My daylilies are finally opening. Crazy spring weather delayed a lot of my hot weather bloomers. Cee’s FOTD post for today was a daylily so I had to play along as well as I have four different types. A miniature variety was already here when I moved in, I planted a one to help take over a small flower bed(its doing a nice job), one was a mother’s day gift and one the birds planted. My miniature lilies are not open yet so they will make a future post.
The yellow one I planted, the pink one the birds planted and the reddish one was a gift. I loved the ones with the ruffled edges. Interesting as all centers of these are yellow.
I also have sunflowers growing that the birds planted that I will post when they open. Birds, my little helpers.
If you enjoy challenges, check in with Cee’s List of challengesand their hosts on any of her challenge posts and have fun.
And as you enjoy the fun of challenges, let that fun develop into a smile across you face to share with others to radiate kindness.
The fun and joy of being a grandparent should never be taken lightly. Families who hold to the bonds of family love through the rough times are the families who survive the whimsical nonsense of the coming generations. It shows them the importance as they grow that those with strong values of family, memories and grandparents helps the entire family stand firm.
I never really knew my fathers parents as he was the youngest of a large family and I was the youngest of our four, so by the time I was old enough to understand grandparents, they were both gone. But I did enjoy many fun memories with my mother’s parents. My grandfather was a farmer & a gasoline truck driver. And my grandmother was a school teacher. She was well loved by many through her years of teaching and I wrote a post about her in December if anyone cares to read that one as well. I remember the funny stories she and Buckshot(my grandfather’s nickname) would tell us about our cousins that I had never met who had other interesting nicknames like “Catgal”. I would love to know the stories behind the many funny nicknames of my ancestors.
Below are the pictures of both of my grandmothers, maybe later I will do a post on my grandfathers.
Marie
The is Lottie with Brownie, per pride and joy.
Some families do not have the luxury of sharing the memories of their ancestors. Some families who do not have that loving relationship or members who can’t feel that love from their family members are families that tend to disintegrate and scatter away from each other. It is a very sad phenomenon that I saw happen in my own family with my siblings from strained relationships or actions that can shatter a family. I also have this same type of disconnect with my own children where their relationships were severely strained as children and then as as young adults, my work scattered us 1000 miles from each other not allowing for a reconnect. I have grandchildren I have never held while the older ones have no real clue who I am other than a vague memory. It is a terrible thing to happen to a family. As my youngest told me, we never felt like we were a family due to all the disconnects, anger and frustrations we had. It ever reminds me just how fragile this life can be. But I am trying to fix that and hope that by year end, all strained relationships can at least be on the road to being mended.
This week Nancy Merrill challenged us with a photo of the week as grandparents. It rang true with me as I am trying to get better reconnected with my boys.
So I challenge all who read this to understand the values of all members of the family and to make all efforts to maintain as much of that family bond as possible and to make a connection whenever possible. Even those who fight it, they really don’t want to be left out in the cold. So try to reach out.
And in closing as I remind my readers – try to always be kind. It reflects the very love of God.
I like to think of Blue as a positive color as in the US Air Force theme song Wild Blue Yonder or that person who remains with you thick and thin as a true blue friend. And the photos so far this month from Becky’s theme of July Blues has been amazing. To all photographers who play in this interesting world of blogosphere, I thank you for sharing your gift with the rest of us. Some of us (me) do not really have that gift so these challenges are a great way for me to play and enjoy others talents.
Below is my BLUE for today since this is a great day for the red,white & BLUE and I share it also with Cee’sFOTD for my daily flower post.
Weeds are flowers as well and some have the most amazing flowers. This one is interesting as it only have two petals – reminds me of a tiny mouse. And those of you who read some of my post know that I am always making other creations from flowers like angels, choirs and yes, even a mouse.
Two blue ears, two yellow eyes and a yellow nose
Enjoy your day and if you are in the US, Happy Fourth, share smiles and hugs when possible, and as always remember to be kind.
While this week’s challenge from Jansen Photo is Outdoors, I believe it is meant for the beauty of nature…well, I am going to bend that just a bit and be amazed by the architecture of man spanning the Mississippi River. After all, it is outdoors. This bridge has been under construction now for about 2 years and I think it is due to open by end of next year. It has been amazing to watch, I posted earlier pictures in November if you care to go see those here. We went across to the other side and had to use this bridge – what a reroute you have to go through right now, glad I don’t have to use it everyday because the roads are moving as well.
But I was amazed at the progress, especially knowing the winter we went through and the massive flood (91 days) that has just now settled back into its banks.
So check out these pictures and remember even though man can aggravate you at time, he can be pretty amazing as well. I also realize that I am a bit of a geek since I came from quality management but I think these are neat. Hope you enjoy.
These white things sticking in the air are going to be archways spanning across.
And in closing, I remind you to maybe reach out and build a bridge over to someone or something who needs to cross into kindness. It may bring brightness into their lives.
Since it is lunch time and I am in the kitchen, its the perfect place for letters and numbers. Our kitchens are not always for food but are also our hub of organization and a center for family, at least in my kitchen. Stuff is stuck all over the fridge.
Photo A Day Challenge from Citysonnet looks to be fun during the month of July. Well, a lot of the challenges do but looking over the list, these I can do without having to go far with my camera. Since my month has the potential to be out of control, this one may be an easy one for me to do.
July 1 is FAVORITE COLOR – that is easy – purple.
Purple is Skeeter’s favorite color as well.
Right down to her purple polka dotted shoes.
And as always, I remind myself and all others the power of being kind. It has lasting power you may not visibly see but the brightness of it shines forever.
It is so much fun to see the creative colors and images we come up with for Linda Hill’s monthly Escapist Coloring club. I enjoy it’s fun but also I remind myself on those night when I can not sleep that I am working on a project for the Escapist Color Club prompt.
This month I have colored the delicate flowering hippo, a new breed for the tropical zones.
She wears green eye-shadow to accentuate her lovely blue eyes. No self respecting male hippo would ever wear green eye-shadow.
Come join in on the fun and color with us.
As I was researching new ideas for showing kindness I found an entire website of pages to color that represent kindness. I just typed in “pictures of kind and coloring”.
I will have to print this and color it for next month
For the Love of 