Zinnias on Parade

Our zinnias are blooming  all through the garden.  We have some unusual colors this year and I wanted to share a few photos with you.  I think they are beautiful.

Blueberry Goodness

I call it blueberry goodness.  I took my sister-in-law Deb's cobbler recipe and tweaked it.  I do that often with recipes.  It's almost a pie, almost a crumble, and full of blueberries.  Blueberry goodness.
We ate it warm from the oven, with a bit of whipped cream.  I wish I could share.

Sunday Afternoon

It was a very warm humid morning, but we managed to pick about 3 gallons of blueberries.  This afternoon the humidity dropped ( some) a breeze came in, and we saw blue skies for the first time in several days.  Blue skies and sunshine was a welcome change from the grey skies that had filled our week.

I hope your weekend has been a good one.  This week we transition from June to July.  Even in a pandemic times moves fast. 

Make this Monday one filled with kindness and hope.  Be well.

Honey Filled Air

Usually by now, the honeysuckles are no longer blooming.  The rain has changed that.  Ours are still blooming, still permeating the air with their sweetness and enticing the bees with their nectar.
One of my favorite spring flowers, glad they are hanging around a bit longer.
Have a peaceful Sunday, be kind, be safe.

Respite

Even between the raindrops, we find respite on our deck.  Morning coffee is sipped there, afternoon breaks and time with Samantha and Jordan and the dogs, all take place on the deck.
I love our screened porch, but when I move all the plants to the deck, it becomes my Eden.

Thursday Thoughts

Today we masked up, took plenty of hand sanitizer and did a supply run to Costco.  Everyone in the store had on masks, distance lines are clearly marked at checkout.  It was a smooth easy experience.
I also saw my acupuncturist today.  First treatment I have had in about 6 months.  It was time, the heat and storms had triggered more bouts of migraines and vertigo.  Feeling much better tonight.
I was the only person in the office, the doc wore shield, mask, gloves, gown, I felt safe.

Our numbers of those testing positive are rising daily in our county, so are the deaths. People still laugh at Rick and me when we go out with our masks on.  That's ok, the laughter fades when someone you know gets sick.  We are not a heavily populated county, soon everyone will know someone sick.

The rains are moving out for a few days.  It will be nice to see the sun and blue skies.  Because of the dust from the Sahara our sunsets and sunrises have been amazing. 
Be kind, be safe.

The Girls

Every morning I make the "girls" a treat.  During the spring and summer months, a salad .  Not your ordinary salad, handfuls of herbs from the herb garden.  They meet me at the gate of the chicken pen, as soon as they hear my voice, they cluck.  They are funny and so full of personality.  Some are reserved and shy, a couple want you to pick them up and pet them, most fuss about like grumpy old ladies.  I love our morning routine.

Almost

The tomatoes are almost there.  Well I did pick one over the weekend and a couple of cherry tomatoes.  But soon, fingers crossed, there will be an abundance of ripe tomatoes.  I have started 23 more seedlings for a fall crop.  We love our tomatoes.

Stormy Flowers

We had storms yesterday, nasty ones.  The power was off around 10 hours and off again today for about 4 hours.  We had torrential downpours ( but we so needed the rain) and wild winds.
After the first storm went through yesterday we had to do damage control in the garden.  Most of the plants were blown around pretty bad.  Many of the zinnia blossoms were face down in the mud.
The ones I could help stand, I did.  The others I cut, washed the mud off the blossoms and brought them in the house.
One  more day of storms tomorrow and then things should settle down.
Ya'll be kind, be safe.

Mangoes

UPS brought a wonderful package to our door yesterday, a box of mangoes.  We have dear friends who live in Miami and they had posted pictures of the most luscious mangoes.  I casually mentioned that I LOVED mangoes and WOW, mangoes delivered to our door straight from the mango farm.
These are the largest mangoes I have ever seen, weighing in around 5 pounds each.  Sweet and juicy, so very good.
It has been a beautiful warm mango filled day.
Tomorrow is Sunday, I wish you peace. 

 

A Dog and Butterfly Story

This evening I was waiting for Samantha and Jordan to come over for a visit.  Hook and Kodak and I were sitting on the steps of the deck.  I noticed this beautiful yellow butterfly on our butterfly bush.
I grabbed my phone and took a couple of pictures.  The butterfly was not shy nor in a hurry to leave the flowers.
The kids got there and Rick came out to join us.  Sam went down to see the chickens.  Rick, Jordan, Hook and I were on the steps of the deck.  Hook spied the butterfly. He bounded off the steps, that is not unusual he loves to chase butterflies.
This was different, this butterfly seemed to be rather confident and coy.  Hook was aggressive, and the next thing we saw, Hook had opened his mouth and the butterfly was gone.
It was in Hook's mouth and he was making his usual swallowing something tasty sounds.
We were a bit freaked.  Hook nonchalantly walked up the steps and sat down on the deck.
Suddenly his mouth opened wide, and the butterfly flew out of his mouth and up into a tree.  Unbelievable...we laughed, we clapped, we were astounded.

Faith

Rick and I are both running on empty tonight.  I think it's a combination of heat, exhaustion, maybe the planets and the stars, the fact that our Covid 19 numbers are rising and so are the deaths here in our county, maybe it's the endless supply of hate that seems to constantly be surfacing on this planet.
I think the best thing I can do tonight is go to bed and have faith that tomorrow will be better.
Be kind, be well.

Mushroom flower

Walking the dogs this morning, I spied what I thought was a beautiful white flower in a patch of moss.  I was wrong.  Some sort of mushroom had blossomed in  a bed of moss.  Never saw that happen before.
Enjoy your Thursday, please be kind, be well.

Pretty Maids

Zinnias have always been one of my favorite garden flowers, but the bees love them as well.
We plant lots of them now, several different varieties from the small ones to the giant ones, in every color.  They have just started to bloom.  When I saw them today all I could think of was, " pretty maids all in a row."  We always called them old maids.

Summer Space

One corner of the deck, with one table and three chairs.  The other corner, pretty much the same, just different flowers.  I think we  have a pretty nice living space for the summer.  Wish you were here.

Creative Battles

The tables and chairs are back on the deck.  It was late this evening when we got them placed, so I will do pictures tomorrow.  I wish I had done before and afters.  It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do.  They look brand new. 

I love painting.  Every type of painting.  Painting for me is meditative.  When I paint my Christmas cards each year, it brings me joy, painting walls, floor cloths, canvas, doors, furniture, it all brings me joy.  It is transformative for me and what ever I am applying paint on.  I have friends who are fine artists, their work is shown in galleries and museums and I am awestruck by their creative work.
I don't think anyone would ever call mine fine art but it gives me great pleasure so it's art.  I must say painting and playing music takes me to a place of pure bliss, but often I find myself doing everything but painting and music.   I think a friend might have helped me change that this week. 

She sent Rick and I a fabulous book this week, The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.  Oh my, she knows us so well.  It's about winning your inner creative battles.  If you struggle with allowing your creative side to shine, do yourself a favor and get this book.  If you find yourself procrastinating about anything, get this book.  I am about half way through and it has been an eye opener.

Tomorrow starts a brand new week and we are half way through June.  Be kind, be grateful. Find your creative outlet and explore it.

Almost Done

We finished the tables and chairs today.  Tomorrow we will place them back on the deck with all the plants.  Jordan and I have had a good time and he made a little extra money.  It was a win win.
Once everything is in place tomorrow we will take more pictures!

Green Enameled Hair

Jordan and I painted the lawn chairs today.  They are wrought iron and had not been painted for several years.  They look brand new.  Tomorrow we do the two tables that match the six chairs.  I will make sure to take photos.  We had one tiny mishap, I was painting the underside of one of the chairs and raised my head.  I now have a patch of forest green on the top of my head.  Jordan volunteered to do my whole head.  He laughed and told me, I could be a weird old hippy with green enamel hair.
We did have fun painting those chairs.
We also picked our first green beans today.  Tomorrow we will have fresh green beans and squash from the garden.
I am a bit tired tonight. 
This weekend, be kind, be well.

Blue Bottles

I love these blue bottles in my kitchen window.  They are beautiful on their own in the changing light, but flowers just dress them up.
The bougainvillea is thriving in this heat.
The stickers are difficult to deal with, but those flowers are worth it, aren't they?

Mossy Path

The past couple of days we have  had monsoonal rains.  It was getting dry here, the rain was welcome but also grateful there was not a hurricane.  This afternoon the sky turned blue and the world turned green.  Even our walk to our front door grew a verdant coat.  It's  not so humid now and a nice breeze  blew across my face a few minutes ago.  Tomorrow, be kind, be well.

Sunshine

Somehow yesterday got lost, maybe it was the heat or the 70 percent plus humidity but the afternoon brought on a Meninere's flare and vestibular migraine.  Thankfully today has been much better.
Our zucchini is not only a beautiful plant but is producing some great veggies.  We are enjoying the fruits of our labors.
Tomorrow is Wednesday.  Be kind, be well.

Sunset

Sunset tonight was one of those that took my breath and reminded me how small  and insignificant I am.

Be kind, be well.

Summer

My gardenia bushes are in full bloom.  I have arm loads of them in vases through out the house.
Summer  starts for me when the gardenias bloom.  I stepped out on the back deck tonight, the full moon and the smell of gardenias in the warm humid air was nearly an out of body experience.
I hope your Sunday is one of peace.  Please be kind, be well.

Ancestors

"The warrior in your heart says stand your ground.  Feel the survival of a thousand years of ancestors in your muscles and your blood. You have all the support you need in your bones." - Jack Kornfield

Tonight I miss my parents and my grandparents.  I wish I could feel their arms around me and hear their voices.    I miss their wisdom, their kindness, their love.  I miss them.

A Lamp

I am re-reading a much loved book, "A Lamp in the Darkness".  It is written by Jack Kornfield and a student gave me my copy in 2013.  This is my third time to read it.  I  use this often in my classes.
It is a book for difficult times, whether those times are ones of change, illness, grief or fear.
It's a small book, less than 100 pages and includes a cd of meditations.  For me it's the perfect book to be reading this week.

"A Lamp in the Darkness"  Illuminating the Path Through Difficult Times by Jack Kornfield.

Tomorrow is Friday, a full moon.  Please be kind, be well, be safe.

We Are Fortunate

We had our house call visit from our health provider today.  Because of Covid 19 it was a distance visit with face time.  The nurse practitioner was kind and professional.  What always strikes me about these visits whether they are in person or not are the questions that are asked toward the end of the visit.  Some of the questions, " are you afraid, are you depressed, do you have enough to eat, do you have a way to get to the doctor, can you get your meds, do you feel lonely, are you sad"?
Rick and I have talked about these questions each time after the visit.  We know there are people who answer yes to those pertaining to fear, depression, loneliness and being sad, there are people who answer no to not enough to eat, no way to get to a doctor or get meds.
Each time we realized how fortunate we are.  Life is hard for every one at some point, life is hard for some all the time.  I was taught to be my brother's keeper, so was Rick.  We are fortunate.  Not rich, but fortunate .  The thing we learned, there is always enough when you share.

Today the old lady bloomed.  She is a bleeding heart from my grandmother Mamie passed on to my mom and then me.  She's around fifty years old.  She looks good for an old broad.

Busy Day

It's been a busy day.  First thing this morning I picked blueberries.  Jordan came over and we cleaned and sanded 6 wrought iron chairs so we could paint them tomorrow.  There were the usual chores to do, lunch to fix, etc.  The hardest part of the day was the heat and humidity.  Rain is moving in on Thursday and suddenly 80 degrees feels like 90.  Most people love summer's heat, it's the most difficult season of the year for me.  I have learned to do the outside physical stuff as early in the day as I can and then do everything else indoors.

Tomorrow is Wednesday.  Please be kind.  Be well.

Hope

June 1...hopes, prayers, intentions for a better month than May

June 1...be kind,

June 1...be safe

June 1...be well

Last night I dreamed a humming bird flew into our great room.  This morning after walking the dogs and a bit of gardening I came  in for cold water.  I sat down on the sofa with Taz and sipped my water, but I heard a familiar sound that wasn't familiar in the house.  I looked up and watched a humming bird fly by me.

I quickly jumped up and turned off the ceiling fan and yelled for Rick.   The hummer flew straight to our windows looking for a way out, I could tell he was frightened.  Rick stood on the wooden bench in front of the windows and began to speak softly to the bird.  He settled down on the ledge and let Rick gently caress him in his hands.   I opened the front door, and Rick opened his hands wider, but our friend decided to pose for me before he flew to the feeders out front.  It was a magical spiritual moment for both of us.

Through out my life time, I have had dreams that came true.  Some sad, some bad but never one as uplifting as this one.  For the first time in awhile, I felt hope.