of the palms and our hackberry tree. You can see the color better on the palm trees, but if you look closely, you can see it in the hackberry as well.

I have gotten a new phone, a smart phone, and these pictures were taken with it as I don't always keep my camera with me. I try. I think the colors at the top of the trunk and the dried leaves is such a pretty color.

If you look in the middle of the hackberry, you can see the pops of orangish color. Also, on both the house and the trunk of the palm, you can see where the difference in color is where the sun light is shining. This was about 6:45 in the evening. That was the only smoky day. 

Its going to be along fire season I fear, for our firefighters. We sure could use some rain here, and so many other places. 

More projects done

Wow, I didn't realize that it has already been a week since I was on here. My oh my, I need to get with the program, this is crazy. So, lets see. Last week on Friday, there was a horrible crash that left me kindof upset, and I woke Saturday not feeling so well. Had two lessons, so that was good. I just kind of hung out, not doing too much, but had a very filling day.

Sunday, I planted some more flowers, and they are all smiling at me, happy to be in the ground with the beautiful colors splashing around, making the world a little brighter and happier at my place. I am going to plant some more and get some colors going really well. All of the garden is doing well, although my tomatos tub fell over, one tomato survived, the other, well, who knows. It happens.

All of the chiles and bell pepper are growing really fast right now, with this heat coming in, its so exciting to see the difference from day to day. I also have two squash plants growing, and they have doubled in size already. I have a couple of more things to plant and I will leave it at that, other than flowers.

I had picked up two tin pans at a yard sale, with the thoughts of making them into clocks. So, dummy me, I forgot to take before pictures, but I do have after ones. They turned out really cute.

I have both sold for $25 and I am just tickled. I am hoping to find more pans at yard sales, and keep up doing these.

My turkey chicks are doing really well. So is everyone else

These little guys are so cute, they will take off running stretching their wings that are barely sprouting feathers, and flapping them. It is so much fun to watch. I just love these babies, animals and such.

We are getting a healthy supply of eggs everyday, to sustain our need for eggs and then some. I am so thankful for the opportunity that we have, for our many blessings in our life, and this life of mine that becomes more fulfilling all the time. God truly does bless us, and when we live our life with Him, it sure makes it easier to cope. I love you all.

Tidbits

So I finally made it back, it has been a busy week for me, not a lot of time for writing here, but today, I am taking a little break to update a little. My two pictures are not the best, I will get some better ones up, especially after the bed is made. I just really love this bed, it is a really heavy one, I forgot how heavy. It is made of cast iron and brass.

And here is the first blanket, I am hoping to get another one done this weekend. I still need to make a pillowcase in the matching print. I am so happy to have gotten this far already. Most all of my materials are from yard sales, and so I am happy to finally get started on them. Its really exciting for me.

With all the jogs, bumps, ruts and wrong ways we take on this journey of life, I can only hope and pray that I will be pleased with how it went, the things that I have learned that really matter in my life, what is important, what isn't important, how I weathered through the most difficult times in my life, and what I have learned and have to offer to not only my children and grandchildren, but to those around me that are being swallowed in this life, that sometimes can be so intimidating as to make us withdraw. 

I love my life. I am happy where I am , where I am headed, and whom I am. I know that I have made plenty of mistakes, and  I still stumble and fall a lot, but I do know to pick up myself and all the broken pieces, and I keep on going.

I have learned to let go of so much that my load is so much lighter. 

I have never been so secure and confident in my life. One of the greatest factors in this journey of mine, and especially in the last few years is my faith in God, and prayer. I know for some this isn't the way they would like to go, but I do know for me that what I have experienced is a part of something far greater than I can imagine.

Love to everyone, I hope for a very happy well weekend.