still trying (#535 - 549 of 1000 gifts)

"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try." - Beverly Sills

I think we are experiencing the longest spring ever! The peonies that were tight little balls over a week ago are still clenched and waiting for the sun. We're all waiting for the sun which, of course, makes it much easier to tidy up writing loose ends in preparation for summer...


535. In that vein, I finished a big project, first begun almost two years ago and sent it on its first outing. It has anchored me in duty for so long I now feel like my balloon has finally filled with helium and I'm taking off!


536. A little poem I wrote got featured in TS Poetry Press's daily newsletter. So honoured.

537. Drifts of wildflowers.

538. A Word Guild Writing award for a book review I wrote. Most very grateful and honoured. And a big congratulations to all other winners!


539. Two dozen roses to celebrate the week of our anniversary.


540. A fun book launch. The Violet Flash by Mike Mason is second in the series following The Blue Umbrella. Here is Mrs. Mike in her little book shop.

541. I met Luci Shaw!! Here she is talking with Mike Mason and Ron Reed (they are all in the same writer's group — a modern version of the Inklings I'm sure!).

542. Here is Mike under his magical blue umbrella.

543. Hubby and me, 30 years ago yesterday. 

544. To celebrate our anniversary yesterday we went for a walk along the White Rock promenade and then for a Greek lunch. As you can see, the UV index was very tolerable.

545. Enjoyed a little drama between some crows hassling a bald eagle.

546. I love all the flower boxes along the walk. Every restaurant has different flowers presented in different ways. I was so charmed by these delicate pansies.

547. And how about these black and yellow petunias! 

548. Have been reading heavy-ish non-fiction lately, so yesterday dipped into something lighter. I am enjoying Angela Hunt's The Fine Art of Insincerity (a free gift from her sister's contest - thanks so much, Angela!).

549. For my husband and father of our kids - a true man of God. Hubby - you're the best!!

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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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walking through june (#517 - 534 of 1000 gifts)

"It is solved by walking." - St. Augustine

Unbelievably it's already almost mid-June. How does this happen? My June is bulging with largish projects to complete before holidays. Things took a definite turn for the better when I set my mind to complete one of those projects last week — and did. There's nothing like getting one item crossed off my list to make me feel positive about the tasks still remaining. As the quote above implies, walking — making progress slowly but surely — is one way to make that happen.

Additional items on my gratitude list from last week:

518. A bush covered with its own lace doily. 

519. Hubby drove me into Vancouver for my poetry group meeting. (How sweet is that. I know, I'm a wimp - I hate driving into the city. But I was quite prepared to take transit)


520. Computer Spellcheck and Grammar checker.

521. Critters. This might be the same rabbit that appeared here last week.

522. No postal strike - yet!

523. Purple lovelies - wild clover in the grasses...

524. and a perennial geranium I pass every day.

525. Irises. This is one of three blooms (yes, only three) in my very own garden.

526. A wonderful afternoon spent messing with photos. I put new family photos in most of the frames around the house. Used my little HP photo printer for that. Great gadget!

527. A visit from a long-time friend. So nourishing.

528. Blow-up air mattress that inflates in seconds and deflates just as fast.

529. The yellow water irises are out.

530. So are the water lilies.

531. More critters. We saw these families of geese yesterday on a walk near Fort Langley.

532. Blackberries in the making.

533. The smell of wild roses everywhere -- incredible!

534. Beautiful, romantic foxglove.

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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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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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"...everything which is yes" (#487-503 of 1000 gifts)

"I thank You God for this most amazing day; for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes." - e.e. cumings

Here is my gratitude photo essay for the week that just was...

487. A wonderful Victoria Day with son, walking the False Creek paths and having ice-cream at Granville Market.

488. A bit of wayside encouragement.

489. Continuing rains and cool weather which means everything is very green and very lush.

490. A lone frog singing his froggy song.

491. Exquisite yellow wildflowers.

492. A lady passerby's peppery perfume.

493. Blossoms everywhere — these on a tree along our walk.

494. Bells.

495. Pink freckles.

496. Currant blossoms from my own back yard. Look at the sassy red tips (anthers, I think they're called) on their stamens.

497. My own little flower garden with all the babies I put to bed on Saturday.

498. The perfect conjunction of some mail needing to go to my nephew Africa and someone to take it.

499. Yesterday a walk along the dyke at the Nico Wynd Golf Course.

Drum roll please — we're halfway to 1000!!!

500. The eagle nest is still there and obviously active with one of the parents standing guard.

501. Broom is in bloom. Can you find the bee?

502. Even grasses are beautiful.

503. A flotilla of five families!

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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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