A Early Evening Stroll of Beauty

Those who read me often know that I have a thing for things that grow out of the dirt, either because of its beauty or because it taste good. After cutting the grass this afternoon, I took a leisure stroll and enjoyed the beauty the flowers that were willing to share with me, and I thought you may enjoy walking with me.

My yard is not large but I make use of many pots to create an array of different colors. I start out tonight with a interloper. I did not notice him until he had gained some size and then I didn’t have the heart to pluck him from the pot.

A bird dropped a sunflower seed in the pot

I do plant sunflowers along the outside of my fence but these flowers need to be in the ground. I wanted to see if it had limited growth room, what would it do.

I thought this bloom interesting as it seems to have shed all of it petals, yet the only seed showing is located about 1 o’clock. Not much story here to tell, so just glance through the flowers see how they are very much like us humans – all different but yet all beautiful in their own right.

***The ever expanding bed of daylilies***

**Geraniums with light pink centers, a red splotch center petal and ending in a** ***darker pink***

And we finish tonight’s walk with my wax leafed Begonia. Its a doubled bloom with a kiss of peach color along the edges of the petals that seems to make them glow.

These are not all of my flowers but just the ones that caught my eye this evening. I hope you enjoyed this walk with me and always enjoy the beauty flowers can share when they give us their all. As you go about you evening or day tomorrow, remember to always show kindness like flowers show their beauty.

Silliness of the Things We Love

Life can be frustrating, confusing and down right hard. So today we are throwing in a little silliness to bring a smile and possibly a chuckle to the day. I give you Daisy…

Hello, My name is Daisy. Some have seen me before but today I give you my official duties. Its not all love and cuddles. I am the chief protector of the home. The sofa is my favorite perch to look out. The softness of the arm is comfy on my bottom and allows quick jumping to the window to warn anybody of my presence…if they didn’t know already.

I love going outside. The yard is fenced in so no one else is allowed in my yard and I protect it with a vengeance. But sometimes I wonder what’s going on inside , so I go look in the window to see what my mom is doing. She watches a lot of TV.

My most favorite place to snooze is also on the sofa…the whole sofa. I am long and stretch out to the fullest. Preferable on my back. I like hanging my head over too…it stretches out my neck.

I kind of shadow my mom…wherever she goes…you can never tell what may go on in the bathroom…the shower is in there. That’s a bad place.

So hello, my name is Daisy and it was nice talking to you.

And like we all need to remember, animals like kindness too. So be kind to everything.

Weekend Sky, Sunset

Sunday found us at an outdoor concert by the river and the sky was fascinating. Hammad Rais had a fascinating photo on his #68 post that looked like a lion. Our weekend sky was much less dramatic but still beautiful.

First it was building…

Then its color started changing and it started falling…

Then it fell away and got swallowed by smaller ones…

The sky is always fascinating as it moves and changes. In closing I remind you to never change from being kind. Kindness is a trait we should always keep with us.

We can always use more joy in our lives – so always be kind.

Early Week Encouragement

With so much happening around our world these days, we all need small bits of encouragement. We get discouraged when we do something that goes wrong, or maybe it comes from something someone else did to us. Plus its discouraging to see the disasters going on around the world. Life is hard and can be easily discouraging! But scriptures remind us that we have a helper to get us through these discouraging time even thought they may be scary times.

He helps us in so very many ways. He heals our broken bones. He heals our broken hearts. He heals our broken relationships. He carries us in His arms all because of His love for us. He is there to helps us in whatever way is needed.

It is hard sometimes in today’s world to trust in what we can’t see but scriptures reminds us, old and new testaments, that He has always been there for us and will continue to always be there for us. We were created because He loves us and wants us with Him and He will always watch out for us so keep your eyes are on Him.

Like the poem on footprints in the sand – when you see only one set of prints in the sand, its proof of Him carrying you. Always remember you are loved deeper than you will ever understand. And since you know you are loved, reflect His love by being kind – especially when underserved. It really stays with them.

FOTD – July 19, Neighboring Lilies

Thank you Cee for the fun challenge of FOTD. It’s fun seeing the different varieties of flowers around the world.

Last weekend, I walked around the block and took pictures of the various lilies along the edges of other peoples yards. From creamy yellow to striking red with yellow centers.

The waviness of some of the petals and the striking color patterns of others make daylilies fascinating.

The some edges are super smooth…

This was a patch red ones with a bright yellow center and real ruffly edges…

And I like this one in the shadows for a different affect with the camera.

And last but by no means least as we are sporting three different colors…

I hope you enjoyed this walk through the lilies. Lilies seem to have the largest variety of color, shape and size so that you could never get bored with them.

I close with my reminder of showing the beauty of kindness as these flowers share their beauty with us. Kindness reflects true beauty.

FOTD, July 12, Begonia

More fun with Cee’s Flower of the Day. Join in and share the beauty you see.

Double bloom of my Wax Begonia.

I needed something for mostly shade and this is doing real well on my front porch. There is even a little friend.

Remember the power and beauty of kindness and share it with others. It does as much for you as it does for those you share it with.

FOTD, July 10 with Macros

Welcome to Cee Neuner’s Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD). There used to be a Macro-Monday challenge out there as well, so I tag along with that as well.

And since its not Monday, I am also breaking the rule by showing several flowers in Macro form.

I have several shades of dahlias but this particular plant is really showing off with bright yellow leaves stripped with red.

I plan ted two separate flowers for butterflies and hummingbirds but can not remember what they are called. So I am calling the below flower a butterfly flower. Its a tiny orange flower growing in clusters that the bees love.

The other tiny flower I have is also orange but it is a tube flower growing on a tiny stalk that floats in the wind. You can see by the fly enjoying a drink just how tiny these flowers are.

This is just proof that beauty in nature comes in all sizes. Not that a pesky fly is beautiful, colorful at best but still part of nature.

An expression of our lives that is always beautiful, regardless of size, is kindness. Even the tiniest show of kindness can change someone’s bad day.

FOTD, July 9, Fan Flower

Welcome to my Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD) by Cee Neuner.

Today’s flower is called Scaevola but commonly called Fan Flower for obvious reason.

***Five small petals on one side of the bud***

The stems hang down with clusters of blooms on the end that will sway in the wind.

As flowers make us smile, share that smile with others. A smile is a wonderful easy way to show kindness. Always Be Kind!

How (MUCH) Do I Love Thee

This week after bible study on how we handle grief, I went on a rabbit hole review of the book of Isaiah. Chapter 43 reminds us of how God grieves when we don’t listen to Him when He reminds us, through all 66 books, how very much he loves us and created all of us for Himself – because he wants us always near Him.

In Steven Scott’s book, Jesus Speaks, we are reminded how much harder it is for us to believe in this relationship versus the disciples believing. They were there. They heard him, touched him, they saw his miracles first hand. We have to believe with out seeing.

We believe because we have faith in what the prophets and disciples have told us through the words they wrote thousands of years ago. Faith, Hope and Love are all tied together throughout all 66 books of the bible. Are these book hard to understand, sometimes, but sometimes God allows us to see with unseen eyes and hear with unheard ears the precious words of his unimaginable love that he shares with us, just for the asking. If you care to read further in this post, I wrote a quick Non-poetry on Faith. It will be the first writing of my new book entitle Faith. My current book called Hope was so poorly edited, that I can’t leave my encouragement writing with that. So, we are are going again with professional editors so that the readers experience encouragement better. And after Faith, we will have to close off the series with Love.

UNSEEN ENTITY

How is it that a creature can put its trust of life into an unseen entity?

To allow its values and the things it loves to be driven by the ideals of this unseen entity.

Integrity is a component the creature uses to measure the ideals and values of this unseen entity.

Affirmation of the unseen entity’s integrity proves the love that is always given by the unseen entity.

Final trust and hope are driving forces given to the unseen entity by the creature in the form of faith.

Faith is confidence in what we hope for. (Heb 11:1)

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7)

Faith as small as a mustard seed moves mountains. (Mat 17:20)

Assurance of faith proves God is our refuge. (Psa 46:1)

Assurance of faith reminds us we are children of God. (Rom 8:16)

Assurance of God’s love is the strength of my heart. (Psa 73:26)

In all things, God works for the good of us. (Rom 8:28)

I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. (Jer 29:11)

I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you. (Isa 41:10)

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. (Prov 3:5)

Trust helps my heart jump for joy, with song I praise him. (Psa 28:7)

Trust that He will never leave you, not forsake you. (Heb 13:5)

Hope doesn’t disappoint for God poured love into our hearts. (Rom 5:5)

Hope in the Lord will renew our strength. (Isa 40:31)

Hope of eternal life was promised by God before time began.(Titus 1:2)

For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Anita

As we move about in this life, remember the opportunities we are given to show the beauty, warmth and power of Kindness and share it often.

FOTD, July 8

Cee gives us the wonderful opportunity to share the flowers we see or grow…even if its a weed.

Today I want to share some of the various lilies that are growing in my front yard. The ones out back have yet to bloom, they are a late season daylily, pinkish in color.

These are my early lilies that grow on a stalk like an Easter Lily. They are small blooms but fragrant. For some reason I forgot to take a picture of the yellow one.

Below is the first bloom of my yellow daylilies. Currently there are 26 buds waiting to open.

Flowers always make me smile. They have a beauty and fragrance to remind us the wonders of creation. So as we enjoy these wonders share the joy they give by being kind to others.