Thursday, January 10, 2013

Grey skies

It is Thursday morning for me. This morning’s sky is filled with clouds laden with rain. I felt sprinkles while I was out taking photos. We could use more rain, as it’s been very dry here.

I had a wonderful visit with our nephew last night. He enveloped me in a huge bear hug which got us both shedding tears, and we talked and laughed and remembered Mark, it was GOOD for both of us. He took me to a favorite Cuban restaurant that we all have enjoyed in the past. Their food is always delicious! I brought home some and look forward to having it at least a couple of more times. We both had delicious pork cubes with onions and a mojo sauce, and I had yellow rice and black beans, and sweet plantains too. We had some nice toasted bread and banana chips with a garlic dipping sauce to start, and I had a glass of sangria. Too full for desert, we had a cup of Cuban coffee, which is tiny, strong and sweet. We came back home and talked and laughed some more. I needed that and he did too.  He lives about 3 hours away on the other coast of FL and has volunteered to come here and give me a hand with anything, so I am thinking about that and am grateful for his offer.

Below are photos of the Persian Shield blooms and the impatiens blooms too. Their colors are vibrant in the dark morning light.

Impatiens ~ I don’t know what kind, so HELP with identification is needed.

01-10-impatiens

Persian shield with yellow bulbine flowers.

01-10-persian-shield

01-10-persian-shield2

This mornings’ sky.

01-10-morning

Though outwardly a gloomy shroud,

The inner half of every cloud

Is bright and shining:

I therefore turn my clouds about

And always wear them inside out

To show the lining.

Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler

24 comments:

Gary said...

Hi Lorraine,
So glad the time with your nephew went so well, and I hope you take him up on his offer, although it sounds as though you might! The Impatiens looks like a New Guinea Busy Lizzie, and I have to go with Impatiens hawkerii 'Paradise Orchid', but may be wrong.

Sandra said...

So glad you got to enjoy some time with your nephew :) And YUM Cuban food, so good and it does make good leftovers.

Love your pretty flowers, as always.

I'm not here just to comment as usual, I'm also here to let you know that your name was the one drawn for my giveaway of homemade goodies. I was so thrilled to see your comment number pop up :)

Please email me your address so I can ship this out to you soon.

Hope you have a fantastic Thursday.
Love,
Sandra
xoxoxoxo

Christys Cottage Wildlife Garden said...

Good morning! I'm glad your evening was so enjoyable! Those purple flowers are lovely. I'll have to get some for my garden!

L. D. said...

Healing comes from sharing and being cared for by your nephew. It was great that you had a chance to go out for a meal together. Good memories help the healing also. I am glad you have your garden and Florida weather to keep it all growing. Take care.

Heather said...

...and the healing continues! So wonderful for both of you! As usual, beautiful flowers! Chers~

Ami said...

Flowerlady: your impatiens look like New Genea Impatiens. The Persian shield flowers look like to me is the flower from Mona lanvendar. Happy New Year!

Ami

Unknown said...

I'm glad you had such a nice visit with your nephew. The dinner sounds amazing. It's good to know you have some help when you really need it. God provides. Hugs.

Antique ART Garden said...

Yes those are New Guinea impatiens. So very nice ot hear about your kind nephew. He means that about helping, so take him up on it sometime in the near future. Big hug, love ya, Gina

Lynn said...

Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler has the right attitude for dark gloomy days. Good pick, Lorraine. The restaurant your nephew chose sounds so good. Glad you left with a white box . . . my favorite treat. I love to open the fridge and find something pre-cooked on a rainy day.

Susan Elliott said...

It's so great that you turned your clouds inside out by going to your garden. The sun actually drains color from a scene....your flowers are most vibrant under gray skies. So glad for the blessing of your nephew too. I can see your husband smiling over you both.

GRACE PETERSON said...

Hi Lorraine, Your skies look a lot like ours right now. We had a bit of snow this morning even.

How nice that your nephew came to visit and offered his handyman services as well as his love.

Your flowers are lovely. I wish I knew the name of that Impatiens. Sure pretty.


Darcie said...

So thankful for your nephew, that can do in person what so many of your fellow bloggers want to do for you. Hug you, and help you heal. Glad you have him, not so far away!

Your flowers as always....look beautiful! Glad so much natural beauty surrounds you during this time.

Val said...

How sweet. I'm so glad you had such a sweet--and filling in so many ways--visit with your nephew. He sounds like a good guy. And that sounds like a good meal! ♥

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

So pleased you
had dinner out
and offer of help.
That is wonderful.
The images of your plants
is breathtaking...

shirley said...

Oh, Lorraine, I have been away, and I am so so sorry to hear your sad news. Please accept my deepest sympathies for your very sad loss. I will be thinking of you.
It was so nice for you to have such a nice visit from your nephew, and I am sure his offer of help will be welcomed.

Unknown said...

Congratulations on winning at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom's blog!

Ruth Hiebert said...

It is great to spend time with family and even shed a few ,or many,tears.This is all part of the healing process.

Anonymous said...

It was like a breath of fresh air visiting your blog. Will come often.

The Diligent Gardener said...

Sounds like you have a wonderful nephew, how great he must be.

Sarah The Diligent Gardener

sweetbay said...

So glad that you had a nice dinner with your nephew! II didn't even know that Persian Shield had flowers, they're lovely.

Jillayne said...

Good days and bad, laughter and tears, round and round it goes. Your nephew sounds wonderful and how good that he shares this with you. There is comfort in shared grief that we don't often find on our own.
I like the poem you added at the end Lorraine... the dark and gloomy are not always what they appear on the surface, and I think it shows the core of happiness and joy hasn't left you.
Thinking of you...

Gayle said...

How wonderful that you had family come and visit. I hope he can't get your way often.

Kit said...

Sounds like a wonderful visit and meal. You sound good. :) Kit

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I'm glad you got to have that time with your nephew. Leftovers are always nice, too. I take my own container when we go out to eat, and put what I want into it before starting to eat.

It's a blessing you are in God's loving hands to help you in your grieving.