New Day, New Life

Grandpa Jack and sweet Annelise

My partner Jack's daughter gave birth to a beautiful baby girl last Friday. Mom and baby are both happy and healthy and doing fine. We drove down to southern California over the weekend to visit everyone and meet his new sweet granddaughter, Annelise. She is so beautiful! I have held babies before, but I had never held a brand new just-born infant in my arms. So it was a precious treat for me. See the photo below:

Me and Annelise in the hospital room

Just a day old and so full of life and personality! I was thrilled to be included in welcoming her to the world. When she smiled at me (yes, I know it could just be gas!) it really made my day. Babies are such perfect special beings. They come in and totally change your life forever. They make me wonder and ask more questions. They make me dream and look at everything differently. I think they know what they are doing.

On this trip we stayed in a hotel when we usually stay with relatives who live in the area. Here's a nice view from our hotel window:

Here's a view from our 8th floor balcony looking down at the pool. I was afraid I'd drop my camera or worse! We didn't swim in the pool, but we did have drinks by the fire pit that was down in the pool area.

We also over-indulged ourselves with food and drink on this trip. After a very nice dinner at the local Chili's restaurant, we split a large dessert called Molten Chocolate Cake. A moist chocolate cake, filled with warm fudge sauce, topped with vanilla ice cream and a hard chocolate shell. All drizzled with chocolate and carmel sauce. It was a meal in itself.

Jack attacking the Molten Chocolate Cake dessert. I quickly joined him after taking the photo.

It was a special weekend. Seeing new life blossom and thrive always amazes me. It helps to renew my spirit and passion. It's good for my heart and soul. It makes me realize how connected we all really are.

© Copyright 2008 Mountain Harvest Basket

Morning Tea, Simple Pleasures

Morning Tea in the Sunshine of my Porch

A couple of days ago I enjoyed my morning tea outside in the sunshine. I stood on my front porch and listened to the birds chirping and the squirrels chattering. The mug I chose that morning is a relatively new one that I purchased on a road trip I took last summer to visit my Dad who lives in Texas. Partner Jack and I drove there and back and managed to find some interesting scenery and diversions along the way. The best one we found was just outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico in a little town called Tijeras. We exited the highway in search of a bathroom stop and found a wonderful little gift shop/coffee bar/open air art market. Very quaint and very artsy. The gift shop/coffee bar is called the Just Imagine Gallery and on the weekends from May through October they have the Tijeras Open Air Arts Market on the lovely grounds adjacent to the gallery.

Well, the smoothies and the food were excellent. The gift shop was stocked with lots of interesting stuff. The mug in the photo above is a Laurel Burch design that has the following philosophical quote written on the side:

The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears...




There's the quote ~ barely visible ~ click the photo to enlarge it

I have a book somewhere around here that has the same title. I believe it is an Native American saying.

Anyway, as I was pouring my tea in my beautiful philosophical artsy mug, I was thinking to myself that it is the little things, the simple pleasures in life that can mean so much to me. They can comfort me when I need it. They can bring back good memories when I need some. They can start my day off with a positive note.

The photo below is my favorite because it has two comforting things shown in it. My tea mug with it's nice quote and memories of our fun time in Tijeras, and of course, my sweet Jessie kitty who is my very best friend and companion. She is so cute and curious and attentive. I will write more about her another day. For now, enjoy your simple pleasures and have a positive day filled with good memories.


Curious Jessie with the artsy mug ~ in the morning sun

© Copyright 2008 Mountain Harvest Basket

Resourceful Nature

In the cold winter months in the mountains, all animals need a place where they can be warm and comfortable. We humans need this, so do our pets and livestock, and also the wild creatures amongst which we live. We build fires in our wood stoves or merely turn up the propane or electric heater in our homes. We keep our small pets inside with us and make sure that any outside pets and livestock have adequate shelter and heat. We trust the wild animals to take care of themselves. After all that’s how nature intended it to be. It always intrigues me when I discover how resourceful and crafty some of these wild creatures can be at this task.

A couple of days ago my close friend/partner Bob, sent me this photo of a nest he found under the hood of his Toyota Camry. He said that when he raised the hood he was greeted by a very fat pack rat that had decided that this space was a good place to build her nest. They stared at each other for a moment until she scampered away. The nest has been removed now, as its location really was not suitable for either rat or human when the car was to be driven. I was impressed at the hefty twigs and the cushy carpet threads that she used to weave this rather large nest. Nature truly is amazing to me. Every day.


Toyota Rat's Nest

© Copyright 2008 Mountain Harvest Basket

Take Care of Yourself

On the road to the "big" city

Sometimes when you live in a rural area, you must leave it and drive for quite some distance for goods and services that are not available in your local community. That includes medical services. Happily, I don’t go to the doctor very often, usually only for well-woman checkups once or twice per year.

Yesterday I ventured forth down and out of the mountains and into the flatlands of the “big” city some 40 miles to the south. It was my day for my mammogram screening and my first ever bone scan. (I am of “that” age now) So I went quite a distance to have these medical services and take care of my physical self. Something I need to pay more attention to as I haven’t been feeling all that well lately. I still have that darned head cold that I mentioned a few days ago. It just makes me so tired and grumpy.

The photo above is a view from the car traveling down to my appointments yesterday. So here’s to us all nurturing and taking better care of ourselves. Below is a daffodil update to nurture our spirits.

Daffodils think it's Spring!