October 9, 2025 JOY Isn't That Hard To Identify.

Written by Maisy Star (who is deceased) and My Mom, Marybeth (who is very much alive

October 09, 2025•11 min read

Our beautiful waterfall goes into hibernation this Friday.

It's getting "shutdown", seems so harsh for such a lovely feature.

It would be great to have it through the winter, but maybe that's not realistic, what with an electric pump and all that.

It may feel like Mother Nature's creation to us, but the creation was by Luis Pena, my Mom thinks he's quite the artist.

Luis and his crew were featured in our 6/21/25 Blog post.

My Mom, me, and Onyx, have enjoyed it so much this entire summer, and so have the Steller's Jays, the Woodpecker (we think there's only one that visits), the Chickadees, Starlings, Chipmunks, and the Squirrels.

Have you ever watched little Chickadees flitting around from branch to branch?

My Mom was grinning from ear to ear, watching them hop from one branch to the water, and back again to another branch. It's like a flight school in session, with all the activity!

All these animals love the waterfall, and the grounds around, under and beside our Juniper.

It's a safe haven.

It's a very happy place.

It's hard not to smile.

Watching and listening is pure JOY.

Well, before my Mom heads off to Sarasota to see her darling Lois and Lois' dads,

I want to share some photos of other safe havens, happy places, things to smile about, and some pure JOY!

EnJOY!

This first photo is of Charity Valley, in Alpine Valley, not far from where we live.

My Mom wanted to do something nice for her friend Mike.

It turned out to be the other way around.

Mike had been stuck in the house recovering from an illness, my Mom asked if he'd like to go for a ride.

He ended up directing their ride to show my Mom, Faith, Hope and Charity Valleys, which my Mom had never seen.

Seems they both felt better after the ride!

Thanks Mike!

Charity Valley

This next photo is of my Mom's former secretary Jo Ann's, daughter Amy, and Amy's son Jayden.

That Amy has the most creative ideas!

The Love between Mothers and their offspring is in all of nature.

Two Mama bears and their cubs

I'm not sure whose mug this belongs to, but I'm certain that all dog Lovers can relate to this.

So relatable right?

My Mom stopped by to visit her friend Mike.

She walked into the yard to find some construction going on.

For a short moment she thought Mike (the recovering guy),was doing the construction!

She was ready to blast Mike when from the roof,she heard one of the construction guys say,

"Are you a judge?"

My Mom said, "Yes, but from New Jersey.'"

He said, "I'm Luke Purvance!"

Well, my Mom could not believe that this big man, was the same young boy she had met years ago at his house.

He and his siblings were home schooled, and Mom's sister Robin, was teaching all the kids piano.

My Mom went with Robin to one of Luke's piano lessons.

While there, my Mom asked Luke's Mom, Shawna, if she would like to add my Mom to the day's curriculum, it would be an impromptu session about lawyering and judging.

Shawna agreed, and thus a class, led by my Mom, ensued.

It was awesome for my Mom to see Luke again, and I suppose for Luke too, since he remembered my Mom from all those years ago.

All of the Purvance children are successful young adults.

They've had a foundation of living and learning,

that has made them hard working, kind and Loving people.

I don't believe that any of the Purvance children became lawyers, but I do think they may all still play the piano!

Luke and my Mom after nearly 10 years

This next photo is of Esteban, the son of my Mom's friend Jessica, from the Hudson County Courthouse.

Jessica was one of my Mom's greatest Mediators!

Esteban, one of my biggest fans!

This photo is another of local artist Dave Clock's, taken in the high country at Yosemite National Park, California:

Tuolumne Meadows

Next is my Mom's darling Lois! Lois will be the center of my Mom's world this week, and vice versa we're pretty sure.

This photo was taken by her dad, Yidong.

What a sky, what a girl!

LInda, world traveler and my Mom's friend from high school, was at it again, this time in Madagascar, which is an island country in the Indian Ocean!

Wow, that's far!

Linda's travels are vast, her photos capturing all that she is experiencing!

Here are a couple from this trip:

This is a Madagascar Scops Owl, beautiful!

This is a Madagascar Canyon spot, fantastic!

Next, my Mom stopped for a breakfast sandwich at a local coffee shop, and ran right into "Coffee with a Cop"!

My Mom met many officers that day and enJOYed visiting with them.

My Mom has great respect for law enforcement.

She's met and befriended many while working as a lawyer and judge.

Thank you for your good work officers!

Please meet Ruth Loehr from the Highway Patrol!

And boss Derek, stopped for a chat too!

Stay safe y'all!

Mom's friend Anita, shared these beautiful photos of Lincoln and Zoey, her neighborhood cows.

These photos are when they were 2 months old.

But, Anita met them within an hour of their births!

Here they are!

This is handsome Lincoln❤️

This is pretty Zoey❤️

Now how about this.
My Mom reached out to wish former intern Tom Scheffer, a Happy Birthday.

After texting back and forth, Tom sent a photo of he and his wife Ally's dog, MAISY!!!!!
Come on!!

How great is that!!

I don't think Tom knew anything about me, but he sure does now!

And, Tom and Ally are having a baby very soon!

My Mom will be sure to send copies,

of my MAISY STAR series! Click here to explore the adventures of Maisy Star!

How sweet is this little Maisy?

Here's another shout out, to Anita and Wayne's beautiful Betty, enJOYing a swim at Washoe Meadow State Park, California.

Beautiful Bathing Betty

This is Chief, one of the horses my Mom cares for, after a bioscan and treatment by Donnis Thran,

along with some cookies, and topped off with a peppermint candy!

Chief is one very happy boy.

Wiki, who is my Mom's priority at the Sheridan Creek Ranch, now recognizes the sound of my Mom's car, or maybe her scent, or maybe the orange bag she has been carrying lately.

Whatever it is, Wiki knows she's coming to care for him.

That's him waiting at the fence.