Nancy Merrill’s challenge and Linda G Hill challenge both fall into today’s task – dead leaves and new flowers. The winter was very harsh with crazy amounts of snow and what little spring we have had has been so wet the flowers are just not doing well. They need sunshine as well. We are toward the end of June and we have not had an 80 degree day yet to speak of. Weird. Those who despise the heat, like my daughter, are happy about that but I like my heat. An now that I have said that July and August will probably be awful. Go figure.
So you see below the effects of too much rain and not enough sun. Leggy plants, dying leaves and poor bloom production. All the petunias in this area seem to be so sad.
I went Wednesday and bought replacement for some of my pots. Went with Zinnias and Marigolds as they are hearty and very colorful.
My lilies look to be opening soon so I will post those when they do.
But today I needed a new filter for my fridge which took me to Lowes which has an awesome garden section…yea, spent another chunk. Its okay, I will pay it all off next winter. That’s something I don’t want to think about – this past one never seemed to leave.
Gardening and writing are my two “me” times, oh, and then there is also the clowning and face painting. Some of us are just on the quirky side but if my quirkiness brings a smile, then the quest has been accomplished. My goal is that if I can make someone forget for two minutes the trials they are going through and smile at my flowers or my silliness, then that is a day well spent. Never forget the power of a smile, a kind word or a gentle gesture. It shows the reflection of God for that brief moment and shares hope with all that come in contact with it. So smile often, speak gently and periodically hug when you can…and always be kind.
Grand-ma’s Cellar Door
I stand and remember the wonder of this place, familiar smells are embedded forever
The three legged milking stool to stand on as she worked, with sun shining in her hair
The herbs are still there, were there even before, as great gran-ma was most clever
By planting them by the cellar door, the door great grand-pa had built for her to share
So when winters blast came through out the land, with white seeming to go on forever,
With simmering smells floated through the warm home, the cold could not compare
The love of family around a small table, only a candle for light, a memory that last forever.
Anita Neal
Come join in with Sue Vincent’s Thursday photo writing prompt. Use the image above as inspiration to create a post on your own blog… poetry, prose, humour… light or dark, whatever you choose, by noon (GMT) Wednesday 26th June. Don’t forget to use the #writephoto hashtag in your title so your posts can be found.
And those who know my writing, always know I close in a reminder to be kind. Kindness is a reflection of God’s everlasting love for all things.
The Old Stone Door
This door seems too narrow, with no way to lock, a wedge pushing it always open.
The stone is so old with odd colored splotches, green moss growing all over it’s face.
This can’t be the way, no look at the door. It looks to small to be used as was spoken.
This is the garden, I know that for sure with tales of peace and beauty of this place.
But many remember a time of no peace, with shouts of anger and shedding of blood
With torches ablaze and sharp swords flying, an ear was taken, but now back as new
“Put away your sword”, he said firmly in love as they struggled standing in dark wet mud
Shall I not drink this cup the Father has given me? A cup allowing for of all things new!
Now, centuries later the garden lays quiet with forgotten memories of that time gone by
I walk through the beauty of flowers and trees and feel the reality this has had on me
Will I feel His love when I walk away from here, the beauty of flower and bright blue sky
Will I be able to use the love I feel, and bring it as proof, an everlasting love for all to see.
Anita Neal
There are times when fellow bloggers post a picture that is so inspiring that I ask permission to try to write a post worthy of its beauty. Today, Ken of tallulahbass created a post for Norm for the Thursday doors and posted this door. I thought it was a beautiful door and thought of the Garden of Gethsemane wondering what it would be like today to walk through that garden.
As we remember the everlasting love he has for us, let us remember to share that love with a loving smile, maybe a gentle touch for a hurting soul or a helping hand for those in need. And always remember to be Kind.
It’s Thursday and a day we join in with Norm and our shared loved of doors. What wonderful stories the imagination can have as we look at some of the really old one. We have an area that we are trying to revive bu calling it a historical neighborhood. We aren’t all neighborhoods historical that were built over 100 years ago. Now that I am older, 100 years doesn’t seem that long ago.
This neighborhood has it usual transitions of original fine homes that got neglected and people left. Then other people moved in not understanding the value and letting it decline further then sold for “pennies” to those who could barely afford the “pennies” who showed no love to the homes only to leave them abandoned. Now investors who see the value in the wonderful homes have moved to revitalize them and bring them back to their glory days. I have seen this pattern i n every city. We are currently fighting for the beauty and value of our courthouse.
But today I offer you glimpses of revitalization of this neighborhood showing the condition of how some still are but the transition of the revitalized ones.
The beauty of this one is hidden by the tall grasses but as it sit on the hill surrounded by massive oak trees, it was probably a beautiful porch to sit on and enjoy the rockers.
I love how this garage was turned into a fun living space and the owners understood the value of doors as he worked on repairing and staining one.
I though these two interesting. The larger door is a revitalized firehouse. No sure if it is a working firehouse or now a home. It’s still a neat door. The other picture is a set of doors we pass daily that I have always wondered “how many garage doors do you really need?”
Other pictures below show continued revitalization of this neighborhood. Some houses quite striking and some kind of plain but still reflecting new life.
As you look at these wonderful doors, remember we ourselves are also beautiful doors. Some of us older still with many wonderful stories to tell; some with a face lift trying to fight that ever present aging factor and some with new parts as some parts just no longer work properly. But we all can be beautiful in what is on the inside of that door if we allow our hearts to shine forth the kindness God once intended us to show. So even if your door seem a little worse for the wear, open your door and shine forth the gift of kindness that God so wants to to share.
I posted a serious message from my heart this morning so now it’s time to be silly. Those who read my work also know I have a QUIRKY clown side. I saw this picture on Facebook and today is the perfect day to post it. Some of you may have seen it before and some may not get it but the picture alone should be enough to make you laugh at the ridiculousness of it. And after yesterday, LORD helps us get through this week.
Remember laughter makes you smile and smiling can facilitate kindness. So laugh, smile and be kind often.
Picture a favorite beach scene. You are sitting relaxed in the loose sand dunes just above the beach. The sun has warmed the sand and it tickles as it shifts through your toes. The sound of the turf is melodic as it pounds on the beach. The seagulls are calling each other as they slowly fly through the gentle breeze, that same breeze that brushes across your face. You inhale and you can almost taste the salt of the warm sea air that you are smelling.
Not big on the beach? Then picture the soft tranquility of a mountain stream. You are sitting on a felled tree that is now becoming a bench for anyone on the trail. The stream beside you is bubbling along the rocks as it heads though the forest to the nearest river. The clean air is as refreshing and clear as the water in the stream is cold to the taste. In front of you off in the distance are the mountains, maybe their tops are dusted with snow. The sweet smell of the evergreens is pungent and reminds you of Christmas. Over head a lone eagle floats with little movement as he soars of the updrafts.
Maybe you are not a nature lover? Maybe your enjoyment comes with an evening of dinner and beautiful music at an outdoor park. The smells of various foods wafting in the air mixed with warm summer night as the stars slowly begin to show their presence. Soft conversations with strangers around you creates friendships of similar interest. The orchestra or band is warming up their instruments for a night of expected pleasures.
Then picture this…..
You are sitting in a dark room.
There is no sound because you are deaf…
There is nothing to see because you are blind…
There is little to smell if anything because you have no reference to what smell is…
There is little to touch as your body has no sense of feel due to being paralyzed.
Senses…Sight, Hearing, Smell, Taste & Touch…Gifts from God for us to enjoy His mighty creation. If all of your sense are working, praise God and enjoy these gifts. If you know those who are missing one or more of these senses, then share with them the beauty of what they don’t have so that through the senses that they do have working, they can get a glimpse of its beauty.
And remember as you enjoy your gifts, to share the joy that they bring you with others in hopes they may understand the beauty of it and share it themselves with others. And always remember to be kind. Kindness is enveloped in all of there gifts.
It is interesting to walk around the old section of town just north of the business district. There are still many homes well maintained from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and their doors are always interestingly combined with the wonderful porches we no longer see.
Some interesting takes on architecture of the day on a small income home.
The last one shown with the drive up is actually the back door. The front door you could not see for the steep hill and tall grass. I would hate to cut that hill.
On the business side we have a couple of interesting doors with stone faces which always bring in different architectural flares.
Come along and join in on Norm’s Thursday Doors. Door show an interesting personality of designer and resident.
Doors always open up a new world of opportunities. There was a song on the radio this morning telling that God put a million, million doors on this earth and that one of them is you. We are all doors that can shine out the love from above that was given to us to share and reflect God’s love and kindness. So open your door and shine forth in kindness.
Today is June 1, the start of a new month. When we think of starting anew as it were we feel we can start with a clean slate. The weekly prompts is a continuation on with the monthly color challenge and June is the color of “white”. Appropriate color as June brides dress are usually white but out of a day of total relaxing I took the time for a little research.
White is a color of innocence or purity. It is also a color for completion, as in finishing one status and wiping the slate clean for newness. I think of the biblical purity or cleansing purity associated with white. Psalm 51:7 states – Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. But we also think of things in heaven as white like the robes of pure white, angels as being white, God or Jesus being in white. White is a positive color.
In the manufacturing word of plastic injection molding, some people don’t realize that white is actually a color. You have to add white color beads to get white product. White is not the absence of color, it is actually a color.
But for me today, as the sun is in its 3 rd day of shining, my flowers are finally reaching out to the beauty of the light and are showing off a bit. Below are my white blooms.
I am joining in with SueW and GC to play with the weekly prompt for June and white color.
So join in with us and show of you ideas, thoughts or pictures on white. And in closing as I like to do, I encourage you to be kind. Kindness through a gentle smile can brighten someone’s day.
Spring is a time when things wake up as the quiet sleep of winter is gets wiped from our eyes. The trees are waking up and spitting out new leaves, the flowers are rising up from the ground and animal wildlife is poking out its head to see what’s new. I love watching the birds and get excited when a new one I had not seen before visits my feeder.
The beauty of God’s artwork in nature is amazing. But the most fascinating color work to me is the butterfly. I do not have a any around yet, but I hope to once it gets warmer and drys out a bit. But Irene reminded me this morning with her photo of a beautiful butterfly just how beautiful they are and I thought I would share Butterflywebsite.com pictures since I can not go outside today because again, it is raining. So I share these few pictures for you to enjoy, then go visit their site for others. Truly amazing creatures. They listed three specie/subspecie which I will share as these are the common ones we see. My favorite is the Swallowtails, Papilionidae, of which they have 11 varieties listed. I download two beauties.
These are the Black Swallowtail and the Orchid Swallowtail. The Black Swallowtail has always been a favorite of mine.
The next group are the Whites & Sulphers, Pieridae, of which they have 7 varieties shown.
The next group are the Lycaenidae, of which they list 3 subspecie, The Coppers which they have 4 varieties shown,
The Hair Streak has 3 varieties shown,
And then the last of the Lycaenidae group is the Blue, which there are 4 varieties shown.
And there are more exotic ones I am sure that I have not pictured but these should bring a smile to you if you are having a similar wet raining day or if not maybe you are just enjoying God’s handiwork. But did you know these creatures were also educated and know their ABCs and 0-9 numbers? Yes. They even have them imprinted on their wings. As scientist began studying butterflies they started noticing shapes in their coloration resembling letters and numbers and I have always thought that fascinating. God in his ultimate creative design combined with a sense of humor. I enclose the the collage below.
Always remember to smile as nature smiles. If we look hard enough we can see that God is always there even when we think he forgot about us. Always remember to show the gentle, smiling, love God placed inside you to be brought out through kindness.
For the Love of 