March Moments

The month of March has passed quickly, bringing its expectations and its surprises.  I'd like to share a few photos of some of the moments of this month before we begin new days coming up shortly in April...

The following pictures are of a little stud colt that was born on the ranch in the early morning hours on March 25.  I took these photos in the late afternoon when he was all cleaned off and found balance on all four legs. The foal appears to be a lineback dun in color and already is exhibiting signs of being a classy fellow.  Even though he is was barely a day old when these photos were taken,  he is ready to take the world on (as long as his mommy is close by).

Scenery along Highway 26 in Eastern Oregon can be beautiful.  You never know what will present itself for a camera opportunity.  The first photo was taken in the early morning hours as the sun was cresting its rays over the hillsides on a recent trip to Bend.  The golden hue was a delight to behold that dramatized the average display of color.  The second picture is a typical scene that you see in Grant County of the Blue Mountain Range.  This shot shows the mountains in veiled clouds that appeared with the morning rain as a backdrop to cattle grazing in fields next to the highway.

And here are a few fun animal photos to share with you.  The first was taken at a parking lot in the local town of John Day.  I spotted this wonderful St. Bernard dog who was sitting quite calmly in the driver's seat of his owners truck.  He looked quite content and with his size, filled up the whole seat and window space.  He looked at me to say... " Well, haven't you seen a dog drive before??"

And last, but not least is the below photo of "King Charlie" - or at least he thinks he is king as he surveys his surroundings from a high point on the post.  Charlie is our dog-cat who can easily fit in with the dogs as one of the boys, yet also be aloof on a post in typical cat independence.

As the moments of March have quickly passed by, it also gives reflection on this Lenten season.  Yesterday, being Palm Sunday, begins Holy Week in the Christian tradition and climaxes in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I wrote a post on March 24, 2013 entitled 'The Omni of God'.  It shares a truth about the power of the Cross as it stretches from this present age and reaches into the abyss of space and time when creation began in the Omni of God.
I encourage you to read this post at http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-omni-of-god.html

My next post at The Turn-Up Patch will be on Monday, April 13.  The celebration of Easter will be over with but the Resurrection remembrance of so great a Love lives forever in our hearts.  I wish you all a  BLESSED AND HAPPY EASTER  in the experience of new life!

Ireland - Enya, Love & Time

Today's post takes us back to Ireland and highlighting a favorite artist of mine, Enya.  Many of you know her music and voice but may not be aware of some of her background.  Enya was born in the northwest of Ireland in Gweedore, County of Donegal in 1961.  The fourth child with eight siblings, she was raised in a musical family.  Enya was part of the family band, Clannad, before she branched out on her own.

Developing a style of music that can be described as ethereal, she was influenced by Irish, church and classical music.  Her albums are also performed in ten different languages.  Despite her international fame, she still finds time to sing in her mother's choir every Christmas at Midnight Mass at St. Mary's Church in Gweedore.  This is rather a condensed version of Enya - you can find out much more about her life and her success as a solo artist in research on the internet, today's information highway.
 

My focus is primarily on one of her poignant songs entitled "Only Time".  You can watch a beautiful time-lapse video by Robert Breton, which is presented by 'Eugena & Robert' at the below link featuring this particular song.    
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqtFqz0VEqs

The lyrics are simple and speak of love and time.  Part of it says....

Who can say if your love grows

As your heart chose

Only time

And who can say where the road goes

Where the day flows, only time

Who knows?  Only time  

A tree tunnel near Cahir, Ireland

I took the above photo on my memorable trip to Ireland.  I chose this particular picture to illustrate the concept as to 'who can say where the road goes'.  Time tells the story regarding the path of love - the cause and effect of its strengths and weaknesses and how it plays in the picture of our lives about what endures and what disappears.  People come and go in our lives; some walk around the edges of our heart and some walk inside, leaving an indelible footprint.  The footprints in our heart can be many or they can be few belonging to those who become part of us.  Only time reveals the depth of love in that footprint as it sinks ever deeper into our heart or if it leaves a shallow imprint where love did not grow.

See you next time  at the Turn-Up Patch on Monday, March 30....

Sands of Time and Doris

Old age in all its blessings and curses is catching up with a loved one in my life - Doris, my mother-in-law, who has become more like my mother in affection.  I wrote about Doris in a prior post entitled "Rosie the Riveter and Doris', link is listed below.  She just turned 93 years of age a few days ago and we celebrated her with balloons and birthday cake with fellow residents and caregivers who have become her family at the care facility where she lives. 

I write this today to honor her while she is still with us and would like to share a few photographs that Doris took 'back in the day'.  Some of these pictures are at least seventy years old that were found in a cedar chest in a house that was her home and sanctuary.  She was quite a photographer and over 600 negatives were stored away in this treasure box of memories.  These photos were taken during the time of 35mm cameras; a Brownie camera specifically that she used.  It was a simple camera with no elaborate accessories but she produced some outstanding shots because of her ability to frame a scene for a photograph.  The negatives were transferred into digital prints to be shared with family.    

The following pictures are just a few of the many that she took of her beloved Petrolia, a small ranching hamlet in Northern California.  The country where Petrolia is located is rugged and pristine. It is part of what is known as the 'Lost Coast' in Humboldt County.  This was the country that Doris was raised in and spent a good thirty years of her life before making a change. (Click on photos to enlarge)   

Petrolia suited Doris for she was a country gal who liked to ride a horse, hunt deer and herd sheep.  She did an occasional stint working at the local country store but her love was the outdoors.  As a single mom, she raised two sons during their early years in this unspoiled country. 

The photos below were taken of Doris as a young woman who enjoyed all that country life could offer.  Skilled with a rifle - a deer, coyote, fox or cougar did not have a chance if they were in her line of fire.  Despite her outdoor preference, Doris was still a lady.  If you look closely enough in the below photo, you can see the polish on her fingernails as she holds her fresh critter kill, which I gather had a menacing side.  Doris would shoot for meat or if wildlife were a threat to the immediate surroundings.  She did not kill for sport.  The other picture is of a young Doris with her horse.  Horses were her passion and she loved to ride the surrounding hills, which could be a challenge in itself.   

Doris eventually remarried and left the area, living in Canada and Alaska and raised a third son.  She returned to Petrolia in retirement years and pursued her enjoyment of horses. When she found it physically difficult to ride as she grew older, she'd keep a pet horse in her back yard to hand-feed and groom to her liking. After her husband passed away, the time came when Doris could no longer live by herself in her Petrolia home.  Decisions were made and she relocated to Oregon to be close to family who could see to her needs and oversee her care. 

It is usually tough for an elderly to leave their familiar place to live elsewhere.  Doris was no exception but in her resilience, knew this was something that had to be done, whether she liked it or not, to ensure her health care.  She has been with us for ten years now at an Assisted Living facility a short distance away.  Seeing Doris on a regular basis, we have come to know the staff and caregivers who have been wonderful with her throughout the days, weeks, months and years.  We have all witnessed her decline from walking to wheelchair confinement and the progression of dementia.  Throughout it all, she still manages to let people know 'who is in charge' with that last little piece of independence that she can still muster - through her tongue!  In other words, she'll still have the last say if she can.

Happy 93 years of age, Doris.  You have survived good and bad times, happiness and heartache, poverty and security.   You have been a scrapper - ready to take on injustice, particularly in a day that didn't have women's rights as they do today.  You have been a woman of strong will and determination.  You have been known to speak your mind in saying exactly what you think or feel that was born out of the independence gained from survival.  And yes, you still like to have your nails freshly painted and polished.

We have watched Doris decline during the past year and particularly, the last three months - it is as if she is giving up the fight and is getting weary of the experience of living.  As Doris would aptly say as only she can eloquently state, "I'm getting tired of this shit!"

Link to Rosie the Riveter and Doris.... http://www.turn-uppatch.blogspot.com/2013/09/rosie-riveter-and-doris.html


We'll meet again at The Turn-Up Patch on Monday, March 16....