For being one of those individuals who are quick to comfort, nurture and help others get back on their feet, I realize today that I have been holding back on my own healing process; thus I have failed to embrace Happiness to its fullest. Like the saying goes, you keep doing the same old and you will keep getting the same old.
Image Source: Oprah.com
Today I Resolve to be Happy and I will be Happy.
Today I am breaking the bond and rejecting negative thoughts and people.
Every year, around this time of year, I pray and ask the Almighty God to give me the strength to do what I have to do for myself and Family as well as the strength to bless someone in need. This year my prayers went out to one of our neighbors, an elderly couple, who have so much on their shoulders at the moment.
On Thursday I finally rid my entire property of weeds, for the second time, following last month’s three-day rain storm. This morning we headed over to our neighbors and began cleaning their front yard with the same love and care we did ours. It felt good and we were grateful to be able to gift them part of our time for a task that would give them peace of mind and a beautiful yard until next Winter, when the weeds return.
Image Source: QuotesPictures.com
There are many ways to bless others:
Pray for someone
Visit and spend time with someone
Compliment and Express Gratitude
Volunteer your time to a meaningful task
Make time for your loved ones
Donate money to help a cause
Be a good example
Assist someone in need (make dinner, give a ride, babysit, tutor, etc)
Pay something forward and start a positive chain of action
Forgive
“When you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness… all the good things.” ― Maya Angelou
For two and a half years we had a couple of Potato Vine growing in the front yard, alongside the arches. The plants were thriving until early last year when they died. We had quite a rough Winter and they didn’t survive the repeated freezes. We dug them out last Summer and replaced them with climbing Roses.
Cecile Brunner Climbing Rose.
Cecile Brunner Climbing Rose (also know as The Sweetheart Rose and Climbing Mademoiselle Cécile Brünner Rose) were quite small when I purchased them and have doubled their size since then. I trained the main canes of my ‘John Cabot’ Rose to grow horizontally on a trellis to encourage the plant to put out more blooms and it is always full of flowers. I planted the Cecile Brunner Climbing Rosebushes on each side of a Vintage wrought Iron Arch set, a gorgeous decorative feature in my front yard, by the garden gate, leading to the backyard. These arches will support and showcase the plants.
Cecile Brunner Climbing Rose Flower.Cecile Brunner Climbing Rose Flower.Cecile Brunner Climbing Rose Flower.
During the coming days, I will begin training the Roses to grow horizontally on the arches, to create a beautiful and inviting gateway. The Rosebushes bloom profusely from mid-Spring until frost with fragrant light pink blossoms.
Click here, here or here to learn about Training Climbing Roses.
The Wind has calmed down, at least for today and we focused our energy on ridding the yard of weeds. We spent part of the afternoon in the backyard, finishing up some projects, starting new ones and tending to the plants. Our little helpers pitched in as much as they could, which was awesome.
I noticed a couple of flowering plants here and there including some California Poppies. The ones I received from a neighbor last year reseeded so much that I am finding them growing all over my property. I am not fond of having things popping all over the place, so I have been busy relocating most of them to create a neat garden. A few are blooming with orange and golden yellow flowers. I love their silky texture.
California Poppy Flower.California Poppy Flower.
While walking around in the yard, I spotted what seem to be either a young growing Almond tree or a young growing Apricot tree, still at its early stage of growth. In a few months, I will know for sure which tree it is since the sprouts of both are somewhat similar. I am guessing that the seeds were buried last year by Squirrels and now that they are sprouting the threat to their survival include rabbits and the same Squirrels, which may return to collect the seeds. We dug out the young plant, placed chicken wire at the base to protect the roots and we also enclosed the young plant with chicken wire to keep squirrels from getting to the plant.
Young Growing Tree.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see that a broken root from a Rosebush I relocated early this year has emerged from the dirt with healthy new growth. I simply pulled out the loose root and buried it in the dirt – it reminds me of hope, new beginnings and strengthens my belief in the idea that nothing is really lost in the World.
Rosebush started from Roots.
Unbeknownst to us, one of our wonderful neighbors has been sick. My husband and I decided to do something for them, which is to rid their entire front yard of weeds; a process we started late this afternoon. We are glad we can assist them in such a time of need and we wish them a speedy recovery as we miss seeing them around.
It’s been a week rich in emotions and today was a good day.
Windy days have returned in the High Desert and thankfully for us, we are done with our Spring cleanup.
This afternoon we accomplished so much in the backyard. We planted and transplanted a few plants. We started weeding all over again since more weeds are actively and rapidly growing from the last rainfall.
I was delighted on Friday morning as I captured the moon as it was still up in the clear blue sky.
Click here to learn more about this occurrence.
Moon in Daylight.
I am loving the beautiful sight of our High Desert Mountains. From my backyard these mountains are southeast of us as opposed to the snowy mountains which are southwest. The view is lovely whichever way you look.
High Desert Mountains.
The first Tree Rose in the backyard to bloom.
Busy Bee Pollinating.Tree Rose.
The Dwarf Cup Flower are starting to produce beautiful purple, cup-shaped flowers.
Dwarf Cup Flower (Nierembergia Caerulea ‘Purple Robe’).
Coleonema Pulchrum“Pink Breath of Heaven” bursting with beautiful tiny pale pink flowers and fragrant leaves.
Coleonema Pulchrum (Pink Breath of Heaven).
Three years ago I purchased a Saucer Magnolia tree from Lowe’s, which I found in the plants clearance area. It flowered the following year and hasn’t since then. On Friday we relocated it to the backyard and it’s leafing out. I am confident that it was the right move to help the plant thrive and I am looking forward to see some gorgeous blooms in the up coming days, hopefully.
We finally parted with the huge bare root Ocotillo we’ve had for three years. It never rooted.
By JM Perez
