It's not what you look at that matters

 it's what you see.

Henry David Thoreau

A farewell.....................

out in my garden, where wild Prairie Asters bloom, there is an old gingerbread archway with a rock path

that leads to a tired and weathered scarecrow, who is not only guarding the garden, 

but a space that has a large container of pretty rose moss.............

the resting place for my cat..........

Salem

Isn't it strange that 8 years seems to be such a long time................until someone you loved for 8 years gets taken away?

And you realize that you didn't have enough time? 

Salem was in every area of my life...........

outside where ever I was..........making me smile.............

inside when I was busy at work..........letting me know 

he was there

always exploring the wild world of the grounds with Sophie

and always letting his presence be known in is comical way............

I didn't know that Death was hanging around.......waiting for Salem to walk off with him.......

and I tried to persuade Salem to hang in there and  to stay with me instead........... 

but he closed his eyes...............

and sighed with his last breath..............

rest in peace sweet Salem.

Looking out across the grounds around the house,

one could think that it looks very dry and barren. And in places, at most times........

it is.............

but look a little closer..........

The pumpkin vines are starting to take over the front part of the yard, 

their yellow blossoms are just as pretty as a day lily in a flower bed........

don't you think? 

Hidden underneath are pumpkins........

in every size and color...........waiting for Autumn to arrive.

and although this looks like regular prairie grass..........

come look..........

a little closer...........

and you will find the wild moss that grows and blooms all along inside of it. 

This is very plentiful and I dig it up and place it in my gardens and containers.

It does very well. 

There are also large gardens of Zinnia

In just about every corner and space on the grounds..............

and they are full of the most beautiful creatures.....

like this butterfly, who finally paused long enough for me to photograph it.........

and this large moth........measured about 2 1/2 inches..........

.which likes the cool rocks along the flower beds.

There is also an abundance of dragon flies.............even in this dry climate. 

They have managed to find the pond. 

Out in the middle of all of this............I hear a baby rabbit cry out.............

and see two large rabbits chasing away a Road Runner, with this baby in it's beak.

Sophie and I are also in chase and the road runner dropped the baby...........it was unharmed

and handed back to it's mother.

Also along  a rock wall , these beetles are busy munching the life out of this weed...........

underneath one of the rocks.........this  Bull Snake wants me to go away so that it can catch itself some lunch.

The mesquite trees are forming their sap balls. It also runs down off from the tree and hardens on whatever it lands on. 

In the same tree a spider has built it's home..........quite a large home..........

I knocked on the door trunk............but no one would come out for a photo.

So, in this dry and barren world..........nature finds her way..........

and it has it's own kind of peacefulness.

So tell me............

what kind of environment are you making your home in??

Is it dry...........barren??

or

is it wet, green.......or full of mountains?

I would love to hear!

It's the hot days of summer.........when one longs for the comfort of a shaded front porch

a wonderful place to gather with family, creating memories for years to come.......

 a place where friends  gather to share dreams and hopes.......

 a place for solitude and peace........to ponder one's thoughts..........

or a cozy place just for two to enjoy the closing of a day.

I have posted and shown you my front porch...........

a place for friends and family to gather on a hot day......

a place to sit and watch a gentle rain........

or the falling of snow.

and  my patio...............very hot in the day time.......

but a hot spot at night time for friends and family to gather around the fire. 

This is on another side of the house..........yes..........I need to paint ..........soon!!

This is a deck/balcony that was placed here by previous owners. They had it screened so that their cats could sit out in the day and remain safe from the predators. 

In the years that they lived here.........and the years we have been here, it has never been painted. 

This is the" before" photo above.

I have been wanting to fix it up for a cozy spot ........

for two........or one..........

to enjoy the early morning sunrise............

or the shaded east side afternoons.

So with paint and paint brush...........

I have made it look like this!  I added a rug and a table........

and a few plants..........

and a couple of rockers that my husband purchased a while back.

and now it is the perfect spot for the ending of the day.

Don't you think so?

Of course a porch always needs a vintage container with flowers.......

but this is the best part............ the view.  

This is where we can watch the wildlife move about on the grounds and in the trees.

It is serene.

The best way to say goodnight to another day.

How about you?
Tell me about your favorite spot..........or porch!

I have already introduced you to the coyote

who came up a few months ago for a "fresh" chicken dinner...........

and left disappointed without one........

this time.........

Now I introduce the Road Runner who has come for a drink in the middle of a hot afternoon.

(you can click onto the photo for a better view)

These large birds are very common here...........and they can fly.........

but they run better.

I am always amazed at how big their eyes are.

Do you have Road Runners in your area?

How about coyotes??
I would love to hear!

I hear the squeaking and screeching sounds of the baby woodpeckers

coming from this hole in the mesquite tree........

they know I am close as I take a photo........

I hear their mother...........fussing at me ..........watching me from the tree top

 just above her little one's hiding place.

I understand and know her worry..........

much more than she could know..........

for my heart is as heavy as the clouds that are gathering today............

you see, my youngest son........who is in the navy , 

just let me know that in a few days he and his fellow sailors .......

will set sail

on a journey ..........to deep waters

unknown.

To him, it's an adventure of a lifetime...........

so with every morning that awakens me...........

I try to focus and to keep my mind from worry....

by tending to the garden.........there are a lot of peas to shell............

and weeding the  pumpkin patch

 which is  crawling all over the grounds............

full of blooms..........

and new pumpkins................

the zinnias are in full bloom and they sway their heavy heads in the wind as to say

"cheer up!"

and before I know it.........they day has passed.........

and the sun sets..................

and I try to rest my worry............