The Life of Mrs. Miles

JUDY BLUE BANNERS

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TODAY - mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share your treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in a word or deed.

TODAY - Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think of someone else first. Appreciate, be kind, be gentle. Laugh a little more.

TODAY - Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Worship your God. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak it again. Speak it still again. Speak it still once more.

- Author Unknown

God has given you incredible potential.

Don't be afraid to take risks.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,

but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

DINNER GUESTS AMALIA AND ALFREDO

They came bearing flowers and garden herbs - some ready for planting! Amalia and Alfredo are dear friends, former neighbors and are now students at Miles school. (its NEVER too late to graduate) Amalia and Alfredo are very special to us - they impart a sweetness of spirit whereever they go. Originally from Argentina, they return annually for several months and provide aid to the community where they originally came from. They spend a great deal of time and effort collecting funds and clothing while back here in Canada and then send or take it with them when they go.

Amalia has the 'greenest thumb' of anyone I know... she manages to feed her family, the neighbors (me - and I still have an open invitation) and her church with the small backyard garden at her home. Amalia and Alfredo's garden gate is always open to friends and neighbors. Thank you both for a wonderful evening!

Speaking of plants - I read this good idea in a recent Chatelaine Magazine:

Spring Trading: Why not parlay the dividing of your perrenials into a plant swapping party? Here's how:

1. Send out invites, informing guests that they must bring at least one plant to trade.

2. To dig out the plants: Using a spade, cut out the plant, including the root-ball. Carefully pull it out and cut the foliage back. Pot each one (any container will do) ensuring that roots are kept moist. Label plants with care instructions.

3. Give everyone a few minutes to pitch her plant, then let the swapping begin!

' PINK LADY' PAINTING

(double-click to see a bit bigger!)

I promised to post a copy of the painting I created here... I used mostly the pastels setting in Painter 1X to paint this flower. I'm pleased with the results - specailly considering it started out as a demonstration in technique to a student!

CAUGHT YA! - on film that is...

I think I 'looped' our trails four times yesterday. I went out twice with different sets of company (thanks for coming, Delores and Barney - and all your help too!) , and then I went once with my dearest and once on my own. The solo trip I made was in silence, hoping to find some critters. There are a lot of dry leaves in between the trees on the banks and often the quail thrash about in them and make you think there is a BIG animal in there! You never know what you might see on any given walk!

CHOKE CHERRIES IN BLOSSOM

One of my earliest memories of my childhood are of when I was six and spent a year in Saskatchewan living with an aunt and uncle ... they took us out to a farm - its SO FLAT out there - and I remember sitting on stacked hay bales, picking choke cherries! Have you any choke cherry memories, or stories, or recipes?

Today in History:

1857 - Headquarters for the US Army - Division of the Pacific - permanently established at the Presidio.

1913 - the all-purpose zipper is patented. To learn more about the history of the zipper, click HERE

Birthday of note:

1899 - Duke Ellington

BARB'S HANDY TIP #248

Canadian Environmental Magazine (online)

Is the weather affecting your health? What are we doing to protect the Great Lakes? Is the Okanagan Valley drying up? For answers and loads of info covering a range of environmental issues check out Environment Canada's free monthly online newsletter!

ENVIROZINE