From The Heart

It snowed on Valentine's Day while the Buddha outside my window stayed calm. Seeing it across the yard was reassuring somehow. The tilted cap on his head was modest in contrast to the tall snow cone hats he has worn in other winters. It was amazing to think every falling flake gathering in clumps of snow was unique on a molecular level, although the human eye sees 35 somewhat similar patterns. 

There would be no sitting out on the patio just yet but spring is around the corner and spring cleaning was something I began earlier in the pandemic. In the process, I gave away the old cabinet (below), with patterns of a different sort, to make room for another cabinet. The stranger who took it will hopeful make good use of it.

I didn't like letting it go because of the sentimentality and the charm of the hand-painted designs created by the husband of a friend. Both since passed away so I felt responsibility to care for their treasure. 

It was time to save the compelling carefully drawn art electronically in a file where I could view the shapes on a screen and print them on paper with a simple click. To keep and share a memory with a photograph is one of life's most remarkable treasures.  

These one-of-a-kind snowflakes will not melt so easily.

Nor will my wish for an extra sprinkling of Valentine's sweetness over what sometimes can seem like a heartless world.

Explore more of the artistic side of life at Paint Party Friday 

See more wonders at OUR WORLD. 

Still the kid I used to be

Visit Postcards From Penelope Puddle and Penelope Puddlisms: BC Life Is A Whale Of A Ride to view more West Coast scenes.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.