5 Seconds...

Recently there has been an outpouring of personal tributes to "It will get Better”. After our family's loss, I wrote these words....

"Each of us will face life experiences that will test our will to the limits of personal endurance, to a place we'd rather not visit with everything emotionally imploding around us. Therein, we are overwhelmed and only seek relief. Some of us will build a facade to hide our sorrow while the pain festers and grows more intense. Most of us cringe at the very thought of past, present or the potential for future pain BUT please remember these words...

5 seconds, 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days, 5 weeks, 5 months, 5 years or more from now...you will have survived. Yes it was painful and upon reflection you will have learned more about your personal tenacity and your special place in this world but most of all you will be here with your family and friends.

So tell someone about your pain, let someone know, allow them to help until you can again hold your standard high. Always remember you matter and please believe… it will get better, take a breath...reach out...ask for help...and believe.

Take a moment to remember the worst moment of your life...who helped you? Have you felt the moral obligation to do the same for someone in your life? If the opportunity presents itself please help them find a way to wait that 5 minutes before they make choice that can't be undone; a choice that leaves those left behind searching for answers, battling lifelong grief and every minute for the rest of their lives attempting to redefine normal.

Pain is best defined by the owner...
Compassion is best defined by understanding...
Hope is best defined by example...
And it will get better…I promise!"

May I Introduce....

This is the newest addition to our little home...She sits near our Welcome sign on the front porch.

I have always loved lizards and we have a variety of these special little creatures who live in the Wood Ferns surrounding our front porch. On hot sultry Summer nights they come out to feast on all the little critters that are drawn to our porch light. This time of year they don't appear as often, perhaps they're preparing for Winter,

Upon researching the symbolism of the Lizard in Native American cultures I came upon this site.

This special creature's symbolism is ...•Lizard: Promotes dreaming, agility, and conservation.

I love these words as they are presented and now I better understand my affinity for Lizards!

Friends!

Friends, ah just the sound of this beautiful word as it rolls off the tip of the tongue ignites the smoldering embers of a part of life that is so, so important.

The literal definition is, "one attached to another by affection or esteem" there's more to the definition and it can be found here.

I have been blessed by having the opportunity over my lifetime to have incredibly wonderful friends. They each are unique in their beauty, talent, wisdom, thoughtfulness and patience. I remember my first friend in first grade and each and every one up to today, for that I am grateful.

In today's busy world, with all of life's responsibilities there isn't always time to see each other as often as we'd like but when we do get together it is a celebration of caring.

Stories to be told. Secrets to be shared. Hopes and dreams come alive. Recognition of the bond we share. Tears to be shed. Hugs to comfort. Laughter to be relished. Trust is the major component of these acutely special relationships and for all of this I am grateful!

May each of you who I love dearly (and you know who you are) please remember...I cherish you being a part of this lovely life because with every turn, every high point, every low point, through the dull times and especially the fun times...you've always come to share the moment with me and I love each of you for that gift.

Thank You, one and all!

More Fall Colors!

These little beauties have graced my gardens for several years. Actually they made an early entrance this year and of course I posted photos of them...but Fall is their season!

I pinch them back all Summer until late July...then I watch as they grow with wild abandon. They bloom as soon as the Fall temps start their downward spiral and will flourish until the first freeze.

After the first freeze the blooms take on a tan color...I wait for that cue and then I harvest the spent blooms to scatter them everywhere throughout the gardens. They lay dormant till late Spring and the cycle begins anew...their color is actually a periwinkle blue and the blooms measure 1/4 inch across but their impact is HUGE!

Hope you enjoy the photos!

Smoke Bush in the Fall!

This is my Smoke Bush. After our HARSH Summer temps, all of it's leaves were dried, hanging on by a thread and I feared for the well being of this gifted plant.

Two weeks ago I noticed tiny nubs starting to protrude from the branches and within a week and a half...there were leaves! The leaves are a deep maroon color and when the sunlight is upon them they are scarlet with green veining.

Fall also welcomes the tiny white to pale pink flowers that grow in clusters on this pretty specimen! Hope y'all like the photos!

Fall Flowers/Chrysanthemums and Asters!

Recently I splurged and bought some more Yellow Chrysanthemums and Purple Asters! Love 'em!







These little beauties will bloom through the Fall, they go dormant through Winter and come Spring if I'm VERY lucky they will provide more blooms. With the onset of Summer I pinch them back every few weeks, first to about 3 inches in height and with each successive pinching I'll increase the height by one inch. By July 1st I'll quit pinching them back and by Fall they will have grown to their full height, their mass is ten fold with countless blooms! These plants last for years and send out roots under the protective soil so when necessary they can be thinned out and the new baby plants will be placed throughout the gardens! Ahhhhh...more color to look forward to!

This is Red!

These are a lilly (I think)and they greeted me this morning. They are a much more vibrant red but my little camera just can't capture the color...but that's ok they are in the gardens and I'm lovin' them!