Rain

Most of the time I like to stay in when it’s raining, but every now and then it’s nice to get out and enjoy the freshness that the rain brings. And of course if we didn’t get rain here in the valley I wouldn’t have all the beautiful flowers to photograph.

Today’s flower was on some sort of bush or small tree up at Mt. Pisgah, just south of Eugene. Levi and I went up there recently for an art class. The class was for him, I just took my camera along.

Credits: Janelle Gustafson (clipping mask), Elegant WordArt by Bethany (word art)

Spring Shows What God Can Do

I am so thankful for the crocuses, daffodils and flowering trees. Without them Eugene would be pretty dreary this time of year. Thankfully we enjoyed a couple of semi-bright days before the rain returned. I was able to get out and do yard work during those nice days. Cole is earning $$ for Boy Scouts by weeding for us. Yesterday he quipped, "By the time I get this strip finished the weeds will be back where I started." I told him to think of it as job security!

Enjoy your weekend!

Sharon

Credits: Words to Delite by Jazzy (word art)

All Things Grow With Love

It's the first day of SPRING and this beautiful daffodil bloomed just for the occasion, it made my day! We even had about an hour of sunshine today. Can't wait for more.

Credits: Paislee Press (background paper), Gunhild Storeid (distressed photo mask), Jodie McNally (word art)

It's SPRING!

I made this scrapbook page last April with photos of the various flowers that I had photographed. With the exception of the orange tulip in the lower right corner, all of these flowers were growing in our yard. I love the colors of spring. And I love the fragrance of the blossoming trees.

Credits: Shabby Princess "Kiwi kit" (black linen paper), Kellie Mize (green linen paper), Ronna Penner (gingham ribbon), Vicky Stegall ("Glitz" alphabet), Kristy Valshan (tag), font is Mistral

Old Friends

This photo taken at a recent orchid show at Oakway Mall. I applied an artistic effect in PSE6.

Word art from Elegant WordArt by Bethany

Learn

It seems there is always something to learn and I find that often times it’s my kids who teach me. One thing they are
trying to teach me is patience. I hope I get it down one of these days so I don’t have to get so many lessons! Another
thing is to not take everything so seriously. And another, sometimes they just have to learn things on their own. No matter how many times I tell them something, they aren’t going to really “get it” until they experience it for themselves. I suppose I’ve learned a good many things the hard way too.

I took this photo last summer on one of our walks. No clue as to its name. Just liked the shape and the color.

Sharon

Word art by Jan Hicks of Scrap Girls

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

This goes out in honor of my parents' 53rd Anniversary, March 10th. Thank you for staying together for better or for

worse, in sickness and in health. Thank you for the example you have set with your lives; for your children, your grandchildren and others who you influence. Thank you for sharing your love for Christ with us.

This beautiful photograph was taken in their garden in Bend, last July.

Blessings,

Sharon

Credits: Words to Delite by Jazzy (word art), Janelle Gustafson (clipping mask), Pineapple Plantation Designs (background paper)

Laughter in the Rain

I am sure the rain was laughing at me today. I went out for a walk and got rained on, then pelted by small hailstones and then shortly after that the sun came out and I had to peel off my jacket. Only in the Willamette Valley!

Blessings,

Sharon

Credits: Melanie's Digital Creations (word art), Janelle Gustafson (clipping mask), Aprilmouse and Hanulienka (background paper)

All Your Dreams - Congratulations to the Lady Wolverines

Congratulations to the Willamette Lady Wolverines! Tonight they won the OSAA 5A Girls' Basketball Championship.
While we didn't get to be there in person, we were there in spirit and we enjoyed watching it on television. Actually it
was kind of fun to watch it on TV because we got to hear all the commentary (such as the comments on how Aly Bruns
chomps on her gum the whole time and is even seen blowing a bubble from time to time) and you miss that when you are
at the live game. This was a dream come true for the Wolverines. In case you don't follow sports, this wrapped up a
perfect year for them. This was their 3rd year in a row up at the State Championship Tournament and their 2nd time to win
the title. What a great way to wrap up 4 years of varsity basketball. Congratulations Aly and team.

I chose today's photograph because it reminded me of cheerleader's pom-poms. Believe it or not, I took this photo on
December 4th. I had admired these flowers, growing along Coburg Road, for a couple months and finally got a shot
of them about a week before a frost turned them into brown goo. The clusters of flowers extended up to 2 feet long. I
have no idea what they are called, any suggestions? It was even a bonus that they are along the line of Willamette's
school colors.




And here are some cookies I made for the team on senior night. They were a lot of fun to make!

Begin Again

Photo taken 03-06-09 Buford Park at Mt. Pisgah. Cole did not pass his black belt test on Friday 03-06-09, but looks forward to trying again in June. He was disappointed but he also knew that it is more common to fail than to pass on your first attempt. I know he will work very hard for the next few months.

Be Still

Beautiful flowers from Owen Rose Garden in Eugene, Oregon. I'm digging into my photo files from last year until I start accumulating new spring photos.

Ocean Memories

This is not your typical family portrait, but I didn't have my tripod with me when we went to the Oregon coast in late January. This was the best way that I could record that all 4 of us were there.