Category: Beauty in life

FOTD – June 15 – Lilies

Flower of the Day is such a fun challenge. I enjoy seeing everyone’s photos. Today I am showing off my red and white lilies. I noticed last night that the red ones were close to opening and this morning they were wide open. The white one opened over the weekend.

The red ones have long narrow petals where the white ones, which are a miniature variety, have the more traditional shape, just small.

My day lilies have not even sent out spikes yet. Hopefully soon. I saw a post from Sally this morning about how people can go over board with EVERYTHING – but it did mention how plant life also feels pain. So as you take your photos of your beauties, be kind to them as well. All life deserves kindness.

Always Be Kind

Tuesday Writing Prompt

Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge.

Today’s prompt—Heaven in her eyes

Heaven in Her Eyes

Misha sat quietly as she listened to her grandmother rest. Her breathing was becoming labored but she waited quietly hoping for more wisdom from the stories she always told. Misha’s mother had told her the stories were not real, that they were just stories of hope of what heaven would be like.

But Misha knew different. Even though she was still seven years young, she herself had vision. And the visions she saw matched the stories she heard from her grandmother so many times. Before her grandmother had become so gravely ill, Misha had shared quietly with her grandmother her ability to see vision as well.

Her grandmother smiled brightly at her and her eyes sparkled with love. “Oh, my dearest Misha. Hold that truth close to your heart and let no one take it from you. It is a gift from God. Use it for the purposes he asks you to do. God will let you know when it is time.” And they shared many stories together of what they saw.

Misha watch the fluttering of her grandmothers eyes as she opened them looking toward the ceiling. “Oh, Lord, what a beautiful sight. Thank you for allowing me to see the beauty of heaven as I transcend to you.” And with that her grandmother breathed her last.

Misha stood and took her grandmother’s hand. “I will miss you Granmama. Thank you for believing in me. Enjoy the beauty of heaven that is now fully in your eyes.” Misha was fully at peace knowing where her grandmother was now, in the beauty of heaven wrapped in many layers of love. The sound of the door opening caught her attention as her mother came in the room.

“How is she doing today?”

“Today she is great. She has the true beauty of heaven in her eyes.”

Misha’s mother let out a horrid scream understanding what Misha meant, knowing now that her mother was dead.

But Misha turned quietly from the room knowing her grandmother was now more alive that she had ever been.

Come join in on the fun of Tuesday Writing Challenge and share your creative juices with everyone.

and as always, remember the truth of kindness.

Some Afternoon Humor

Sometimes there are those pictures that don’t ever need words and then others cry for a caption. This picture of my granddog, Max, is a bit of both. The first thing that came to my mind was a horrid nursery rhyme we said as kids and for some reason came all the back to the front.

Nobody Loves Me

Nobody Loves me

Everybody hates Me

I’m gonna go eat worms.

I can’t remember the words to the second verse that describes the slimy juiciness of worms but this sad picture reminded me of that silly poem.

Don’t be alarmed as Max is not hurt or sad…he is asleep. Maybe his nose was cold. Who knows. But I thought I would share this cute picture as it makes me laugh. Chuckle along with me and remember what sadness can look like. So, always be kind.

FOTD- June 7 – Unknown Beauty

I saw these white beauties sway in the breeze around the garden at the park but their was no sign identifying them. Tiny bell shaped blooms hung on a thin willowy stalk about 4 feet high. They were quite striking.

I pulled out my macro lens – still trying to perfect that skill – and inside the bell was what looked to be a bug but after seeing the picture on my computer, I think they are the stamens that are not fully open. I was intrigued by the tiny bristles and the (I presume) pollen dust on the outer petals. And the tiny stripe of purple on the center of the two lower petals also caught my eye when enlarged.

Flowers make me smile at the wide array of the beauty of creation – some things we may not have even seen before. Share your smiles and you will share you kindness. Sometime when people see you smile and you are by yourself, they wonder what you are thinking about. Smile often and be kind often.

FOTD-June 3-Petunias

I am copying Cee’s Flower of the Day with Petunias as well. What I find so fascinating about petunias, beside their many colors, is the vein work within the flower itself.

This red one seems to have white on one side of the center and black on the other. maybe its the pollen dust looking white.

The white one has yellow in the center but the vein work carries a yellow green through the center rib of each petal.

And last but not least, the rich royal purple. The black center and deep purple veins make it look velvety soft.

As we smile at the beauty of flowers, remember the beauty of kindness and let that beauty shine from you.

Always Be Kind

FOTD – May 26 – Superbells

Thanks Cee for the ability to share the beautiful flowers we see for Flower of the Day. Each year I plant several varieties of Superbells in my yard. They are like a miniature petunia but their color varieties may be wider. And I think they all have yellow centers, at least any that I have seen.

Purple…my favorite – with a tiny yellow center…and a friend

Then there are ones with multiple colors…

But the solid colors are just as special…

So as you enjoy the beauty of spring into summer with flowers, spread the beauty of kindness wherever you go.

Fun with Flowers & Macro

Recently I bought a real camera instead of always using my phone. While the pictures on the phone were quite good I was not able to get really close, like seeing some of the bugs I am now seeing. Heavens Sunshine used to have a Monday’s Macro Challenge – and yes I know its Tuesday – but I thought I would post these anyway for my first try at getting really close. All of you experienced macro users can tell me what I am not doing correctly. You will not hurt my feelings.

My yard in macro:

She is watching you!!

I used to tease Irene that her photos of orchids looking like angels. This iris looks like an unhappy creature with slanted dark eyes, puffy cheeks, a long nose covering its upper mouth and maybe a hairy tongue? Only our imagination can take us to such places.

In this next one, I was amazed how the sun came through the outer petals making the inner petals almost luminescent.

Then the last one shows off what I assume is considered the beard of the iris.

Macro photography shows the beauty of up-close and personal. But flowers as a whole have a beauty that can not be matched.

As always I remind you of the value of kindness. All of creation understands the feel of kindness and needs it shared with them often.

Always be Kind

FOTD – May 24 – Calibrachoa

When I first saw this at the flower store, I thought they were nasturtiums due to the leaf shape. I love the thick rounded petals and then over the weekend, this long stem popped out with this delicate flower.

Then as we look at the small flower with its tiny yellow stamens, it really is quite beautiful.

Come join Cee with her fun challenge of finding a beautiful flower each day.

So now that we are are the start of a new week, remember the value and power of kindness. Its use can have a profound and lasting effect.

FOTD – May 21

I love this time of year where we get to play with Cee’s Flower of the Day. For the last week it has been rainy and muggy – getting close to summer. But the weatherman told us today it would not rain…he was mistaken…it rain most of the day and my iris bloom opened this morning and got pretty beaten up by the rain. I took its picture anyway. Hopefully the two other buds will not have to fight the elements.

As we enjoy the beauty of flowers, remember they are a living thing. And all living things need kindness to help them through this life.

Always Be Kind