Procrastinating

Fear of failure is a great road block. 

 Fear of ridicule is an even bigger hurdle. 

I more often than not find myself facing both. 

Failure...isn't so bad if you jump up, brush yourself off and get back on the horse that threw you.  Ridicule isn't so easy to overcome.  We all want to be liked.  We want to be appreciated for our talents and our efforts.  This fear is paralyzing.

When I am paralyzed, I find other things to do.  Not all are unproductive.  In other words
I am often the Queen of procrastination. 

I thought I would share a bit of what I found to do this week, instead...

Another closet cleaned.

School work up-to-date... almost.

Tested a Pinterest recipe and added my "best guacamole

in the world".

Photographed opened tulips

Harvested the last of the meyer lemons.

Photographed a lemon in my hand for
size comparison.

Baked a lemon and cream cake; had to begin using those lemons.

 More photos of tulips.

Have I ever mentioned, I love tulips?

Played around on Pinterest, and may have posted a few photos on 

instagram (livingbeeslife...just getting started).  

Picked up a book my daughter introduced to me.  I'm almost finished.  I

   love this book about tackling obstacles we allow to cloud our thoughts, and finding one's own unique creative voice.   Okay, it may also be about creating a home that is authentic to the way we live.  Work with me here please, I'm trying tie this into my subject; the interpretation of text is in the mind of the reader.    

On a positive writing note.... 

I did sign up for a writing webinar this past week.  I was so excited.  I downloaded the app needed, readied my notebook and pen, and prepped my husband to sign in for me.  I would be home from school just in time to slip behind the computer and participate.   I was feeling pretty pleased with myself.  This was a productive step in the right direction.  Then around three in the morning I woke with a "what were you thinking" moment.  I am in the central time zone, the webinar was to take place at noon eastern time.  There was no way I would be home.   There will be another....something ... sometime.

And, on a serious note...

A great big thanks to all who have encouraged me after my post on writing.  I honestly don't know where this desire, this love of words, will take me.  I ask God to lead me to a purpose and to quell my fears daily.  It is true, fear is probably one of my strongest enemies.  It is the reason I haven't shared my blog with many who are close to me.

You my friends lift me up; I am grateful,

and I am blessed.

Do you let fear get in your way of something important?
How do you get past it?
I would love to hear from you.

Wednesday's Quotation

  

"Much more surprising things can happen to anyone who, 

when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable, determinedly courageous one.

Two things cannot be in one place."

Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden

Spring Break

I'm on spring break this week.   The weather has been a bit fickled, as it often is here in the south.  We began with cool temperatures and rain.  A few days the sun brought warm, some might say hot, afternoons.  The kind of afternoons perfect for lounging outside with a glass of iced tea and a good book, or walking around checking on garden residents.

Here is a little of what I found.

Thanks to the late snow and cold temps, the hellebores

and Camillas are still showing off.

Despite a few (meyer) lemons left on the tree,

blooms have appeared awaiting the dance of the bumblebees assuring

next winters fruit.

The forsythia bloomed overnight, but looks as if her visit is to be brief.
She is not one to tarry once the sun turns on the heat.

A few hardy hyacinths soldier on, in spite of blooming during

the ice and snow.

The lilacs are ready to burst open, 

  

and the huechera  has new growth, handing me a bit of hope
the garden will survive in spite of last summer's neglect, and a winter with three dogs
running in and around doing what dogs do when let outside.

Today the rain and cool temperatures have returned, handing me a perfect afternoon
to settle in with a good book.

(I have books to talk about....)

How are you spending this first week of spring?

What's Blooming Today?

Gardening is a full-time job...hobby....pastime...whatever label you choose, it is a commitment.   Spring brings the most work, and the most enjoyment.   It is when we most enjoy last year's toils and prepare for the future.  Spring wakes exploding with color before summer transports us into the quiet lull of textural greens.

As spring approached this year I knew I would not be available to spend the time in the gardens.  They were going to need to survive, mostly on their own.  I promised, no, I vowed, I would not spend the weekends roaming the nurseries.   And, I came to terms with leaving the containers empty,  not adding new perennials to empty spots; I wouldn't be around to pamper, to enjoy.  Passing a nursery and not stopping was white knuckled, steering wheel gripping torture.

Okay, I agreed to possibly leaving the majority of the containers empty (It is all about where you place the accents).  Leaving the front unmaintained, would be screaming "no one is home".  Though we had an unseasonably cool spring, the pansies were desperate to be replaced,  and, the pots by the front entrance were begging for summer blooms.  Perhaps one quick trip to the nursery would be necessary.  I could stop in, grab a couple of geraniums, a couple of flats of impatiens,  and maybe something that would spill over the edges, just around the geraniums.  I  wouldn't even need a wagon.   Once among the growing things my will faltered, and, "gee, maybe I should throw another flat or two of impatiens onto that cart over there.  What do you think?"   

I know what you are thinking...

just another of my addictions... hopeless.

It dawned on me, while running among rows and rows and rows of annuals, and I mentioned this to someone trailing behind me as I flitted from one stand to another, how unhappy I would be when I returned home to find empty containers outside the back door.  I will not admit to when this thought wormed its way into my brain, but I might have heard it while slipping that extra flat (or two) of blooms on my cart.

I am usually discriminating when selecting my color combinations.  I like a lot of color in the front for curb appeal.  In the back gardens I use white annuals; it is refreshing against summer's green, and brightens shaded corners.  However, when you are wanting to slip a few extra plants in, it is best to go with one theme.  The extras go pretty much unnoticed.  

This year I went tropical.

  

Thanks to my dear friend and gardening mentor, who was kind enough to water while I was away,  and the unusual amount of rain this summer,

I returned to find everything happy and thriving.

I've not been home much, (having fun with my new baby boy and his mom and dad) but the gardens are surviving with only minimal attention.  I could tell you all the things going wrong (weeds, weeds, weeds); another story for another day.  

Here are a few things making me smile today. 

Sometimes I can't resist bringing a few friends inside.

It is a beautiful day, I have a book to read
 and I'm headed back out to the garden. 

Will you join me?  

I made tea...

(I apologize I pulled this and republished.

I'm learning to let go of somethings; there

was an error I couldn't leave.)

A Brand New Crayon Box

June has planted her feet solidly on the ground
here at Living Life.

Things are beginning to show up for this year's garden party.

I'm still feeling a bit behind, but I have a good idea of where it is headed.

We have been blessed with plenty of rain



followed by the warmth of the warm southern sun



bursting open summer's crayon box.



Opening a brand new box of crayons is always the best!

I hope June is coloring you with a smile.

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.

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. 

Reflections

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be 
The candle or the mirror that reflects it.” 

                                                                                        Edith Wharton

During winter I often stand in the sunroom looking out with camera at the ready to catch something new growing, in motion or just a tiny something I find amazing.  When I pull up my photographs I often find the above reflection, and I hit delete.

This morning I woke to the sound of rain and thunder.   I left everyone upstairs and eased downstair to write,  catch up and enjoy a few minutes of quiet time with my book.  I stepped out into the sunroom and saw the reflection of the fireplace in the window reminding me to stop, to breathe and take a few minutes to reflect a week past...

via

meeting a good friend for lunch,

(we stayed a bit closer to home)

  preparing for book group with my electrical power out; 

 enjoying a lively conversation both about our book and other subjects,

  looking out one afternoon to find

old friends 

 returning to the garden,

 how bringing home a simple bouquet made my heart smile,

 raindrops falling on the skylight giving me a morning of music,

of all that is sweet,

and all the sweet moments which lie ahead.

And now,  at the end of my reflection....I know I am truly blessed.

Have a wonderful week, and savor all that is good and beautiful.