The Best Season of My Life

 

 Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,

A cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.

If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, 

This is the best season of your life.

~Wu-Men~

Thank you for the beautiful cards and lovely gifts.

For a hand made card from a friend with photos of her visit to my house this summer.

For my friend, "C', who came up Friday and gave me beautiful yarn for my obsession. 

For phone calls from my sons and grandsons, 

Sister-in laws and friends.

For my sister, who arrived to help me celebrate. 

 Who wore the coolest boots...

And hiked with me to "the place where the ferns grow".

We shared the beauty of this place for a long weekend and I, again, understood how important it is to have this relationship with her. She and I are seven years apart and were not really close when we were young because of the distance in age. Now, we are best friends and I'm so thankful for this.

She gave the goats some lovin'.

The Prospector showed her how to retrieve gold from a sluice box.

She got to sleep in... and then be attacked by two small dogs when she opened her bedroom door.

She couldn't go anywhere without Carl and Cutter following her.

Yesterday we cut Manzanita for Christmas decorations.

(Can you find her in the photo to the left? She really got in to her quest for the perfect branch.) 

 We lined up and compared each branch for size and perfection of twig. She piled the best ones into her car.

Then she packed up and drove back across the valley to her family in the Bay Area.

Thanks Sis, You made my birthday very special.

Thank you family and friends. 

This really is "the best season of [my] life."

Cutter is a bit unhappy. He wants to know where his "auntie" went.