mother

Fawns and Doe

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Thursday Challenge

Next week: GREEN (Food, Trees, Clothing, Food, Vehicles,...)

supreme

Green Sea Turtle basking in the sun 

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The Green Sea Turtle is the largest hard-shelled sea turtle, according to Wikipedia and The Hawaiian Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) site. What was this turtle doing on the beach near our Polynesian Shores condo (Maui) on the sunny January afternoon we saw it? According to the Hawaiian Green Turtle site above, it was probably basking:

"One interesting behavior of the Hawaiian green turtle is its fondness for crawling ashore at isolated sites in order to bask. Basking is rare among marine turtles, and has been observed in only a few populations in the Pacific. Hawaiian green turtles bask, but this behavior seems to be limited to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It is thought that they do this for thermoregulation (they like to warm up in the sun), resting (they like to sleep in the sun), and perhaps for protection from tiger sharks (they don't like to be eaten). Sounds just like people to us."

Thursday Challenge

Next Week: SYMMETRY (Balanced, Similar, Rhythmic, Centered, Harmonious,...)

movement

Squirrel in Motion

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Thursday challenge

Next week:  SUPREME (Largest, Tallest, Best, Highest, Fastest, Ultimate,...)

family special (#1024-1036 of gifts unending)

"Put a grain of boldness into everything you do." - Baltasar Gracian

I can hardly believe that the first long weekend of the summer is already history. Hubby and I packed up and drove east to visit the kids for part of he Canada Day long weekend. Of course they figure largely in my list this week.

1024. The new shed and grassed back yard are the perfect place to play.

1025. We're so proud of Liam who has learned to ride his bike in the last few days.

1026. Little Myelle is getting cuter every day. Love the trendy leggings to go with her green top. Yes, it's summer, but those baby knees need protection even in summer during the crawling stage.

On Friday Ernie and I explored a new-to-us park - McArthur Island.

1027. I loved the Butterfly Garden (which was partly underwater).

1028. ...and the Saskatoon berries found in the native plants section.

1029. But the real treat was sighting a painted turtle lounging on the log with the ducks.

1030. Along with a lot of flickers.

1031. and a bold little beggar.

1032. Plus the marmots. I think they basically own the park.  I took so many marmot photos, I've put together a little gallery.

1033. The weekend had some special hours of Grandma time—like Saturday morning when the kids and I lounged about on the hide-a-bed, watching Bambi.

1034. I came away wishing I had young eyes again. Liam and David see everything! Liam spotted a moth on the ceiling and another well-camouflaged one on the stair rise.

1035. On Saturday Ernie and I took a walk along the dike beside the North Thompson as well. Though we managed to get to the riverside trail and travel along it for a bit, the water soon chased us to higher ground. Here's a spot where the path normally dips to lower ground—washed out of course.

1036. Saturday afternoon we all went to McArthur park for another walk. Here is the little family, out walking in their various ways.

1035. We saw the turtle again too!

1036. This week I am waiting for my shipment of books to arrive. While I wait, I'm doing a little promotion. Pre-order Destiny's Hands by Saturday, you get it for only $15 (regular retail $17.99) and I'll pop it in the mail for you as soon as they arrive.  Email me to set it up.

christmas is knocking (#776-791 of 1000 gifts)

Christmas comes in softly

Soon you see it there,

In fancy foods and children's eyes,

Holly wreaths and angel hair ...

... Christmas comes in softly

As a feeling in the air;

Keep your heart alive and listen:

See and hear it everywhere!"

- D. R. Barnes (From Christmas Ideals 1978)

The second advent candle signifying preparation was certainly appropriate for the week that was. I decorated my house this week, something I've started doing in stages, which makes the job much more fun than doing it in one marathon day. And the Christmas activities have began. Both of these seasonal traditions figure into my gift list this week...

776. The special guest at our women's Christmas event was Sarah Schieber. (She popularized the song "Christmas in Heaven.") We were touched by her story and so enjoyed her music.

777. An added gift was spending the evening with my sister.

778. Getting a couple of first drafts done—early! (Now for a little spit-and-polish, and they'll be ready to send off to their respective editors.)


779. A Christmas banquet with hubby.

780. There Johnny Forrest (of Don Messer fame—yes we are old-timers) entertained us with songs from bonny Scotland.

781. Some gorgeous winter days where the colours are subtle, but still present. Now we depend on twigs to tint the scene.

782. Meeting with cousins. Though the occasion was sad (a funeral) the time was rich.


783. Reflecting on a life well lived.

784. Happening to sit beside the lady who bought my mom's suite (you could call that a sweet serendipity).


785. We're lighting advent candles at church. (We are not of the liturgical persuasion and this is something new. I love it!)

786. A wonderful Sunday with first a service at our favourite church, followed by one of our favourite walks, then lunch at one of our favourite restaurants, and finally home to watch curling, my favourite sport!

Mud Bay Park - Surrey, B.C.

787. Critters—we saw several on our Sunday walk. A heron was fishing in a tidepool.

788. A racoon was up in a tree. Why?

789. Perhaps he was in a standoff with these eagles, perched nearby? 

790. Tansy, still smiling its cheery yellow smile even though it's December.

791. Now that the house is decorated, I love the long sparkly evenings of December. This is my favourite decoration. 

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

liquid

Belugas viewed from underwater at the Vancouver Aquarium

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Thursday Challenge

Next week: WOODEN (Ship, House, Furniture, Carpentry Tools, Trees,...)

simple pleasures (#504-516 of 1000 gifts)

"In the end, what affects your life most deeply are things too simple to talk about." Nell Blaine

My gratitude list and photos for the week that was...

504. Nearing the finish line on a long project.

505. Roses are out! These days their fragrance adorns most of our walks.

506. Working with Scrivener — great software for all kinds of writing projects.

507. A bunny sighting.

508.  A coffee date with good friends from long ago.

509. Canada's National House of Prayer. The Parkers who oversee it were at church on Thursday. They told us many stories of answered prayers in regard to government. Through efforts of the National House of Prayer there are people praying in the Gallery of the House of Commons whenever parliament is in session.

510. French lavender.

511. How about those Canucks! I'm not a hockey watcher but am pulling for the home team in my way, along with the rest of the province— would you believe the country?


512. Passport applications filed - FINALLY!

513. These wayside beauties are out. They have the clumpy name of Dame's Rocket but their perfume is delicate and besides white they come in shades of pink to mauve. 

514. A Sunday walk at Mud Bay Park. I love that place. It smells fabulous - like peppery plants and the sea and roses...

515. Seen on our walk - lupins! That's partly why I wanted to go to Mud Bay: because it's lupin season. I was not disappointed.

516. Water parsley is out too. Their flowers look like giant heads of Queen Anne's Lace.

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If you'd like to join me and many others collecting One Thousand Gifts, please do. Some members of this gratefulness community post their gifts on blogs, while others list them in private journals. Instructions on how to join are here.

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pets

Grand-dog

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Thursday Challenge

Next Week: HAPPY (Celebrations, Parties, Gifts, Enjoyment,...)