The Magical Blue Bicycle Built for Two

A Post Both Past and Present

A neighbor gave my son this wonderful old bicycle, but it needed new tires
and lots of other work too get it up and running.

What a great license plate.

WOW! He did it. It really is road ready!

And they are off! Eloise and Dad.

This turn put them to the test...but they made it.

I about had a heart attack for fear they were going to flip.

Eloise and the tiger. She is fearless.

And here you have my baby...my one and only granddaughter.

She’s now 10 years old, in the fifth grade, and LOVES

that hat. As you can imagine, she wears it all the time.

“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.”
~H.G. Wells

If you ask me...every family needs a blue bicycle built for two.

The Genie Is Out of the Bottle

 Some days I feel full of vim and vigor, full of life 

like these beautiful plants.

 Then there are the others when my back pain returns with a vengeance, my chronic anemia takes over, or I enter into one of my periods of “the down in the dumpies” or as the doctors call it...depression. At times I am not worth a hoot so I just stay at home reading, resting, and sometimes quilting. If I can get out, I go and visit my patients as I am a Hospice volunteer caregiver. I continue to substitute when I can.This is the first time I have had the strength to even mention it openly, but I guess it is time to share this tidbit with all of you. I am in the process of accepting the reality of my not being able to do many of the things I so loved doing. I do not want to focus on this, but rather just accept I have no control over it and move ahead with the rest of my life living it to the fullest. There are so many in far more pain than I, fighting far more serious illnesses, and who are hurting far worse than I. As a Hospice volunteer, I see this whenever I make a visit.  As I leave, I always feel uplifted. It makes me so happy to bring some love and companionship and to ones so ill and alone. I am very thankful for the blessings I have.  It was just time to let you all know so you could understand why I come in and out on my “Genie Bottle”... aka...my computer. O.K. Now, I have said it - shared it - and I’ve closed that book. It’s good to be back. My love to all of you.

I Have Finally Picked Up My Camera Again

In Memory of My Dear Friend, Melanie

Yes, I am back trying, with great difficulty, to relearn what I was doing when I decided to close up my computer and put it away at a time which seems to be years ago though it has not really been that long. The saying is true....if you do not use it you lose it, and I have definitely lost it somewhere in this old head of mine.  It is so hard to reteach myself. I cannot figure out to locate a picture on the page or how to add type. Where is my dashboard. How do I add my beloved textures.  It’s turning out to be a very slow process, but I am enjoying it. My family is on the mend, but I try not to think about what the sat year and a half have been like. Photography seemed to be calling me so here I am.  Since I last posted, I have become a Hospice volunteer caregiver, and I adore my hours with my patients. What a meaning and touching experience for me. I visit Melanie’s mother twice a week. On Mondays we eat lunch together, and on Thursdays we go out with a friend to looks at wildflowers. I substitute every now and then when my back will allow it. Right now I am at my son’s in Richmond. I came to see his 10 year old, Eloise, dance with the Richmond Ballet. Oh, my, what a treat for a grandmother’s eyes! Then, Saturday my other son from Baimbridge Island is flying in for a quick visit with his brother, Gene, Patti, Eloise, and me. Buddy is still running his Ultra Marathons, and this weekend tried to do a 100 miler over in West Virginia, but he became seriously ill at about the halfway point.  Sleet and rain, shivering and chattering, vomiting, eyes glazed, and making no sense, so I had to drive out at 1AM they narrow and curving WV unlit road to get him. He really scared me this time. I tell you...he is like the Ever Ready Bunny. HE WILL NOT STOP. I am so proud of him. He says he is going to do it next year...he was running 4 minute miles, singing, and having a wonderful time when it all hit. Hope to start visiting all of your blogs again soon. Take care, and it is my wish that this finds all you, my dear blogging friends, well and happy. I am not posting to any blog sites, yet. Am just dipping my old feet into the water a wee bit at a time.

(This is one of the lilies a friend sent after Melanie passed away a month ago from pancreatic cancer. The little chair is made from a champaign top.)

~True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable.” Dave Tyson Gentry

 “Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”

                                                         ~  Mark Train
  " True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable.” 
                                                    ~ Dave Tyson Gentry
                                                           

The Canna-Bus

While my son, his wife, and our Eloise were visiting his brother and family near Seattle, he spotted this bus as his wife and daughter were crossing the street.  It was such a one-of-a-kind picture I just had to share it with you all. It makes me grin.We are definitely living in a changing world.

Join is the Lesley’s Signs, Signs to see some great examples of unusual signs.

Lots of Bright Yellow

Come and join us at the following birding memes:

           

Wild Bird Wednesday

The Bird D’Pot at id-rather-b- birdin

Cranberry Bogs ~ West Virginia

On Saturday, August 16th, Buddy and I drove over to WV to walk through Cranberry Bogs. This time there were flowers to see and lots of pictures to take. After a long summer inside, it was heavenly to get back out in the woods. The day was gorgeous and the temperature perfect. We had the best time. There’s a bunch of photos in this post, so just whippy-doodle right on through them. I culled lots, but these were my favorites.

These are all taken along the boardwalk through the glade.

WHY? ALWAYS THE GRAFFITI :-(

AGAIN.....WHY??? ALWAYS THE GRAFFITI :-(

These are the flowers we saw. They were all so pretty.

Here we have some bees and a hummingbird moth.

Some Mushrooms





Two Views from the Top of the Nature Trail with the Blue Skies

This post is linked with:

~Our World Tuesday

~Outdoor Wednesday

~NF BloMa

~Floral Friday Foto

~Today’s Flowers

~Skywatch Friday

~I Heart Macro

~Scenic Weekends

~Camera Critters

~Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Woods Creek Trail in Black and White

Wood’s Creek Trail is one of the prettiest walks in the city of Lexington. It wanders along the creek through Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute. There are low water bridges, the old iron one going into our little town, and then the tall one connecting the W and L campus to the sorority houses. A few days ago Buddy went down there with his iPhone and captured these special shots in black and white. They were so pretty I decided to post them for him. He is busy setting up his blog...finally. I have been trying to get him to do it for years. Can’t wait to see it up and running. The address is http://thevirginiacreeper.blogspot.com.

 The old iron bridge at the city limits running above Wood’s Creek.

 One of the longer footbridges. It is another low water bridge.

Approaching the little tunnel with the big connector bridge above.

Wood’s Creek runs along the right of there path going thru the tunnel. When you want in, it feels like there is an air-conditioner blowing on you it is sosososo cool.

 Can’t you feel the coolness in this shot. It is a magical spot.

Here are some pictures from our little neck of the county. 

A ray filled sunrise.

I think a little gnome could pop out from here at any moment.

The beloved basketball net. They never grow old.

This post is linked with:

~Our World Tuesday

~Outdoor Wednesday

~Water World Wednesday

~Today’s  Flowers

~Skywatch Friday

~Weekend Reflections

~Weekend in B/W