A Gift for You - A Flower and A Poem

 

THE red rose whispers of passion,
And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.

But I send you a cream-white rosebud
With a flush on its petal tips;
For the love that is purest and sweetest
Has a kiss of desire on the lips

by John Boyle O'Reilly

 

There is something about white flowers in the garden that sings to my heart.

They just shine in the early morning light and also at sunset.

Recently I just had to set up tea under an arbor of white roses in my garden.

How I would have loved you joining me there.

 

Happy Memorial Day for those in the USA.

Have a totally delightful week. 

 

 

Tea with my Niece

It was a long time passed due, but finally this week I had tea with my niece. I didn't really know Michele when she was little. Her mom was my half sister, but we didn't meet until Michele was in high school. DeeDee, Michele's mom and my sister, passed away in November 2020 of pancreatic cancer. Because we were in a pandemic there wasn't a memorial service and I hadn't been able to see Michele. My only connection with Michele was with an occasional text. Since she is a busy mom I didn't always hear back from her. I kept telling her we needed to meet near her house at Deepwood Estate for a hug and a cup of tea. Yes, keep pursuing these things that are important.

Finally this past Monday we were able to meet, share some hugs and some tears.

I had worried about her. Good news, she is doing great, which touched my heart and so good to hear, touch, and see.

We walked in the garden.

But mostly we sat right here under a big tree sharing stories, tears and tea.

I made chicken curry sandwiches, goat cheese and fig jam sandwiches, and little cakes with cherry jam. To that I added some macarons from Costco and made a nice oolong tea.

Someone walking by asked if we would like our picture taken. I am so glad she did that. Funny thing, but I never thought I looked like that side of the family and it was a shock when I shared this picture on Facebook and people started saying we looked like family. It seems at whatever age we are, we still learn new things about ourselves.

 Have you found the pandemic caused you to delay an important gathering? I hope you find solace in finally meeting with someone or someone(s) special for a hug and maybe even a tear. This one was so good for me. I think it was good for Michele too, as she wants to get together again. 

Happy weekend, dear friends!

A Gift for You - A Flower and A Poem

 

Primulas found this weekend at our local Rhododendron Gardens.

A simple poem today by Mary Oliver, but one to think about.

 

The Old Poets of China

Wherever I am, the world comes after me.

It offers me its busyness. It does not believe

that I do not want it. Now I understand

why the old poets of China went so far and high

into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist. 

And some days it feels like a good time to creep into the mist or maybe under a quilt and give yourself a little hug.
 

Have a good week, dear friends! 

I am off to give a hug to someone that needs it today.

Wisteria or Wistful Tears

When I was quite young I remember a trellis not far from where I was living. Under the wisteria covered trellis sat a two seater swing. Sitting face to face with a friend and smelling the blooming wisteria always comes to mind when I see this trellis of wisteria. So this year I decided I wanted to sit on that bench under the blooming wisteria. There has been three adventures to see the blooming wisteria and finally today there they were in all their glory.

From Wikipedia: source claims that the person who named Wisteria after Caspar Wistar was the Portuguese botanist and geologist José Francisco Correia da Serra, who lived in Philadelphia beginning in 1812, four years before his appointment as ambassador of Portugal to the United States. Correia became a close friend of Wistar, "took tea at his home daily, and named the vine 'Wisteria' to commemorate this friendship."

What a lovely way to commemorate a friendship! 

 Sharing the stories, own your story, tell it, keep hold of curiosity/learning, it keeps us young.

This story is a little one, but for me a fond memory.

I sometimes think of wisteria as "wistful tears" or "whispering tears". They drape down so gracefully and just touch my heart with their beautiful. 

Here is what I found just yesterday. But before I show you my final visit I must say the quick stop to see them, the third time in the past month. had an added treat. In the parking lot was a friend I don't see often, now wasn't that serendipitous? It was lovely to get an unexpected hug and short visit while taking pictures right here in the parking lot.

They aren't as showy as some varieties. This is a Japanese variety, my "live-in gardener" tells me. But I think they are lovely teardrops.

My traveling teacup posed under the arbor.

And finally I had to step under the dripping blossoms to surround myself with loveliness.

It's these little things in life that just make me smile.

What is making you smile, wiping tears away, today?

Have a terrific weekend, dear friends!

A Gift for You - A Flower and A Poem

 

 

A rose found once upon a time in the Washington, DC Botanical Gardens on a bright shiny day.

 

Bob Marley - I Can See Clearly Now

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day

Oh yes I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day

Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin' but blue skies

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day

The raindrops are going away, I just know they are. This is a bloom on my tree peony.

 

The lilacs are in full bloom and the sky is showing signs of blue.

I am trying to keep a positive outlook for I know there are blue skies coming behind the rain clouds.

When I stepped outdoors in my robe and slippers this morning I could feel it coming, bright sunshiny days! Now I am not complaining because I know we need the rain, but isn't it time for some of those days where we sip icy cold drinks, put on our flowy soft dresses, and raise our faces to gather in the warmth of the sun. 

Savor each day whether bright shiny or cloudy!

The Traveler

 

"A journey can become a sacred thing:
Make sure, before you go, To take the time
To bless your going forth, To free your heart of ballast
So that the compass of your soul might direct you toward
The territories of spirit, where you will discover
More of your hidden life, And the urgencies
That deserve to claim you.

May you travel safely, arrive refreshed,
And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched, and free
To balance the gift of days which call you."


John O'Donohue
<For the Traveler>

Thanks Rui from Grass People Tree for this quote. 

 Sometimes the road might be a bit rocky.

 Sometimes if you look in the distances you can walk together hand in hand.

And sometimes the road opens up before us and we can coast downhill for awhile.

The goal is within our eyes and we can see the beauty awaiting us.

Isn't life's journey interesting? We each travel a different road just as I have pictured. We have a unique story to tell. As I was thinking about this I also thought that sometimes we take a side road and find something we were not planning to find. I remember in high school wanting to go to apparel design school when I graduated, but I knew my family would not approve. I went the direction they would choose, found a husband and had two children. Years later as I was approaching 40 years old I evaluated where I was and what I wanted. I still wanted to go to design school. Finally I stepped forward and headed to design school and found a career I could have only dreamed of a few years earlier. It fed my soul.

Notice the path and follow the one that brings you JOY.

Happy weekend, dear ones!

 

A Gift for You - A Flower and A Poem

 Good Morning, dear Ones!

 The color in both of these flowers just touched my heart. Oh the joy of springtime and the return to colors that dance before us and touch our hearts. Each morning I yearn to be outdoors walking in the garden, discovering what is new. It touches my heart.

What Gorgeous Thing

I do not know what gorgeous thing

the bluebird keeps saying,

his voice easing out of his throat,

beak, body into the pink air

of the early morning. I like it

whatever it is. Sometimes

it seems the only thing in the world

that isn't without dark thoughts.

Sometimes it seems the only thing

in the world that is without

questions that can't and probably

never will be answered, the

only thing that is entirely content

with the pink, then clear white

morning and, gratefully, says so.

~Mary Oliver, Blue Horses poems

 

Take a step out your door in the early morning, savor the silence, and drink in the beauty of a new day. Have a terrific week!

Tulip Time

  “A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone.It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose.It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower.” 

~ Marianne Williamson

Walk with me through the tulips fields here in Oregon.

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival takes place every year, but I have only attended a couple times because there are usually crowds and long lines. With the pandemic they have organized it; so only a certain number are given tickets each hour. It was much better organized and I decided this is the year to go again.

They even had some delicious good carts.

My "live-in gardener" and I chose to have chopped salads that were absolutely yummy!

But now step in my shoes and let's just enjoy tulips!

 

Each row was stunning and often I would say "this is my favorite". In the end, they all were my favorites.

It was cloudy with the threat of rain. There were a few puddles to scamper around; but it didn't start pouring until we were in our car headed home.

Aren't the fields of colorful stripes gorgeous?

I loved them all.

 

And soon enough there will be roses.

Have a terrific weekend, dear friends!

A Gift for You - A Flower and A Poem

 

In Oregon we broke the April raindrop record. I find many raindrops in our garden each and every morning right now. This morning as I snapped these pictures there was a warmer breeze and it just made me smile. It gave me hope for some sunshiny days. The garden is lush from those raindrops and the roses will be blooming soon.

 

When I see the raindrops on the garden I just can't but sing this song. I have probably posted it before, but it is so joyful to be reminded of our "favorite things" and rain drops on my growing things in the garden is definitely one of them.

My Favorite Things

Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with strings...
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels,
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles,
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings...
These are a few of my favorite things.

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad...
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
Huuuum
...
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad...
I simply remember my favorite things
And then i don't feel so bad
So bad
So bad

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Rodgers Richard / Hammerstein Oscar 2nd

 The roses growing on our garden trellis will be the first to bloom. Can you see the buds? It is going to be spectacular. I will try to remember to post another picture when it is in full bloom.

Have a great week, dear friends.

Step outside your door and take in the nature around you.