Happy New Year

My Last Frill of 2007

She was my Last frill my last peony this year
~~This is my Last post of 2007 ~~

I look back on this past years posts and
seek out soulful markers ..
illustrations of my expression.. my feelings and photos
dear to my heart.
Sit awhile with me won't you and
I'll take you back to my favorite meaningful & memorable postings of 2007
*CLICK on titles below
~~~
Jan. Birthday Babie .."it had been a year of darkness"
Feb. Dear to My Heart .."fully engaging my heart and soul"
Mar. Blogiversary .."one year ago I did not know"
April. Sunshine Kisses .."the sun streams in"
May. Mothers Day Love .."in the heavens above"
June. Heaven Scent Daisy .."tears shed"
July. Goodbye Freddi .."just this side of heaven"
Aug. Positive Energy .. "attract only peace"
Sept. Two Hearts .."a love song in our hearts"
Oct. The Last Time .."though I cling tenaciously"
Nov. Snow Roses .."their brief blossoming life"
Dec. December Rose .."we set on a journey"
~~

~Peace Light~
May we continue to inspire encourage and care
for our world and each other..
passing around our Peace Light as we move
forward to a New Year
A Happy Healthy and Peaceful New Year to you all!
*
Here's two thoughts for New Year:
"never lose a chance to tell someone you love them
never accept a closed door in life; push it open
if you want to pass through and
experience what lies on the other side!"
*author unknown
*
hugs naturegirl xo

Snowmen

"Friendship is a knot which angel hands have tied"
*whimsical art work by: Lucy Ogletree
Canadian Folk Artist
*
May we all embrace our cherished memories
with family and friends during
Christmas week.

Holiday Spirit

Window view with Holiday Spirit
*
*I took this photo day before my accident at my
best friends home not realizing then
that I would be posting a series of *window views

Holiday decorating in my home..
with all the details big and small..

making spirits bright!

Being together with loved ones during the holidays
is what makes Christmas the most wonderful
time of year!
May the Spirit of Christmas that forever endures
leave its rich blessings in the hearts of
YOU and YOURS!
hugs naturegirl

The White Bone

Sleigh Bells Ring are you listening..

A view from *my friends window..
the ivy still survives after several snow storms!

*taken day before my accident

Books that I have chosen to read..
*the white bone Canadian author* Barbara Gowdy
If elephants could tell just one story it would be
the story of MUD, a young elephant cow orphaned
at birth.. her story and journey away from human savagery.
*the Secret *Rhonda Byrne..
wisdom from modern-day teachers..
secrets that have brought joy & harmony to their lives.
*Joy Breaks Spiritual refreshment for women
served with a smile!
*Pasty Clairmont. Barbara Johnson. Marilyn Meberg
and Luci Swindoll

**MOVIE REVIEW**
Run to your video store rent.. buy
ARCTIC TALE
**the perfect stocking stuffer or gift**
photos taken of TV screen as I watch movie

A family of 3 polar bears...
learn of their struggles for survival in the Arctic.
With continuing global warming
sea ice melts early and earlier making great
demands on the Arctic animal kingdom!
Ice breaks up too early they are stranded on floating ice rafts
and feeding hunts become more and more difficult.

Driven by hunger after waiting months for the ice to freeze
they take tremendous risks
in searching for available food sources.
Many perish long before it's time..
a baby seal just born is exposed to danger..
**
This movie shows us how family matters in the animal kingdom
This movie re-enforces that we all need to
ACT NOW... STOP climate change!!
*The Arctic's summer sea ice has shrunk by 20%
in recent decades. If the currant trend continues, the
Arctic Ocean could be virtually ICE-FREE in the summer
of 2040!!

I spent Tuesday at the fracture clinic viewing
my x-rays.
Staples removed and a NEW comfortable cast applied..

I chose the color Bubblegum PINK!!!
Woo..Hoo.. so girly!
My toes were freezing and because I don't knit
I thought I was pretty creative with cutting a wool sock
off at the foot applying a button & I end up with
2 toe warmers!!
*I am paying attention to your creative
skills when I visit your blogs
Now what shall I do with the other.. perhaps a
pom pom... but I don't know how to make them.
Suggestions please!
**enlarge photo to have a closer look

I wished for a white Christmas
and I got my wish.
I wished for a way to get around easier than crutches..
TA-DA... this wish came true also!
Santa came a little earlier.. my knight in shining armor
rented this brand new wheelie for me to scoot around
on the main floor!!
Hurrah Freedom Independence Raiding the cupboards!!
I'm free at last.. and I also have a raised toilet seat..
no more stress on lower back..whew!!
*above half of the stairs leading to main floor..
I have been sliding down on my behind..I also have
occupational therapist and physio therapist coming
to aid me in my day to day living with cast and crutches
**
I cannot believe how quickly Christmas Day approaches!
We will have mother and brother. dad- in- law and
sweet daughter and hubby around the table. My son and
family are in Arizona so we have them here in spirit.
Many of you are travelling right about now so I pray for
your safe arrival and wish you and yours a
~ blessed Christmas ~
I will continue posting photos of
"a view from windows"
and continue giving you too much information about my journey!
You are all my quiet angels sending me comments and emails
filled with love support and encouragement..
with you I will get through this!
Thank You everyone within this beautiful community of bloggers!!
**
*Stop by Pink Purl and wish Tracy in Norway
a Happy Birthday on Dec. 30!!
She is a delight and quite the gifted one
with her own Etsy shop
*
HUGS

Window Snow Storm

With yesterdays snow storm we quickly
slip into winter..
a time to appreciate nature in slumber

view from my second story window
during a harsh winter storm
*can you see the string of Christmas lights
*ENLARGE IMAGES AND EXPERIENCE THE STORM!

peace love and hope..
capturing the spirit of the season

my new companions for the next 3 mos.
*
I am sequestered to the second floor of my home and plan
to chronicle my latest of life's little challenges.
I am back on pain meds and an injection of
Fragmin into the stomach to prevent blood clots for the
next 21 days. I cannot do this so my dear husband now wears
his Florence Nightingale hat... my knight in shining armor.
*
As I wait for surgery I wonder ~WHY ME~ a question I
have never asked even when I received the diagnosis of
breast cancer in 2004.
I decide to get back to reading, a luxury I have not taken time for
in awhile. First book I picked up and don't ask me why this one..
~the Secret ~ by Rhonda Byrne
there was the answer on the first page I opened to..

"We live in a universe in which there are laws just as there is
a law of gravity. If you fall off a building it doesn't matter
if you're a good person or bad person..
you're going to hit the ground."
page 27
It's as simple as that I fell and had an accident!
*
Walking with crutches is quite difficult to master..the weight of the
cast throws off my balance. Lifting my body weight each time I take
a step is tiring after a few short trips from room to room.
The stairs petrify me I tried it once with dear H. in front of me
I have a fear of falling again. I choose to slide down on my
butt .. thank you friends who made this suggestion!
*( I am on main floor only when dear H. is home )
*
My first shower was quite hilarious..
.to avoid getting cast wet wrap to knee with kitchen garbage bag
.wrap whole leg to thigh with green garbage bag ..tape tightly
.place a metal chair and a patio table in the shower stall
.sit on towel covered chair and rest leg on patio table
.need help to lift me into shower as I fear stepping over the landing
.ahhh... the warm water feels good as I relax
. need help getting out and drying off
*I don't think I will be showering every day
*
So my friends I plan to read watch movies and
post reviews in the coming weeks.
I will post photos I have in my collection.. now that I am limited to
taking photos from the view of my windows
*
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you for your
support. prayers. emails.phone calls.
comments.suggestions ...
You lift my spirits!
hugs hop along naturegirl xo

CRACK!

Joy cometh in the morning
As with the break of day
Dark ghosts of pain and sorrow
Slip silently away

Then as dawn's finger beckons
Small birds begin to sing
And over all in blessing
Hope spreads her shining wings!
C.M.Douglas

To all my dearest Blogging community:
Where do I begin perhaps at the beginning is best.
Wednesday began with my usual routine..feed the squirrels
their peanuts and cob of corn then into the garage
to fetch birdseed to fill the feeders.
As I stepped onto the garage floorI slipped.. up went my feet
and ((((CRACK!)))) is what I heard.
Yes I fell hard and broke my right angle!
My husband had just left for work so
I called him on his cell and within minutes he was home
transporting me to the hospital. X-rays confirmed
surgery was necessary.
My ankle has a"clean break & good bones" is what the surgeon
said.. a couple of pins were inserted and I'm wearing a cast.
Recovery is 3 months! No driving for 3 months!!

I have crutches to walk with but will NOT dare to go up and down
the many stairs in my two level home!
I plan on spending much time on the second level reading. resting
visiting you. blogging. browsing through garden magazines.
All the activities
I have NOT had time for.
**
Thank you my dearest friend gardengirl
for informing many within our blog community of my mishap.
I have read your caring and heartfelt comments made at her blog
and on my previous post.
Many of you have posted my accident on YOUR blogs!!
I am so blessed in having you as friends!
Your heart lights have sent a glow to brighten up my day!
Your concern for me by sending love and healing thoughts
touches me so deeply you'll never know how much!
As I lay on the operating table praying I felt many of your spirits
surrounding me.
I truly believe in the power of prayer and felt the warmth of your loving touch!
You are my quiet angels
**
*I have a request of you. A treasured artist within our blog community
ALLEY also a young mother
is going through a rough patch right now and
needs our prayers. Please visit her blog and hold her in your prayers.
*
One more thing stop by LisaOceander's blog and pass along
a Birthday Greeting!!

Love you all hugs..
hop along naturegirl xo

White Christmas

~I wish for a white Christmas~
With last weeks snowfall my garden transforms
into my private winter wonderland!

the snow gives me inspiration
when decorating my home for Christmas

adding sparkling glitter to snow

snow flake glass ornaments
to trim my fragrant tree

**
Your birthday greetings and kind words full of
understanding and compassion left on my last post
warmed my heart.
Several of you commented that YOU walk this
journey with me with your parents and some of YOU
have gone this way before me...
~Let me extend my comfort to YOU~
We really didn't have a choice when fate dealt us
this hand did we.
One thing is certain...
I lifted up my heart to you and YOU extended your
hand in friendship understanding and caring ...
for this I am deeply grateful.
*to me the true spirit of Christmas giving*
**
"seek with the soul... see with the heart"

December Rose

"God gave us memories that we might have
roses in December"
J.M. Barrie

~My special December rose~
*photo taken today
~~
We set out on a journey 16 months ago with
no map to follow nor a guide. There was no way of knowing
what was around each bend. We are now on an uncharted
course. With each step I am overcome with sadness and my
heart aches because I lose fragments of her.
I wear a coat that becomes heavier with the many occurring
setbacks yet bravely I take her hand and together we
travel on. We have come a long distance travelling on
this winding road that at times I feel as though I cannot go on.
There are so many dark tunnels that frighten me but out of
the darkness there comes a special light that gives me JOY!
I gain strength from her courage to continue this
unplanned journey.
I am always at her side caring and loving her as she is now
the child and I the mother.
I come to terms with our journey... I try to
live each moment and take those precious memories
we share and tuck them in the corners of my mind.
~
Today I am sharing with YOU one of those precious memories.
Today is my mothers 83rd birthday!
The journey we travel is called Dementia..
I know not where our journey will end but I do know that
we cannot go back....
Mother HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
with much love your daughter Anna xo
~~~
"you cannot discover new oceans unless you have
the courage to lose sight of the shore"

Newly Fallen Snow

"Silently the snowflakes fall like wisps of dainty lace
Featherlike they flutter down and brush against my face
Gliding gently through the air they're caught up in the breeze
Then settle on the branches of frozen leafless trees."
Kathleen Gillum

As far as the eye can see my world is white

a blanket of newly fallen snow for
the angel to sink into and stay warm

the snowflakes settle into the branches of the holly
and dampens many sounds and the world seems
strangely quiet and still

~Blue Jay~
bright eye blue birds hop around
searching for peanuts covered with snow

~Blue jay~
leaving spiky footprints in the snow
It has been snowing all night and predicted to continue
throughout the day.
~~
My Holiday spirit begins with baking family favorite treats . deck the halls with
boughs of fresh greenery that fills the house with the scent of pine
adding some glitter and berries and ornament charm
wrapping gifts and writing Christmas cards
Honouring old traditions while welcoming new ones
is what makes the season special!
I am hosting Christmas here so I had better get busy!
*
*Let's all remember that many people who
have lost loved ones still experience occasional temporary
*upsurges of grief around holidays...
reach out to them by phone. take them for coffee /lunch.
*share your warm holiday spirit with them.
let them know YOU care!

~
* Several of you have asked me if I have recovered from the shingles.
My journey has lasted 4 months.. I have weaned myself off the
medications however if I try to overdue things I do experience
mild pain so I know to slow down.
I am deeply touched by your concern for me and for all the kind
messages sent my way! Your positive energy helped
brighten my spirits when I was at my lowest so thank you
blog community and big HUGS to you all!