Exploding!

below in the dark damp earth they wait

until the moment when they must

burst forth

they struggle

they persevere

exploding through the surface

they seek light

the sun touches them

they bask in the warm rays

they shine

"The sudden appearance of mushrooms after a summer rain

is one of the more impressive spectacles of the plant world."

John Tyler Bonner

Sunday Sundries - Edition 21

two grandsons + me + three cameras = photo scavenger hunt

 

 

Two of my grandsons (the seven year old twins) spent the week with us while their mom and older brother went to church camp and dad worked. I tried to come up with a few fun things to do while they were here. I know they both like to take pictures so I decided to put together a Photo Scavenger Hunt. I compiled a list of 20 items we could look for.  We each took turns closing our eyes and pointing to the list to see what we were photographing next. I'll just show you a few examples of how we interpreted the things on the list. I think they were both very creative.

 

 

flowers

 

white rock

tire

green

water reflection - Drew captured his brother's reflection and Josh captured a granddaddy long-legs. It's in the upper right corner.

feet

 

 

something blue

 

Together we took a total of 251 pictures and had the best time. If you have children or grandchildren this is a great summer activity!



Friday Finds & Randomness

 

 

Bella Grace

Life's a Beautiful Adventure

 

Those are the words on the front cover of this new and beautiful publication from Stampington & Company. Inside the covers there are narratives and photographs that share a love of simple things and slow living. I've only read the first four articles. I'm savoring it; making it last for weeks. That's not easy either, because I just want to sit down and devour it! It's not just articles either, there are places for you to list your gratitudes or write your thoughts. The editor, Christen Olivarez writes,

 

"It is meant to be read over and over again. It is meant to inspire you to see the beauty and the magic that surround you, no matter where you are. It is meant to be written in and dog-eared. It is meant to accompany you on this beautiful adventure that is life."

 

Is it what I expected when I preordered the first issue?  Yes, it is much more than I expected. I thought at first it was a little pricey, but with about 160 pages of inspiration on wonderful paper, it's well worth the price. I will read it over and over again.

 

 

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.

 

 

 

Now, a few of my random thoughts and photographs...

 

 

#1

I've been looking for some Queen Anne's Lace to take pictures of. Around here I had trouble finding any where it was safe to pull over and take a few pictures. I did stop one place and try to pull up some to take home, but on my, these beautiful flowers have deep roots. Couldn't pull it up and couldn't break it off. Finally, I found some when I visited my daughter recently. It grows along the road leading to her home. I just love the intricate patterns and textures of these lovely flowers that remind me of fireworks exploding.

 

 

 

#2

Do you remember the first movie you ever went to? I do, way back in 1970!  Growing up we didn't go to the movies. I had to wait until my "date" took me; my date who is now Mr. H. We went to see "Love Story" staring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw. You talk about crying buckets on your boyfriend's shoulder!  Good way to get his arm around you, you know! 

 

 

#3

I can't decide. Do I like the windows best are the reflections?  I'm thinking the reflections!

 

 

 

 

#4

You never know what's you'll find when you walk down an alley. I wonder who took the time to create this little oasis between a building and a parking lot. And, don't you just love that window on the wall!

 

 

#5

I also found this in that alleyway, propped on a small ledge. It used to hang. I wonder if it was the top of a wind chime. Whatever it was, someone didn't want to just discard it, they placed it for others to see.

That's it for today!

Enjoy your weekend!

Not My Flowers!

 

 

I've enjoyed seeing so many pictures of flowers this summer through the blogs I follow and through Flickr. I have to admit though, that other than a few Lantana plants and a few potted annuals, I don't have flowers blooming in my yard.  I know, that's awful, but I just don't like the heat and humidity of summer. Therefore, I don't want to work in the garden to keep it nice. Instead I have three shade gardens full of Hostas, Ferns, and Azaleas that require very little care. A tiny bit of weeding, fertilizing three times a season, and that's it!  That's not to say I don't love flowers because I do. I just love everyone else's!

 

 

 

So, when I have a hankering to photography flowers, I'm off to my favorite botanical garden. My destination this day was Gertrude Remmel Butler's Gazebo Garden. The garden was breathtaking...lush green from all the recent rains and filled with touches of color.

 

 

I won't bore you with words;

just a few quotes.

Enjoy!

"Tis my faith that every flower

enjoys the air it breathes!"

~ William Wordsworth

"Just living is not enough.

One must have sunshine,

freedom,

and a little flower."

~ Hans Christian Anderson

"Consider the lilies of the field how they grow;

they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you that

even Solomon in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these." 

~ Matthew 6:28-29

Kathleen Kelly:   "I love daisies."

Joe Fox:  "You told me."

Kathleen Kelly:  "They're so friendly. Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?"

~ from You've Got Mail

Have a bright and happy day!

Sunday Sundries - Edition 20

 

For one minute just

walk outside,

stand there

in silence,

look up at the sky

and contemplate

how amazing life is!

           ~ author unknown

 

 

 



Warm And Comforting...

 

"It is the color closest to light. In its utmost purity it always implies

the nature of brightness and has a cheerful, serene, gently

stimulating character. Hence, experience teaches us that yellow makes

a thoroughly warm and comforting impression."

- Johann Wolfgang Geothe

 

 

Sunday Sundries - Edition 19

 

 

It's not that easy being green;
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves.
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold-
or something much more colorful like that.

 

It's not easy being green.
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.

And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're not standing

out like flashy sparkles in the water or stars in the sky.

 

But green's the color of Spring.
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean,

Or important like a mountain, or tall like a tree.

 

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder?

Why Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!
And I think it's what I want to be.

Written by Joseph Guilherme Raposo

Sung by Kermit The Frog

 

Friday Finds & Randomness

 

 

I found something really exciting this week. Well, I didn't really find them, but I found out about them.  My favorite park in the whole of central Arkansas is Wildwood Park for The Arts. Their website defines the park's vision "to provide opportunities for lifelong learning, engage the imagination and celebrate the human spirit through encounters with nature and a full spectrum of the arts: visual, performing, literary, horticultural, culinary and more."  The horticultural vision is what draws me. Wildwood contains Central Arkansas’ largest botanical gardens.  That's where I was and that's a little bit about it, now, I'll share what I found.  For the longest time only one swan has made the park its home and Buster is her name. After they named Buster, they found that Buster is actually a "she" so they're working on a new name for her.  Anyway, I was thrilled when I walked up to the lake and saw two more swans. One of the park workers said they had arrived this past weekend. They've named them Elizabeth and Alexander, quite proper names for such elegant creatures. I really hope they come up with an elegant name for Buster!  I also really hope these swans stay around. They seem to be a couple and since July is their mating month...maybe there'll be little ones the next time I visit the park.

Linking with Kim's Friday Finds.

 

 

Randomness

 

#1

Have you ever seen a Bottle Brush Buckeye shrub? Me neither!  Don't they have the prettiest most unusual flowers! Those flowers are called panicles. I had to look that word up. It means "any loose, diversely branching flower cluster." The shrub has white panicles in summer and yellow panicles in fall. Each panicle is about 4 inches wide and a foot long.  I guess I'll be making another trip to the garden to see the fall panicles. (I just like throwing that word in!)

#2

This guy was just too busy satisfying his sweet tooth to notice me and my camera.  I loved these unusual flowers. Anyone know what they are?

 

#3

Another pretty flower from Wildwood gardens. This is Sweet Azalea. Sweet?  Oh, yes!  Have you ever smelled honeysuckle?  This azalea smells just like that and it even resembles honeysuckle blooms!  Amazing smell!
 

 

 

#4

Enough from Wildwood Garden today; on to other randomness. This is my new favorite salad; baby spinach leaves, walnuts, and Craisins drizzled with Raspberry Hazelnut Vinaigrette Dressing. I also like to use Blueberry Craisins and almonds for a different flavor.  Pretty yummy!

 

 

 

#5

And lastly, let's talk about the weather. This is July...this is Arkansas...this is the south and yet, this has been the best summer in a long time. As you probably know I DON'T LIKE SUMMER! My mom always told me not to use the word "hate" but I can't help it!  I HATE SUMMER! Summer heat makes me sick, literally! But, this summer the weather has been wonderful.  Take today for instance...in the 70's...no humidity...breeze blowing...YES...my kind of summer! A great time to rest in the hammock and flip through some good magazines!

 

 

 As a bonus, since it is The Fourth of July,

I'm including one more image

and wishing you all a happy 4th!