HAPPY MOTHERS'DAY!

My mother is no longer living and my daughters both live far away so Mothers' Day is usually not a special day for me.  However, my friend, Sandra aka The MadSnapper, had a special treat in store for me today!
It started with this email:

Then, it was off to the Jungle!

We were the first visitors of the day, so the residents were eagerly awaiting our visit.



Some were still grooming.



One was not quite ready to start the day.

                                                  

One was talking and laughing.



And one was trying to escape!

We moved along to visit the flamingos (after taking many many more parrot photos).



A Contented Couple



A living pretzel!

I am the Flamingo Whisperer!

I'm ready for my closeup.



BUT THE BEST PART OF THE VISIT
was a female flamingo digging her nest and laying egg(s)
 ON MOTHERS' DAY!



Digging her nest



Laying egg
[Flamingos lay only one egg]

She is now surrounded by her bodyguards
or else they were just cheering her on!

TODAY I CELEBRATE

Those who give us birth and those who nurture us

no matter what species!!!

MORE LOVE

I had to take a break from blogging due to a back injury, but I'm back thanks to new meds and advice from my new doctor. 
During my hyatus, I kept trying to think of how to celebrate the situation. That was a tricky one.  However, I gained a greater empathy for those who live in constant pain.  I also got to read alot.   So, I guess there's a reason to Celebrate Everything!

BACK TO THE LOVE CABINET...

Here are more of my "treasures".

Cup from my grandmother's wedding china and her green glass pitcher

Cup from my aunt Anna Margaret's wedding china

Rebecca at the Well

The biblical story of Rebecca at the Well comes from the book of Genesis.
It tells of Abraham's search for a wife for his son, Isaac.
In my family, the story begins with my great great grandmother,
Rebecca Ecker.
The tradition is that the pitcher be passed down to the daughter
who has Rebecca as part of her name
or
 to the eldest daughter.
It was, therefore, passed to my great grandmother,
Sophia Rebecca Ecker Null,
Who passed it to my grandmother,
Kathryn Rebecca Null Culler.
It  passed from my grandmother to my mother,
Helen Rebecca Culler Pease,
Who passed it to me, the eldest daughter,
Judith Lee Pease Prosseda.
It will, in time, be passed to my older daughter,
Amy Elizabeth Prosseda.

Today I CELEBRATE
MEMORIES and TRADITION!

THE LOVE CABINET

The approach of

Valentine's Day

signals

The Season of Love.

In the spirit of the Season,

I'd like to share the story of

The Love Cabinet.

On an Indian Summer day in October

I was painting my dining room.

As I was moving my china cabinet

that contained tea cups that I had collected over the years,

the cabinet fell forward crashing to the floor.

I stood speechless

 surveying the smashed cabinet and tea cups.

Once the tears started

I could not stop them.

A friend called me just as my Pity Party was ending.

I told her what had happened.

The word must have gotten around

because, within hours,

friends started showing up with

special tea cups.

That Christmas,

my daughters, Amy and Tara,

(with the help of my sister, Dottie)

presented me with

a new china cabinet.

I cried for an hour

at the Love that had been poured over me.

Though that cabinet

has been slightly battered

over many moves,

It still holds gifts of Love.



The Love Cabinet

In future blogs,

I'll share some of my treasures

from

The Love Cabinet.

Today I Celebrate

Sweet Surprises

that can come from

unhappy circumstances!



"BARKING" UP ANOTHER TREE

On a recent, beautiful, overcast day, I decided to follow in the footsteps of my heroine, The MadSnapper, and stalk the jungle of the back yard.  What I found was the mother lode to an avid "barker" like me.

Why do I get so excitied about old tree bark?

I guess that I see things with different eyes as I rapidly approach my 65th birthday.  I see the bark as a body that has endured the joys and the storms of Life.  I appreciate the beauty in all of us (as they say, warts and all...).

I see a hooded old crone in rags leaning against the tree.

New Life

Today I Celebrate

the View through "Different Eyes"!

MUCH LOVED TREASURES

I think of February

as the month of

LOVE.

Not the kind of love that can be

advertised and bought,

but the kind of Love

that is shared, remembered, and treasured.

Here are some of my Treasures.



My Great Grandmother's Child's Rocker

  

My Mother's Doll, Red Sally



My Tiny Tears Doll



Doll Made for My Daughter, Amy, by My Sister, Dottie

The chair has rocked many little children

since the mid 19th century.

The dolls bear the signs

of being much loved.

Today I Celebrate

Much Loved Treasures.

WINTER...Here...and...There

You know
that I am a transplant from Maryland
now living in Florida.
My good friend, Linda,
sent me some recent shots of
a walk around her neighborhood.

Though this is not the reason
that I moved to sunny La Florida,

I sooo enjoy weather that I don't have to shovel!

Here



There

 

Here



There



Here

There

Surf Board vs Snow Board

Heron on the Beach

AND FINALLY...

Two feet of snow !

Today I Celebrate

the Beauty and the Joys of

Winter!

  







SUNDAY AFTERNOON NAP

Ahhh, what is more welcome on a lazy Sunday afternoon than a nap!

S-T-R-E-T-C-H

Yawwwn

relax.....

or not

Today I Celebrate

The Afternoon Nap!

ZZZZZ.......



THIS OLD HOUSE

One day I found this old house hidden in the bushes.

I rescued it and set it by the front door as a decoration adding seasonal flowers at the base.

Then........

I noticed that "someone" had

taken up residence

in the old house!

Hello there!



Today I Celebrate

Found Treasures and Everyday Surprises!

THE SILENT BARK

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the noun "bark" as

" the tough exterior covering of a woody root or stem".

Judy's dictionary defines the verb "barking" as

My search for beautiful, interesting, and inspirational bark.

Enjoy with me the results of my most recent Barking Adventures.








Today I Celebrate the Beauty and Diversity of
Silent Bark!

UNLOADING OLD BAGGAGE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I've been taking a break from blogging, but I'm back and plan to celebrate a lot more in 2011!

In order to celebrate more, I thought it appropriate to "unload" some of the baggage that has followed me into the new year.  Hence, the reason for this post.

THE PRIVATE PITY PARTY

We have all been hurt by the "slings and arrows" of Life.

And, as with all members of the animal kingdom,

we need to go to ground

and nurse our wounds.

The Place can be anywhere that brings comfort (a womb of sorts).

The Dress can be a ratty old bathrobe, a well worn sweater,

a childhood "blankie",

or the remnants of a departed loved ones' clothing.

The Time can be an hour, a day, or a week,

but it does not overstay its welcome.

I'm sure that you can tell that I , indeed,  have experienced the Private Pity Party.

HOW TO THROW A PITY PARTY

As with private parties, we have all been subjected to extended (months/years) public pity parties.

Having been selected to take part in an ongoing party,

I decided to have a little fun and become a
 Pity Party Planner!

THE INVITATION

Formal invitations may be sent out.
It is recommended that you do not invite
family members (see Entertainment section).
Please do not request an RSVP
(because nobody would come).

It is also acceptable to invite any and every person that you meet

 or speak to on the phone (hairdressers, bartenders, taxi drivers, telemarketers, etc.).

DECORATIONS

Decorations can be kept simple.

However, strategically placed PAST DUE bills, medical bills,

 x-rays,  a vast array of pill bottles,

 or pictures of your mother-in-law, ex-spouse (or any other

relative who has done you wrong)

can be effective.

Flowers made from Kleenex also add a festive touch.

REFRESHMENTS

No food is necessary

because Pity feeds on itself.

However,

you might serve water or other beverages

since self-pity is a "bitter pill" to swallow.

ENTERTAINMENT

The host will gladly provide the entertainment.

However,

guests may be allowed to participate

by writing down all of their grievances since childhood

to provide hours of entertainment.

You can also record or video tape the party

so that it can be relived time and time again.

Today I Celebrate

Turning aNegative Experience into Fun!

Please add your own suggestions or comments!