Just a Glimpse...

I love to walk... Jack and I take a daily 2~3 mile Nature walk each morning, plus I walk Tessy down the trail throughout the day for about another 2 miles... and many days, I just take a leisurely walk by myself... down the lane and around the bend... walking in quiet solitude... concentrating on the beauty that surrounds me on any given day... walking is so therapeutic... it rejuvenates my soul and clears my mind... I notice everything as I walk... from the teeniest ladybug on a flower petal by the wayside, to the rising stream that cascades alongside the little dirt road... I also love to take a little peek at the charming historic homes along the way... my imagination soars and I make up little stories about each one... longing for more than just a glimpse as I walk by... this little white cottage is one of my favorites... perhaps a sweet little grandmother and grandfather live here... waiting for their family to arrive for a sumptuous Sunday roast dinner... followed by sitting out on the porch afterwards... the grownups sipping a cup of coffee or sweet tea and the children playing in the cool grass and counting fireflies...

A little farther down the lane is this magnificent beauty... a winding little path leads to the front door... it is meticulously maintained... I notice sheer lace curtains as I try to see inside the window from the lane...

As I gingerly walk closer, my thoughts tell me a beautiful lady lives here... she loves to collect antiques and vintage items... her white ironstone collection sits on her windowsill... adding to her stunning view of her flowering crabapple tree outside her little paned window... oooh, how I want to see more... perhaps if I went to her door... and asked pretty please... yes, I shall come back on another day and do so...

A gardener lives here I am quite certain... as soft early morning sunlight awakens them, filtered by the sheer lace curtains, they open their window to let the Heavenly scent of Irises float inside...

Oooh, a fairytale cottage... surely a beautiful Princess lives here...

As I glance at the beautiful little attic window on this one... almost hidden by the now~green budding leaves on the trees, I picture someone like me... sitting there with a cup of tea... reading a favorite magazine and lazing away the day... only happy thoughts filling their mind...

Behind the little picket fence... someone also like me lives... someone who treasures traditions, and the past... a secret garden lies within... hidden amongst the beautiful old trees...

As I continue my walk back home... these stories still floating around in my mind... I wonder... does anyone walk past my house and wonder who lives there?... or who tends to the gardens and feeds the birds?... do they wonder what it is like inside, behind the lace curtained little paned windows... perhaps... maybe they too long for more than just a glimpse... perhaps I will show them one day... should they happen upon my doorstep... and ask pretty please... xoxo...

An Old~Fashioned Love Affair...

Lately my posts seem to be about my ongoing love affair with old~fashioned lavender colored blooms...

Are you falling in love too? ...

Wisteria...

A love affair...

With beautiful lavender colored old~fashioned flowers...

And beautiful old rock homes... this love affair will last forever... xoxo...

Somewhere in Time...

The morning is warm... and sunny... yet stormclouds loom dark and heavy above the mountains... with an uncanny feeling I simply cannot explain, I get in my car and drive... almost before I realize it, I am back... once more... to the little old abandoned building I have posted about here...

In that post, I described the feeling of deja vu that comes over me when I visit this most enchanting place from the past... I am drawn to this spot under a powerful spell over which I literally have no control... the roses lure me... today, I check to see if they are blooming yet, like in my photo below from last year... my dear friend Jo~Anne Coletti painted my precious roses for me... her painting is one of my most cherished possessions... the vines are tall today, but the roses shall not be in bloom until June... I already know this, so why did I drive here today... the little building has been abandoned for years... I visit here often... but I am not alone...

Someone else loves this beautiful spot as much as I... perhaps, more so... I have never encountered anyone on my visits here... yet, I sense a presence... years ago, a beautiful lady and her husband had a little store here... he tended to the store and she tended to the gardens... now, they are abandoned and neglected... or are they?... the man and woman have passed on... but I do believe they visit here often... as do I... I have shown you before how the stunning roses thrive, despite anyone taking care of them... today... on the other side of the little building, luscious Lilacs are in bloom... the bush is heavy with gorgeous blossoms... the grassy field calls out to me... it seems to say "slow down Julie Marie... sit in the cool grass and let the Lilacs take your cares away"... sometimes, I tell myself I DO need to slow down... I am always busy with something... or someone... maybe I DO need to just sit down and relax... and breathe deep... but who is telling me to do so?...

I gingerly walk around the old building, taking in every minute detail... the chipping paint and boarded up windows are pure beauty to me... then the stories begin to fill my mind... picturing how this little store once was... and the kindly gentleman who ran it... and his pretty wife who always had a friendly "hello" when I would come here with my daddy as a little girl...


I walk around front once more to collect my thoughts... a little bird flies by and hurries into the small opening in the corner of the building... ooh, what a beautiful place to build your nest little birdie... are you the one who tends to the grounds?...

I am enchanted by the old rock wall along the front... rocks that washed down the nearby canyon many, many years ago when massive rains carried them from the mountains behind me...

I try, as always, to peer inside the front window... it is screened, and dark... I cannot see inside... but, once again... I sense someone is there...

The Lilacs speak to me... begging me to stay a while longer... I glance up and see the stormclouds are now closer and the thunder that was in the distance is now all around me... yet, I cannot leave...

I have always come for the roses... in June... and late summer... I have not been here when the Lilacs are in bloom before... and today, I see rows of Iris, Flags as my mama and grandmothers called them... also growing along the side of the building... they are covered in blooms... they too whisper to me to come back... soon...

I must admit I am completely bewitched...

As I breathe in deeply, relaxing... I sense the presence once more... but I am not afraid... it is a kind and gentle presence... just like all of the other times I have come here... a voice from somewhere in time...

The rain begins to fall, a soft gentle rain... then more thunder... then the rain intensifies...

I linger a bit longer... then suddenly realize I am soaking wet... so pre~occupied I am with this little place I so love...


I take one more look... I am relaxed... a peaceful feeling comes over me... perhaps it is the Lilacs... or the Iris and Roses yet to bloom... or the falling rain... I cannot explain any of this... just like the many, many times I have visited before, I know I shall be back... again... soon... xoxo...

Rain, Rain... GO AWAY!!! ...

In my last post, I was out in the garden... enjoying a warm, sunny day for a change... but that didn't last long here in Centerville... MORE rain, not just the gentle, pitter~patter kind of rain, but the all~out downbursts kind of rain... we have had days, and days... and more days of rain... yesterday, we even had SNOW!... the mountains just east of us were all covered, and so were my gardens... that has melted now due to the rain washing it away... along with making my gardens a soggy, water~logged mess... in addition to Jack's and my daily Nature walk, come rain or shine, I now walk Tessy about two~three miles a day... so what's a mom to do when her doggie gets sopping wet???... buy her a slicker of course!...

Tessy is an English Pointer and her breed's instinct is to be in water... but Tessy is kind of a foo foo prissy missy kind of girl and doesn't like being drenched... not sure exactly how much she liked her new slicker I bought her today though either... when I told her I bought her a slicker today she was all excited until she found out it wasn't something to eat... I see I left one leg sticking out of it... these things are hard to figure out! (maybe you just have to be smarter than the slicker???)... nevertheless... she wore it on our walk down the trail... she told me after, she kind of likes it afterall, and asked for some cute flowery rain boots!... she has got her mama's number, so if there are flowery doggie rainboots out there, I reckon she will get some!...

The forecast for as far as you can see is for rain, and more rain, so for some time, my gardening will just be a "dream"... I had to move my poor flowerpots up totally under the porch roof as they too are water~logged... my worst fear is the flooding we are on floodwatch for... the snowpack we had this past winter, and the snowmelt that is yet to come, along with all of this rain, far exceeds what we had in 1983 when we had massive floods here... I admit it scares the heck out of me... the hills are so saturated, more than in "83 even, and houses literally slid down the mountain back then in the massive mudslides... walking past the stream around the bend and down the lane from our home today, I see it has risen to above peak level... nothing one can do... but wait... and pray... and look for flowery doggie rainboots... xoxo...

If You Are Looking For Me...I Am In the Garden...

Over here...
Under a magical spell... cast upon me by the Lilacs...

...intoxicated by their Heavenly perfume... caressed by their delicate blossoms... I want this spell to last... forever... xoxo...

"Home is Where the Heart Is"... Remembering Summer... It's Still Out There...

As Spring turns into Summer, my thoughts carry me back to the summers of my childhood once more... I was blessed with such a happy childhood, I return there from time~to~time... some of you joined me here last year... remember... "You aren't just the age you are... you are all the ages you ever have been"... You too are all the ages you ever have been... come with me... let your thoughts drift away with mine... we are little girls once more... at least for even just a little while...


"C'mon! It's the perfect day to put on our Keds (mine are red, what color are yours???) and hop on our bikes and head out for a day full of adventures and exploring. Hurry! There are soo many places I want to show you! My little sister Jill is coming along with us today too. She and I got into sooo many escapades as kids, but you know what? We survived! Yep, life was simple back then, and our biggest decision in life really WAS what color of new Keds to pick each summer. I am wearing my red ones today as you can see. Ok, hop on your bike and let's go! Just follow me, and the little map I sketched out below... all of these places really existed and all of the tales really are true, even the names have not been changed to protect the innocent, tee hee hee. Jill and I served "hard time" being grounded for one or two days for many of our "mis~adventures"... Our home is where the little heart is...

Let's ride our bikes up into the orchard and see if anyone's at the secret hut. Be sure to pedal fast past the old haunted house! Look! Someone just peered out from behind those ratty old curtains, I swear, honest they did! Cross my heart! Ok, we can slow down now. What's the secret hut you ask? Why, it's a hidden clearing among the trees where we all gather to tell ghost stories, of course! Hmmm, no one here today. Ok, let's check the thicket. Be careful! It's a narrow little dirt path to there. Sorry, you will need to get off of your bike here, we have to crawl through the brambles into the thicket. Are you coming??? Those stickers won't hurt you! Hmmm, no one here either, that's odd. Maybe they are all down at the swamp. I know, I know, it says "Keep Out", but we are just going in for a few minutes to check for salamanders. Darn! The old raft made out of logs has floated out into the middle of the swamp. Why WON'T you swim out and get it??? Ok, ok, we can come back another day when we can reach it. I swam out last time! Did too!!!

Let's grab an apple to munch on while we ride, Farmer Stringham doesn't care if we pick his fruit as long as we eat it. Let's ride over to Turkeyshoot Drive, it's just down the road a piece. I want to hike up to Mother of Pearl Rock. You can see FOREVER from up there! We must ride quickly past the polygamists farm! They have strange ways and we are not allowed to go there. We can sneak back another day and spy on them!!! Oooh, and the woods! The woods are rather dark, even in the daytime. I think someone is watching us! Honest, cross my heart! Can't you feel them staring at us from among the pines??? Pedal faster! Ok, now we must get off our bikes again and walk. Watch where you step as we walk our bikes down this path, there is a pool of quicksand. Yes, for REAL! Nope, no fence or anything around it. Watch! I wll throw this BIG stick in and it will sink. Neato, huh? Well, I guess our last stop is the old Isinglass mine shaft. Yes, it's abandoned and I KNOW it says "Keep Out" too, but I just want you to see how dark it is inside and there are weird noises sometimes. Don't be a scardy cat! YOWIE!!! YIKES!!! What was that??? Hurry, get on your bike and pedal fast back to my house. And if you EVER want to come with me again, don't you DARE tell ANYONE where we have been!!!"

I hope you enjoyed being a little girl once more with me today... and savoring all the beauty and wonder summer has to offer... it really IS still out there... don't be afraid to be a kid again!... xoxo...

Back to Nature...

Jack and I meet the nicest friends on our daily Nature walk.., Mama and Daddy Duck are scouting out a perfect spot to make their nest this year along the banks of the stream just down the lane and around the bend from our home... the water is cresting and the flow is very strong and fast as we walk by them...

With all of the snow and rain we have had this past winter, and most of the Spring runoff yet to come, we are on flood watch... I will say a little prayer for Mama and Daddy Duck that they and their nest and babies will be safe... xoxo... PS Thank you all so very much for all of the gifts, cards, emails, ecards, comments and birthday wishes you sent me!... I love you all!... xoxo...

Happy Birthday to Me and Wes!... PS I am mad at blogger today!...

I had a pretty post on here yesterday, wishing my darling brother~in~law Wes a happy birthday today too as we share the same birthday... then blogger "temporarily" deleted it... yeah, right... it's gone into thin air somewhere now, even though it was there yesterday... anyway, Happy Birthday Wes, I love you!...


I also had posted my gorgeous presents from my family... thank you family, I love you ALL!... off to enjoy my birthday... xoxo... Yippee, my post is back... see previous post!... (I still am mad at blogger!)...

The Other Man in My Life...

Yes, it's true... there is another man in my life... it's okay though... Jack knows... and so does this man's wife... you see, this "other man" in my life is my darling brother~in~law Wes, my sister Jill's husband... we have shared so many happy times together through the years with our families, and tomorrow, Wes and I share the same birthday... born the same day... just different years...

At my "girls only" birthday lunch yesterday, Wes had sent a special surprise for me... a sweet card just from him and a beautiful Hummingbird brooch, oooh, just full of pretty crystals and glimmer!... he picked it out himself and said it reminded him of me... as he knows how much I love Hummingbirds... Happy Birthday tomorrow Wes!... I love you!...

Birthdays aren't just about the presents... (did I just say that?)... but about sharing happy times with those we love... my family spoiled me so though... just look at all these gifts!...

Jill and Wes gave me soo many beautiful things, I cannot possibly show them all individually... I love this darling summery purse, so soft and flowery, it makes me happy!...

Ashley Judd's new book... her memoirs... I admire all of the Judd women so, and their honesty and strength through the many hardships they have survived... I can hardly wait to read it!...

Liz, Jake and Corbin (and Scrappy, their pup!) gave me this great cookbook on organic cooking with fresh and seasonal produce... I am buying and eating organic whenever I can and this will be so much fun to make yummy things from... they also gave me a gift card to the store here that carries alot of wonderful organic items... thank you!...

From "across the pond" Filly and Ellie and Dino (my daddy's Italian Greyhound that now lives in London too) sent me these pretty floral ballet slippers... sooo comfy!...

And these beautiful English Rose earrings... I love that so many things in London are roses!...

They also sent this beautiful handmade fabric flower... it will look so pretty on my denim jacket... thanks girls and Dino!...

Also knowing my passionate love for roses, Jill and Wes gave me this beautiful miniature rose bush... I will enjoy it inside for now, then plant it in my cottage garden...


Tomorrow, Jack and I will spend the day together, then go to my favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner, and then a gorgeous cake covered with roses and forget~me~nots... and more gifts from my sweethearts Jack and Tessy...I have the most beautiful family in the world and I love you all so much!... you make every day in my life special... you are my greatest gift of all...xoxo...