Lily, A Fragrance Like No Other, FOTD

On Monday of this week I walked into my office to see a vase of lovely lilies sitting on my desk. I saw no tag anywhere so I was not sure where they came from. I walked into the admin office and asked June if she knew anything about them. She said no and asked Kevin if he knew as he had been in my office fixing my computer – he is our IT guy. He said he brought them. His wife and picked them from their yard and had them in the living room. He was tired of smelling them so he brought them to the church, specifically my office, which I was okay with.

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So now it is Friday and they are still beautiful and very fragrant. I saw that someone had cut the pistols/stamens off and asked about that and was told it helps keep the smell from over whelming. “Oh,” I said, “so that why I smell them as soon as I come through the door of the church.” Whatever. The majority of the bulbs have now opened and this is what they looks like now.

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They really are marvelous, and while Cee’s FOTD is for a single flower, my prompt is for a single vase of multiple lilies. And I don’t know what the ball looking flower thingy is but it is fragrant as well. May you all have a wonderful weekend and remember to be kind.

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Fun Times For A Year

I worked today so did not get to the computer until this afternoon and I found a surprise…

Congratulations, its your anniversary. Wow, I did not realize I had been blogging now for 1 year. I have talked to so many wonderful people all over the world and I thank you all for making this so much fun.

Thank you to all of the photographers I share such beautiful photographs with; Thank you to all the people who share my Christian beliefs with words of encouragement and profound truths; Thank you to all the people who share the funny stuff that make us all laugh at ourselves because we know we have done what you just talked about; Thank you to all the experienced bloggers who have helped us newbies make this an enjoyable time; And thank you to all who read my words from seriousness to silliness and give me such encouraging comments. May we all use this medium to spread the love and kindness that is meant to be spread across this world.

My favorite(for now) picture I have found shows how kindness can spread like the ripples when a pebble has been tossed in the water, so I challenge all, as I do with every post, to be kind. There is just not enough of it in this world and we need to increase it use so it will spread everywhere. Again, thank you for all your love.

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Playing With Clouds

I am sure we all have sat on the ground as children(or adults) and watched the clouds while making shapes out of them. Recently at the break of an excessively hot period, I watch the clouds roll in and the heat dissipate. It was a wonderful relaxing time and I thought I would share my fun.

My view in both directions as I sit on the bench by the Mississippi. The breeze was wonderful after the high 90’s we had been having.

I enjoyed watching this group of thunderheads morph into many different shapes. Here I see in the one on the left as a person sitting, throwing his arms in the air as he looks behind himself ready to stand and then on the right he starts to stand.

Then that same structure turns into a fire breathing dragon to later turn and run still spitting smoke.

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This was my favorite. Even clouds can reflect the love we share with our pets. Love, caring, sharing, kindness…all very profound ways to express the nurturing of Christ. Try to be kind in any way you can, its a reflection that will look good on you.

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A New Flower, FOTD

I am always up for finding flowers I have never seen before when visiting the botanical gardens but rarely do I find them by chance. Last Tuesday when a friend and I went “junken” I found the beauty below. When I asked what they were, the store owner made an off the wall comment about digging them up this fall, that he did not care for them. I asked him if I could have some and he was more than glad to give them away, so I gave him my contact info and he is going to call when it cools.

When we first went in we thought it was some type of iris as the leaf foliage looks similar. You can see how small the blossoms are, about 2 inches across.

You can see the “lily spots” as I call them all over the petals. I did not notice a fragrance as I was too fascinated on their look. Some of you may know of these but they are new to me. truly different and amazing.

Come join in with Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge and see all the amazing flowers God has created for us to enjoy.

And as always spread the ripples of kindness where ever you go, watch it change the faces of those around you.

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The True Light, #1LinerWed

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“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness. John 8:12.

“The Light of His presence is shining upon you. Brighten up the world by reflecting Him. Sarah Young

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When we feel the warmth of the sun radiating on our face, all the more will be God’s love on our hearts to breath in and share that love with others. Try to always be kind.

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Join in with all of us on One Liner Wednesday with Linda Hill.

Tuesday Photo Challenge, Sculpture

Here in the midwest, there is not a lot of sculpture around. You have the occasional old building gargoyle or the lions on the concrete steps up to the older houses so I was amazed when I saw this one the other day. I rode around the block trying to find where I could park so the I could see it up close. I knew eventually I would be able to use it and sure enough, Frank, of Dutch Goes the Photo, has given us a sculpture prompt for the TPC.

It stands 20-25 feet high with a large metal sign making it a good 30 feet total height. And it is totally carved from an old tree that probably died where it once graced this lovely home.

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The home is now home to Freedom Homes Ministries, a place to help those who need a second chance at life.

Remember, there are many times we all need a second chance to start over. God gives us a new chance every morning, so smile and be thankful for all the love he gives us and share it with others. The kindness and love you share spreads out like ripples on the water, so throw those pebbles of love often and watch them spread out bumping into other ripples creating a sea of love and kindness.

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Fun With Macro, SMM

I can not say that I can do real macro but I still enjoy close up with my phone camera. The goal is for a real camera with beginner lenses for Christmas. Heavens Sunshine does amazing nature photography and is hosting a Monday Macro Prompt which I am playing in with dreams of getting better. I have enjoyed my miniature flowers this year that look like tiny petunias but are way more colorful.

They also have varieties that are doubled petals making them look like a tiny rose.

As you enjoy each other’s beautiful photographs, spread that joy to others, in a macro, up-close way and always be kind.

George, BOTD

Living close to a forest has it advantages in the wildlife you see. We have a pair of hawks that are forever calling to each other and I have tried to catch them on camera. I finally got a picture of George this morning. Yes, I have named him or her…

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They call us when they are in the area so I knew he was close this morning as I tried to water a little before it got to be “the surface of the sun” hot.

I have tried to figure out what type he is as I don’t think it is a Redtail Hawk as the tail is grayish and the body is dark. There is a sub-specie called Harlan’s Hawk who colors are close and they seem to be wide spread but winters in central US. So maybe…

I post along with Granny Shot It and her Bird of the Day. If you feel like it, come join in on the fun and share your bird pictures. And always remember to share your kindness as you go. Kindness shared creates ripples that can carry far and wide.

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Beauty of Wildlife in the City

I live in an area that is considered an island but you don’t notice it as bridges are everywhere and it is engulfed in a conglomerate of four cities grown together as one city, the Quad Cities of Iowa/Illinois; two cities each on opposite sides of the Mississippi. Davenport is the major city.

Quadcity — Davenport, green; Bettendorf, yellow; Rock Island, red; Moline, blue

Rock Island has a small forest which is named after Black Hawk, a tribe leader of the Sauk Indian tribes that originated from this area and that forest is on the backside of my subdivision. So we see a lot of deer that have no real fear of man as long as we keep our distance. When I first moved here from Alabama, the rental house was located on the other side of the forest and my house actually backed up to that forest. The deer slept in my backyard and it amazed me when we went came in at night, they would just raise their heads and look at us before going back to sleep.

This morning I noticed Mimi become very interested in what was outside. I can tell from her stance if it is wildlife or human…or squirrels. The worst offenders are the mailman and the squirrels.

As I go to the window I saw a fawn. It was several months old as you could barely make out its spots but still way too young to be with out it’s mom. I watched it as it slowly walked down the side of the road munching on grass but saw no signs of mom. As the doe got to the next driveway, I ran to my bedroom to get a better look from those windows and there was mom, on the other side of the trees. It was neat to watch them. Mom was too hidden for a decent shot.

I lived on 3.5 acres of open land in Alabama and didn’t see as much wildlife as I do here. I will have to tell you a funny story about raccoons and Mimi one day. Too funny.

Hope you enjoy your Saturday. Smile and remember to be kind to man and beast alike.

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Deer Loving My FOTD

This excessive heat wave we are having here in the midwest is not normal but should break later today. It is having a toll on all of wildlife where they are eating thin gs they normally don’t eat…like my daylilies.

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Eating the bud before it even open, how rude! But they didn’t get all of them. some are still quite beautiful.

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Guess I ought to be happy in that this is all they are eating, other than the tomato leaves on the side of the house. Weird.

Remember to share the beauty of you as you smile and be kind.

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Join in on sharing the beauty you see with us as we share with Cee’s Flower of the Day.