Happy flowers

I'm in a floral period, right now—can you tell? I haven't had a chance to get out on the trail lately, and it's killing me. It's so hot here, too, that it makes being outside just way too oppressive. And don't get me started on the bugs! I know—I'm a wuss.

I've also been terribly busy with work, taking care of a toddler, and getting ready for a move. That's why I haven't been posting a lot of pictures lately. I did happen to snap this one just recently on a walk through our apartment complex. There's this one secluded little courtyard, and someone has planted these in a large area in the front of their townhome. They just make me happy!

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crost the bar.

—Alfred Lord Tennyson

I graduated from a small Bible college in Birmingham, AL. My major was Pre-Seminary. I loved my education there, even though I didn't think I would. I kicked against the goads to avoid going to that school, but my heart was turned in the end. And, I've never regretted it! I learned so much—both in and out of the classroom. That was many years ago, now.

So, I'm grieving today (along with many, many others) over the death of our beloved English professor, who passed away suddenly last week. Our hearts are broken! But, we also know that he is rejoicing today—rejoicing to be in the arms of the Savior he so dearly loved. So, we have mixed emotions. We are so happy to know that he is no longer a part of this broken world, but we are sad to have to give him up for ourselves.

Dr. Greene was one of the kindest people I've known (he would laugh to know that I debated over saying "most kind," "kindest," or "most kindest"). He was truly kind . . . to everyone. He loved fun, music, literature, Jesus, and his students.

When I heard about his passing, I was shocked, emotional, and very sad. But, then I started celebrating his life and the fact that he was able to leave this world so peacefully, and wake up in the next. I also went through my Facebook profile, looking for anything he might have said to me in the prior months. There were a few things he said, but one that really means the most: "I'm very proud of you. . . ."

Dr. Greene, I've no doubt you are reveling at seeing your "Pilot face-to-face." We'll all miss you terribly, but can't wait to see you again once we have also "crost the bar."

Please keep the Greene family in your prayers as they grieve the loss of their husband and father.

Anyways . . .

A walk

I was recently at the Arboretum, snapping some family photos for some friends of mine, on a beautiful Lexington evening. It was humid, but the lighting was great, and we had fun. But, I have to be honest . . . I had to REALLY reign myself in from snapping photos of every botanical object we passed. Everything was gorgeous! I didn't realize that so much was still blooming there—guess I figured that since our garden was ravaged that nothing was blooming anywhere else. :o) But, I did quickly snap a picture of this beautiful succulent (not sure of the name), because it just inspired me. Then, on with snapping more family pictures. So, now the thought of all those beautiful plants and scenes are plaguing me, haunting my dreams, and I have to get back there really soon.

It bloomed!

We've had this guacamole hosta for about a year and a half. It was part of my birthday present way back when. And, it looked like none of our hostas were going to bloom this year. We expected that they wouldn't last year, just because they were brand new. But, we had hoped they would this year, and had given up hope that they would, until . . .

I glanced out of our slider the other day, just looking outside, and voila! There it was . . . blooming! Since just about everything else in our garden got eaten, it was exciting to see these guys thriving, but even better to see one pop into bloom!

Oak Leaves

Oh the humidity around here is making me cranky!! Summer is nice and all, but I REALLY enjoy Fall. Maybe I'll be able to be outside again in October. :o)

Impatiens

Impatien (impatiēns)

Did you know that these cute garden flowers got their name because the blooms would burst open when touched? 

Daisy, Daisy . . .

I love old-fashioned songs, and this picture put one in my head. Now, I can't get rid of it! Every time I look at this picture, I start singing the song.

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do,

I'm half crazy all for the love of you.

It won't be a stylish marriage -

I can't afford a carriage,

But you'd look sweet upon the seat

Of a bicycle built for two.

GME featured today on Salsa Pie!

My photography is being featured today on Salsa Pie. Head on over, check it out, and comment on what a great job Caroline does on Salsa Pie!

The strings of my heart

I love it when my husband sits down and plays his guitar. It's so nice to just listen and watch our dd dance around. Sometimes he'll just make up a beautiful song, and then never writes it down. I sure wish he would. :o) Hi, honey.

I'm being featured on I Heart Faces!

I couldn't believe it! I had to do a double-take! My photo (below) is being featured today on . . .

Hop on over to IHeartFaces.com to view this week's challenge: "Week 28 • I Heart My Country." Enter your own photos, and view the other participants' photos. There's so much talent in this vibrant community!

I took this photo several years ago on either the Pentwater Beach (Pentwater, MI), or the beach at Ludington State Park (Ludington, MI). The gulls were all lined up so perfectly, and although the day was overcast, the sky had a fun dull-blue hue. I love the red of the roof against the sky, too.

Fern

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."

—Aristotle

Teacup

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."—Henry James

More Purple Hydrangea

Happy Saturday, everyone!

I mentioned before that my neighbor was kind enough to allow me to photograph some of her garden, since ours is so lack-luster this year. These are some more of her gorgeous purple hydrangeas. I feel a bit like Anne Shirley when I'm enjoying flowers. I just want to say things like, "Drink them in, Diana!" and, "Can't you feel them blooming in your soul, Diana?"

Hosta

Holy cow! It's almost July! This year is flying by!

So, our hostas are about the ONLY thing thriving in our garden right now. This one is my favorite. It's called "guacamole." The color is really fun, and the leaves are nice and big. It had rained a bit before I took this picture. You can see some of it still on the leaves. I love the way the hosta's new leaves unfurl from the middle. It just doesn't seem like I can kill a hosta. Maybe that's why I like it so much!

Grass

This picture is so ironic to me! These grasses are planted en-mass in a teensy little garden outside our apartment. The ironic part is that the people who live above us throw all their nasty cigarette butts into this poor little garden, and have let their dogs . . . well, you know . . . in this garden and NOT picked it up. So sad! All that said, these hearty grasses are really pretty, so I thought I would help them look glorious through photography. I just got close up, and snapped the shot. So, if you see our neighbors, tell them to clean up their act! :o)

Purple Hydrangea

We have not had any luck with our garden this year. I just don't have a green thumb! All our petunias were eaten by chipmunks or rabbits, and our marigolds were probably eaten by the chipmunks. Those little stinkers!! Our hostas look great, and the begonias have been left alone. But, there's this huge gap between the begonias and hostas. Ugh!

But, our neighbor's garden looks gorgeous! I'm so jealous. She and her husband live across the courtyard from us, and have this beautifully lush garden. So, I had to just wander over there the other day and ask if I could snap some photos. She was so nice to let me! The photo above is a close-up of one of her beautiful purple hydrangeas. Gorgeous! I took this in the early evening, so the lighting was nice and soft.

Where has time gone?

I'm just now realizing that I haven't posted pics in a few days! Where has the time gone? We're in the midst of dealing with house shopping, so things have been a bit crazy. I'll be posting some more stuff very, very soon . . . possibly even today! Stay tuned.

What once was . . .

I'm sick this morning! Sick over what's happening in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico! No, I'm not going all political on you—I'm just sad. It's one of my favorite places on earth (not that I've explored much of the Earth), and now it's being destroyed. I almost can't watch the footage on TV. I get emotional. My heart breaks to see such beauty taken over by such ugliness. My heart breaks when I hear about all the wildlife that is trying to escape, that can't. My heart breaks when I watch MY beaches defaced. The Florabama coastline is my "other home." My heart is breaking this morning!

I pray and hope that one day, it will all be fresh again—untainted by this man-made disaster. Maybe I have lofty hopes, but I can't help but pray that I'll be able to look at it again one day, and see the landscape that I love . . .

Under the Umbrella

Nibblin' on sponge cake

Watchin' the sun bake

All of those tourists covered with oil

Strummin' my six-string

On my front porch swing

Smell those shrimp they're beginnin' to boil . . .

—from "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge, Week 24: "All About Babies"

I love babies! Who doesn't? Well, I know those kinds of people are out there, but I think there's something wrong with them.

I took this picture of my dd when we were on vacation to the Gulf of Mexico (pre-oil spill). She was 9-months-old at the time, as was so dang cute! She was just beginning to crawl. I sat her on this cushy chair in our condo, and she just started making the cutest little faces, so I snapped away!