Blessing

This week I’ve used a photo taken by a young man

who was one of my daughter’s classmates.

He and his family are in Liberia, their second extended stay there.

On their first trip (which partly was for the purpose of adoption) 

they met an orphan who they fell in love with.

She was adopted by Rusty’s family and they named her Blessing.

This shot of her just makes me feel good all over;

an image of pure joy.

what is a Blessing?

one loved little girl doing

cartwheels in the sand

Rusty is the construction manager for the ELWA hospital in

Monrovia, Liberia. (ELWA = Eternal Love Winning Africa).

 The work is being done through Samaritan’s Purse.
The project will take three years.

Goldfinch

Last week held some wonderfully warmer days.

While I lounged on the couch, recovering from a cold,

I left the door open to hear bird activity in the back yard.

This American Goldfinch spent the better part of the day

perched in the neighbor’s maple tree singing away.

I know he was advertising for a female, 

but I enjoyed it, too. He was very well camouflaged,

blending with the emerging leaves and seed pods (samara).

I borrowed the description from

A Field Guide to Western Birds by Roger Tory Peterson.

“Song: sustained, clear, light

...Canary-like” melody

singing just for me?

seedling

“X” marks its birthplace

rooted where it can’t survive

concrete cracks don’t care

rain drops

I was practicing my macro shots on Sunday

and took these of Lady's Mantle and Bleeding Heart.

 I thought of someone who's counted another sad anniversary.

The depth of that sorrow must reach beyond what can be measured.

But I also saw beauty surpassing anything Liz Taylor ever wore.

lingering rain drops

mirror the heart’s aching tears

some wounds never heal

nature’s cleansing rain

left tiny glittering drops

like liquid diamonds



Skagit Valley high

acres of tulips

vivid rainbow of colors

Skagit Valley high

armed with our Canons

we shot hundreds of photos

day with my daughter

wren

standing very still

my eyes search the underbrush

patience brings reward

daffodils

golden daffodils

bathed in the evening sunshine

declare “spring is here!”