Lunch with friends, a memory bear, more blooms

Hello Friends ~ Here it is another Saturday morning. The sun is shining today. We need the sunshine to dry up soggy ground and to lift moods. ;-)

I want to thank all of you for your kind, encouraging comments. It helps to let out how one is truly feeling instead of holding it all in. I'm a positive, happy person but sometimes I get the blues.

Two days later, it's now Monday afternoon. Rain was predicted for today but so far the sun is shining and I was able to get a load of laundry washed, hung out to dry and brought back in.

Saturday night we had some heavy, steady rain for awhile. The road out front became flooded which it hasn't done in a very long time. Yesterday when I got up the driveway had standing water, and it was still there this morning. So, I raked fallen leaves, out of the driveway runners, and lowered some higher sandy areas so that the water could drain out to the street. The heat wasn't too bad, but the humidity was horrible and when I was done, I felt sick, and was soaked from 'glowing'. I came in, fixed myself half a portion of electrolyte drink and relaxed. 

Looking north

Looking south

 I really am looking forward to getting out to work in my gardens. Knowing that cooler weather is coming is some motivation. Gardening is great exercise, plus toxins are sweated out, and one is surrounded by God's beautiful, wonderful creation.

Here are morning glory blooms not quite opened up yet. 

This is pinky Muhly grass.  I thought it had died out, so was super surprised and pleased to see it in bloom yesterday.

 

Below is the rose 'Bermuda's Kathleen'.

 This rose is 'Carnation'.

This is a carpet rose.

Friday I had lunch at Chili's with two friends who are also widows. Rita,  in stripes, is our GriefShare group leader, that's how I met her, and Pat, in the red, I met when I started attending the church where GriefShare met. Pat is a seamstress. (In the picture, I have my mask hanging from my ear, as we were about to leave.) You can see Rita's memory bear in the background, made from her late husband's clothing.

Pat made both Rita and I, a memory bear.

 

Looking at this photo, I can see that I have 'aged' in the last 8 months.

Here are pics of my bear at home. The shirt for body was a 'real' Hawaiian shirt, and was one of my husband's shirts that I still had. The pink for ears and paws was a shirt he wore for our private little 're-wedding' ceremony here at home, (2003). He wore a vest for our little ceremony so Pat made one for the bear. She put the label from shirt on the bear's bottom.

She had asked for something to print to go with bear and right away I thought of 1 Peter 5:7. He had called that verse out to me when I came home from work one day (he was bedridden), less than a month before God took him home. It still blesses my heart that he did that. God knew I would need those words for encouragement down the road,  so they were from Mark's lips to my ears. I am thankful.

God has indeed cared for me and I am so thankful for His love and tender care. Faith has grown, lessons are being learned, blessings have come my way.

***

Now for some more blooms from my tropical, cottage garden.

At the moment, I can't remember what the name of this plant is.

These are flowers from the garlic vine.

 

This is a Lancepod or Lilac tree, origin Africa, that I grew from seed. This is the best it has ever bloomed and I think it is because of all of the rain we've had in the past couple of months.

These have a delightful delicate scent.

 

This is thungergia erecta, or King's mantle, or Bush clock vine.

 

 

This is a lovely begonia.

This is Philippine Violet

'Mexican Petunia'

 That's it for now. My stomach is starting to let me know it's time for some supper.

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments. They are a real boost to me, heart and soul. The boost I need to carry on, one day at a time.

Have a great week, wear your masks, be thankful, tell someone you love them.

Love, hugs and prayers ~ FlowerLady

What really matters?

Hello Folks ~ Here it is a wet Wednesday. We've had rain off and on for a couple of weeks at least. I get a load of laundry washed and hung out to dry in between bouts of rain, sometimes laundry ends up draped all of the house to dry. ;-) The other day I was able to mow all but a couple of small sections of grass. Haven't been able to finish, and by the time we have some dry weather again, the rest will need to be mowed again. 

This tropical jungle does NOT quit growing. I can do an hour or two of trimming, weeding etc, and just can't seem to catch up at all. At least it is not as hot and humid as it was, although, it can still be pretty miserable out there. Before my dear husband left this planet, he suggested I not grow any more gardens. Say what? Sad to say, but I was a tad peeved, but over these past almost 8 years I know he made the suggestion thinking of all of the work I was already doing. I am not being able to keep up with the garden spaces I have without adding more to the mix.

With cooler weather coming, I plan and hope to be outside working in the gardens more to get this place looking nicer.

Below is the front path

This is the path to the workshop. part of the secret garden.

 

Here is the secret garden, an unruly sight to behold.

 

This is the St. Francis garden space, totally overtaken by several creeping ground covers. I've started on it, you can at least see the statue of St. Francis again.

 

Below is 'Mlle. Blanche Lafitte'

 

 

'Don Juan'

 

'Bermuda's Kathleen'

 

Below are some 'fall' pieces, four new crochet patterns.

 

I looked out the window yesterday and saw this stray.

 

He sensed me staring at him and became intense. I closed the blinds giving him some peace.

 

I am reading a book 'What Makes Life Worth Living' by Phillip Keller. In other words, what really matters? My 'normal' world was turned upside down when God called my dear husband home. Life hasn't been the same. God has been my strength through these past almost 8 years, if He wasn't with me, I'd be totally lost in a dark place. This pandemic has made me miss my husband even more.

What really matters in this life, is that Jesus loves me and graciously cares for me. Every day is a new opportunity to trust Him, knowing that He is working all things out for His honor and my good. We have opportunities to bless others also.

I have much to be thankful for.

His beautiful creation surrounds me. I have food to eat, a little house to live in, a comfortable bed, clean hot and cold running water, and so much more.

Every day we need to stop and think of what really matters in life. It's not keeping up with the Joneses or anybody else. It's living a contented life. We are to love God and love others and count our blessings.

Let us love and encourage each other. We are all on this journey of life. Let's help each other as much as we are able.

Love, hugs and prayers,

FlowerLady

   

Choose to live each day

Hello Folks ~ Here we are in the middle of October. It is still hot and humid here. Today it is overcast and looks like we may get some rain. There was some pretty loud, booming  thunder to the east early this morning, there's a bit of a breeze and it's almost lunch time.

I have found that getting outside definitely boosts my morale. There is beauty to see, birdsong to enjoy, scents to take in and joy to be had. I'm looking forward to cooler weather as the heat and humidity is just too much to handle for me. I can only work outside for 1-2 hours and am looking forward to more time outdoors to try to get my tropical jungle under control.

Here are more blooms from my gardens. Enjoy.

This is Tahitian Gardenia ~ I've had this for several years now and the scent of this  gardenia is wonderful and the blooms are huge. I have it growing in a very large pot. 

 This lovely little rose is 'Bermuda's Kathleen'.

This is one of the last 4 roses I bought, earlier this year, from Rose Petal's Nursery in northern FL. I've bought from her for a few years now. It is Mlle. Blanche Lafitte

 

This little vining plant is called 'Blue Lips' and has such a wonderful delicate scent.

 

 

This is Mexican Petunia.

 

This is a traveling plant, a ground cover, which puts down roots all along it's growth. I bought it at a yard sale probably 5-6 years ago. I don't know what it is, but it sure will cover everything in it's path.

 

 

This is 'star jasmine' I believe. Have had this since 2005 I think.

 

 

Here is another delicately scented plant, Thryallis.

 

These next photos are of one I don't have a name for.

 

Ok, that's it for now. It's time for a nap. May you all have a lovely weekend. Be well, stay safe, be kind, be thankful. Make time for reflection, prayer and to 'just be'.

FlowerLady