PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 7/29/11

This is imprinted on a stone at Hudson Gardens. I remember the first time I saw this was when I took the boys there in the fall of 2003 and it just hit me...this was a excerpt from the "poem" that Grandad Dell had a copy of with a note saying "I believe this." It is where he knew he would be when he died...and I remember stopping by the cemetary in Longmont when I was at CSU and I would sit near his grave stone and tell him that I knew that he knew all that was going on for me, but I just wanted to be close to him although I knew he was everywhere and not just there. Guess what...this poem says is exactly what I believe, too.

This is the poem in full:

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am the thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I did not die.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 6/21/11

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER...6.21.11...happy summer solstice...longest day of the year and also one of my favorite times of the year.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 6/11/11

Chris took this photo while testing out his new camera he has with him in Europe. These flowers are against the fence of the "dog resort" so we get to see them everytime we walk out the door. They have gone crazy this year and have spread up, out and around. I like this photo because of the purple contrasting against the green leaves and the rocks along with seeing a bit of the chicken wire. To me, this is a very interesting photo and well balanced.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 6/4/11

Poppies from our new perennial garden in front. These are some of my all time favorite summertime flowers and the colors are just amazing. So happy!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 5/31/11

Beautiful irises as I drive into the garage. They are in full bloom right now and so pretty. These came from Dawn's yard and although they have a relatively short bloom time, they are such a touch of color that you can get like no other. Definitely a late spring favorite.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 5/25/11

Finally, a beautiful, sunny May afternoon. After over 5 inches of rain this past month, it is so nice to be able to be outside by the waterfall and see the flowers popping up all around our backyard. I think the backyard is Christopher's favorite place to be. He spends a lot of time out there and is hoping that a garter snake will move in amongst the rocks. I, on the other hand, hope beyond hope that it doesn't. I do love that Chris can climb our willow tree that started out as a single small branch. I don't know anyone that loves to climb trees more than that kid.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 5/21/11

Finally, a day without a downpour and time to start planting the flowers we started buying last weekend when the rain started. Woo HOO! Thanks to Todd for doing the grunt work while I directed from the step. It has been a great day and looking forward to working on our yard more tomorrow. As a neighbor walked by, she said "you know you have one of the best yards in the whole neighborhood." with a big smile...now that is such a great compliment and made both Todd and I very pleased.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 5/10/11

You know it's almost summer when the waterfall is cleaned out, the water is running and I can leave my window open just a little bit to hear the waterfall all night long. Perfection!

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 4/30/11

What a difference a day makes...sunny, warm 70's on Friday and a cold, snowy Saturday morning in the 40's. It was pretty to wake up to the snow knowing that it wouldn't be there long with the springtime being here. Those are the kind of snows I can enjoy :). Love seeing my tulips with snow on them ...no matter the weather, they continue to stay upright.

PROJECT 365 PICTURE OF THE DAY 4/29/11

These tulips are always my favorite thing to see as life comes back to our backyard hill garden. These tulips came from 27th Place and reside under the locust tree from that home, along with two others that somehow got to different places in our garden.

These tulips were planted by my dad many years ago at my childood home.

These tulips tug at my heart as a sign of life as it is now and days gone by.

These tulips are probably the most photographed flowers in our yard although their time in bloom is much too short.

These tulips make me smile.