A Walk in the Arboretum

The clouds have been gathering and the sky is getting dark.  Soon I will begin to hear the sound of raindrops on the roof which will probably last the rest of the afternoon and into the night.  Last week however, it was a different story as my cousin came to visit and we were able to enjoy a lovely walk in the sunshine at the Evergreen Arboretum located in one of our local parks. It's not very large which makes it a perfect place for me to enjoy all the beautiful plants without getting overtired.  There are many types of evergreen trees in this garden.  However, I was more interested in the flowers and shrubs.

Here were the last of the late summer dahlias still in bloom and such a pretty shade of yellow tinged with peach.

Nearby was a section filled with different shades of pink and purple.

I don't know if this is a type of fuschia or something else altogether.  The color combination is striking.

This bench was the perfect place to stop and take a break and to enjoy the tranquility surrounding us before moving on to navigate the steps up to the fountain.

  

 

The green leaves on this maple tree won't begin to turn golden until November, but the seed pods have already turned a bright orange-red, and it won't be long before the wind causes them to propel down from their clusters like tiny little helicopters.  When my children were small they used to love to watched them slowly spinning down to the ground.

Autumn seems as though it has barely touched this garden, but the trees in other parks in the area are telling a different story.  Across the way from the pool where The Investigator and I go for some of my Physical Therapy  these trees have already shed many of their leaves leaving a crunchy carpet to walk upon.

And once again, I have brought a taste of autumn indoors.

If you look through the windows you can see the autumn colors both outside and in.  So I leave you with this wonderful quote by Albert Camus which says everything I feel about this time of the year. 
  

"Autumn is a second spring

when every leaf is a flower" 

 Thank you for stopping by. Adieu.

 

Remembering Oso

It was a quiet summer for us this year, but as the warm summer days have drifted into Indian Summer and now the beginnings of Autumn we decided Saturday was a perfect day to take a leisurely drive.  I truly love the fall with its crisp sunny days and chilly nights.  It always makes me feel much more energetic than during the warm, lazy days of summer.

We decided to head North and East with no particular destination in mind, just enjoying the beautiful blue skies and open farmland nestled under the Cascade Foothills.

 

 After a couple of hours in the car we stopped here at the North Fork of the Stillaquamish River so I could stretch the stiffness out of my leg.  

Ordinarily when I would spot a trail like this I would be on my way to see where it ended up.  But it was much too rocky to attempt with a cane and I have come too far in my recovery to make a mistake now that could cause a fall.

 So, I contented myself with enjoying the lovely view from above.

 As the afternoon progressed we found ourselves driving past the site of the terrible Oso landslide which took place March 22, 2014. The slide covered over one square mile blocking the highway and filling the river with mud and debris.  Forty-three people were killed and forty-nine homes or buildings were destroyed.  The American flag was posted on the top of a tree trunk, all that was left of the home that once stood there.

We live a little less than 30 miles from where this took place and every community was shocked and devastated.  More than 600 people took part in the search and rescue efforts. One month later President Obama took the time to come out to meet and comfort the survivors and families who had lost loved ones.  

While spending time near Oso was a sobering experience we very much enjoyed our little outing and look forward to more of them as I get stronger and stronger.  I know it has been a while since I have been here myself, but I do thank you for stopping by and please feel free to leave a comment if you like. Adieu!

A Beautiful Quilt

I recently had a friend who is very dear to my heart stop by for a visit.  She brought me the gift of a beautiful quilt she had made for me.  Guess she had checked in with my mom to see what some of my favorite colors are.  I cried when I opened it, thinking of how many hours she spent making something so lovely just for me.

She lined the back with a soft fluffy material that makes it not just beautiful but so warm and cozy.  I am going to love snuggling up with this.

It has been quilted with this beautiful heart design that will always remind me that I have received a true gift of love from the heart.  

 God continues to show me day after day how much he loves me through my family and friends.

And for those of you who have been praying for me I want you to know that I am doing well.  I can now stand on my own and am walking with a walker.  I hope to soon be able to move to a cane.  The journey to recovery is long and hard but God is faithful. 

 May he bless you exceedingly.

A Picture Frame of Blessings

I was wheeling myself into the kitchen a couple of days ago when I looked up at the table and noticed this lovely scene.  It made me think of a perfectly framed picture of the blessings I have been receiving during my time of recovery.

 A vase filled with lovely yellow flowers brought by a friend who stopped by to spend the morning with me.

 A basket that was filled a few days before with a delicious meal of hot soup, fresh cornbread and love.  A beautiful devotional book too.

 The 1928 version of The Book of Common Prayer, a wonderful and thoughtful gift sent to me by my cousin who remembers my Anglican roots.

A gift of beauty for the eyes.

A gift lovingly prepared to nourish the body.

A gift of prayer to nourish the soul.

Eucharisteo

Amen

An Accident

I sit in my wheelchair looking out at the winter garden.  The apple trees are only partially pruned and the bird feeders are empty. But I feel a sense of gratitude to be alive.  In the midst of the pain, the nausea from too many drugs and the frustration of being unable to walk or move freely God’s grace is with me.

It was five weeks ago when our lives took a pain filled and unexpected turn as we were returning to our car after a night out at the local ice hockey game.  As we walked across the street (in the crosswalk with the light) I suddenly heard someone shout out just as something struck us from the side and everything went black.  A car without lights on had come down the hill, run the red light and hit us.  The Inspector was knocked forward to his knees and had a cracked rib but I was thrown and landed about 15 feet from him.

When I regained consciousness I was on the ground unable to move.  I was surrounded by people.  Someone was holding my head and trying to stop the bleeding that was coming from my forehead and I could hear a woman asking me questions as she tried to keep me awake. I could hear sirens in the background. I began to understand that I was really hurt and I needed
to try to stay present if I could.  I had a concussion, my nose was cracked and I couldn’t move my legs. My next thoughts were, if I was hurt then where was my husband?  I began asking for him and was he all right.  They kept telling me he was ok but I was so afraid that maybe he was really hurt or even that he might have died and they weren’t telling me.  It wasn’t until we were transported to the hospital and a kind police officer was able to truly assure that me that the love of my life was really all right. God is so good.

The damage to my hip and pelvis was such that I was immediately transferred to the Harborview Trauma Hospital in Seattle.  I spent two weeks there after a 9 1/2 hour surgery to put everything back together again.  Two more weeks in a skilled Nursing Facility and I was finally able to come home.
I have now been home a little over a week and while I am getting stronger every day, it’s going to be many weeks before I am allowed to even try walking.

During this entire time, in spite of his own injuries my sweet and beloved husband has been by my side every single day.  Our children have rallied around, taking turns bringing their dad down to the hospital in the early days, bringing or arranging meals and stepping in whenever needed.  I have been blessed and surrounded by good friends who have prayed and called, sent notes of encouragement and visited.  God has shown me how much my friends and family truly care about us and that has been a wonderful gift.

What God ordains is always good and I am trying hard to keep my eyes and heart open to what he is working in my life.  So, no pictures today just a heartfelt gratitude and a prayer that each of you who are reading this would know the riches of God’s blessings today.

Winter Wanderings

Saturday afternoon The Investigator and I decided to take a winter drive to clear the cobwebs from spending too much time indoors.  We headed north into the farming country of Skagit County passing old farmhouses, barns and empty muddy fields.

Off in the distance we could see flocks of snow geese which have migrated down from Alaska and Siberia.  Thousands of them arrive every winter.  Unfortunately, we were unable to get a close look at them this trip, so the photo below is from a girlfriend who was in the area last week and was lucky enough to see a flock resting by the side of the road.
 

Eventually, we ended up in the little town of LaConner nestled along the Swinomish Channel between the mainland and Fidalgo Island.  In the spring and summer these little streets are bustling with tourists stopping to enjoy the farm produce and to boat along the channel.  This day the skies were overcast, the breeze was blustery and cold, and the boardwalks were empty.

In the distance you could see the Rainbow Bridge which crosses the Swinomish channel and takes you onto the Swinomish Indian Reservation.

Back on the main street we burrowed into our coats, and with hands in pockets, took a little walk peeking in the windows of the local art galleries and enjoying the peaceful courtyard gardens between buildings.

We wandered into a couple of shops including this old fashioned general store.

I have been seeing these little sipping broths in several places recently.  Has anyone tried them?

Lavender farming has become very popular in the area and this sweet smelling shop, showcasing local Lavender products, looked interesting.  

I loved this lavender wreath and was tempted to bring it home.  Perhaps another time.

 We took a late lunch in a little bakery restaurant, redolent with the delicious smells of fresh baked bread.

Homemade bacon and mushroom quiche with fresh clam chowder, Yumm!  I was halfway through it before I realized I wanted a picture.

The days are short this time of the year and by the time we had finished it was time to leave if we wanted to be home before dark.  I have already decided not to wait so long to come back to this lovely spot but for now it's time to call it a day.  Adieu!