Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Last To Bloom

I look forward to seeing the Crape Myrtle we
planted in the front yard bloom.  It's smaller than
the other trees, but the color is gorgeous.

This is what God the Lord says.....He who created the heavens
and stretched them out.....I will take hold of your hand. 
~Holy Bible....ISAIAH 42:5-6

Have a beautiful Lord's day!  Dee Dee

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Because It Rains Daily

We've been blessed with daily rains, for most
of the summer.  Early spring, we threw out grass
seed, planted new shrubs and re-potted all of our
clay pots with new and interesting plants.  We hung
Mandevilla baskets....and fertilized existing shrubs.
Then, we set back and watched the miraculous 
showing of nature....proud of "the fruits of our labor."




As we grow in our capacities to discover the joys
that God has placed in our lives, life becomes a 
glorious experience of discovering His endless wonders.
~Whispers Of Blessing

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Pink Crape Myrtles

I took the photos early in the day....heavy rains
predicted for later in the afternoon would thin out
the Crape Myrtle clusters.  They are at their peak
in our garden this week, and couldn't be more beautiful.


I've  noticed many of these beautiful Crape Myrtle trees
all over our community.  It rains every day, or so it
seems, so everyone enjoys an abundance of blooming
trees and flowers.......and they bloom all summer long.

A close up allows one to see all the unusual details.
I love the tiny stamens....the pollen producing reproductive
organs of the flowers. Fascinating....don't you think
 and beautifully made.

Asking the Lord to shower you with
His blessings today!  Dee Dee

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Lavender Colored Crape Myrtles

Right on time.....nature is so incredibly amazing,
as evidenced by our blooming lavender 
Crape Myrtle trees. They bloom in June each year.
You can see in this photo,
 our trees are surrounded  by lush tropical plants 
and were it not for the trees
towering above them, 
we would not see these gorgeous
blooms.....  
You can see that I am so pleased with 
their presence in our garden, having splashed them
on the "Blog Header" today.


Each year I do a posting on each Crape Myrtle
in our garden.  We have four different trees to enjoy...each
a different color.
The close up here, allows an even deeper appreciation
for the Crape Myrtle.  The large clusters are just
so beautiful with variegated colors.

I never tire of thanking God, for the sometimes 
simple, and sometimes extraordinary 
pleasures of life.

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone.  Dee Dee

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Guest Room Ready

Photos of her great great grandchildren she'll find 
sitting on an armoire......


.....that holds beautiful Irish linen and cotton quilts,
both useful in colder climates.

This beautiful bowl and pitcher she'll  reflect
back on....popular in her generation.

She is worthy of beautiful Roses splashed about on 
her bedding. They are all cotton, by Laura Ashley.

Our guest of honor will have a reading lamp overhead and 
another soft light from a bedside table lamp.

Yes, my Mother arrives tomorrow for a visit.....
and we'll be making lasting sweet memories.

Have a blessed day!  Dee Dee

Friday, June 21, 2013

Seagulls At Sunset

We drove out to the island to watch
 the sun set around 8:00 pm.
 Walking along the beach we,
 of course, people watched. 
  We saw a young couple 
sharing their meal 
with hungry seagulls.
What began with one or two birds, 
soon became a whole family.

They ran out of food quickly to feed them, and still 
the noisy birds lingered overhead, crying out loudly for more.

Eventually they flew away, and the beach was calm,
just in time for a beautiful Florida sunset.

We all brought out our cameras and proceeded to 
record one of natures fantastic shows.

Nothing better than seeing a gorgeous sunset out
over the Gulf of Mexico.

Glad you stopped by...Happy Friday!  Dee Dee

Thursday, June 20, 2013

The Continuity Of Life

I've been at her home in early summer, 
when the Peonies are blooming.  
My first born daughter and I
 share a love for gardening and flowers. 

She called in the morning with
good birthday wishes. I could
find my bouquet of flowers in an 
email attachment she had said.
From her garden, and picked
by her slender and delicate hands, 
the Peonies were especially meaningful
to me.


I read her sweet message and 
sat staring 
at the image on my computer.

 I visualized my standing
at her kitchen sink, looking at 
the Peonies from her garden,
now beautifully displayed.

 I could see through the window,
 bright sunshine and trees casting
 shadows over her vast lawn.
I've walked there on soft
 green grasses, many times.

I thought of the
 continuity of life that is there.
It is where my children, 
my grandchildren and their children play,
 leaving foot prints 
over those of mine,
 unseen now,
yet forever present. 

Have a sweet ole' June day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Amazing Roses

I have to get out early of a morning to water our garden......
mid morning and the temp is already in the 90s, and with the humidity, 
it is almost unbearable.  I water all the baskets, pots, newly 
planted shrubs and especially our, new to the garden, multi-colored Roses.  

Everyone reacts the same when they see our new Rose....
the blooms grow in clusters and produce with an abundance
of new growth.   The Mister and I couldn't be more pleased. 

One stem fills a vase with some pretty remarkable beauty.
Can you imagine that? I'm glad you stopped by....

Have a sweet ole' summer day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Cottage Summer Images

Books to read.....

New picture frame with favorite colors ........

On bedside table with photo of the Mister......

I love it when a plan comes together......



New yellow throw and pillow 
 bringing  summer sunshine colors inside.

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

Monday, June 17, 2013

Midst The Sea Grapes

There's not too many places we can walk on 
Honeymoon Island, that brings us to an
oasis like grouping of palm trees and sea grapes.
This area is one of my favorites.....so little is left
due to erosion.  I keep my camera clicking off as
many photos as possible for memory sake.


There's a small clearing midst the palms and
sea grapes.....perfect spot to put our chairs
and have no need for an umbrella.  The only
sounds heard, are from the Gulf waves crashing to
 the shore and the calls of the seagulls.


This time of year the grapes are in abundance.
Not sure if there edible....perhaps the birds eat them.
In these photos you can see the palm trees are
still living, but seem to be struggling.  I hope they survive.

All That Is
All that is good, all that is true,
all that is beautiful, all that is
beneficent, be it great or small,
be it perfect or fragmentary,
natural as well as supernatural,
moral as well as material, comes
from God.  ~ John Newman

Have a wonderful day!  Dee Dee

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Pink Crape Myrtle Clusters

If you've followed my Blog through the years,
you might expect this time of year to see my
favorite and very beautiful pink Crape Myrtle's.
I'm never disappointed, for they produce great
gorgeous clusters......
The yellow shrubs are at their peak at the
same time.....and the combination is amazing.




The "pinks" are always the first Crape Myrtle plants
to bloom each year......we have three other trees
full of buds now, that will produce flowers any day.

I'm so glad you stopped by .....have a blessed Lord's day!  Dee Dee

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Cardinal Fledglings

They were so adorable.....
Once again we had young fledglings in our garden.
This time Cardinals.  We had seen the parents with
twigs in their mouths mid spring, obviously in the
nest building process.  How sweet to see their babies
in our garden, eating flowers from a palm pod.
The female was smaller than the male....
her coloring beautiful soft browns and subdued reds
dotted about her body.
The male was spectacular....his wings will grow
much longer eventually.  You can see the flower
in his beak in this photo.


Couldn't help making a collage of these wonderful,
feathered, God created wonders.....

Enjoying these simple pleasures of life!  Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge

Friday, June 14, 2013

Let The Sun Shine In......

This one small plant has inspired me to use
yellow in the living room, all summer long.
It's like bringing the sunshine inside.....

I love how the tiny blooms blend with the colors and
patterns in the pillows.


I made the pillows two summers ago......so
glad I stored them away to use  another day.



Into all our lives, in many simple, familiar, homely ways,
God infuses this element of joy from the surprises of life,
which unexpectedly brighten our days, and fill our eyes with light.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's been such a busy and productive week.  A good feeling to
accomplish things we've been putting off.

Have a sweet ole' day.....Dee Dee

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Lilies And Baby Roses

Three tiny Rose petals dropped to the table......

and one variegated fuchsia colored Rose bud caught the
eye of my camera.....

.......and another.....

Small lilies and Rose buds reflecting on a 
mirrored base, made a lovely composition.......


Ever notice how a simple vase of flowers
changes your mood?

They made me smile....sigh.  Dee Dee

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Summer Is Here With A Gusto!


Summer is here on the Gulf coast of Florida, and with a gusto!  

Most mornings are gorgeous, and we awaken to blue skies and bright sunshine.  
About mid day the temps climb into the high eighties....
perfect for swimming in the pool or
splashing in the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters. Either place, it is
lovely and relaxing.
Late afternoon the dark clouds gather and we are blessed
with refreshing summer rains.....that have caused our grasses
to grow and our flowers to bloom.

These are indeed days that the Lord hath made; let us rejoice
and be glad in it!  Psalm ll8

My gratitude continues to grow......Dee Dee
click on images to enlarge

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Coleus Love The Rain

My grandmother would be so proud of me.
She loved Coleus plants and I, adoring her,
wanted to walk in her footsteps.  She was
a gardener.  
Both her vegetable and flower gardens
thrived....a green thumb?  I think not.
  It was all
the hard work in caring for them that caused them
to grow and produce.
  Grandmother would wonder today
at how my Coleus are growing to such 
extraordinary size,
and I would tell her that I planted them in good 
Miracle Gro soil and watered them daily. 
 That is,
until the rainy season came to Florida and then
nature took care of them.

She would also wonder and be amazed that I could
send photos of my 
beautiful Coleus, via the Internet.....
for the whole world to see.


The Crape Myrtles are blooming now, as well and the blending
of colors are really quite remarkable.

Enjoying these very warm days of summer...how bout' you?  Dee Dee
click on photos to enlarge

Monday, June 10, 2013

Our Stroll On the Beach

It was 7:30 pm when we walked on the beach.
With camera in hand, I was looking for photo ops.
We encountered plenty of seagulls and this one
stood still long enough for me to capture a rather
nice image.  Love his reflection in the surf.

Found .....one interesting photo composition.....

Captured image of one lone umbrella of colors
blending nicely with the Gulf waters......

Sigh......a Florida sun setting.  A few more 
minutes left for fishing.

I will take special notice of the good things when they come.
I will fix my mind on what is pure and lovely and upright.....

Have a sweet ole' week, everyone......Dee Dee