Whites and Winners

And the 2 winners of my prints in celebration of my 2 year blog anniversary  are:

Yolando from Peanut Butter and Jelly
Kelly from Just a Click Away

Your choice, pick any print from "my prints" or anything from a recent blog posts (preferably in 2013) and I will print it in either an 8x10, a 5x7, or 6 greeting cards with envelopes.  I so appreciate your being a part of my blogging world.  Please send me via e-mail your snail mail so I can ship these asap.

Meanwhile....I snipped off some branches from my remaining crab apple tree, this one blooms beautiful white blossoms whereas the "only now in memory one" bloomed pink.  I will truly miss the pink one.  When it bloomed it cast a pink glow in both the living-room and my bedroom upstairs...a few more tears for her, she gave me such beauty.

I love my little "wink and a smile" cup that my blogging buddy, Patti G sent me a month or so ago.  She looks just perfect with her hat of white blossoms all dressed up for Mother's Day.

Wishing all you Mothers a blessed Mother's Day.

"Biology is the least of what it takes to be a Mother"  ~  Oprah

Linking to


Until next time.....

Letters on Friday & Happy Birthday Blog

Dear Blog....Happy Birthday or is it Happy Anniversary??  Two years ago I hit that "publish" button and I was off and running or I should say posting...!!  It has been a wonderful two years.  Because of you dear blog, I have made so many new friends, even met and enjoyed the company of a few of you, which I highly recommend if ever presented the chance.  Your comments, your encouragement, means the world to me...you have lightened my darkest days, brought me tears and laughter, inspired me, gladdened my heart, and opened up worlds to me.  Never in my wildest did I ever imagine the joy that blogging has brought to me.  Thank you dear blog, I love you. PS...today is the last day to enter my giveaway in celebration and thanks for 2 years.  See details here.  I will publish the winners tomorrow.  

Dear Crab Apple Tree....Goodbye, on Wednesday afternoon you were carted away by tree removers after giving me almost 30 years of spring beauty.  Unfortunately, you suffered from the dreaded diseases of apple scab and fire blight which eventually took your branches away one by one until there was only one left.  I managed to save a few of your branches to enjoy for a few more days.  I loved you

The tree removers....

Dear Spring, this has to be one of the most beautiful springs we have had in many a year.  With the cool weather lasting so long, holding off the blooming, and then the warm-up last week...our world has burst into one fine feast for the eyes...the crab apples are all in bloom, whites, pinks, reds.  The tulips, bleeding hearts, phlox, apple blossoms, red buds and lilacs are creating a chorus of spring that is shouting for joy.  This is the first year in memory that the crab apple blossoms will still be in bloom for Mother's Day.  Usually they have dropped by now.  Thank you Spring, I love you.

Dear Yard Work....ugh.  Spring clean-up is always hard laborious work, raking out the dead, trimming, edging, weed pulling.  The time it takes me to complete all this continues to lengthen with each passing year.  It may be time to hire someone to help with this chore, since my sweetie is no longer here to assist.  I don't love you, yard work.

Dear Bailey, congratulations on your college graduation. I am so proud of you and know that your future will be bright and full of adventure,  just like you. I Love You, Nana

Until next time.....

A Sunny Day At The Riverwalk

Yesterday we had another glorious Spring day.  When we have days like this, I forget about all the dreadful weather we experienced earlier, right now it is just sun and warmth.  But I think a little of the cool and rain is returning for the weekend.  Boo Hoo...my granddaughter's college graduation is Saturday and Sunday is Mom's Day....a get ready, get set, plant, date.  That is the date I usually decide that it's OK to plant flowers, no more frosts, saying with finger's crossed.  But honestly I am not ready...I have hired a landscaper to install a flagstone patio under the tree in the front yard, since NOTHING will grow underneath the tree and he won't be completed with that until next week.  And....sob, I had the crab-apple tree removed this afternoon.  It took years to grow that tree and a matter of minutes to cut it down.  So, changes are a coming to my yard and flowers are not at the top of the list, yet.  

On my way home from our last Bible Study class I decided to visit the Riverwalk.  I haven't been there since our flood a few weeks ago and by the looks of it, there is absolutely no evidence of any damage.  

Come walk with me....

The trees are bursting with new growth.

The Carillon where we enjoy the summer concerts....

The water fowl (ok, ducks) are happy...some are single,

Some have a mate

And some have families...

The flowers are in bloom....orange & purple, pretty dazzling!!

A bush with these pretty yellow blossoms...not a clue as to what it is.

Tulips in front of a bed of forget-me-nots...makes a great background!!

A spent magnolia flower, magnificent even as it wanes....

Our piece of art...a Picasso (I think)

It is just a delightful place to walk and enjoy an afternoon....

The City Swimming Pool is right along the Riverwalk.  They are beginning to fill it with water, wonder how many tons it takes to fill this up....it is huge.  At one time this was the site of an old rock quarry, quite a unique place.  

I even saw Mother's with their little ones enjoying a picnic lunch.  Just an all-around beautiful day for being outside enjoying the gifts of Nature.

"Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day."  ~ 
W. Earl Hall



Until next time.....

Eye Candy

I couldn't stand it any longer, camera in hand with macro lens attached, I went to my favorite garden center yesterday afternoon.  I was not disappointed, they were filled to over-flowing with colors that could cure any winter-worn soul.  And by the size of the crowds there were many winter-worn souls filling up carts with flowers in hopes of bringing spring to their colorless yards.

****Please don't forget about my giveaway happening in just 3 days to celebrate my blog anniversary of two years.  See details here...

The word of the week is "mesmerize"....which means to hold someone in your thrall, as if they are hypnotized or spellbound.  I become mesmerized every time I visit my garden center with all the beauty that abounds.  And to tie this word into our weekly Bible study that is concluding this week...I think Boaz must have been mesmerized by Ruth almost as soon as she arrived in Bethlehem.  I have been sharing my weekly word with my Bible Study group trying to tie the word into our studies.  It's been fun, but we are ending this week and won't return again until Fall.  Many of us continue our gathering each week at Barnes & Noble.  Last summer we focused on "The Fruits of the Spirit" taking one every two weeks and sharing our experiences...perhaps patience is one to revisit.

"The front door to springtime is a photographer's best friend."  ~ Terri Guillemets

Until next time.....

A Life Around The Corner Has Ended

As I walked outside quite early this morning, before the breezes began to move the leaves, I was able to capture my bush that is covered with these lovely tiny white blossoms.  If the wind is just slightly blowing they are difficult to capture without a blur, but this morning, not a creature breeze was stirring.

Always in my blue bathrobe, my neighbors can catch me wandering around my yard on early spring mornings, and this morning was no different.  We have neighbors around the corner, an elderly couple from Bosnia, who are lovely people.  Always asking, whenever I see them, how my sweetie is doing.  The man was slight, usually puttering in his garden or garage, the woman took walks every morning and many times she would throw my newspaper up toward the front of my house.  Last summer the man became ill with cancer, and his puttering slowed as well as his work in his garden.  This year, as the weather began to warm I didn't see him at all.  I can see their little back porch balcony from my back yard, fully expecting to view him soaking up the sun as the weather began to warm, but no sign of him.

This morning, I saw her walking and found out that her husband passed away during the winter.  I was so sadden by her loss, they had been married for 55 years, a good marriage, a blessed marriage.  He had fallen asleep during a rainy afternoon and never woke up.  A sweet way to end your life's journey, but so difficult for those left behind.

So it is with some irony that I am out capturing the new growth, the new life that is brimming forth, meanwhile discovering that a life around the corner has ended.

They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies.” ~ William Penn

Until next time.....