Slight Detour: It's Friday!

Interesting Factoid:

The Major Oak, a centuries-old tree in Sherwood Forest, has died.

Its connection to Robin Hood was mythical, but it did outlast the reigns of six Henrys, six Georges and two Elizabeths.

Now, that's an old tree.

🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

I watched part of the grand opening for the Obama Presidential Library yesterday. I had come inside from my outdoor project, turned on the TV and was disappointed to learn that Michelle Obama had just ended her speech.

There was a lot of praise for what she had to say, and I'm hoping to see her speech.

I did, however, listen to her husband's speech and was just as moved as I was more than 20 years ago when he addressed the Democratic National Convention.

It was the first time I'd ever seen or heard him, and what impressed me most at that time was that what he had to say had little to do with partisan politics.

Instead, he talked about America and its hopes and dreams.

I was inspired from that moment on because, in my mind, looking toward the future and imagining what the world can be should be key ingredients of our thinking.

Now, it's a very different time, but yesterday's renewed sense of excitement and inspiration from listening to his simple but profound words, so artfully crafted and delivered, gave me goosebumps, once again, thinking of the possibilities that exist as we all inhabit this earth.

In my mind, it was a glorious speech once again. Also, the concept for his Presidential Center of fostering hope for our country's future seems to me to be a pretty wise no brainer.

The entirety of the program can be seen in the link below. I plan to take some time to see it all.

https://www.obama.org/visit/grand-opening/livestream/

It's an example of a convenience-store rose, as are most of the roses pictured on today's post.

Whoever cares for the roses at Samuels Store does a magnificent job.

I will say, however, that yesterday the heat had diminished their usual beauty just as it has many of my flowers.

Still, in the summer whenever I stop at the store north of Sandpoint on HWY 95, it's a great place to smell and view the roses.

Last evening I noticed that the pink roses across the front lawn from the deck were beginning to bloom.

The scene instantly reminded me of the day my mother and I stood on the deck together, admiring the beautiful yard and landscaping that had come along with this place we call the Lovestead.

That was 20 years ago.

She was overcome and thrilled. As we stood there, she said, "Marianne, this is so beautiful . . . you could use this as a wedding venue."

Yes, we could, but instead we are happy to keep it simple and quiet while just admiring the beauty every day.

I still pinch myself that we get to live here and that every year, that beautiful rose bush continues to remind us that the excitement we felt 20 years ago when we moved here remains intact.

The exact date for our move here is July 1, but with the beautiful summer weather of late, we are feeling pretty nostalgic about how long we've been able to call this place home .