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