Flowers galore

 

Good afternoon dear Friends ~ It is a few minutes after 4 p.m. EST in s.e. FL. The skies are dark to the south, and thunder is rumbling in the distance.  Monday morning we had heavy rains with flooding in some areas getting over 5 inches of rain, then in the middle of the night we had a slow moving thunderstorm with torrential rains which brought more rain.  I prayed and read for awhile, waiting for the storm to pass over, finally it did and all was quiet again.

My heart goes out to all who have lost family, loved ones, homes and businesses with these tornadoes that ripped through their area. The pictures and videos are heart breaking. May God be with these people as they go about rebuilding their lives, and continuing on, even with heartbreak. Rough times are ahead, especially with the grief and the missing of loved ones.

It is devastation like we are seeing from these storms that make me appreciate so much, even with my own loss, as, I haven’t lost everything.         I am thankful for our little haven.

***

Below are some of the flowers from the last couple of days.

Spiderwort, with Borderer in the background. Spiderwort is so ‘easy’ to grow.  Some consider it a weed and a nuisance. Not me.

This is Thryallis.  A wonderful shrub that gets pretty large.  I saw it at the botanical gardens and their specimen is huge. The flowers sweetly scent the air. Mine is in a pot right now.

Whirling butterflies.

Here is the morning glory bush cutting in the early morning in the scullery window. It’s barely light outside. I like how the light from the overhead light is shining down on the blooms. (By the way, nice roots formed on this so I planted it in a pot today.)

Here it is a few hours later with the bright outdoor light behind. This is more the true color.

This is the wonderfully scented unknown lavender rose I bought recently.

Here it is on the left, with the McCartney rose on the right.

This little sweetie is ‘Kathleen’ one of my very favorites and bought many, many years ago. She has a delicate sweet scent.

Here is ‘Borderer’.

An early morning view in the scullery.  This is what I come out to when I make coffee in the mornings, sometimes it’s darker out and sometimes lighter, depending on when I wake up.  This part of our kitchen is a dream come true and I love it. We took out a wall between the kitchen and the utility room and renamed that new space the ‘scullery’, definition~ a place where dishes are washed and food is stored. As an aside, DH worked in the Navy scullery when he was in boot camp in 1969, washing dishes.  He also voluntarily washed dishes in our scullery too.

I wash dishes looking out into the ‘secret garden’, pure delight.  Thank you dear husband for your skills in making this dream become a reality, and in all the other dreams we built around here. I enjoyed being your ‘helper’ all through our years together and this project was one of my very favorites. It made our cottage seem so much bigger.

Look at the sweet reflection in the window.

 

is Forever

FlowerLady

Thy mercy,
O LORD,
is in the heavens;
and thy faithfulness
reacheth unto the clouds.
Psa_36:5

Latest journal :-)

Good morning everyone ~ Hope you had pleasant weekends and that the coming week will be good.

Yesterday morning I had plans to get a sheet of paneling, but had said to God “if it’s ok with you”. Well, obviously it wasn’t, because a little while later I stumped my toe next to big toe on left foot, and it hurt like heck, swelled a little then turned a shade of purple. I laughed right out loud and said, alright, this is my answer, stay home. So I did.  I put an essential oil blend called Pan-away on the toe, and in a little bit the major pain was gone, but I couldn’t really bend it.  I’m happy to report that my toe feels pretty good this morning, and is bendable.  I can’t tell you how many times in my life that I have stumped those toes right next to my big toes.  They are a bit longer and that could be why. Someone recently told me that Pisces are always stumping their toes, I don’t know if that’s true or not, but it is with this particular Pisces.

I did a little weeding in my St. Francis garden hobbling and stepping lightly, then hand watered things.  Later I got the idea to make some ribbon roses with the ribbon sent to me by Nicki, of Ravioli Dreams. Lovely ribbon and nice to work with, thank you Nicki.

I looked at you tube videos yesterday, and oh my goodness, I am such a novice and have much to learn.

These are what are called ‘spider web’ roses. Relatively easy and so much fun to make.

After making the three roses, one thing led to another and it eventually became another little journal. I don’t know how many hours I worked on this, but it was sheer delight I can tell you that.  This one will be going to the widow’s meeting this morning, Friends Needing Friends, as I want to donate it for the raffle they have every month. 

I used a piece of antique lace that I had in my stash, as a border around the piece.

I would have printed out more flowers and verses, but my printer needs ink.

This is what my workspace looks like now,

my computer desk is piled high too.

That’s it for now.  I’ve got to eat breakfast and get ready to head off to meet my new friends.  This is my third meeting with a bunch of lovely widow ladies.

Have a lovely day ~ FlowerLady

Ribbon roses

I just had to try out one of my ribbons after supper and am happy with these roses. The size of this piece from one end of roses to the other in length is 3 inches by 1 3/4 inches high.  Now it’s time to go get horizontal and read for awhile. I’m done for the evening with this, have to give my hands and eyes a break.  Mark would like these. I was so happy making them, I just can’t explain it.  I was in here making happy noises, and I could almost hear him asking what I was up to, and I said, you’ll see in a minute. Just like always.

I am so thankful for the love and encouragement from Mark in so many areas of our life together.

Stitch your stress away. 

Author Unknown

Memories are stitched with love. 

Author Unknown

FlowerLady

Goodies :-)

 

This morning I was going to stop at the library on my way to work, but changed my mind and decided to take the little scenic route of older homes with cute gardens, etc. I found my two stag horn ferns on this route recently, and last year found a neat wooden hanging shelf unit with a cut out heart at the top.

Anyway, near the end of this route, there was a yard sale.  I passed it and went around the block to go back to it.  I don’t go out looking for yard sales, only stop if they are on my way somewhere.  Well, I was thrilled to find spools of ribbon, and some twirled ribbon too, never saw it before, but thought I can use it, and a baggie of simple ribbon roses.  $10 for 10 items.  A good deal to me and I felt like it was a blessing, and encouragement for continuing to create.  God changed my mind about which way to go to work so that I would find these ribbons.

I then moseyed on down the road, and at a home I’ve enjoyed seeing  roses growing there for years, they were having a yard sale too, so I stopped.  There I bought some fabric for more journal covers $1, a sweet book that spoke to my heart $1, and a yellow oncidium orchid $5, ‘Dancing Ladies’.  The nice lady of the house even gave me a cutting of a bush morning glory that happened to be in bloom.  I put it in water as soon as I got to work.  She said it will root in water.

I was really depressed Thursday, missing my dear Mark, and dealing with the van problems. I felt better yesterday and today feel pretty good too. It is so hard getting used to living without my best friend. Some times it just feels like ‘what’s the use’? I am told this will all get easier, and it is, as it’s much better that right after Mark left. But, the missing of your loved one you will never get used to, it will always be with you. He’s the other half of me, waiting for me in a much better place and I look forward to our reunion.

My gardens are very comforting to me, even if they are work to keep up.  I feel love, healing and joy when I am in them.

There is also something comforting in working with needles, hooks, threads, beads and ribbons creating bits and pieces to give a way and to sell.  Mark always enjoyed hearing me humming while I worked creating in my little space, and I want to continue on doing things I enjoy, sharing God’s goodness and love, enjoying life, in spite of my loss.

I did get my van back yesterday afternoon and it is running nicely.  The mechanic did not charge me for the wheel bearings. The rebuilt transmission, labor and tax  = $1600. Not something I was planning on spending money on, but a necessity and I hope the van gets me around for many more miles.  God is taking care of me in all areas and I try to give all my worries and cares of each day, no matter how big or small, to Him. He is my continuing source of strength and comfort.

Be grateful for each new day and for all that you are blessed with.

FlowerLady

**********

Do not take anything for granted

not one smile

or one person

or one rainbow

or one breath,

or one night in your cozy bed.

Terri Guillemets