Dahlia's on the Hutch

Looking like Spring but unmistakably Autumn because they look so good with the sunflowers gracing the table next to it.


And how could you mistake sunflowers for being anything other than Golden Autumn, right?

These flowers in my vegetable garden came a little late this year... but better late than never! And with these beautiful Indian Summer days, they're still very much being enjoyed.

A Bouquet just for Me.

From my garden.

Reaching for the Light.

Just as it's natural for these, so it is natural for us. I am reaching for light, not just the bright that streams through the open shades but for His Light as well. His Light that brings joy, peace, contentment, love. For in His Light is Life. There my soul finds rest.

I experience such joy in watching things grow. These little calendula seedlings are not even a week old and they are already this big! Each morning I turn them so that they are facing away from the light of the window and just a few hours later they are all reaching for it again, just bursting with new life.

New Green

"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."

~Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"

*****

Woke up to snow this morning, but the sun soon appeared and turned the white to shimmering droplets on new green in my garden. It's the first day of Spring tomorrow and I'm so happy!

Photo's of Yarrow, Bachelor Button, Maltese Cross,
Tulips, Snow in Summer, and Clustered Bellflower

Day 6 Blessings

1. The color purple of Asters blooming in my garden.


2. These words from His word this morning.

"But if one loves God truly [with effectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him]." 1 Corinthians 8:3 May this be so, not just for this month as I am printing out His blessings but for always in every area of my life.

3. An unexpected and pleasant visit from my sister this morning.

4. A sense of smell. ...Especially the heavenly scent of sweet peas blooming along the fence of my vegetable patch.

5. This little boy... need I say more?

6. And these two pairs of blue, blue eyes.

Beautiful Giants

Hollyhocks surprised me by growing out of my compost pile this summer!

They have given me such pleasure to look upon.

P.S. It's hubby's b-day today so we're going out tonight to celebrate ...yeah! :)

Backyard Bouquet's

scenes of SUMMER

-Yellow Canola Fields on the Prairies,

-Camping for a week... just me and my 3 boys,
-Towels on the line from fun at the pool,-Citronella candles in a row on our outdoor table for dinners cooked on the barbeque. -Allan's crocs on the lawn because he'd rather go barefoot.

Loving the lazy hazy days of it all.

Fresh after the Summer Rain

In my garden today:

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer... Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape lay as if

new creation in all the freshness of childhood.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Does anyone know what this yellow one is called? It goes to seed just like a dandelion but sure doesn't look like one and grows way taller. I've been treating it like a weed but it sure is pretty.

Enjoying summer,

Katrina

A Fistfull of Flowers

My "Snow in Summer" is in full bloom right now.

I am admiring and exclaiming and oohing and aahing over them as I am taking pictures.

Just like I always do when another flower blooms in my garden. I guess Jayden was noticing this because not long after he came in with these.

I asked him where he had picked them and he told me of a place along the driveway that was not part of my garden. Good... I thanked him, put them in this vase and took another picture.

Then Marcus came in with a bunch of weeds. I tucked them in with the flowers and taking this picture I exclaimed how beautiful it was and "Thank you for bringing me flowers, boys, they make me so happy!"
Then not much more than a few minutes later, Jayden came in with a huge grin and a fist full of these beauties! GULP! Those were from my garden and had just bloomed a couple of days before! I was NOT too impressed! Weeds and flowers from along my driveway are one thing... THIS was quite another. I have SO FEW of these daisies to begin with and after heaving a huge sigh, in which he looked at me sort of confused, I managed to smile and thank him while reminding him that I would rather he not pick the flowers from "mommy's garden".
I am ever thankful that I purchased this beautiful vase at the thrift store. It gives the flowers such a pretty place to show off! Much better than just a plain glass vase, I think.

Also thankful that I saved myself from getting angry with Jayden about the daisies. He really just wanted to please me because I said "flowers make me happy". I love him so much... he has such a sweet character.

I must admit I have failed in the past... but I am getting better... truly a work in progress every day.

Color

Thankful today for COLOR:

31. The unexpected YELLOW of this "Iris".

32. The brilliant BLUE/PURPLE of this "bachelor button".
33. The color of Strawberries as they turn from CHARTREUSE to GOLDEN ORANGE to ROSY RED,
34. And, of course, the color GREEN emerging from BROWN in the spring sunshine.

35. Our row of Potato plants, growing strong, planted just a few weeks ago by Jayden.

So eager for new baby potatoes. Yum, Yum.

"O Give Thanks...

...unto the Lord, for he is good..." Psalm 107:1

In my garden today:

21. Purple Alium? in spherical splendor.

22. "Jacob's Ladder" blooming in the rain.
In my home today:

23. Brothers playing together....
24. A dining room table...

25. and yummy goodness to set upon it (chicken fettuccine)...

26. surrounded by five chairs which seat us family as we dine together.

27. Carpenter husband home safely from an "out-of-town" job.

28. Allan's baby words when he sees the pretty necklace I'm wearing. "I smell it?" (I guess if it looks that good it should smell that good, too, right?)

29. This quiet, cold, rainy June day as a family...

30. and a warm home to enjoy each others company. (I actually had to have the fireplace going today... SO cozy and content am I).

There's Just No Resisting...

I can't seem to resist taking pictures of my garden at this time of year. Everything is so fresh and new.
Just look at this "bachelor button" bud! Gorgeous! The detail is amazing! Or how about this pink "Columbine"? Did you ever see anything so feminine and pretty?
This iris was a very unexpected surprise as I just divided and transplanted it over from my sisters garden in the fall. I thought it wouldn't bloom the first year!
And I can't remember the name of this beauty blooming on a couple of trees around my yard.
Did I mention I love spring?!!! I hope I am not boring you with all these flowers.
Just to keep things interesting... Here's a picture of my goofy little Marcus. I guess he was expecting the flash!