Ate my bagel and cantaloupe this morning perched in the swing, enjoying the view of my little small town world. The sky was painted azure, so perfectly cloudless and clear. The grass was dark green, the dew sparkling where the sunlight kissed the lawn. The morning was serene and untouched, gathering warmth for a blissful day. The yard symphony was so quiet I could hear the cardinals crunching open the sunflower seeds and the water fountains bubbling in the bird baths. Once the fighting finches arrived at their favorite feeder and the hummingbirds left the runways on their bombing missions, the morning came to life with the symphony of nature. I love watching the world wake up.

I stayed several hours on the porch enjoying the cool morning and all the birds on the feeders. Watched several yellow butterflies dance around the lawn and tip toe on the flower pots. Butterflies just personify happiness. The contrast of yellow butterflies against the deep violet blooms of the million bells are so picturesque. I have to make myself not jump up and try to capture a photo when the yellow butterflies fly to the purple blooms. Only Mother Nature with God’s help could paint such wondrous colors. If we could only have use of her artist’s palette.

Took Penelope for a walk before dusk so we could watch the sunset. Mother Nature’s palette for painting the sunset tonight was a tapestry of peach hues and as she said goodnight to the sun, the sun was resting her head on a fuzzy peach colored horizon aglow in oranges and pinks. The sun settled down for the night amidst a few turquoise clouds who saluted her in the gloaming. Twilight is such a beautiful, magical time of day. The sun has set but the day still has a glow about it. A quietness takes over and then darkness falls and the day is closed. Father Sky pins some stars on the sky canvas and nighttime wakes up to tell the day good night.

Pondered on a quote I heard on tv this afternoon. A character said, “Even after they are gone, we still continue to love our loved ones.” Our love doesn’t change by our loved ones’ death. It’s interesting to think that love doesn’t cease with death. Never thought about that but wherever our loved ones go, our love goes with them. Guess the bridge from heaven to earth is love.

Sometimes we feel the presence of our loved ones or their spirit. I do feel Chief’s presence and often hear Rosie’s voice call to me. The last place Rosie and I went before her death was a trip to Walmart for things she needed to take back to college and a few prizes just because she wanted them. After her death, I used to hear her call me in Walmart and I’d look for her for a brief moment. I knew she wasn’t there but I had to look. One of Chief’s friends had a dream where Rosie, dressed in her favorite sweater, told her, “Tell Mama and Daddy I’m okay.” We never found that sweater.

“Love is stronger than death even though it can’t stop death from happening, but no matter how hard death tries it can’t separate people from love. It can’t take away our memories either. In the end, life is stronger than death.” — Unknown