The end of a gift of another day

Hi Folks ~ Here it is the end of another day, which was a gift, from the giver of all gifts.

We had a thunderstorm blow over early yesterday evening, giving us a good bit of rain.  I am thankful.

This morning I got out early to the so-called ‘back 40’ to pull tall weeds, which fortunately came up easy, then DH got back there and mowed.  What a difference.  He went around to the backside of our little barn and mowed there too.  Then I mowed what I usually mow, then I got out the electric hedge clippers and did the front hedgerow.  That wore me out.  Tomorrow I will take care of some other stuff that needs to be raked and bagged for the county to pick up.  What we put out there for them they turn into free mulch for the taking.

I’m not sure of the distance, where the stars are is the front entry sidewalk and gate, which we keep locked, to keep the night people out and any others who happened to think they can just walk in.

This is the front gate, part of one bird has fallen off, and I need to find another piece of weathered wood to make another one with.  There is a sidewalk on the other side of the gate.  The front patio which I look out onto from my little creative space indoor, is just on the other side of the greenery.

Here is the entry gate from the driveway.  It also stays locked most of the time.  We’ve had people come into our property at night before we put up this gate and the one across the driveway. It feels better having barriers from the outside world that’s for sure.

Now for some blooms taken today. Below is Jewels of Opar.  A sweet plant that I’ve grown from seeds from a FL gardening friend who lives in the middle of the state. This plant reseeds easily.

Here is my pink crepe myrtle.  Have several of these around the property.

This is a little rose called Golden Sun, which I bought many years ago online from a lady in the middle of the state.  The blooms are no more than 2” across, if that.

The clouds caught my eye. 

I worked on this piece this afternoon.  Hadn’t touched it in over a week.  I enjoyed sitting here listening to soothing music working with needle and thread.

Well, that’s it for this evening.  I need to get up to head into the scullery to wash dishes before it gets too late.

Have a nice evening/morning and a great day tomorrow/today wherever you are.

Don't go through life, grow through life.
Eric Butterworth

Sunday morning sunlit clouds

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning;

for in thee do I trust:

cause me to know the way wherein I should walk;

for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Psalms 143:8

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Morning has broken

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird

Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing, fresh from the Word

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the One light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

As Sung by Cat Stevens
Lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon

Click on pictures for a larger view.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

Morning views

Good morning Friends ~ Here it is the end of another week. Hope your week was a good one and that your weekend is great.

Below are some pictures I took this morning. Rain and more rain is what we have been having. So nice for the gardens and nice for the gardener who doesn't have to lug hoses around. It's really great not being in drought conditions anymore.

Have a good day. Click on pictures for larger view.

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL

The Cloud


I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,
From the seas and the streams;
I bear light shade for the leaves when laid
In their noonday dreams.
From my wings are shaken the dews that waken
The sweet buds every one,
When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,
As she dances about the sun.
I wield the flail of the lashing hail,
And whiten the green plains under,
And then again I dissolve it in rain,
And as laugh I pass in thunder.

Percy Bysshe Shelley ~ 1820

Pictures from today

Good evening. Hope you all had a lovely day today.

I wanted to get out early this morning, like between 7-7:30, and got out around 7:15. I wanted to work on the front hedgerow as I had not done anything with it in quite sometime. I didn't think to take a before picture, but you'll see an after picture taken a little while ago.

I am pooped, have stiff and sore muscles too. I worked out there for 4 hours. I did drink several glasses of water and took two or three breaks. If you don't do that you are asking for trouble. A couple of weeks ago we were working on something in the heat and all of a sudden I felt weird, light headed and told DH I have to sit down, and did, in the swing in the shade until I felt better. Sure don't need to have heat-stroke. Today when I came in from working, I saw online where our temp was 91, but with the humidty it felt like it was 105. My clothes were wet and sticking to me when I came in. But, I felt good at what I had accomplished.

Before I took this picture below, we had a little rain, which was nice. This morning I filled up 5 bags of trimmings, which will be picked up and made into compost by the county, which we then can go get for free. This is the 4 lane road that we live on. The speed limit sign in the hedge says 45 mph, but people do more than that trying to beat the light up at the intersection about 4 blocks away. Our private space is behind the hedgerow. When they first did this road, it was awful for us, as they had taken a depth of 15 feet into our property, imminent domain, on top of the 10' easement they already had. We had had a tree border out front and they mowed it all down and we were totally exposed to the world. This is now 20 years later. The front hedgerow helps with the traffic noise somewhat, and it creates a more oxygen filled, cooler environment on the inside. Our front property corner is at the telephone/light post. I am standing in our driveway.

This next picture is of clouds that I thought looked nice,

especially with the tree silhouette.

The next three pictures are of our supper tonight, homemade pizza. I used my bread machine to make the dough, which I added dried garlic and Italian herbs to. The first picture shows the dough covered in homemade sauce, Italian sausage and sliced olives.

The next shows the cheeses sprinkled on top, plus a dried hot pepper blend.

Fontinella, mozarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Next, it is fresh out of the oven and ready to be cut and served,

with a nice chilled bottle of Chianti wine,

that we've had in our stash, bought on sale quite awhile back. :-)

We always eat half, then have the rest another meal. Mmmm, mmmmm.

That's it for now, I'm ready to get horizontal and relax with a book.

Have a good nights sleep and a great week.