Happy Valentine's Day

Good morning Folks ~ here it is another Valentine's Day. Today is a day that celebrates love in a big way. Let us remember that love can be shown on any given day, not just on a designated day. Everyone needs love, always.

I wanted to share 'hearts' that I've been blessed with, given to me by God. My dear husband used to give me hearts he found, bought, or made, but the last one from him was in 2012. These hearts from God are pleasant surprises that make me smile and say 'thank you'. He lets me know I am loved, even though my dear husband is with Him and can no longer let me know he loves me. God loves me.

These hearts are from this year.

The first one was on my breakfast plate. I had reheated refried beans with ground beef, topped with a fried egg. I cut up the egg and when I got ready to eat, lo and behold there was a piece of egg white in a heart shape.

 'Angel Face' fallen rose petals.

I saved the petal and taped it into my journal.

 

This heart is made up of begonia petals.

 

Yesterday I went grocery shopping and wanted something to celebrate 'love'. I can still celebrate even when by myself. This is a vanilla cake with buttercream frosting from the grocery bakery dept.

 

For Valentine's Day the pastors at my church take the widows out to lunch at the Olive Garden. We have a good time and it's a real treat celebrating love with church family. I am blessed. I am looking forward to our lunch today, after our ladies weekly time of Bible study and prayer.

That's it for now. Do take time to celebrate love in your life, past and present.

Feel the love of our Creator God surrounding you.

FlowerLady

 

 

More photos on this chilly, windy morning

Good morning Friends ~ We are under a wind advisory with winds at 20-30 mph gusting to 40 mph and at 10:11 EST it is 59. It's been gray, but the sun is poking out from behind clouds at the moment. Nice. I need to get outside for a bit to get some walking in, even if it's only around the property.

I've been working on editing more photos taken the last few days.

Below was the sunrise on Sunday morning.

 

 

This is a hibiscus called 'Diva'.

 

Ground orchid blooms. I bought this plant last year I think, at a new nursery not far from me.

Next is a lovely hibiscus shrub that thrives with neglect.

 

 

 

I  love this ground cover, called 'Spanish Shawl',  (Heterocentron elegans)  related to Princess Flower, (Tibouchina urvilleana). I bought a pot of this at a yard sale many years ago.  The lady didn't know what it was. I found out what it was from a you-tube video, not because I was looking for it, they just mentioned this plant and showed it. It spreads like crazy, but I don't mind this one bit.

Here is another ground cover, Tradescantia. I've had three different kinds of this, solid green, purple and zebra

 

 

This is a close up with my new macro lens.

 

 

In the same family as 'Spiderwort'.  

Ok, that's it for today. It is now a little after 2 p.m. EST and the sun is shining brightly. Still windy, temp is 68.

Thanks again for visiting.

FlowerLady
 

 

Wow, it's February already! New macro lens for iPhone!!

Greetings Friends ~ Where did January go? Time is zipping right along at a fast pace. We've had some cold temps for us down here in s.e. FL, high 40's and 50's. Today it is gloomy, with drizzle or light rain. I had wanted to work outside, but not in this weather. I decided to work on editing photos and writing up a new post. Doing this always take hours, literally.

The more I use the Gimp photo editing program, the easier it is remembering how to do what. I'm getting back into photography and posting to this blog more.

Now for some pictures from my overgrown gardens. This first one is beautiful lichen growing on a huge, old jasmine branch.

Last month I ordered a Xenvo Pro Lens Kit for my iPhone. I was having a time with my chip from Canon PowerShot camera with the new Windows 11. In that camera I had a great macro capability and the iphone's camera just doesn't do what I wanted. I googled macro lenses for the iPhone and came across this one, great reviews. I have to say that I REALLY like it and the more I use it the better I will get with taking macro pictures. The lens does make the phone heavier, and trying to hold it in place about 1/2"-1" away takes some getting used to. I love the way the background is out of focus and just what you are up close on is clear.
 

 

 

Below in among all sorts of things is the 'reed orchid', which grows like a weed here. This is a group of buds, only about an inch in length.

 Here is a close up, taken with new lens. What a surprise the ant was!

This sweet little plant is called 'Scorpion Tail'. (Heliotropium angiospermum) It is a Florida wildflower. It is only about an inch to 1 1/2 inches long. I got this a year or two ago. First photo is with camera lens.

This is with the macro lens.

Next is a flowering plant that spreads all over the place and takes over if you're not careful. I'm not sure what it is. My mind says wild petunia but I can't find that by googling.

 

 

 

Below is the rose by True Bloom, 'True Sincerity'. I took some Christmas $ and bought two pots of roses. Here is a gardening tip for you. I saw it on you tube a few years back. When you buy a plant, look to see how many plants are in the pot, a lot of times, there is more than one. You then take it home, take plant out of pot, spray the dirt away with water, gently separating the roots from each other repot into separate pots. Free plants for the price of one. ;-)

In this case, there were three roses in the one pot. The other pot 'Alfred Sisley' only had two in it's pot. I don't have pictures of that rose yet. 

These were all taken with the macro lens.

 

These pics were taken a couple of days later. This first one was taken outside while the rose was still on the plant, backlit by the sun.

 

 

 

I picked it and brought it inside to enjoy.

 

With some time & practice, I will take better pictures. 

That's it for now.

Enjoy each day our Creator God blesses you with. 

Take the time to look for the beauty in His wonderful creation. 

He made it for us to enjoy, 

to be physically, spiritually and mentally nurtured. 

To make us think of Him and to be drawn to Him.

He loves us.

Thank you for visiting ~ FlowerLady