Dear Reader:

At the stage of life I am living presently…I have been given time to mull over so many accumulated memories that collectively represent a “life well loved.” I know this deep down in my heart and soul…and no one appreciates more… the life I have been given… than me.. A great story to date God…with just the right amount of drama and tragedy..I wouldn’t want my story to be superficially sweet…no cupcake story for me or my readers.

I want my life to be real…with all my mistakes and bad choices included…because these were my catalysts that placed me and kept me returning to the right path.

With so many on-going projects in the garden…one comes to realize that newer isn’t always better…and there is something significant in doing the work oneself…planting,  watering, creating pause moments…sounds, sights, smells, tastes and touches within a family/friend cooperative sanctuary.

Here are some potted plants and planted grasses/plants… who survived the winter hidden back in the woods and now whose blooms are just now popping open…they aren’t new or bought plants…they have all resurrected themselves.

The pentas returned this year adding height (along with the grasses) to the garden and wild flowers that just pop up any and everywhere.

The old wooden Ya bench has just about collapsed with its rotten wood…but can still hold beauty for a little while longer…and older has such character (and memories) in it.

Susan Cadwell found a bench on-line at Walmart she sent me…looks great and price is about ten dollars more than the cement bench that broke…was quite excited but neither of our Walmarts had one…in fact none of the Walmarts even had a single garden bench…and if needed I can possibly order one….but in the meantime Vickie, my neighbor is going to help me finish digging and taking out the area where the future bench will go and add pebbles to make it stand out….she has a lead on a bench too…so it looks like my “pause” place might soon become reality. *Thanks for everyone’s help!

So until tomorrow...”We believe in subtle beauty, the kind that doesn’t deteriorate with age or wear and of all heroic pursuits large or small, we believe there may be none greater than a “Life Well Loved.” (Magnolia Manifesto)

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Libby’s daughter, Betsy, kept us all informed yesterday morning…Libby came through like a champ…no unexpected surprises…everything went smoothly…it will, however, be a challenging recovery period (Libby is in pain from the plates and 8 screws in her neck and it taking meds around the clock)  but the surgery is now in past tense. Surgeries are always better in the past than waiting in the future.

Libby will continue to have lots of support from family and friends…and one day look back on this as her new lease on life. Thanks everyone for their prayers, calls, texts….it means so much to the family, as well as, Libby! Thank you family, friends, and readers!