Autumn showing off!

I want to send a virtual hug to all of you who have commented and checked in to see how I am doing. I am better... still coughing and gravely-voiced, but I actually feel like I am getting better now.



I took these pictures this past Wednesday, one of the few days lately when the sun shined for most of the day. I was on my way to a local Arts and Crafts fair and literally stopped my car when I saw the trees in the photo below.



I was fortunate enough to have my camera with me and began to snap pictures as quickly as I could before another car came along. The trees in this particular area were just beautiful.



It rained and rained last night, so I imagine many these beautiful leaves are on the ground today. I am so thankful I was the beneficiary of this particular view for that one day, at least.

Blessings,

And now a public service announcement... for your health

OK... so much for the wonderful time away. I came home with the flu which my daughter acquired on our vacation and gave to me. I thought I was getting over it, and then *boom* it came back with a vengeance. Now, my husband has been (for months now) calling the swine flu the "pig flu" and laughing about it. At this point, it's not so funny. Apparently I must have had the regular flu (or even just a cold) and then, just as I was getting over that, received the "pig flu" germs from some unsuspecting source. They say you can be contagious up to 5 days before you begin to experience any symptoms. So, you can be going about your business as usual and, all the while, be exposing all your friends, coworkers, and loved ones to this horrible strain of flu. Well, I have been down (and I do mean down) with this crazy flu for the past three weeks. It starts as a sore throat, works its way into your head and chest, the horrible coughing commences, and then it is gracious enough to disturb your digestive tract (for me this "digestive" part lasted five days). Five days!!

This is not something you want to mess around with. I am still coughing and generally feeling lousy. My daughter has rebounded from her bout with it quite nicely, however. So, my best advice is to get as much Vitamin C as you can, wash your hands thoroughly and often, and avoid public places (this was our downfall, I'm afraid.) I wouldn't want any of my friends to get this... in fact I wouldn't even wish this one on my enemies.

Y'all take care and stay well,

Fresh Perspective from a Little Time Away...

Isn't it wonderful to get away? Even with all that goes along with being the mom in charge of all the laundry, packing, reservations, tickets, schedules, etc. involved in taking a vacation (?), it is still a wonderful thing sometimes to just get that change of scenery.




The sunset over the water paints a picture more beautiful than words can describe. It is refreshing down to the very depths of the soul.




The reflection of these beautiful flowers along the shoreline says everything about the flowers' health and vigor... health that is largely due, I am sure, to the fact that their roots are constantly nourished and watered by the life of the spring by which they are planted.




The hollyhocks were seemingly so happy to greet us in their fine ruffled, flowing pink skirts.




Though we were definitely not in paradise, there were many beautiful things to feast our eyes upon. And, this gorgeous bird of paradise was no exception.

It brings to mind this quote from L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables:

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

A change of scenery often does bring that scope for the imagination and a renewed energy to tackle the day to day tasks waiting patiently at home for our return. Two weeks away has left me a lot of "day to day" to accomplish, but how wonderful that I have new scope for imagination to keep those tasks from being mundane.