small graces...

i get so inspired by dawn over at thoughts from along the broken road and her "grace in small things" lists! she does it every day and i know i can't do that but here's a list for today: * picture windows! i LOVE my huge windows! right now from my computer, i can see outside my house: green trees, blowing in the wind, on a backround of greyblue mountains. just above the mountains hang these white puffy clouds rimmed in a contrasting edge of dark blue. accent colors: pink flowers, yellow leaves, terra cotta colored bricks of the front porch. * hot coffee. two spoonfuls of honey, a dash of half and half. mmmm. i learned to drink coffe in haiti. they served it very strong, with raw cane sugar syrup. yes. just right. * Blue Mountain Grill. right at the end of my country road sits a little highway cafe. it's so nice to be able to go less than a minute from my house and still "go out" to eat. living out in the country, you get used to everything being far away. a trip to town takes up at least half your day! and don't get me started on traffic and road construction because this is supposed to be a gratitude thing here!!!! hurray for our little cafe! * My Honey. i just don't know how to explain how incredible it is to be married to such a wonderful husband! this is not a small grace but a big giant huge grace! he has humor, faithfulness, honor, compassion, good looks and a contagious laugh. and a dash of romance in his soul. love that man of mine! * my children, who are no longer children. -my oldest daughter, jessie: bohemian like me, fun, artistic, a little eccentric like me, dramatic, loves tea shops and parasols but is in NO WAY prissy! married to a romantic gamer who loves her drama... -my oldest son, aaron: redneck, carhart man. a dramatic, charasmatic charmer married to a beautiful girl who puts up with his redneck BS and brings out the tender side of him. not in public, of course...he has an image to uphold! -my younger son, brandon: clown, comedian, full of life, full of joy, full of humor. goes through life making sure everyone is having fun and laughing... his gorgeous girlfriend is as ornery as he is and they are a perfect matched pair! they keep us entertained and laughing... -my youngest daughter, katie: only one at home now. beautiful, funny, compassionate, and has such a servant's heart. she loves to do things for other people. we've travelled all around the world with her and she makes friends wherever we go. hmmmm... long post with no pictures. next time...more pictures. i promise. don't forget to be a joy rebel, a grace observer, a wonder noticer, a bliss hunter, a gratitude lister, and full-on participant in life....

all manner of silliness...

Zig Ziglar said: "Most of us would be upset if we were accused of being "silly." But the word "silly" comes from the old English word "selig", and its literal definition is "to be blessed, happy, healthy, and prosperous." i'm extremely silly. are you? look at someone you think is being silly. see that big grin on their face? don't you want some of that?!!!! I DO!

i wish for everyone the silliest of days, weeks and lives ever.... BIG GRIN!!!

blessed life...

more berries, more bayou... that's our bohemian's day again. it's such a nice cool day today.

the bohemian left the bayou tired but happy. there was laughing and singing and sharing and dancing and lots of children's smiles... but now it was time to go to the market. where's her list? oh. here it is: parsley, deoderant for Her Honey, bread... oh! look at those nectarines! and grapes. and ice cream. oh man, fresh baked french bread. from the market, the bohemian travelled to the gas station: gas and milk. then home again, home again, jiggety, jog... oh wait! stop by Mama's Garden, the fresh vegie stand. yes, yes! tomatoes! the bohemian and Her Honey have tomatoes planted in their garden. and the bohemian had even stolen the first ripe one and ate it all by herself! but she needed MORE! cherry tomatoes, and a lovely bell pepper and a sweet onion. YUM! her gardener friend was there, so chatting and laughter and watching of adorable children. then home, at last. pizza for dinner, ice cream for dessert. cool 75 degree day. yes, the bohemian was a very happy lady today. driving home from the market, she realized how much she loved living in her valley! she drove passed the U-Pick blueberry field, the bicycle rider, the dahlia farmer out walking his dogs around the corn field, the swimmers headed for the river with their tubes, ladies chatting outside the post office... and her fabulous view of her bohemian mountain!! wow. she feels sooooo blessed! hope you do too. don't forget to list EVERY WAY you are blessed. it will make you so grateful and fill you with JOY! till next time... xoxoxo

down at the bayou...

the bohemian travelled to the bayou again today... the sunset was so awesome!! the spooky moss draped lazily from the swamp trees. it was unlike anything the bohemian had ever seen. she spied a little cabin there in the swamp...

and a lovely, graceful heron fished for his dinner in the cool, murky waters...

frogs sang their pond songs. obviously, this guy sang bass...

but then it was time to step through the waterfall curtain and return to her home...

but tomorrow.... tomorrow, she's going back to the swamp for another adventure!!! see you down at the bayou tomorrow. until then, look for the little blessings of your life, that aren't so little after all!!!

time for another gratitude fling:

* i am sooo grateful for my fan!!! we don't have air conditioning. we rarely need it. so when we have had this heat wave here in the northwest, our fan made life bearable! * our favorite game farm is in Bandon, Oregon. West Coast Game Farm...if you are EVER anywhere near there, stop in and pet baby wild animals! we've cuddled baby bengal tigers, a baby black leopard, baby linx, a baby cougar...not to mention all the deer, goats, & llamas that just run around loose waiting for you to feed them.

* next year's firewood which will keep us toasty warm!

my daughter (she might be a tree nymph...)

my other daughter (she might be a bohemian like me!)

my cozy cottage in my little village with the wildly wonderful views

my bower...

what are YOU grateful for? come on, take a gratitude fling, won't you? betcha can't do it and not end up with a big smile on your face... i double dog dare you...

just a peek...

just a peek into this bohemian's whereabouts... first thing in the morning before the heat hits, she's out at the blueberry bush, gathering berries (to go on top of her ice cream...mmmmm!) to put up in the freezer. one for the bucket, two for the mouth....yum!

then, she travels to the bayou... the Bible Bayou Vacation Bible School. here's a peek into her bayou room:

today she created a burning bush...no, no actual fire was involved, much to the dismay of her teenage male helper... tomorrow, said helper plays the part of the Pharaoh during the plagues.

the village children will clothespin him (locusts), bombard him with paperwads (hail stones), plaster him with red dots (boils), buzz him, hop around him, etc. Should be great entertainment! i'm looking forward to it. OH YES! and songs and dancing everyday!!! cool, huh?

fabulous bohemian skies...

the evening skies over my bohemia have been so incredible lately!! thought i'd share some with you... this next one actually brought on a thunderstorm!!

the colors and light were so magical...

ahhhh! ooohhhh....

mmmm... bringing some coolness to our overheated valley!

"Deep sky is, of all visual impressions, the nearest akin to a feeling." -Samuel Taylore Coleridge feelings: contentment, peace, excitement (the thunderstorm), awe, gratefulness, joy... life is grand, isn't it?