Shift the Focus

As I sit in my living room still recovering from surgery I'm trying to squash my impatience and irritability! I'm not healing as fast as I want and I'm suffering from nerve endings that are awakening and debilitating fatigue. I know in order to overcome this impatience I need to shift my focus from negative thoughts to more positive ones. I need to think of things I'm grateful for. I know looking for good things, even in bad times, will keep me joyful! Here are just a few of those things:

letters, cards, emails, texts - from church friends,

family, and online friends near and far

good food - meals brought to our home

and prepared frozen meals

(you know, some of them aren't too bad!)

warm weather - beautiful days

that I've been able to sit outside,

breathe the fresh air, and

soak in a little sunshine

waterproof surgical tape - I don't know what

I'd do without my hot morning showers that

bring relief to aching muscles.

dissolving stitches - oh, yes!! no removal of stitches for me!

Tylenol - I've been able to control my

discomfort with Tylenol instead of continuing

stronger pain medication which makes me loopy.

blogging - with limited right arm movement I needed to find something relatively easy to satisfy my creative side which is rather bored right now! Voila! Blogging! I've been lax for several months with my blog, but this time of recover has brought back the joy of blogging!

prayers and thoughts - I know the power of prayer

and appreciate all that have been spoken for my healing.

flowers - I've enjoyed two beautiful bouquets which I've spent some time photographing. Jerry set up a table near a window and with the use of my tripod I can manage my bigger camera.

And, then there's you!

I'm so very grateful that you

continue to read my words

and leave such kind comments. 

I'm beginning this day with joy in my heart

for the blessings I have!

 When you shift your focus

from what is absent

to what is present,

from what is missing

to what has been given,

from what you are not

to who you are…

abundance is yours,

effortlessly.

~Jeff Foster

Happy First Day of Spring to you!!

The first day of spring has arrived in Arkansas with cool temperatures, cloudy skies, and brisk winds. Although today is the official first day of spring, flowers have been springing out for the last couple of weeks. We've had some wonderful warm days with sun shining on the blossoms of spring. How about taking a stroll around the yard with me? 

You'll see spring colors just as soon as we step out on the porch. My Forsythia bush blazes with yellow in front of my neighbor's Bradford Pear.

We'll head around the front of the house where you'll see my two Chinese Fringeflower bushes. My daughter bought me these several years ago and they are fascinating to watch in the spring. The blossoms begin as tiny, tight buds that slowly uncurl. My bushes have gotten huge. They're both about 10 feet tall now and loaded with blossoms!

Of course, it wouldn't be spring without weeds! The lower part of our property, which we call the pasture although it's not really a pasture, is full of weeds. It's such a beautiful sight in spring. I have to encourage Jerry not to mow too early so I can enjoy the colors of spring weeds. Among my favorites are the Creeping Buttercups (Renunculus repens) and Purple Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) which has the Greek translation "the devouring purple monster." Spring weeds may be a gardener's worst nightmare, but they do have good qualities. Purple Deadnettle is one of the first weeds to bloom in spring and are therefore a great source of nectar for bees. I can testify to that! These patches of weeds are buzzing with bees! Deadnettles are also a highly nutritious super food that are in the mint family. The leaves and the purple tops are edible and can be used in salads, soups, and smoothies.

If you'd like we can relax for a little while in my swing. There we can see the Phlox and Jonquils showing off their colors while dancing in the breeze. We can watch the birds flitting through the tree branches and finally landing on the feeders. Their spring songs are delightful!

I hope you've enjoyed our short walk and seeing spring in my yard.
I also hope you're enjoying your First Day of Spring!!

"Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

is heard in our land."

~ Song of Solomon 2:12

The Unexpected

Spring arrived unexpectedly this year. I kept waiting for more cold weather and even a little snow, but the signs were there and more winter wasn't going to happen. Reality set in when I spotted this beautiful little finch hopping around on the ground. It was a bittersweet sight. It was time to began looking for spring, even though I knew I would miss winter.

The sweet little bird wasn't the only sign of spring I saw. The dandelions are blooming! As you may have read in my last post, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The day before my surgery, which was last week, I took one last walk in the woods behind my house. The pathway from our property into the woods is rather steep and slippery, so I knew it would be a while before I could be in the woods again.

I didn't have to walk very far to know the spiders were out of hibernation. They must have awaken very hungry, because their webs were everywhere!! Ugh!! I hate spider webs! Yes, they are amazingly intricate and fascinating, but I hate to feel them on my skin!

It's also been warm and, of course, wet enough for the mushrooms to begin sprouting. This one and it's little baby were growing out of a dead tree trunk. Don't you think the little guy must feel loved and protected?

As I wandering further into the woods looking for more signs of spring I reached the sandy banks of the creek where tiny red maple blooms were scattered about. Red maples are one of the first trees to bloom as winter fades.

I had to be careful where I stepped or I might have stepped on the tiniest of spring wildflowers, Claytonia Verginica, commonly known as Spring Beauty of Fairy Spud. Each tiny little flower is only about 1/4" to 1/2". Their blooms hang down, but as they open they lift themselves to the sun. 

My last day to be out and about ended with a gorgeous, patriotic sunset!

"Can words describe the
fragrance of the very breath of spring?"
~ Neltje Blanchan

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Side Notes:

• I have added February's weekly photos to my 52 Weeks of Nature page.
• My surgery went well and I am slowly recuperating. I am cancer free! I am a SURVIVOR!