Now is the Month of Maying...Part II

Sunset on May 14th....colours unenhanced..

La Bella Luna in all her golden glory!

Ah...  Springtime!

First Hummingbird Photo of the Year!

  You must look closely...

2014 BABIES

Goslings

Ducklings

Having their first Cheerios!

A *first encounter* for me...  walking around Stowe Lake, I heard (what I thought) was an animal in pain..so, I climbed through the bushes....only to encounter two Bullfrogs.....*courting*...  I never knew we had Bullfrogs in Stowe Lake!

The Current Exhibit at the Hall of Flowers!  (Poisonous Plants! )

Mr. Egret Struts his Stuff!  (He just lunched on a Fish..)

Cactus Blooming in GG Park!

Mr. Snout-Nose Turtle at the Palace of Fine Arts! I have ONLY seen him once before when it was quite hot out...this past week, San Francisco has been in the 90's...yes, really!

Hmmmm..you can't tell him apart from Mr. Snout-Nosed Turtle in Stowe Lake?  Really?
A-ha-ha!

That's all my news...  I continue to heal and move forward with my life!  I hope you do too!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Now is the Month of *Maying*...

I don't know if many (or any) of you remember that old song...  but it bounds into my head every May..

Our weather had been a mixed bag...we even had Rain last night....a lot of Cold WIND (which I dislike)... but the Sun shines most days...so I am grateful for that.

Here are some lovely Spring photos for you....

My first Hummer Photo of 2014!

California Poppies in all their Golden Glory!

 Happy May!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

April..the Cruelest Month? Yes.....and No!

First Stow Lake Goslings of 2014!

April began with Storms, with my overwhelming mountain (think Everest) pile of medical bills, with my job and long/dangerous commute...none of this helped my body to continue healing...STRESS, as some of you know, is a killer...

But, by month's end, my job had ended too. A few of the good things I will miss there (besides the paycheck) are:  Fay Wray, the Standard Poodle...

And Gracie...the Golden Retriever...

Then, a few days ago, after many many, MANY calls and filled out forms, I received my Medical card....Hallelujah!   This won't pay all my medical bills, but it will bring the total down a lot... I can feel my blood pressure lowering and my burns healing...

California Poppies a bloom!

A little bit of HOPE, of light at the end of the tunnel!

Mr. Red-Winged Blackbird struts his stuff as he *serenades* his lady!

Spring has totally arrived....  for how long, I don't know..(the *Mini-Winter* can't be too far away), but in the meantime. I am reveling in it...

Mr. Crow visiting the Moon Pool at the Arboretum!

Moon Pool Reflections.....

Mr. Snout-Nosed Turtle II...  there have always been two of them, but for a year #2 wasn't around until today!




Here's #1..

So, I leave you at April's end, with 75 degree temps... feeling a lot different than I did at the beginning of the month....but now, I have HOPE...and one needs that to go on with Life.

For those of you who have sent prayers....I thank you and count myself blessed to have such loving friends!

Always,

♥ Robin ♥

Is April the *Cruelest Month*?

*April is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire..*

Thomas Eliot, the Waste Land (with a nod to Geoffrey Chaucer)

April never was a favourite month of mine.. here, it is usually colder, windier and wetter than Winter Months... this year, as my winding road to recovery continues, the first few days have been rough....we have had several huge storms - 30 mph winds, Thunder and Lightning (oh my)...my soon-to- end part time job ends in 10 days...and I won't be sorry to see it go.... it is no fun taking two buses to and from work (and I must work till 8:00 p.m. three nights a week in an unsafe part of the City)....though it's nice to be earning a paycheck, the whole things is downright depressing.  Still, there is a decent place across the street where I can have a nice Latte outside (even while it's storming)...

At Delissios Cafe

There were a few days where I was able to get out for a walk amid my best *Counselor and Friend*....Nature.

As many of you know, the Blogging World is decreasing... mind you, my Blog always had a small group of followers... and now, most of them have left... it is human nature to feel sad when you see old friends have gone...  but, it is Life...  everyone is off *living*...  those of you who do come to visit and actually comment....thank you.  Renee, who was the person to first encourage me to blog - and to post photos (my artistic talent among you  authors, painters and sculptors)...is still with me.  The third anniversary of her death found me in hospital......but I thought of her a lot while I was there...and I continue to think of her know and give thanks for her HUGE open and honest heart and her enormous ability to love....

Gifts from a dear friend... sent all the way from Capetown...

These days, I blog mainly for me....a form of self-therapy... my burns will be with me a long time....but they are healing and soon, when I am able to get out and hike more, I know my feelings will strengthen as my body does.  Hope will return to my soul and perhaps this April will be a remarkable and wonderful one.

* I have seen dawn and sunset on moors and windy hills

Coming in solemn beauty like slow old tunes of Spain:

I have seen lady April bringing the daffodils,

Bringing the springing grass and the soft warm April rain.*

John Masefield

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

The LONG Road to Recovery....and to Gaining my Life Back

Looking back at my last post, written in a deliriously happy moment before I was off to meet my two Guys in New York, sigh.....well it reveals how LIFE can change in a mere instant.....a *Snap of the Fingers* and all you have known is changed.

I spent three weeks in hospital....was uninsured... and now, still slowly (but surely) healing....am left with unbelievably GIGANTIC medical bills - and no way to ever pay them back. 

Most of you know I am alone in San Francisco.... close friends live thousands of miles away....as do Chris and Bofie.  It will be a long, rough road to a recovery... but I am grateful for those friends who can comprehend what I am going through....and send me emotional support.  It means a lot. 

Bofie misses his Mum....  thank goodness for SKYPE and Facetime!

Meanwhile, I have begun work at my non-Opera job...receptionist at a Tax Company.... only 20 hours a week (nights and weekends) and just over minimum wage....but it's all I can get here in San Francisco these days.....so I take it...

it money for food and basics... and it's definitely better than nothing.

I am regaining strength in my legs with all the walking I must do...this is inspiring to me....as I am really an *Outdoor Girl* and need to be in Nature's realm as often as possible.

Here are a few photos I was able to take last week......they help to heal my body, my soul and my heart.  I hope you enjoy them.  For those of you who sent cards to me in Hospital and later to my home.... thank you for your prayers and healing thoughts.... and even some lovely artwork... I will post some of them soon.

Blue Boy

Mr. and Mrs Mallard at Brunch

Spring has arrived early in San Francisco.  This has been a real blessing to me....it enables me to get out in the Sunshine..and help me to heal.

The Stow Lake Turtles like the Sun too!

Last night, I was able to photograph the March Full Moon....  so beautiful and such a joy to behold... another step towards getting my life back!

La Bella Luna....I have missed you!

I leave you with words that have always encouraged me to push on when things get tough.... they ring especially true now.

* Still round the corner there may wait

A new road or a secret gate,

And though we pass them by today,

Tomorrow we may come this way

And take the hidden paths that run

Towards the Moon or to the Sun.

Home is behind, the World ahead,

And there are many paths to tread

Through shadows to the edge of Night,

Until the Stars are all alight.* 

Love, always,

♥ Robin ♥