Monday in the Garden

Look who is back, hiding among the strawberry begonias.

You can still see just a bit of the pink she has carried with her through the years she has called my garden her home.   I don't know if I will recognize her once the nail polish,
a child innocently painted on her back,
fades completely.  I can't say I will be disappointed;
it's never good for an animal's natural camouflage to be altered.
This year we will still know when "Pink" is strolling through the garden.

With temps reaching into the eighties, it was a good day to show up in the garden. 

Let's walk and look for other surprises.

The first columbine

and iris.

The baptisia, and

malva are making a show.

The roses are in full bloom.

And, the meyer lemon is preparing to give birth to this seasons

lemons.  The aroma alone is worth having this plant in the garden. 

Oh, I can't tell you how long I've waited for the lily of the valley
to bloom.  Each year the foliage appears,
but the little bells have been elusive.
I am smiling!

The garden is full of new life.

 Rain and cool temps are expected to return midweek
encouraging more blooms beyond the garden gate.

I hope your week is starting out amazing!

Back into the Closet

I don't know about you, but I walk into my closet each morning and stand looking around wondering what to wear.  I usually can be heard whimpering  and whining ever so slightly.
This is where I should post a picture of my ultra organized closet...

                                                                                                 it's not going to happen.

I wish I were brave enough to show you my closet, but I am not.

At present, no exaggeration, it looks like a tornado roared through.
There are still sweaters folded on the shelf waiting to switch places with summer tops.
But, look the t-shirts have been unpacked and stacked on top of the turtlenecks;
sandals are co-mingling with boots.  I'm embarrassed to reveal I sometimes leave with
more than one jacket option thrown on the back seat and a pair of socks tucked deep in my school bag.

Just when we think spring is ready to solo, 

winter decides to surprise us with an encore.

This morning I stood in the middle of my closet weighing the reported cooler temperatures and the warm afternoons we have had the last couple of days.   History won.   

Confident it would warm up by playground time, I was soon following Wille downstairs wearing a  dress with long sleeves which can be rolled up and a pair of flats.  It only took a few moments outside to realize I needed to head back into the closet.

With temperatures barely reaching sixty degrees this afternoon,
I suppose its not so terribly awful I still have sweaters on the shelf.
Though I think I may need a larger closet.

  

Please don't hate me.

Honestly, I am enjoying our cool spells.
I know our southern heat and humidity

will soon be here to stay.

We are tucked in for one more cold night.

My thoughts and prayers are with all who are being threaten with flooding.

Stay safe dear friends.

Work Before Play

This is my busiest time of the school year.  

The "wheels on the bus" are carrying me straight downhill 

at breakneck speed.

There is always something for which to prepare, 

to begin or to finish.   

Work comes home.

The studio gathers a fine layer of

paper clippings and glitter.

Crayons and pencils become dull, 

paint pots are emptied, 

and erasers disappear into a rubbery dust.  

Favorite things must be put aside.

                                                                                                     Sigh!

You know where I am going with this don't you?

An unexpected cold rain shower is alway the perfect excuse 

for spending the afternoon with

a good read,

but alas, there is just so much to do.

Having a "to do" list as long as my arm 

may temporarily stop me from opening the covers of a book, 

yet it hasn't slowed me down in putting together 

my summer "to read" or "to consider to read" list. 

It certainly hasn't stopped my car from parking in front of a local bookstore

(it is on the way home from....somewhere).

It only takes a few minutes to run in and find a few things

in preparation for my summer.

 I'll keep a smile and be patient,

and mind what I tell my children,

"work before play".

My hands are trembling.

Oh, what do you think?

Will I be successful?

I hear them calling my name...

Oh, maybe just a taste.

I'll be playing, I mean working in the garden today.

Are you planning to play this weekend?

Whatever you choose, may you stay safe and find peace.

We Are One

"And thus the heart will break, 

yet brokenly live on."

                                     ---George Gordon Byron

Yes, 

Boston

 West, Texas

you will  live on. 

 So many across this beautiful

United States hold you in their thoughts and prayers.

When one breaks

We hold you up.

Together we are strong.

And Have No Regrets

Here I find myself in mid April.  

The days continue to race past.

I reach to grasp a moment,

 and feel it slide away

leaving only the scent

of a once presence.

Time is fragile.

It passes us without a blink.

Sometimes...

 we are fortunate to witness a miracle,

given a second chance.

Touch, 

inhale, 

and savor the taste

of every moment.

And have no regrets.

Have a wonderful week.

Morning Bliss

"Morning has broken, like the first morning. 
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird. 
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning, 

Praise for them springing fresh from the Word. "

Morning's quiet meditation.

The moon gently hangs in the sky seemingly reluctant to exit the stage

as the sun impatiently awaits his entrance. 

Nature's orchestra serenading in the trees with an early song.  

I don't know what the day has planned, but this moment

is bliss.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Spring Rains and Garden Dreams

“April is the cruelest month, breeding
lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
memory and desire, stirring
dull roots with spring rain.” 

                                                          T.S. Eliot

  Yesterday was a beautiful sunny 72 degrees. 

 Knowing rain and colder weather was predicted for most of the week, 

we spent less time in the classroom 

and more time on the playground running, screaming and having a grand time.

 My afternoon was spent enjoying an over the fence chat with my neighbor

 while Willie romped and played a game of tag with

his squirrel buddies.

I walked around checking to see what might be peeking up 

out of the ground and 

found that overnight the azaleas have begun to flower.

It really was a perfect day!

   

Today a cold spring rain has come to visit.   

Oh yes, I am ready to play outside...

to dig, to trim, to plant;
I'll be patient...

 I won't complain.

  

With April rains most assuredly there

 will be blooms.

And, for now
I will be content with

 umbrellas

and garden dreams.