20 March ~ 1st day of Spring & my 65th

 

Good morning Friends ~ It is 7:38 EST and is 66 degrees in s.e. FL. The high today is expected to be 79. We had a lot of strong winds and some rain earlier in the week.

On this day 65 years ago a little baby girl was born one month earlier than expected. She was placed in an incubator and was there until she got up to 5 lbs. and then was allowed to go home. Sixty-five years later, that little girl is now ‘FlowerLady’, living a different life than she was just 15 months ago. Our lives can change in an instant and what we had is no more. I am thankful for my life, for the love and my marriage of 43 years, and I look forward to each new day strengthened by God’s graciousness and love. Each and every day is a gift.

Here are some of the flowers in bloom here this week.

This is a humongous bougainvillea that is growing over the fence from the property to the west of us, it is covering an awning and it is just beautiful!!!

Unknown orchids bought last year around this time for $4.99 each.  I don’t do Lent, but this year felt compelled to give up something, and it is ‘buying flowers’. There’s a new nursery I was told about but won’t be visiting until after Easter.  I am ever thankful for the beauteous flowers I have here in my humble, weed filled Plum Cottage gardens.

‘Hugs-n-Kisses’ hibiscus starting to unfurl. This was taken yesterday morning.

Here is the open bloom this morning.

These next photos are of Tibouchina.  I just love how the white centers in some of these seem to pulsate or vibrate with life. 

This is one of my ‘unknown’ roses and I just love the color and scent.

This is ‘Prosperity’ growing back by my abandoned potting area.

This is ‘FlowerLady’ with her dear friend Jeanne, known since I was in my late teens.  She and her husband and family knew Mark when he was a boy.  She lost her husband 15 years ago and imagine our surprise when we see each other at the widow’s group I found after losing Mark.  This was taken Monday at our widow’s group St. Patty’s day meeting.

Below is ‘FlowerLady’ and another friend, Peggy, with one of the leprechauns who was there. I had had a hat on, but it fell off while I was racing around to take photos of our ladies. I’m the group photographer as well as take care of the blog.

You can view the post about it ‘here’.

Tuesday I was taken to lunch by another dear widow friend, Lois, who has gone to our meetings and was there my very first time going last year. I was so surprised when someone seated me right next to Lois. I called out her name, tears flowing all the while. She was very good friends with my husband’s mother, and also knew Mark from when he was a boy. I did a LOT of crying that first meeting as it had only been about 2 months since losing my love.

Lois gave me this lovely hankie to carry in my purse.  She said every southern lady should carry one in their purse and she wanted me to have one.

Yesterday I did some errands and stopped at two thrift stores and found 4 books.

The first two books are a wonderful find, at the Goodwill Thrift Store.  I’ve been a fan of Helen Steiner Rice’s writings for many, many years.

I opened the books randomly and below are the writings I found for the day and perfect for me.

From ‘Loving Promises’:  Adversity Can Distress Us or Bless us

From ‘Somebody Loves You’: Nothing Is Lost Forever

Each book is filled with watercolors and oh so beautiful in thoughts and paintings.

I also found these two books 25 cents each at another thrift store.

A widow friend gave me the ‘Pink polka dot’ plant and for now it is in the ‘scullery’ window.

She’s taking me to lunch next week.

These are cards received.

Here I am in an emotional moment after one of the young men at Macaroni Grill, sang Happy Birthday to me in Italian.  His voice was beautiful! My brother and sis in law took me there Sunday evening. Food was delicious, ambience wonderful. My dessert was tiramisu. My sis in law got part of him singing to me and sent it to me via her phone, but I don’t know how to share that here.

I want to thank everyone for birthday wishes. They are very special to me.

*****

Nothing is Lost Forever

The waking earth at Springtime

Reminds us it is true

That nothing ever really dies

That is not born anew. . .

So trust God’s all-wise wisdom

And doubt the Father never,

For in His heavenly Kingdom

There is nothing lost forever!

Helen Steiner Rice

***

I will end with a very short but vivid dream I had right before waking up yesterday morning.

My dear Mark came up behind me on my right side, and gently kissed me on the neck and whispered in my ear, Thank you.

That was it and oh so wonderful right before my birthday.

Love and hugs to all of you  ~ FlowerLady