It was a gorgeous day today. I got to spend a few minutes outdoors admiring Nature. I promised myself not to put on my gloves today; just sit back and enjoy the beauties surrounding me. A few of my favorite plants are starting to bloom, including the following:
Stella D’Oro Daylily is not only one of my favorite Daylily, but it’s also a favorite to rabbits around here. It’s a lovely repeat bloomer with buttercup yellow flowers. This is the first of three plants to bloom.
My Snapdragons surprised me this year by coming back to life after being eaten last year (to the last stems) by a rabbit and being stored in the garden shed without a drop of water for months. They are healthy and thriving and make lovely bouquets. They come in a variety of colors, some are intensely colored and others bi-color blends. Snapdragons look lovely when used as front borders and propagate by seeds as they often self-seed. This particular plants are not very drought tolerant; however, the Summer Snapdragons are.
The Red Riding Hood Beardtongue (Penstemon ‘Red Riding Hood’) is the latest addition to my drought tolerant plants. It is a gorgeous plant with an abundance of tube-shaped flowers on long stems. Ever since I planted it, it has attracted a good number of hummingbirds and butterflies.
A couple of months ago, my husband and I watched Initial D, the film adaptation of the Japanese Initial D manga and anime series. We really enjoyed it as it was both entertaining and educational. Initial D tells the story of a young tofu delivery boy who fell in love with a girl, got his heart-broken and became a drift-racing legend.
Itsuki Tachibana, after seeing Natsuki Mogi, Takumi Fujiwara’s girlfriend, leaving a love hotel with an older man, decided to inform his friend Takumi who didn’t take the information well. He insulted his friend and almost beat him up for ‘disrespecting his girlfriend.’ Had I been in his shoes, I am pretty sure I would have acted the same. How could he fathom the idea that his girlfriend was an escort girl, telling him she was going out of town just to find out that she was around this whole time? He eventually sees Natsuki with an older man, which confirms Itsuki’s claim.
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” – Proverbs 27:6 (KJV)
Image Source: DailyLifeVerse.com
Yes, faithful are the wounds of a friends. Itsuki knew that telling his friend about what he saw would hurt him deeply and he also knew that it was the right thing to do. As much as Takumi was hurt, coming face to face with the truth, made him realize that his friend had his interest at heart and was just trying to save him from more heartache down the road. Itsuki earned his friend’s respect and their relationship was strengthened in the process.
Some of us have been in a situation where we thought using flattering words was the only way to win a friendship or to get out of an uncomfortable situation. We smile with people even though we are so sick of their sight. We pretend to like someone just because they are popular and being with them means having a free pass to many events. When asked by your friend if her makeup looks right, you quickly say yes, when you know it’s really bad. I know they are people out there who hate rejection and are only happy when others flatter and make them feel special. Part of it has to do with their upbringing (when parents allow their children to do whatever they want without consequences or for fear of their children resenting them). Such people should be avoided because they are a pain to be around and they don’t care about what we have to say.
We need to be around people who can build us up and whom we can help build up too. Let’s not settle to be someone’s puppet even if we are getting something out of it. We are not helping each other by lying to one another and we are not helping ourselves by concealing the truth.
For an in-depth explanation of this scripture, visit LetGodBeTrue.com
It’s been four days since the winds started, with a little rainfall on Sunday night.
This morning I suited up and went to the backyard to make sure nothing was broken and that nothing big landed into our property (like the huge cardboard box which I found on Saturday morning nicely tucked beneath my Texas Sage shrub). I was pleasantly surprised once I stepped out. It wasn’t as cold, the winds were light and the air was fresh (I have always loved the smell of clean dirt after the rain). As I walked all the way to the backyard and back to the front yard, I saw the beautiful Red and Yellow Freesia below. Such a beautiful scented flower.
Red & Yellow Freesia.
In the garden today, I noticed something feeding on my Gaura Lindheimeri (Wand flower).
As I took a closer look, I realized it was a large caterpillar with a green head and orange spike on its tail. Mostly green with some black and tiny yellow spots. My first reaction was to jump as I freaked out (I am not fond of caterpillars and everything that looks and acts like one, even if it’s not one). My husband and the kids came out to check it out and after noticing a few birds around it, my husband relocated it on a branch of a shrub (Photinia Fraseri). Later in life, these Caterpillars turn into Hummingbird Moths.
After all the fun with the caterpillar, I deadheaded some roses. One of these days, when I won’t be as busy, I will blend a Potpourri mixture by drying out my rose heads and adding some scented oils.
Deadhead Roses.
I hope you are all in good Spirits and finding time to get out and smell the Roses despite the unstable weather.
“There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.” – Gandhi
This morning I learning of the death of my dear and beloved friend, Stéphane Yves-Alexandre, gone to never return. Gone to the land of immortals, free of pain and prejudices. Your journey has just begun.
Stéphane Yves-Alexandre was an amazing person. He was a good friend to me and he reached out so many times when the World seemed not to pay attention and I thanked him, though I’m not sure I thanked him enough. I Love You, Alex. I will not speak of you in the past because you are ever so present in my heart. You mean so much more and nothing will ever fill the gap.
I join my voice with Angels and a million others to pray for the peaceful rest of your Soul. Thank you for sparing a few minutes of your time to talk to me a couple of months ago. You are a beautiful person, a kindhearted man and we will all miss you. It was a pleasure knowing you and an honor walking the Earth with you. I am praying for the loved ones you left behind, that they may find peace, comfort and strength in the Words of our Almighty God, to deal with challenges ahead.
“Nothing is really lost in the World; everything is preserved.” ― Joan Ambu
“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” ― 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
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For the past six years we have used our garage as storage for things we didn’t need in the house. It seems that for every item we’ve given away, we’ve somehow receive twice as much. This afternoon, we started re-organizing the garage, moving things around, sorting others in different boxes (those we are keeping, the giveaways and those we are simply getting rid of). I am always excited when we clean up because I know for sure that I will find items to donate to others in needs. I have learned never to hold on to things which no longer serve my needs and when it comes to donating I do it with love and never expecting anything in return, not even a simple thank you. My only reward is knowing that someone, hopefully, will put whatever they receive to good use.
While outdoors gardening, setting up the new planter and deadheading my roses, I found interesting bugs.
Goldenrod Crab Spider.
I spotted the Goldenrod Crab Spider above on the Judy Garland Rose pictured. It dropped off a flower petal when I got too close and landed on a stepping stone. Younger females especially tend to change color from white to yellow depending on their targeted flower (to blend in appropriately or become nearly invisible).
Half-Wing Moth resting on the Fence.Ladybug on Rose Leaf.Ladybug Larvae on Rose.Bee Pollinating.
Wishing you a good night and a happy, fun-filled weekend.
By JM Perez
