It's a boy!!! (Gorilla!)

The loving, generous "Forever Young" was moved by a recent post of mine so she spent her time and money to make me an adoptee of a baby gorilla sponsored by The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. I'm so moved by her unselfish, huge heart, and I'm grateful for having her as a friend. Thank you Joss, from the bottom of my heart, and for making a difference in this little fellow's world.

Windowsill Joy

I like washing dishes, at least most of the time. The hot, soapy water feels good on my hands. I like the squeaking sounds as the dishes are being cleaned. It's also a good time to be grateful for the meal that was on those plates. But what I also enjoy is the quiet time as I wash the dishes. The sun often streams in that window and it warms my spirit as well as my body. Add a simple bouquet of flowers in a pretty cup and before you know it you'll catch yourself smiling. Yes, while washing the dishes!

Signs of Spring

I'm lucky to live in a place where something is always in bloom, but winters here can be bleak and gray just as in colder climates. In February, the flowering trees start to bloom. My favorites are these little cherry trees. I snapped a few pics on our way home from our morning walk, just after it started pouring and hailing. Ten minutes later, sun and blue skies! Today I'm grateful to see the sun and all of these beautiful trees.

Letters from far away

I have this dear 3rd cousin in St. Stephen , New Brunswick whom I've never met. Her birth mom was my mother's second cousin, or so my mother said. Anyway, her birth mom, Gladys, was so good to me as a child, so one day I was thinking of her and wondered if she had passed away, but most importantly, if she did, was anyone with her. After making many phonecalls I did find out that Gladys passed away and her daughter had made arrangements for someone to be with her. I asked for the daughter's name and phone number and gave her a call. We've been great friends ever since that day nearly 12 years ago! We've never met in person but we always exchange cards and gifts, and we share a love of cats and wild birds. This is a card I received from her recently thanking me for the Christmas gifts I sent, one of them being a framed piece from Illustration Friday. I just love the toothpick knitting-needles on the card...so clever!

I'm grateful for serendipitous meetings and the chance to be in an elderly person's life who has no blood relations. She has a heart as big as life and she has enriched my life enormously in return.

A Good Blanket...and a nap!

Blanket is the word for the week over at Illustration Friday. While I decide what it is I want to paint, and until I can find the time, I thought I'd post this picture of Emma and her favorite blanket. She doesn't do mornings! (And she's very grateful for her naps.)