Garden Blooms

They say pictures are worth a thousand words so I am going to let them speak for themselves. Any questions leave a comment - I will respond!

Bluebonnets Fill Yard

As you can see bluebonnets are up and filling our yard with beauty. I can't think of any time that our yard is more fun. The most interesting thing about the bluebonnets is that they cover the walking paths and the flower beds are pretty empty. I'm hoping that this year when they spread their seed it will fly into the flower beds and next year our walks will be open for walking once again.

I sat outside today and just absorbed God's creation. There really isn't anything like wildflowers and I'm learning to call weeds wildflowers! I've decided that I can pull, I can cut, I can fight them constantly and they will still come up and it's better to just enjoy their little flowers. A long time ago I ask a landscaper whether something was a weed - his response was do you like it and when I said yes, I do , he said it's not a weed. A weed is something growing in your yard that you don't like - even if others call it a rose! This was a very wise man.

Anyway, some of the pictures Iobviously aren't bluebonnets - some are my poinsettia which is smaller than the ones from the nursery, but I love it and the butterfly on it makes a beautiful picture. Anyway, I'm not going to label the pictures ( except for the ones following my thoughts) other than to say that they're all in my back yard and I wish each of you could come and sit for awhile. If you have a question please email me or leave a comment, otherwise, just enjoy. Now for these last two photos. We have since we moved into this house had what we call a summer cat! We have an outside cat that has been with us for 16 years, but she almost always shares the yard with a cat that just sees to stumble in and chooses to spend a season with us. This cute as a button yellow cat is this years cat. I have named him Buddy and he won't let us pet him yet, but he has definitely made our yard home. He's so cute I hope he will be with us longer than just the summer.Now for this crazy laying down tree! It is a papaya tree that came up on it's own last summer, along with about 50 other seedlings. I still have this one that blew over during Hurricane Ike and refused to stand back up. It's still growing beautifully and the fruit continues to get larger. Still not any ripe fruit, but surely sometime soon. I left two or three more trees stay and one is about 10 feet tall and covered with blooms so hopefully we will get some fruit. This one makes for an interesting picture and conversation piece whether we ever get edible fruit or not! Enjoy! I'll be back soon with more shots from the yard.

Continuation of the species - laying eggs!

Ready for the butters . . .

Plumeria - just before the blooms!

Missing Emily

I just looked back into earlier posts and saw a picture of my dear friend Emily. I've been very negligent about posting this summer, but I'm reminded with her picture as to why. Emily entered the hospital on May 9 and lost her long battle with breast cancer on June 26 - one day after her birthday. To say I miss her is an understatement. We walked together, we painted together, we shopped at Michael's and Hobby Lobby, we traveled together we were just about the same age and had things in common that no one could or would have ever believed and now there is a horrible void. All weekend with the hurricane I kept thinking of things I wanted to say to Emily. There are things I can only share with her and that only she could understand. I am thankful for the time I had her and I'm thankful for her son, daughter and sister who remain in my life but I miss her more than words can say. I miss talking to her on the phone, I miss her encouragement for my painting and I'm having a hard time even thinking about doing a marathon without her - she was my encourager there too! The picture is the next to the last 1/2 marathon we did together - this was at the end of the Nike 2007 race being congratulated by John Bingham. This was a really big deal for Emily to complete this race. We did one more in December - the Victory Junction 1/2 as balloon cuties (second picture). We're coming in to the finish line holding "Vic's" hooves. Don't ask about the funny hats! Oh my what wonderful memories!

Bev

After Ike

What a week, especially the weekend! A week ago it looked like Ike might head toward the Texas coast - today we are in recovery mode. My family and I were very blessed. We only lost power for a short period of time the night of the storm and for about twelve hours on Sunday. I don't know why we were so fortunate, but we're very thankful. Most all of our friends across the Houston area are without power still tonight. Another praise is incredible weather we are having during this clean up period. We are about 11 degrees below normal during the day and night and the humidity has left us for a few days. What a blessing for those who must sleep with the windows open and for those of who like to sleep with the windows open.

I lost a beloved rubber tree that was up above our second story and nearly as wide. The winds uprooted the tree and we have been trimming branches off ever since! We have stacks of potential rubber trees out by the curb, but they will be lost among the other many piles in the neighborhood. Usually when I trim it I try to either give away the trimmings but right now no ones wants to work in the yard after "working" in the yard!

It's heartbreaking to see the pictures of Galveston and Boliver. We have friends with homes at both places who have no idea what has happened at this point. It incredible what can change in nearly he blink of an eye. On the other hand look at the small plants in these planters - not a leaf was changed from before the storm! Makes no sense how somethings are blown apart and others left alone!

Keep the prayers coming for all of those across the country who have fallen victim to Ike. I will post more tomorrow.

Peace, Bev