We had a wonderful visit with our friends, and they are easy to entertain, but I found that I needed solitude---time to myself for my own thoughts, my own creativity. After a few hours of catching up, laughing and sharing, I desperately needed space.
And just as I began to think I might scream in desperation, this is where we landed.
This beautiful little gem of a lake is only about 15 minutes away, but I haven't been here but maybe once in the 50 years since I was in high school. It is a man made lake that provides irrigation water for agricultural land nearly the length of the valley.
It was so peaceful, and I took the opportunity to wander off by myself to get some alone time.
What a lovely place. So serene, so quiet.
mrbill and our friends visited at the picnic site while I wandered the beach finding treasures to photograph.....
A rock......Or is it a boulder?
This valley was at one time totally flooded by an enormous inland lake created by an ice dam in Washington state. That dam broke at least twice flooding everything to the west of us and creating the magnificent gorges in Washington. Was this rock a part of that event? Probably.....I am looking at prehistoric history. I am humbled by the thought. "Oh, what is man that your are mindful of him?" We are so insignificant, and yet we are so loved, and so privileged....
And driftwood. Worn smooth by the waters that rise and fall, gently polishing it and refining its beauty...just as life refines us, smoothing out the rough edges and creating new beauty...perhaps not the beauty of our youth, but the beauty of maturity and wisdom.
This little stream coming out of the mountains has been corralled and controlled to create livelihoods for generations of small farms and ranches for over 100 years. It has helped make the valley verdant and productive. The stream itself has been forever changed, but so have the lives of countless families. I cannot help but believe that like all of God's creation this stream was created for its beauty as well as its usefulness, and I think he would say "well done, my good and faithful servants."
My guests and dear lifelong companion never once interrupted my time alone. My time to pause, to observe and to reflect. I am so blessed. I hope that you, too, find time in your busy schedules to pause, and take time to reflect on what is important to you....
Ta Ta for now...Peggy