Five Senses Friday

Since Nancy from A Rural Journal decided to take a break from blogging, which I think we all tend to do on occasion, and her meme, Random Five On Friday is no longer I decided I would return to a personal meme of mine, Five Senses Friday.  I am trying to be more mindful of my days, myself, my friends, my spirituality, and what better way to become more mindful than to stop and appreciate our senses.

So today I am.....

Smelling -

Seeing - OK, I am not seeing this today but Sunday is a comin' and some of my fav TV shows are on in a single night.  I tape as many as my cable company allows, then have to watch the rest "On Demand".

 - Call the Midwife - charming characters that bring the miracle of life into the world, already into it's 3rd season.
 -  Mr. Selfridge - did not watch this last year but now in the midst of this wonderful story of the Mr. Selfridge that built a magnificent department store in the midst of London prior to World War I.  Again, have fallen in love with all the characters and the richness of the time and place.
 -  The Good Wife - now who doesn't watch this?  Been there from the first moment and along with a bazillion others was totally shocked when Will departed...rather suddenly.
 -  Game of Thrones - oh I know, blood, nudes, lots of fighting, but always a surprise or two awaits, and sorry I did not grieve when that evil king was poisoned.  What a little snot he was.
 -  Revenge - I am afraid I might give up on Emily and her vengeful ways.  It is almost predictable.  So maybe this is one I won't have to jockey with in the future.
 -  Resurrection - Interesting concept, not sure where they are going to go with this one, but it's only one more episode before this season's wrap-up, wonder if it will be renewed??  Almost like The Walking Dead but they look better.
 - Believe - another one that is questionable, another week another chase.  But I do like the little miracles that she drops along the way.
 -  Crisis - Now what happens when they get all those high school kids back home??  I have a feeling this one is going to bite the dust.
 -  The Bletchley Circle - a group of 4 women who worked together during World War II in London deciphering the enemies (Germans) codes and now after the war end up solving crimes together, sometimes landing right in the perilous middle of them.

Touching - Clothing, toiletries, my Bible, suitcase - I am off for a weekend Women's Retreat entitled "Finding Your Inner Joy"....I am in great need of this right now.  I get glimpses of joy, but I want the whole package...but sometimes I wonder if we place too much emphasis on "joy", sometimes I think being satisfied or having a feeling of contentment is just as important as joy.  There are days where there isn't a lot of joy in my life, especially this last week with it being cloudy, rainy and downright chilly and feeling more like March than the end of April and the beginning of May.  But I did fill my days with the contentment of reading, cuddled on the couch with my two kids next to me.  

Hearing - Not much.  My house tends to be quiet except when the kids are barking at whatever or whoever walks by the front sidewalk.  I am not one that turns the TV on during the day, I should probably just for the news.  I did not renew my morning newspaper subscription, which has totally disrupted my morning ritual of coffee and the newspaper, but the cost was getting ridiculous, over $375. a year.  But I may relent and cough up the money, I have felt out of sorts without my morning newspaper.  And don't say I can get the news on-line, just not the same.

Tasting - Chicken Enchilada Soup...oh yum.  I made this yesterday and it tastes even better the second day...sprinkle on some cheddar cheese and tortilla strips that adds to the yuminess.  Just a perfect accompaniment to this chilly, overcast day.

"We all live under the same sky, but we all don't have the same horizon."  ~ Konrad Adenauer 

Until next time.....

Five Senses Friday ~ The May 25th, 2012 Edition

I have been negligent on posting Five Senses Fridays for a few weeks...too much going on I guess.  But today I am focusing on our lovely senses....the ones that are almost on overload right now with all the blooms and fragrances coming our way.  It is full-out summer time here with all the swimming pools set to open this weekend, and the temps predicted to be in the 90's for the holiday.  The blooms are bursting everywhere you look.....

Many pots have been planted and placed in the gardens...

Just gives a little more color in the garden that is mostly hostas because of all the shade...

Front porch..front and center

 

The smells are outstanding on a few of the flowers....but with all the hybridizing, in attempts to make a better plant, we have lost the aromas of old-fashioned roses.  These still have a wonderful aroma.

The Columbine's are almost spent....Linking up to LeAnne's Flower Art Friday and Shoot, Edit, Submit.....

These also have a nice aroma....they are just a ground cover that is blooming right now, but I like it's delicacy.....and smell.  

I am taking a B&W class with Tracey Clark at Big Picture Classes....I converted this to b&w for class today leaving just a tad of color ....

As I sat down to read the paper and drink that first cup of coffee this morning, this sweet thing was napping on the fence.  The black birds kept buzzing his head, agitating him to the point that he started his squawking at me....like I had anything to do with it(?)  The only thing I did was take his picture while he was ranting....!!

Today tasting was all about getting ready for the holiday ahead....I got right in the mood by fixing (compliments of Jack Daniels) barbeque pulled chicken.  Oh yum...and some new potato chips with Tomato and Basil.  They are good for you, right? with tomatoes and basil, have to be.

And finally, right now I FEEL like just relaxing and snoozin' briefly after a full morning and a full lunch...

Hope your weekend is FULL to the brim with all good things.  Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all my friends from the USA!!

"Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it."
                                                                                                   ~  Philip Dormer Stanhope

Until next time.....

Five Senses Friday - The April 6, 2012 Edition

For no reason at all except it will make you a happier person, smile.  Smile at a perfect stranger, smile at your sweetheart, especially smile at children.  Smile when you see someone or something you like.  Smile broadly, demurely, smile shyly or mysteriously.  Just smile from ear to ear.  Smile at the bus driver, smile at the toll-taker, smile at the stressed out driver at the stoplight.  Make them all wonder, What's she smiling about?  Let them wonder, let a smile be your umbrella on a rainy day.  Your smile may remain long after your gone.

These are a few of the things that made me smile all day long.....

I went to SEE the Hunger Games...I read the book and was anxious to see the movie.  I'll admit I was not disappointed in either the book or the movie.  And ofcourse, I had to have popcorn while I was there....love the TASTE of movie popcorn.

After I returned home I considered going to Macy's to buy some Clinique, they have their special if you purchase a gazillion dollars worth of their product they will give you a little something to keep you coming back.  I am kidding abut the gazillion dollars but I am not kidding about the giving.  I really like their yellow moisturizer and their freebie comes in a perfect travel size.  Since next week I am off again on another travel adventure, this time to Galveston, TX I need that little yellow moisturizer.  But then I stopped and realized it is Good Friday, kids are out of school, lots of people off work, so no way was I going to fight my way thru those crowds for the little yellow moisturizer to make my face FEEL good.  Maybe Monday....

So, instead of fighting crowds I stayed peacefully at home.  It was a gorgeous day today.  The sky for the last 2 or 3 days has been this deep cerulean blue, a perfect back-drop for photos.  Yesterday, along with the beautiful sky we had gusty winds which pretty well shoots any opportunity for great nature shots.  But today was calmer so off Toby and I went to search for beauties.  All the birds have returned from wherever they vacation to in the winter so the air is filled with the sound of chirping.  When I HEAR the sounds of certain birds I can distinguish their song.   Cardinals, robins, and chickadees are a few I can recognize.  And I certainly recognize the sound of bees buzzing.

I don't get too many hyacinths anymore, I think I need to replant, but what I did have I snipped and brought them in the house to enjoy their SMELL before they faded away.

And I added the bowl of eggs for Easter....

All I have to do is step out of my front door to SMELL Spring.  The buds on the trees are bursting, the daffodils and hyacinths are almost gone, but the tulips are in full bloom....all of this brings a smile to my face.

Linking up with Project Alicia

This is the exact spot just a few weeks ago....

Hope your day was filled with smiles.....  And speaking of smiles, hop on over to my collaborative blog Focusing on Life where I am musing about my favorite thing to do.  We are having a month-long theme for this month all about our "favorites".  Stop by and see what it is all about.

"Smile....it's the second best thing you can do with your lips."  ~  Don Ward

Until next time.....

Five Senses Friday - The March 30, 2012 Edition

I woke this morning to the sound of thunder and rain....not loud thunder and not heavy rain, but both just enough for me to pull the covers up and roll back over for a little more sleep.  My Mother used to say the best sleep she has is in those early morning hours and I tend to agree.  Thank goodness I do not work any longer since there are times I have great difficulty in getting out of bed in the AM.  I would much rather be an early riser, the best time of the day is in those hours before the sun gets too high in the sky.  But because sleep does not come easy for me, toss turn, toss turn, over and over....get up, go downstairs, walk around and repeat...that when the early hour approaches I am usually just about into heavy dreamy sleep.  That is why you don't see any sunrise shots from me.  

As the rains subsided it was definitely time to get up and get the day moving....and as I stated yesterday, coffee would be served in my new mug.  I think coffee just tastes better in a pretty cup to drink from....don't you agree?  Now really which would you prefer, a styrofoam cup or this delight to enjoy your morning coffee in?  Hands down, the pretty cup!!

Potted up more plants to put on the front porch....always feels so good to get my hands dirty...haven't had the feel of potting soil on my hands for months.  

My neighbor has these beauties growing in his front yard and I had to walk down to get a better look...they so remind me of hanging hearts, I guess that is why they are called "bleeding hearts".

And speaking of seeing....Toby always has his eyes peeled to the front window, he wouldn't want anybody to walk by without him seeing them.

The lilacs are in full bloom here, and ofcourse the aroma is heavenly.  I would like to fill my whole house with buckets of these beauties to enjoy their smell all day.

Linking this up to Misty at Through a Photographers Eyes....

                                      

Hope you are seeing Spring wherever you are.

"Time is a very precious gift ~ so precious that it is only given to us moment by moment."  ~  Amelia Barr

Until next time.....

Five Senses Friday - The March 23, 2012 Edition

Catherine called yesterday, leaving me a message (because when she called I was lunching at Neiman Marcus, lunching, not shopping) that she would be by to pick me up at 7:00 AM to get an early start at the Arboretum.  Having purchased a member's card was one of the best investments I have made especially at this time of the year when Spring is giving birth to new awakenings each and every day. It had rained in the night and was still wet when Catherine picked me up, but there was a glimmer of blue sky above.  Unfortunately, the rain only held out for less than 30 minutes before we felt our first drop.  We continued, thinking surely it would pass.  Not so, the rain became a steady down-pour.

You can see the fog and mist that greeted us.....

The daffodils are in full bloom....

Rain, rain go away....

And the redbud trees were glorious in their pinks....

Everywhere we walked the smells of spring were almost overwhelming.  A yellow honeysuckle had the aroma of a bowl of lemons, the flowering trees gave off their sweet fragrance.

We had no choice but to leave and stop for breakfast....ofcourse we stopped for breakfast.  I chowed down on a wheat burrito filled with scrambled eggs, chorizo sausage, onions, red peppers & cheddar cheese with guacamole and salsa on the side.  Oh yum, it was so delicious but couldn't begin to finish it.  Half of it is in the frig waiting for me to eat the other 1/2.

I was hoping that it would stop raining and I could return to the Arboretum for more pics....but as I got home I heard the thunder and the rain began again.  I am not complaining because without much snow this winter we are a little over-due for some moisture.

Today at Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers the color challenge is RED, my fav.  Oh I know, everything is my fav, but I can't help it....I just love color.  For those who can't see color, or are color-blind I am sorry, for you have missed so much joy.

I know his wings look a little orange but honestly this is called a Red-Tipped Blackbird

And ofcourse, the Red Cardinal

Another fun display at Neiman Marcus.  LOVE this...

And these pillows were wonderful....

Yesterday, I went to my local garden center, not ready for customer's but busily sprucing up for their big Spring Opening next weekend.

 Another Pasque Flower, so beautiful....

 This next group of RED is from my trip to Tucson...what a treat of a city to photograph.  So rich with color and textures...

And a couple from my red kitchen...

Hope your days are filled with color....

"Life is in the here and now.  Either we meet it, we live it - or we miss it."  ~ Vimala Thakar

Until next time.....