Monday, March 19, 2012

63 years young on the first day of spring

Good evening Friends ~ Hope you all had a good beginning to this week. It was beautiful down here where the tropics begin. We really appreciate these gorgeous days we are having before the summer’s heat and humidity settle in.

Tomorrow is the first day of spring and 63 years ago a little baby girl was born prematurely by about a month. It is hard to believe that that baby is now a senior.  Her body knows it, but in her heart and mind she still feels much younger.

Today she was thinking about gardening, crafting, etc.  About how we as humans, always want more and more.  With all the eye candy that is out there, all the hype about what we should have, what we should wear, who we should be, it is easy to become discouraged. Wanting more is a disease.  Contentment is what I desire.

** A poet once wrote: “As a rule, man’s a fool. When it’s hot, he wants it cool. And when it’s cool, he wants it hot. Always wanting what is not.” **

How much time and energy is wasted by wanting more and not being content with what we have been blessed with?

***

I got way behind with my Take A Stitch Tuesday, TAST, stitches and was feeling burdened and discouraged.  Yesterday I sat down and finished the little piece I had started with the Cretan stitch. It was a bear, then came the Herringbone and the Chevron stitch all equally bearish. I work part time, garden, craft, cook from scratch, and this was all becoming too much for me to keep up with.  I was all excited, and then got deflated.  I felt better after finishing up my piece, and now have week 11 and 12 to do next.  I really couldn’t get the hang of the Cretan, Herringbone and Chevron stiches, and it shows in the piece.  I may or may not use these stitches in my needlework projects, time will tell. The other stitches were couching, detached chain and chain, and the running stitch.

keep-learning

Yesterday DH went to HD and while he was out he found ‘curbside’ a couple of coffee table frames.  When I saw the one and the iron pieces that were part of it I thought of them being added to the caravan.  The colors are perfect.  There are 6 of these and DH is already working on an idea for them, which I’ll post about later.

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The other day we were looking for something and I found these two candle holders packed away from when we had our little antique/collectible shop.  Don’t even know how long we’ve had them or where we got them, probably from the flea market we frequented many years ago.  One had a chipped leaf, but the chip was resting in the candle holder.  DH fixed it.  I found these online and they are English Staffordshire fine bone china, worth around $20.  They are resting in my scullery window area now. Definitely FlowerLady pieces. Smile

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Yesterday I worked outside for about three hours and it felt so good. There are so many things in bloom and filling the air with their scents right now. There are at least 4 jasmines, basket flower, roses, begonias, a bush penta called Panaman Rose, that is sweetly scented after sunset.

Below are some pictures taken in the last couple of days.  Can you see the real sweet little surprise in the picture below?  I couldn’t believe it.  The red flowers in the foreground are the firecracker plant blooms.  A real hardy and easy plant to grown. Looking through the gate you’ll see amaryllis blooms, also a reed orchid.

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Basil blooms.

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Cape honeysuckle and Golden dewdrop, caravan in the background.

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Confederate jasmine is just starting to bloom  I look forward to this every year.

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Night blooming jasmine.

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Cape honeysuckle.

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Spicy Jatropha.

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La Marne roses

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Caldwell’s Pink or Pink Pet.

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Climbing Maman Cochet.

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I am planning on fixing Chicken Cordon Bleu for my bday dinner.  We’ll start off with margaritas, and vegetable crackers with cream cheese and topped with anchovies and capers. For side dishes I’m not sure of yet.  For dessert, we bought Neopolitans from a bakery that makes these wonderful delights.  I’ll take pictures tomorrow.

I’m getting sleepy now, having a hard time keeping my eyes open, so I’ll close this post.

Have a great week.

FlowerLady

***

“Do not spoil what you have

by desiring what you have not.”


Ann Brashares, Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood

16 comments:

The Ebullient Gardener said...

Happy Birthday and Happy Spring! I hope you have a lovely birthday dinner! Thank you for sharing your lovely blooms, beautiful!
Mindy

Ami said...

Happy Birthday, FlowerLady! Yes, it is important to feel young in the heart no matter of ages. Iam sure keeping learning is one way that have kept you young! Love those iron pieces, looking forward to seeing how they fit your caravan. Those two candle holders are beautiful too. You were good treasure hunter :)

Val said...

Happy birthday, sweet friend! ♥

Becky said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope your day is full of happy little moments and pleasant surprises.

Sunray Gardens said...

Happy Birthday. Your dinner sounds wonderful. Have a wonderful day, sit and relax and enjoy your lovely gardens.
Cher Sunray Gardens

Antique ART Garden said...

Thanks be to God that sweet Flowerlady was born 63 years ago! You are a blessing to so many through your blog here. Big hug~Gina

Jane said...

Happy birthday, Rainey! Wonderful post today, full of both wisdom and beauty. Only one thing that I desire that I do not have and that's the La Marne rose! What a beauty! BTW, all my rootings were a success and the foliage is emerging on them. Soon they will be planted in the trying-out plot.

denimflyz said...

Happy Birthday, my dear friend.
Side dish suggestion if you have it: Herbed buttered carrots? Or herbed buttered green beans.
Have a wonderful day.
Hugs

Rebecca said...

Happy birthday, Sweet Heart!

You've caught up with me. Let's make this the best year ever!

As you know, I'm always eager for more glimpses of The Caravan. I can't wait to see how your husband will use the latest finds...

And thanks for the reminder re. "Contentment". It's one thing that's always in season.

jerilanders said...

Happy Birthday, you sweet lady! I know what you mean, I am 58 and it always surprises me that I am THAT old... I don't feel it. I love the bit of wisdom from the poet, in fact, I am going to memorize it. I told my husband last week,( after spring cleaning the house, and packaging at least 8 huge bags for the Goodwill) I don't ever want to buy another thing! I have tooooo much stuff!
As always,the roses are lovely and the caravan is going to be top notch!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday. You talked about not being content, I have to admit when I see your garden I wish I had one like it. The problem is I really don't like working in the garden very well, it hurts my back. I think it's great that you're learning new stitches. I've always thought I should do that, but I don't do that much embrodery.

Mrs. E said...

Happy Birthday, Happy Spring! That gate and those blooms are wonderful. I'd also like to eat at your house tonight! That quote on never being satisfied it so true. I long for contentment these days, too---and getting along with less. (Is that a sign of our aging?!) Wonderful wishes for a wonderful year.

L. D. said...

I hope your birthday was great. I am going to hit another year older next week. I can feel the age coming on but I am glad to be alive. Great photos.

HolleyGarden said...

Happy Birthday! Your dinner sounds fantastic. I hope it was perfect. And your blooms are wonderful! So much happening in your garden! Smart words about contentment.

sweetbay said...

Happy Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day! Your flowers are lovely.

GRACE PETERSON said...

I didn't realize your birthday was this week. Happy birthday, friend. I hope it was wonderful, just like you.