all by themselves...

here's a little bit of my weekend

all wrapped up 

in the prettiest box I could find

~~

and

there's even more presents to be seen

if you take a little peek here

a soft and quiet weekend...

today 

was perfectly dreamy

~~

I woke to clouds with white knuckles 

from hanging on so tight 

while the sun kept punching and ripping at the torn edges

~~

the ground was damp with dancing glitter and the cobwebs were outlined in silver

~~

the air smelled like my grandmother's laundry that had just been hung out to dry

~~

so

I ventured out to play

~~~~~

tonight

the clouds never came

instead the sky darkened itself with a giant blink

and

as I yawn with a satisfied feeling of living

outside my window

an owl hoots

reminding me it's time to carry myself to bed

*

this weekend...

I hope you find 

surprises on your camera

love where you're not looking for it

and

soft gentle breezes that slowly wake you from your afternoon nap

~~

I hope you find

laughs that bring tears to your eyes 

hands that hold yours tightly

and

dragonflies in waist high fields to chase

~~

but

mostly

I hope you find time

just 

to be yourself

*

he doesn't have a name, but I love him...

late yesterday afternoon

with one last look around the cottage before I locked up and headed home

something caught my eye

~

my breathing stopped for a moment

along with my feet

while

my eyes

soaked in the beauty of the moth resting before me

~

gently 

as if I were approaching a sleeping newborn 

I crouched down next to it only to realize 

it was hurt

~

one antenna had been ruffled 

and 

the edges of his wings were wilted 

I slowly picked him up

while he let out

 a whisper of a sigh

that sounded like

"thank you"

I walked back inside the cottage

and 

gently guided him into a small container 

and

then we headed for home

unable to fly

but with legs that could still crawl

I sat with him in my neighbor's back yard

and

watched him drink in sweet nectar

and

carefully

as his sticky legs gave in to a slower mode

I gently moved him from flower to flower

because 

this was a buffet I didn't want him to miss

too quickly

the sun the was setting

and

the temperature was sending a chill across the nape of my neck

~~

I easily picked him up

and

brought him inside with me

and

let him have his way with a bouquet of flowers in my kitchen 

that unfortunately seemed terribly boring to him

after being outside

later

after 

"so you think you can dance"

I walked into the kitchen to check on him 

and 

he had traveled up the blinds and was sitting at the top of the window looking down on me

so I let him be

~~

right before bed

I peeked at him one more time

and

he was up on the kitchen ceiling molding

and

I told him goodnight

as I turned off the lights

~~

first thing

this morning

he was still on my mind

and

I panicked a little

as

I couldn't find him anywhere

~~

and

then when the sun came dancing in the windows

there he was on the back side of the blinds

basking in the sunshine 

with only his shadow saying

"hello"

and

that's where he's been all day

~~

in a little bit

we're going back outside

and

getting in the buffet line

*

simple things...

today

over at christina's

we're celebrating

"simple things"

~~

and

I thought this would be so amazingly easy 

but

it's not

it's hard

{said in my best craig ferguson voice}

~~

I thought I could find a photo in my archives that would easily represent 

"simple"

but 

I couldn't

~~

I found a beautiful cobweb photo which I thought was a good choice

but

after staring at it a bit

wow

seriously

do you know how complicated a cobweb is

?

~~

so

after looking for awhile more and ready to give up

and

thinking the bar of soap idea

that christina suggested 

sounded great 

and 

maybe I should just go take some photos in my shower 

I 

came across this picture

~~

it was taken on one of our many vacations in 

seaside florida

where a little piece of my heart stayed behind years ago

and

where life

is

...

you got it

...

SIMPLE

*

because of you and you and you...

my heart 

has swollen

with 

love and compassion and understanding

that's been showered upon me

~~

all of you

wrapped your arms around me 

recently

regarding all that is going on in my life

and

there's just not any possible way

that I can find right now

to thank you enough

~~

I've been searching for the words

and

they're still not coming out right

~~

so I'm hoping in my word garden

there's some terrific ones blossoming

just for you

and

that 

soon I'll have a bouquet filled with perfectly shaped and colored ones

that will brighten your day

the way

you've all brightened 

mine

~~

thank you all

from the bottom 

and 

the top

of 

my love swollen heart

*

what is it with me and bugs lately...

this is my 

first official 

macro monday

post

~~

it kind of makes you want to scratch your ankles or the back of your neck

doesn't it

?