We traveled back to Monongahela to celebrate Dan’s reunion with highschool classmates, all born in 1951 and celebrating their 75th birthday in 2026. What a wonderful party with everyone smiling, shaking hands, hugging, laughing, sharing stories and recounting memories, memories, memories!!!
Gaillardia, Fire Wheel, Sundance, Indian Blanketflower. The state flower of Oklahoma.
“As long as I’m alive, I will continue to try to understand more, because the work of the heart is never done.” Muhammad Ali
Once a puppy always a puppy. A puppy is a puppy. No matter how old or well-trained or well-behaved, a part of him remains a puppy: running and jumping into the air, spinning, wagging, humping, panting, sighing, chasing balls, begging treats and sniffing out where the hot dogs are and soft pretzels too. WOWEE WOW!!! Yesterday’s end-of-summer Puppy Pool Party was a blast. There must’ve been 15 or 20 dogs, big ones, small ones racing around smiling silly, splashing, swimming, shaking off and splattering water onto all of us owners and onlookers. WOWEE WOW!!!
Last night’s moon. It was beautiful. And so close to home, I had to take a picture. It’s not a pretty picture. I don’t mind. You’ll have to believe me, it was beautiful.
Colorful campsite. A short distance away, all their cars were parked along the gravel road at the edge of the woods. The license plate on every car was from Delaware. This made me wonder if these campers were descended from the Lenape Tribe, also known as the Delaware Nation, the indigenous “Original People” of the Greater Delaware Valley. I also read that the Lenni Lenape were highly regarded by other Native American nations and were given the name “Grandfathers” for their respected roles as peacemakers and elders.
What to write about these leaves… Leaves, leaves, nothing but leaves…but wait a minute, that leaf has eyes, sad and lonely little eyes, looking down and out and in the dumps. Makes me wonder…Do leaves on trees have feelings? Do leaves feel sad when they leave their tree and tumble all the way down, all the way down to the ground?
She: “Some mornings I’ve got nothing. I just can’t think of anything to say.” 😝
He: “Yeah yeah. Just do something.” 😘
All kitties know how to meditate. Aren’t we all buddhas? Two golden pears lean in, blushing with rosy cheeks. Green leaves never ask for much to be happy, only sunshine and water. Pinecones go on forever—symbols of immortality, fertility, creativity, protection.
It was a warm sunny day. I looked out thru the window back behind the house where the railroad tracks run. There he was pulling with sharpened teeth, happily gnashing grasses and chomping away mouthful by mouthful. I grabbed my phone to take a picture. He paused, turned his head, looked back at me then quickly waddled away up the slope and disappeared into the tall bushes near the tracks. Curious, I Googled and learned: A groundhog has four strong self-sharpening teeth crowded to the front of its mouth, can eat up to a pound and a half of grass every day, and can make a fast getaway running up to 10mph!
Lately, I’ve been paying closer attention to squirrels in the woods. They appear to be more intentionally active now, scurrying, scurrying, chittering, churling, squirreling away acorns and acorns. Surely a sign of changes to come.
This is an American Dagger Caterpillar, looks cute and fuzzy but don’t touch—it’s poisonous! I wonder if it mistook this tire for a tree, or maybe it wants to go for a ride!😉
Tucked away down beside the paved walkway, tiny parasola mushrooms, like the three musketeers leaning in, winking with mischievous smiles, tipping their hats for anyone willing to get down on hands and knees to take their photo.
Just outside the waiting room: Sun’s up. Skies are clear and hot. It’s 90° and there’s 60 pounds of ice melt waiting. Whoa, wait a minute… Is it supposed to snow? Hey, I know everything changes but, wait a minute! 😆
Walking along in the woods, down on the ground at my feet—what color! Red. My fave. What is that? Is that a feather? Is it real? Who cares. It’s so red. So bright. So bold brilliant blazing vivid vibrant intense sheeny shiny flashy smashy. I’m getting carried away.😘
