Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter


A crown of thorns lay on His head as His
sentence was carried out. 
 His hands and
feet were pierced with nails.

"Father forgive them."
"It is finished," 
he sighed in His anguish and pain.

Death could not hold our Savior.
He arose from the grave!

Jesus is Lord and King!
.....love and praise to Him we bring!

Grateful Easter reflections....Dee Dee

Friday, March 29, 2013

Good Friday Reflections

Most of the world doesn't even understand
the tremendous sacrifice that was made for
them on that Easter so long ago.......

Behold the Lamb of God!
He, who loved us enough to die
in our stead, so that we might be
reconciled to the Father.

Thankful reflections this holy day.  Dee Dee

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Healing Powers Of Chocolate

Chocolate is always a good idea,
but it was especially good today.  The 
"man of the house" needing a 
bit of cheering up...... I thought
of his "sweet tooth" and love 
for chocolate.

I had stopped at the drug store
to pick up prescriptions, and of
course the Easter candy aisle 
was doing a booming business. 
I knew the chocolate/pretzel bunny
would have more healing powers
than any of the prescribed medicines.

 I held it behind
my back, and leaned over to kiss
his fevered forehead. "I brought you
something."  Nothing could have 
made my heart any happier than 
 the smile on his weary face.
The chocolate had healing power
for him.....and for me too.

Have a blessed day.  Dee Dee

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

If Your Happy And You Know It.....

Don't you just wish that everyone
you come in contact with today,
had a heart so filled with joy......

....that it showed all over their face?
"If your happy and you know it,
let it show"......
God love you..... Dee Dee

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Talking To God


Been doing a lot of talking to God
lately.  Concern for a loved one,
will test our faith. I've always known that the
only way to have "peace that passes
all understanding" is to "let go and let God."

I'm thinking the  words to an old
hymn .....as though they were put there 
in my mind, by a kind and loving 
spiritual messenger. 

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know....He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because
He lives."

Trusting Him through it all....Dee Dee

Monday, March 25, 2013

Beatrix

I bought this beautiful journal
a couple of years ago.....it has
a place of honor on my bookshelf,
all year long.  On occasion I take
it out to browse over the genius
of Beatrix Potter.
Early spring, right around Easter....
the journal finds a place, 
in full view for everyone that
might stop by our cottage.

A life long Beatrix Potter fan.....
I find myself peeking into the 
Lake District world, where Ms Potter
found all the characters for her books
with the same delight but with
a grandmother's perspective.


 .....yes, the characters still come
to life, in my imagination.


Do yourself a favor and look
for Beatrix Potter A Journal, 
and spend a bit of time going through it
alone.  Then....best of all, find a child
to share each page with.

Have a blessed Easter week, everyone!  Dee Dee


Sunday, March 24, 2013

Spring Thoughts

Nothing could be finer than hanging the laundry in warm
March winds.....especially lovely wind coming from
across the Gulf Of Mexico.

Oh glorious spring, how we all welcome you.
  I for one feel my spirit rejuvenated ......It is 
Easter time,  and the flowers are blooming....

....and what child is not looking for
bunny burrows in the garden. 
 My grandchildren
 have found a bunny family 
beneath the hedges,
 in their garden. 
They scatter about small carrots,
hoping to entice them to come
above ground.
Early morning brings 
 brown bunnies scampering
about dew covered grasses.....


I wonder if they look for
the "White Rabbit".....
from Alice In Wonderland?
Perhaps....... I remember doing so
as a child, did you?

Have a blessed spring day, everyone.  Dee Dee



Friday, March 22, 2013

Think On This


As you look around at God's 
blessings in your life, close your
eyes and look inward as well.  God
has also provided you with an
abundance of grace and peace.
Grace that allows you to be who
you genuinely are and the peace of
knowing that who you are is just
fine with Him.
~Whispers Of Blessing

Have a beautiful day!  Dee Dee

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Tiny Roses

Visit my blog on any given day,
and most likely you will see
flowers.   




A quiet afternoon at the cottage......
and I find
sweetness wading stem deep in a 
crystal bowl of cool water.

I'm glad you stopped by......Dee Dee

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Guest Room Ready

When expecting guest, I
go into my decor mode, making
all the necessary arrangements
for their comfort.....such is the 
case today.

You can guess by the looks
of things, my more feminine
side has made the selections....

It's unusual, the bedside lamp....
and I love the soft light it creates
in the room.


I've had the bedding a while...
they're made with a lovely cotton
by Laura Ashley. Each time I bring
them out, I realize again that 
I am still fond of  the colors and pattern.
The linens I've selected are dotted 
blue and white.

Finished....


Day by day we're given not what
we want but what we need. 
Sometimes it is a feast and sometimes
swept crumbs, but by faith we believe
it is enough.~B Taylor

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

Monday, March 18, 2013

Nandina

They're back!  The Nandina
plants are blooming and just in
time for the Easter season.

The garden is 
 waking up a little bit
at a time.
I've taken photos of the
tiny budding clusters.....
and today I captured one of the
first blooms.....
We planted lots of Nandina 
 in our garden, nine years ago......  


and were pleasantly surprised 
when the mature plants began
producing large flowering clusters
in the spring.


In daily life we must see that it is 
not happiness that makes us grateful,
but gratefulness that makes us happy.

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone.  Dee Dee
Click on images to enlarge

Sunday, March 17, 2013

I've Been Thinking

It's "lemon bread"......and I thought it
a wonderful idea to share my afternoon tea,
and a few thoughts with everyone. 
We are such strange beings, 
women for a better clarification,
having all sorts of traditions and customs. 
I'm thinking of how our husbands
either adore us, or simply tolerate 
our more feminine ways. 
 They are rather good sports
when we ladies use candles, lace,
 pink and flowered dishes. 
Indeed they must wonder at how
many times we watch Pride and Prejudice
or read through a Jane Austen novel, 
again and again.

But, they manage quite nicely, or so it seems.
"More tea, and lemon bread darling?"

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

Saturday, March 16, 2013

More Yellow In The Garden

I've been visiting flower nurseries
this week, looking for climbing roses.
Thus far, I've been disappointed
in what I see and my search continues.
However, in my travels, I found a 
beautiful yellow Hibiscus plant.
It looks real nice in a large terracotta
 pot on wheels and I like that I can
easily transport it to other areas
of the garden.

We're still having cooler weather,
perfect for gardening.  All planting must
be completed before the summer heat
sneaks up on us.

I love how the yellow blends with 
the greens and yellows already 
in the garden......


Hibiscus will bloom all summer long.....

I have several other Hibiscus 
scattered about the garden....
 pink, red and tangerine colors....


Yellow is my spring choice
of color. Have you noticed?



I hope to fertilize all the flowering plants
and treat with a systemic to ward off pest,
on the weekend.  Hibiscus are loved by
a variety of critters.....aphids are more
common than others in my garden.

I'm glad you stopped by!

Sweet blessings for all....Dee Dee

Friday, March 15, 2013

A Cold Spring Snap


Nothing is finer than a shabby
white picket fence draped in
glorious fuchsia colored Bougainvillea.....
And, nothing is finer than walking
by that fence with a camera in my hand.

The skies were overcast with the 
promise of rain on this day and the wind had 
more than a chill about it. We were having
a cold spring snap!

I minded little the weather conditions,
thinking this place is my bit of heaven,
and how could anything else possibly
stimulate my senses in such a way
all at the same time.

The wind, blowing in random gusts
created white foamy caps on the choppy 
Gulf of Mexico waters.
 I noticed a familiar salt water fragrance and
in the trees overhead I heard palm fronds
whipping and slapping one another, as if
having some great dispute.


Spring awaiting summer.......

Have a beautiful spring day, everyone.  Dee Dee

Thursday, March 14, 2013

"Ahooey" "Gawsh"

The aroma of my Eight O'Clock coffee,
familiar and delicious, worked it's magic
this morning.  My first waking thoughts of the
day, were prompted by the character,
Walt Disney's "Goofy" ....on my coffee mug.

Flashback!
There was no mistaking Goofy's
unforgettable laugh.
My generation grew up on all that was
good, wholesome and magical about
Disney.  A favorite of mine, was
 this lovable guy ....Goofy had a sweet ole' heart 
and a determination to try dancing, swimming
and all kinds of sports. Not so good at any,
he laughed in spite of himself and so did we.

"Gawsh"....."Ahooey"....Dee Dee

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Bird Watching Again

Bird watching again, Florida style.
I like to catch the blooms when
they first open......on the 
White Bird of Paradise.

The bees were busy gathering 
the sweet nectar and paid no
attention to me and my camera.


Nature never ceases to amaze me.....

So pretty are the colors ....
greens white yellows.....
and a brilliant blue color right
in the middle of the blossom.

Lovin' spring....how 'bout you?  Dee Dee
Click on images to enlarge

Monday, March 11, 2013

White Orchid

I pushed my cart around the 
 nursery, looking for
something special.  I saw
plenty of bedding plants....
and potted flowers. 
The section displaying Orchids
impressed me the most.  Partial
to the white, I inspected them 
all.  Had they any buds left
unopened and were there any
new stems poking from beneath
the soil.
I selected a small 
white Orchid with a good deal
of promised longevity.


Water twice a week lightly,
the directions said....

The Orchid needs filtered light
and I had just the right location
for it.  Hmmm....or perhaps
closer to the window.

Ah yes....new visual interest
added to a comfortable sitting area.

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone.  Dee Dee

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Nature's Spring Magic

It's happening! The transformation
that is spring.


The Nandina plants, also know
as "heavenly bamboo"  are
producing bright red leaves,
matching the great hanging clusters of
red berries typical of the plant.

It is rather a curiosity to me
that the Nandina's
"changing of the leaves"
should happen in the spring.......


but, I am content with all the changes
in my garden.


Just as the red Camellia blooms
are no more, alas we have the
glorious red leaves of the Nandina
to gaze upon.

Have a blessed Lord's day everyone!  Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Planting Day

 Donned with my well-worn 
gardening gloves, I was ready
to get into the dirt!
The pot, already
prepared with potting soil and
peat moss, the planting would be 
easy today.
  The morning was made-to-order
for working in the garden. 
There was a coolness
to the air and just the right amount
of warming from the sun.
The happy faces of the Pansies
were staring up at me,
and I smiled right back at them.....
"You are welcomed here, little flowers."


Down to every detail, all went 
as expected.   The plants and colors
I had selected looked absolutely
perfect together.

The yellow and green Croton,
blending nicely
with the other tropical plants
in the garden, seemed to be
showing off.....just a little.


I could understand why it might......


Every little effort given to the garden,
somehow makes such a difference. 
One single pot of newly planted flowers,
got all of our attention today.

Blessings..... Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge