Relaxing day

I hope you all here in the states had a nice long Memorial day weekend. A time to reflect on those who have served our country, and especially those who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy still in this country.

Yesterday I decided to work in the ‘cat-rium’ off the back of my cottage. We called it the ‘cat-rium’ because that is where Miss Tork would hang out, before she became an indoor girl. The jacuzzi was empty, needed leaves cleaned out and a good rinsing before filling up.  I re-arranged iron furniture, brought in more plants. I sat in the swing back there while the tub was filling and it just felt so good to be doing nothing.

My life has been more or less stressed/hectic since my dear husband had that night of horrible cramping of muscles in his neck August 2012, then 4 months of caring for him as his health went downhill until he left this planet for his heavenly home 9 Dec. 2012. I continued working at my job, took care of paperwork that needed taking care of and muddled through grieving my loss of my best friend, the love of my life.

God has been my strength getting me through each and every day, without Him, I would be a total basket case. I’ve spent way too many hours attached to my computer, trying to fill the void that is now part of my life. I’ve stressed over getting unfinished projects finished, wanting everything done ‘now’. The first year was lived pretty much in a fog, and I still have foggy days, but I am starting to relax more. Whether or not things get done in a hurry, is not a priority. Yes, I would like things ‘done’, but in the whole scheme of things they aren’t all that important. I will do what I can when I can, if I can.

Loving God and others is what’s important. He knows all of my needs, He loves me dearly and my trust in Him is for Him to work all things out.

Today it felt good to just do nothing that needed to be done, just relax and putter. All the rest can wait until tomorrow and days ahead. After lunch I took a nap, then got up and it was time to enjoy the jacuzzi.  There is no hot water hooked up to it, as it is heated by the sun.  Although, with the screening overhead, it is not as hot as it used to be.  When I got in this afternoon the water was 82 degrees. I just sat on the side and dangled my legs in until they got used to it, then went down on knees and it was waist high gasping, then slowly let myself down and got used to the cool water.  The jets circulating the water felt so good and I probably spent 20-30 minutes enjoying hydrotherapy.

My dear husband created this room from curbside materials, aluminum, wood, screening. We got the jacuzzi for $100 at the GoodWill many, many years ago. Bought a refurbished pump for around $150, bought a filter. This whole space was a labor of love. I miss my husband every single day. I am thankful for our 43 years together, proud of him for doing his 4 year hitch in the US Navy near the end of the Vietnam war. He was my boyfriend, my love, my knight in blue jeans. My love for him continues to grow and one day we will be reunited.

It being Memorial day and thinking of the sacrifices made my so many, made me think of God,  and how out of His great love and mercy, He gave the ultimate sacrifice for the whole world. He came down as a babe, grew into manhood, and gave His life so that we would all be ‘free’ and have life eternal. He just asks us to believe in Him. Faith is a gift, just call on Him and He will hear you. Life won’t be perfect, but He is our strength when we are weak, and He fills us with His peace and love.

May you all have a great week.  Stop to smell the roses and other wonderfully scented blooms.  Feel the gentle breezes, hear the birds singing, take in all the beauty that surrounds you. Be kind, let others know you care. Be forgiving and encourage others.  Every day is a gift, let us be thankful for each and every one.

FlowerLady

Lots of blooms :-)

Hi Folks ~ It’s been 9 days since I last posted and I’ve a passel of pictures to show you. We are being blessed with cool weather still, low 80’s, cool breezes and the humidity isn’t too bad.  I am so thankful for that. We’ve got cloud cover today, which is nice for working outside, which I did some of this morning.  I got a load of laundry washed and hung out too and mowed.

Last week I wanted to make pizza, so loaded the ingredients into my bread pan and plugged it in like normal.  Well, it did NOT sound right at all, and then the motor just stopped running and was making a grinding noise. I unplugged it, waited a minute and plugged it in again.  Same thing. I’ve had this for 14 years and it served us well. Now I will get another one, and Oster 5838 (same brand, but if I’m not mistaken, this one makes horizontal loaves.)  I can order it through Walmart and they will send it to my store.  The store does not carry it. I did make the pizza dough and let it rise, but kneading the dough really got to my right wrist which was damaged in a car accident in 2000. The machine has been a joy to use, just put in the ingredients, close the lid, plug it in and it does it’s thing.  While I’m out doing other things the bread is making and before long it smells wonderful in here.

Anyway, lots of blooming is going on down here in tropical s.e. FL. From what I’ve seen from your blogs, there is lots blooming for most of you too.  It’s a great time of year.

The first few photos are of Bauhinia acuminata or Dwarf White Orchid tree.  I grew this from seed, planted in 2005. This is the first year that it is loaded with blooms.

It is in the terra cotta pot at the end of the picket fencing, next to the caravan.

The queen crepe is loaded with buds this year. I need to take a picture in the morning, this was taken late afternoon.

This is a new hibiscus.  Isn’t it a beauty?

First blooms on Jerusalem Thorn, grown from seed, planted in 2005, it’s about 6 feet tall.

‘Angel Face’ roses.

‘Granada’ bud

Unknown rose

Unknown miniature rose

Another unknown miniature rose

‘Prosperity’ rose bud, this is a cutting from my main bush. I was thrilled that it rooted and is now in bloom.

Hamelia paten and Zebra Longwing

Purple Velvet plant with pretty bloom.

Sunrise one morning last week.  The clouds were moving at a fast pace from the west.

That’s it for now. 

Enjoy the rest of your week, count your blessings and let people know you care.

FlowerLady

******

"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it,

it's your world for the moment.

I want to give that world to someone else. 

Most people in the city rush around so,

they have no time to look at a flower. 

I want them to see it

whether they want to or not."   

 Georgia O'Keeffe

Rosemary blooms and stuff

 

Hello everyone ~ I hope you all had a great weekend. The predicted rain we’ve supposed to have been getting for days now, is still not happening.  What doesn’t get watered is like straw.

Yesterday morning I went out to turn the sprinkler on and what do I see but blooms on my rosemary plant.  How thrilling!  I think I’ve only had them one other time in my gardens.

When we think of the bougainvillea we think the colorful bits we see are the flowers, but not so. Look at these tiny white blooms, these are the real flowers.

Love the coloring of this hibiscus.

First blooms on the Queen Crepe.

Blue Pea vine flower.  I just love this color.  Look at the tiny pea pod growing.

Zebra butterflies love the hamelia paten bush. Hummers love this too, but I’ve not seen any yet.

Louis Philippe ~ Florida Cracker rose

‘Granada’ ~ such a beauty!!

This is going to turn into a pincushion. The fabric is more on the green side than blue.

All the embroidery is silk ribbon, in different sizes, and white.  I then colored the ribbons using my alcohol inks.  What fun!  I meant to take a picture of the back side because the ribbon was all white.

I did NOT stuff it enough!!! This is my first one, so the next one will be better.

Mother of pearl button in the center.

I crocheted a trim for it, and colored the outer edge with one of my alcohol pens.

This won’t be for sale in my little Etsy shop, as it doesn’t ‘pass muster’, ~ (idiomatic) To meet or exceed a particular standard. ~ (That’s a saying learned from being a US Navy wife.)

This morning my friend Shyrl and I loaded more iron and I am ready for a nap once again.

I hope you all have a great week ~ FlowerLady

Eureka

 

eu·re·ka
(you-ree-ka)

exclamation

a cry of joy or satisfaction when one finds or discovers something

***********************

On the 5th, I read a blog post in Colour Complements. She mentioned a book she goes to a lot for reference, and showed a picture of the cover. I thought to myself, I have this book and I started to look for it. First where I thought it should be, but it wasn’t there.

I said a prayer because I was getting frustrated as I really like this book myself. I knew that He/God knew exactly where it was and I would be lead to it. It might take time, but it would be found. Stressing about it wasn’t going to do me any good at all.

This is where most of my stitch books are. (Forgive the messy shelves, they are still a work in progress. I’m getting more little 3-drawer units, online from Walmart, cheaper buying a set of 6 than buying them in store, plus they deliver to store free, to put jars of beads in and get more organized. I will put two to a shelf. I’m excited.)

On with the hunt. I knew this group of books was too small but I looked here more than once anyway, and on the footstool in front of this bookcase.

Could it be under this stack of Jeri Lander’s sweet books, since the one on top is all about Mamsey Bear and Mopkin and lovely embroidery work created by Mamsey? No.

How about in this stack? 

There are some beading and gold work embroidery books here. No.

Maybe I absentmindedly put it in this bookcase? No.

Ok, let me go back into my little creative area and library of sorts that has ‘some’ of our books in it.

That’s what I did yesterday after I got home from work.  I sat in my chair, (covered in green), faced the wall of books and started looking on the right side first.

This is the likely shelf, but no such luck.

Three more shelves of books. Not there either.

Getting warm.

Next shelf and eye level, eureka!

It could have grabbed me it was so close. Sheesh!

I said more than one prayer of thanksgiving

and was just tickled pink to have found it.

Do you see it?

I absentmindedly stuck it here, when moving things around.

Here is the book and it is fantastic.

That’s it for now.  My stomach is growling and this morning I’m going to make an avocado smoothie. Avocado is from my bosses’ tree. My Ninja blender is fantastic and I am enjoying using it.

Have a great day and a lovely weekend ~ FlowerLady