The Garden of Weedin’

Rain, Rain, Rain….  it makes the garden grow.  We have had some really crazy weather here in Oregon, it seemed like it would never clear so I could mow the lawn.  A few months later…. and I was the proud owner of  “The Garden of Weedin”, some if it over 3 ft tall.  I never lost hope though,  just like everything in our lives we need to keep hope.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, The Big Island, Hawaii

Finally over the weekend the air had cleared, the sun was out and things where starting to dry out, things where looking good.  It took hours of work, running the weed eater knocking the tall stuff down.  I never lost faith,  just kept whittling away, as I see working in my yard as therapy.  Wonderful glorious therapy and in the end you have something very wonderful to look at and enjoy.

With the mowing finally done and the weed eater working  it’s magic, I realize that the weeds sort of represent things that happen in my life.  There are some very troublesome weeds, that just creep in and out and it is really hard to get rid of them.  Like some of the past experiences and people in life and how they still have an impact on our lives.  There are weeds that are bothersome, but you can pull them out and clean things up and move on.  Weeds can help feed the critters and creatures in our yards and there are even some to harvested for food and have healing properties.

The returning weeds show me that we compete against our own potential every day.  Most of us fall short of what we are capable of doing or being.  I believe that no matter what job you hold, what industry you work in, or where you live, every morning you wake  up with a clean slate and no weeds in your garden.

Just go out and explore your “Garden of Weedin” and see how you can clean your slate.   You can make your life and your dreams anything you choose it to be.   Keeping your faith will help keep up the hope for good things. Your Possibilities Are Endless!

~Oregon Smiles with Franny, On The Road Less Traveled

Photography by Tracy Louise Photography

Nature…So Many Meanings

Thank you Jake for our Sunday Post Word/Topic.  NATURE …. it can take on so many things.

Mother Nature and her weather that can come and go, from one extreme to another.  The Nature Of Things,  just the way they are.  Wildlife in Nature and the Flowers, Trees, Herbs and even Weeds in Nature.

Last year at this time, I was fortunate, and was able to make a second trip to Hawaii.  This time we went to the Big Island.  Wow so much diversity in Nature there.  We experienced the Rain Forest, the Desert climate, Volcano’s and the Sea.  Where wildlife and foliage is so stunning and vibrant, while the fruits and vegetables are remarkable.

Here are a few pictures that I took during my trip, to a tropical paradise that touches all of our Nature senses.

Honu, Punaluu Black Sand Beach Big Island, Hawaii

Lava Arch, Volcano's National Park, Big Island, Hawaii

~Oregon Smiles … with Franny, On The Road Less Traveled

Photography provided by Tracie Louise Photography

Monday Madness

Today was one of those Monday Madness day’s, but I am looking at the bright side of life and my good thing for today was learning how to put a watermark logo on my pictures with my new Photoshop Elements 9 program.  It’s nothing fancy but hey,  Yippee Doodles, you can teach the old Gal a New Trick !  I am still a little slow at it, but it is working  🙂  Oh and yes, to top it off,  The sun came out here in the valley today.

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
The Big Island

Well maybe I should clarify that…. here in the Vortex. It seems that the weather happens all around me at times.  Snow here, snow there, rain here, rain there…. but today was a Sunny Day!  For that I am very thankful.  With a few more days like this maybe we can actually feel like it is Spring and maybe dry out enough that I can mow the grass.  Yikes!!  Last week we had 8 inches of snow show up on the first day of Spring.  Trees down and some people are still without power.

I am totally ready for Spring and Summer.  In fact,  I think that I am in need of a little Island Time. Shorts, Flip Flops and one of those really good Mai Tai Umbrella Drinks.  Oh ya, that’s what I am talking about.

But it looks like I will be just looking at my pictures and remembering all of those wonderful days, from my recliner.  It’s just not in the cards this year for a trip.  Oh well such is life.  I am just glad that I still have my memory, my recliner and my dog, so there are lots of things to be thankful for.

As a native Oregonian, getting away from the gloomy winter weather is such a treat. A nice climate change is always a good thing and the rain is much warmer.   Going to a nice tropical destination is always such a relaxing get away.  The laid back island life…  Oh yes,  I could really get into the island life style.  Definitely Hakuna matata!

Yep, The Farmers Market will be up and running soon  in Hilo on Wednesday’s.  Local people bringing their wares to market, like they have for generations.  What really amazed me was the size of the fruit and vegetables.   What they can grow in the tropics is amazing.  Fresh Roasted Kona Coffee, Mango’s, Pineapple and Avocado’s the size of a grapefruit.  The sweet smells of the fresh fruit and when I say fresh, I mean fresh.  None of  dull stuff that you find on the mainland.  Scents of the Island flowers permeate the air.  Sipping on the water of a Fresh cut Coconut, while you stole along, enjoying the day.

Just so Amazing…. Nothing that this Oregon girl had ever experienced.

The Island Life…. A world of its own.

~ Oregon Smiles … with Franny, On The Road Less Traveled