Coming from the south, triple digits during the summer are generally a norm especially considering the heat index. But here in the midwest, it is not a norm but is this a sign of the times? Global warming and such? Don’t know, I am just glad we got a break from this three week oppression and temperatures of relief. However…
My petunias did seem to catch the brunt of the deluge. But I am sure they will bounce back in better form.
While we in Iowa are not suffering from Ida, we are having the typical summer rainy day. I am not complaining as we needed it badly. I was able to do my chore for the day before it started which was laying out some repair sidewalk pavers from a plumbing catastrophe from this spring. But since about 11:00am it has been softly to occasionally raining hard. I was thoroughly entertained by watching my birds. First it was the daddy cardinal that was still somewhat in molt. He looked even more stressed as what feathers he had regrown were not wet making him look like what we call down south “a drowned cat”. I found an example for you on the internet…
Now this cat is obviously getting a bath but you can tell how much he hates water. He just looks bedraggled, like the bird I saw. But I was very touched by this daddy bird. He was trying to train one of his fledglings how to eat from the feeder. He would show him, then he would feed him to make sure he understood the process. It was interesting and made me smile as all creation understand kindness. Mankind was the one that broke the system…in Eden…but that another story for another day. Today we are smiling.
The birds that were the most fascinating on this rainy day were the hummers. They were unfazed by the rain, sitting out on top of the other feeder hooks as it rained down on top of them with only occasional shaking of their feathers. My hummingbird feeder hangs under the eaves of the house so it is somewhat protected from the rain.
They usually always feed from the outer hole where she is about to land but as the rain would roll around the edge of the gutters above, it would drip right on her head. Boink! This young female would look up at the gutter and you could hear her say “What the hey!”
The wind and rain come up the hill from the river below and blow between mine and my neighbors house and that can sometimes create a strong tunnel of wind. After a few minutes she caught on and moved to the inside feeder hole giving me a better chance of closer pictures. They have gotten use to me always being there so they don’t shy away too often. Especially when I put out fresh food, like I did today.
All of nature is so fascinating and I have really gotten into the backyard birdwatching, well actually this is my front yard but you get the idea. So I post this so that even on a dreary day, if you look hard enough, you can find something to smile about. Maybe its nature, or a good book or what ever you desire is, just let more smiles out. I promise it will make your day brighter.
And as always, I remind you to be kind. It will make you feel more like smiling which makes you beautiful.
On my day off it decides to rain, again, which delays my tasks scheduled for the day. So Instead, I write cheesy poetry and give you pictures of rain.
View of Rain
Some say it’s sad, the falling of the rain
Reflecting misery of remembered pain
Flowers see joy as the rain gently falls
Gathering on leaves to form little balls
This is a day of much dampness and wet
My planting schedule has yet to be met
Tomorrow with hope the sun may shine
Planting my flowers, a joy of mine
All forms of weather give us things to think about and tasks to either do or sit and watch. When I was younger I enjoyed being out in the rain but now it just makes me wet. But thank goodness this rain has been gentle…but this is day three – enough already.
So I went outside and took picture of the few flowers I did get in the ground. Hope you enjoy them.
Guess I will spend the rest of the day painting my wooden flowers and butterflies that will adorn my fence. Another fun task of spring. As you enjoy your spring weather, remember to be kind to all things. Flowers as well as people and animals enjoy the gestures of kindness.
If I never explored the garden, of it’s love and beauty that be
I would miss yellows and purples or other colors to see
If I never felt the raindrops, as it gathered on leaves around
I would never hear the beauty in its quiet, gentle sound
If I never saw the sunset and it breathed after the storm
I would never see the beauty in the clouds as they form
If I never saw the snowfall as to clung to trees above
I would never hear its quietness like the cooing of a dove
If I never loved another how profoundly sad to be
For missing all those gifts from God that He would give to me.
Anita Neal
Devereaux Frazier and Beth Amanda are currently hosting the Tuesday Writing Prompt Challenge which was started by our star writer Christine Ray. The prompts are designed to be quick challenges that can be written in 10 to 15 minutes, inspire you creatively, are fun, and get everyone interacting.
Come join in and as always, remember to be kind, it shows you true heart regardless of who, or what you are kind to. Let your kindness ripples be released into the world.
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.
More replacements
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.
When you show kindness to others, you bring out the best of yourself. A side effect of this kindness brings a brightness to their world and a happiness to yours.
I do enjoy my gardening as it reflects the beauty of God’s many colors. But this year has been a real challenge. The temps throughout the winter were excessively harsh and planting time for spring has been delayed several weeks with cooler than average temps and excessive rain. I fell sorry for the farmers who got a jump start on planting only to be drowned with rain when the ground was already saturated from nearly 2 feet of cumulative snowmelt. Then other farmers who waited are just now getting a chance to plant due to saturated ground. While my flowers are trying their best…..
The waterlogged effects are beginning to take its toll with rotting plants and dying leaves.
Then there are in inevitable pest that you fight that dig in your plants looking for food or raid you feeders for the birds.
At least the shortening greased pole keeps him out of the feeder itself. But last night I had a new visitor….ate half of my strawberry plant.
Now I wasn’t getting enough strawberries from one plant to really do a whole lot but still it’s not there to feed the deer…good grief. So I guess I am being a good subsidizer for extra tasty morsel for the animal kingdom. Not really what I had in mind. These are the pitfalls and joys of gardening but still we strive onward and try to smile.
Smiling even in the midst of disappointments is how we can keep afloat. Always remember the effects a smile can have on someone. That one smile may be the only smile that person sees that day, so smile often and let the kindness of that smile spread all about you as you go through you day.
Its funny when you are stuck inside on a Saturday how your mind wanders on off the wall stuff you never much think about otherwise. Or that could just be me and my “special” way of thinking.
Thursday was beautiful with warm sunny skies and then yesterday we got 2 inches of rain. Now we are receiving the possible morning inch with maybe another tonight …chances of rain tomorrow as well. The flood clean up was halted yesterday as the still flooded areas are expected to rise again to 20’…5 feet above flood stage…which we are still flooded. And the storm lines are running northward into Wisconsin and that water will just flow into the Mississippi and down to us. But enough of that, let’s move on to random ramblings.
This morning I was out of milk, pooh, no cereal for breakfast. Hmm, I stare at the fridge and I have ham, cheese and eggs, lets make an omelette. That will cheer a dreary day, oh and there is still raisin bread. So omelette and raisin toast with apple juice. Score!
So I cracked in the pan the first egg as the ham was getting sizzly then added the 2nd egg – oh look at that, a double yolk. You don’t often see that, from the store anyway.
Twins
And then my mind started rambling on the amazing phenomenon of twins. I grew up with a set of twins, Joe and Jim. The parents in the neighborhood called them Joe-Jim because they could never tell them apart. To us kids, it was easy. Joe’s facial features were a little sharper than Jim’s softer features. They were cool kids and I have many fond memories with them. But as a adult, I have worked with some twins that I wonder how mom was surviving. I remember when I was pregnant with my last child, they were concerned about twins as I got so big so fast. They did run in my husbands family. Fortunately for me just one, albeit a big one; nearly 10 pounds – kind of made me grateful for the c-section.
Back to my double yolk…I did some research to see if “twin” chickens were a thing and while they did remark on the chickens that throw double yolks, not much has been known of hatchlings occurred from it. Yes we are clearly bored but maybe I made you smile today from my silliness. We all need silliness form time to time to get away from all the seriousness going on. Helps keep balance. My hope for you today is to enjoy your Saturday and if silliness happens…smile and move on. Remember that a smile is just a frown turned upside down so I challenge you to flip some of those frowns around and reflect much joy with silliness, kindness and maybe the occasional hug. Kindness can always brighten a really gray day.
For the Love of 