Veterans' Day Salute!

... and a [huge] THANK YOU!

to all who have served and those who continue to serve

in all of the branches of the

Armed Forces of the United States.

We have had three sons serve in three branches:

Army, Navy, Marines,

and currently have a son in the Army

who sent us these ID tags for wearing for Veterans' Day.

The tags read:

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, and

WE WILL NOT FORGET POW-MIA.

We hope that all know that we are grateful for their service,

and for the sacrifice their families make, as well.

This arrangement is for you:

flags for the country you represent,

a yellow rose for remembrance,

ID tags for the servicemembers.

The vase is a branch from the forest here,

a piece of home.

by any other name...

Having waited longer for the roses to bloom this year, we are finding them well worth the wait.

Happy Birthday, Dorothy!

Raindrops on roses...

We awoke to the sound of rain today. Not unusual here. I went out back to revel in the misty rain, leaned on our deckrail, looked down, and this rain-kissed rose greeted me.
This poor rose bush has had a rough time lately, but has still rewarded us with several buds. The framing of the ferns set off the pink beauty.
We keep cutting the ferns back; they keep trying to take over from beneath the deck.
We think the rose bush might just make it, though.