Faith in the Flowers

Tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes!
~William Wordsworth

Tis' So Sweet

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made,
and forgot to put a soul into. ~Henry Beecher

Just A Little Bit of HOPE

Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers.
- R.G. Ingersoll

Don't Be in a Hurry

Flowers do not force their way with great strife.
Flowers open to perfection slowly in the sun....
Don't be in a hurry about spiritual matters.
Go step by step, and be very sure.

- White Eagle

Each Flower Blossoms

Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature.
- Gerard De Nerval

I Have Hope

“Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers.”
Robert Green Ingersoll

God's Flowers

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made,
and forgot to put a soul into.

-Henry Beecher

Beauty in the Journey

We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the beauty of the journey. Appreciation is a wonderful feeling, don't overlook it. Take time to stop and smell the flowers.

BTW: Pictures are of our place. Love it when our acre starts to flower and the colors burst foward. Thankful for The Papa that keeps the beauty alive.

Survival of Life's Storms

Today, I am a proud Nana sharing a poem written by my 13-year old granddaughter, Madison. She wrote it for a class at school. The poem connects life through the survival of a natural storm and that of the survival of cancer.

Flowers in a Summer Storm
by Madison Hopper

Flowers sway,
Side to side,
To and fro,
Gently with a summer breeze.

Flowers dance,
To the beat of the drums,
To the beat of the thunder.
The wind howls and hisses,
A storm is approaching.

Flowers fight,
The wind pushing them,
Pushing them to a breaking point.
A streak of lightning zips through the sky,
Striking a weeping willow.

Flowers become weak,
Unable to withstand the harsh conditions.
The wind laughs,
The storm fortifies.

Flowers grow feeble,
Not able to decide their own fate.
Some give and break,
Others are determined,
Yet are barely able to endure the storm.

Flowers survive,
Though frail.
The deadly storm passes,
Taking some,
Yet feeling defeated.

Flowers mend,
Growing stronger by the day.
Trying to heal, Beating the odds.
Returning to normal,
Yet being stronger,
And more beautiful with the experience.

Flowers sway,
Side to side,
To and fro,
Gently with a summer breeze.

Out with the Weeds

Did you know that you can have your cake (flowers) and eat them too? It's true. I was reading the California Country (a magazine we get for being Farm Bureau members), and was intrigued by an article on the beauty of using and eating flowers.

Although true that many flowers are edible, not all are palatable. Broccoli, cauliflower and artichokes are technically flowers that are eaten as vegetables. But I'm talking: pansies, violas, nasturtiums, roses, snapdragons, marigolds, to name a few. You know, it just may be time to till up that empty (weed) patch in your backyard and plant flowers you can eat. In fact, after I write this post, I may head out to see what yummies my husband is growing in our yard. Might be fixing him a dish of snaps - and not peas - tonight.

I must admit that it will take a spell to acquire a taste for a flower dish. Can't imagine putting a spot of crystallized snapdragons atop my salad or on my sorbet. And then I'm not in a hurry to accent my mousse with glazed mini roses. Or a sprinkling of marigold petals floating on my soup isn't appealing either. Now sugary pansies on cake may not be half bad.

As you can see, this is a topic that has captured my fancy. Did you know that the art of crystallizing flowers has been around for hundreds of years? It's just a dip in egg whites and coating in sugar and you have a edible treat. If you are interested in knowing more about these treats, please check out Katy Morse's book, Edible Flowers: A Kitchen Companion - or go to a web site specializing in crystallized treats, Sweetfields. I guarantee you will never look at flowers the same.

Well, must hush as I'm off to the garden in search of some dandy candy(ing) flowers.

Pleasant Homecoming

It seems that when one gets closer to home after being gone for some time, there is a certain excitement and anticipation that comes in the last few miles. We can hardly wait. We want to get back to the comfort of our four walls, our bed, our yard, our church, and the list goes on. We had a few surprises when we returned a few days ago. Our yard had burst into blossoms. What a joy to behold! However, with it comes the weeds and the snails. Ah, the vicious circle: Plant, Water, Tend, and Reap. But that's okay, the pleasantries outweigh all the labor. Guess pulling, hoeing, watering, etc., are things to do until we head for that final trip home. It's hard to imagine what beauty is in store in our heavenly home. Just think, we are getting closer - in fact, we may be only a few miles away.

Disclaimer:

I cannot take credit for our beautiful yard, except part of its design. This is one thing my husband loves doing and tends to with a passion, along with some moderation, lots of Roundup, drip irrigation and special sprinkler systems. He doesn't want anyone to touch it, and says when he can no longer take care of it, it is time to sell. I worry because an acre of bloom is a lot, but he is a tough-old-bird as many of you know.

PS: If you look on the fence in the picture with the tree roses, there is a blue jay. He has been with us since a baby. At first, he would holler from the roof, and we would talk back (See what retirement can do. We are now spending our time talking to a bird!!!???). Well, to go on with my story, this is his second season with us, and he follows my husband around the yard, hopping along beyond him jabbering (guess telling of all the things going on in his day). He's quite a character, and wouldn't you know it, he got in one of the pictures.