Well hello there.....

I was shocked when I looked at the date of my last post...two and a half months ago! I am hoping to get caught up with all of my blogger friends soon. One of the side effects of fibromyalgia is mental "fog" and I am having a hard time coping with it. I am learning to work around the "fog" and in doing so I find that being busy is a big help. I am posting a few "hearts" and some other photos in a brief post this time.

My baby, Ashton, turned 20 last week! Where oh where did the years go? She brought a special little fellow to visit on her birthday. Isn't he sweet? He was born two months premature and is doing very well now. I love to have him visit as I get to rock him and cuddle him. I call him my "pretend grandbaby". Ashton has taken college courses all summer as well as worked three different jobs. I hardly ever see her...and my middle child and his girlfriend have moved to Boston to pursue further education and work. They are having the best time in their new home and city!

I spotted this heart-shaped mushroom in the woods. It almost looks like a big pinecone. I've never seen anything like this.

Buddy and I had a nice walk on the preserve and as we came from the woods I spotted the heart-shaped cloud. It seemed fitting as it was September 11. I like to think that it is a sign of hope.

Love this delicate little leaf heart.

And a bonus heart or two...I spotted the hearts within one another in a piece of wood lying beside the trail.

This photo makes me laugh...Buddy is part Jack Russell Terrier and they love to dig and hunt for small critters...Buddy's critter is a chipmunk that seems to delight in taunting him from one of the bird feeders we have out. But Buddy does a great job in barking at the marauder and scaring it away from the feeder. Walking across the lawn yesterday Buddy spied a chipmunk and away we went, me hanging onto his leash....he pushed his way into this fallen tree as far as he could go...gotta love that tiny tail! I finally persuaded him to come out of the tree and have a dog biscuit.

For the past several years this flower appears on a section of the preserve at this time of the year. I started looking for it last week and spotted some buds a few days ago. Today I was rewarded with this gorgeous bloom.