Nelson's Grove

If you look closely and have a great imagination you can see the duck and turtle sitting on some reed hiding in the brush.
For a windy day and a cell phone camera these aren't so bad. NOT.
The colors on these fowl are beautiful. Guess you will have to go there and find out for yourself, cause the pic did not capture the hues and vividness.

So I had NO IDEA there was such a beautiful park so close to home. I had heard mention of "Nelson's Grove". But not enough to spark enough interest to find where it was. Now I know- GO if you get the chance. Make up a reason to take the grand kids here. They will L-O-V-E it!

Next visit will include a picnic blanket, food for the people, bread for the ducks, a camera, and relatives under the age of seven.

My Dad, Einstein

For Halloween I suggested to my dad that he dress up- as Einstein. He has always had the IQ for that role. Now he has the hair.

One day I spent my lunch break going for a walk with Dad and Olivia. Dad was eager to get out of the house for a while. It is such a blessing for my dad that mom got this motorized chair when she was so sick this time last year. (she never used it) Dad was ready to go before I drove up to his house.
I didn't get to eat much for lunch- but who needs food when you have sunshine and family?

Walnuts and a Puddle

I drive by our old house often since my parents live on the same street. On one such drive-by I was reminded of yet another thing I will not miss from that house. The Black walnut trees lining the front property are gorgeous in the fall as their leaves change from a young green to a very vibrant yellow. The sight of those gorgeous trees always brought a warm smile to my face. It was the plop, plop of nuts hitting the tops of vehicles or the hard thumps as the nuts hit the driveway which were tiresome. Just walking across the lawn took extra care as a foot trying to balance on one of those nuisance nuts could sprain an ankle of at the least make exasperating words escape a persons lips.
Another silly memory is of the day MANY years ago, where we had to repair a sunken driveway. Part of the driveway is built over an irrigation ditch. One day, after years of being a good driveway, the pressure of A VERY LARGE and HEAVY piece of construction equipment used by the city was too much for our old fragile driveway to withstand. For a short time we had a marvelously dangerous hole in our driveway. This specific memory is of the day the cement was poured and two adult men were in the front yard arguing on how to level the wet cement as to prevent water from accumulating on the surface when bad weather would arrive. Neither of them would listen to me or my idea. I could see that what they were planning was not the solution to this pending problem. My experience with the male species is that it is usually more important to 'just get it done' than it is to get it done correctly. My suggestion was completely overlooked. From that day forward whenever it rained, snowed or anything of that like, I was reminded of that day and that conversation and how two men would not, could not put a bit more thought and care in the task at hand. Yes- EVERY time I was out sloshing water and slush from that spot in the driveway I was reminded of how bull-headed some men can be.
So as I drive by this home with walnuts in a pool of water in the driveway, I smile and am glad it does not belong to me.
Life really is grand. :)

Observance = Cleverness = 'Ah ha'

Decades ago I had a teacher who passed out a quiz to each of the students telling us it was to test our ability to follow instruction. At the top of the page were the instructions to read through the test before beginning. One of the first items said to stand up and twirl three times. Another required the test taker to call out their favorite color. You get the idea. It was a noisy quiz. At the bottom of the page it said something like this: Now that you have read through this quiz sign your name here and turn this paper into the instructor. I was one of the few who completed this task correctly. What did I do differently than the other students?

I Love Vintage Stuff

. . . including my husband. Found this pic (on Bruce's desktop) taken in 1955. My bet this is his mom's mom who is holding him. Most likely taken in or around Elma, Washington.
How adorable. Love this guy!

I Looked Out My Window

Two of my bird feeders are in view from the kitchen window. Don't get any ideas in your head that I spend any significant amount of time in the kitchen- cause I don't. For the rare times I do venture in the kitchen I generally get a peek at a few cute birds.

Sometimes they peek at me.

Sometimes this bush jiggles
due to the quantity of birdies hiding there.

And sometimes I take pictures even though

the sky is cloudy and a screen is between me and my subject.

Repentance Requires Forgiveness

I would like to share a few of the notes I recorded during Relief Society lesson this morning. The topic of Repentance was presented by Liz Lambert, a new gal in our ward- yup even newer than me.
What I recorded in my spiritual journal were comments shared by sisters in the class. One of these days I will actually know the names of each of these gals. Hopefully that doesn't take me fifteen years cause I'm not sure all of these girls have that many years left. I love these ladies because with all their wisdom and life experience comes the ability to laugh at life itself. Their testimonies of Christ and their faith in the gospel they strive to live each day shows in their faces and in the endless service and love they give.
Here is a summary (in my words) of bits of knowledge and testimony shared during RS meeting today.
- The commandment to forgive is one commandment which the promised blessing comes very quickly. The peace comes completely and quickly to the one who truly forgives in their heart. (I have experienced this one many times for myself.)
- Having a constant state of forgiveness makes it so others have no power over you. (think of the feelings you harbor or the poor choices you have made when you have allowed someone's wrong towards you overcome your thoughts.)
- Christ has already paid the price for that sin against you- He asks that YOU forgive.
- Not forgiving yourself is a tool Satan uses against us in attempting to make us miserable like unto himself.
- Forgiveness equals Freedom