Good morning, dear friends.  We are a nation in mourning. Today, my thoughts are with the families whose lives have been forever changed by the death of their loved ones.  It is for them, Mike and I offer our prayers and our hopes that in time,  their terrible wounds may be filled with joyful memories only they hold.  And, the memory that their loved one was truly on a noble mission.

My thoughts are also with our troops who were wounded and are now in a hospital in Germany.  We pray for their speedy recovery.

In closing, I am not forgetting those facing hurricane Ida and those continuing to deal with COVID.  

 

 Know I wish you and yours a peaceful day

And. . .

May we all enjoy better days ahead.   

Stay well and safe!

 

Amour,

Sandra

 

 

photos: Pinterest

“Where there is no hope, it is incumbent on us to invent it.” ~ Albert Camus

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  I hope this finds you enjoying those you love, your sweet home and planning a peaceful day.  

Many years ago, I had the great pleasure of hearing Maya Angelou speak.  It was an experience I will never forget.  She was a wonderful speaker and an amazing lady who had endured much and left us with powerful words to ponder.  So, in lieu of the tumultuous week we have all endured, I thought I would share a few lines from one of her poems which is a favorite of mine ~ On the Pulse of Morning. The poem speaks to the heartache we, unfortunately, see in our world.  Ms. Angelou performed her poem at the presidential inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1993.  

In my opinion, Ms. Angelou was trying to inspire hope, respect for our fellow man and our planet, peace, and unity through her words.  I have not copied the entire poem but it is available here, should you want to read it in its entirety.

 

“On the Pulse of Morning,” by Maya Angelou

For this bright morning dawning for you. 
History, despite its wrenching pain
Cannot be unlived, but if faced
With courage, need not be lived again.

Lift up your eyes upon
This day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream. . . .

Here, on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister’s eyes, and into
Your brother’s face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope—
Good morning.

Dear friends, please join me in praying for a better week ahead.  And especially, offer a prayer for all those who are trying to flee a country of violence and oppression.  Those dealing with the aftermath of terrible storms, involved in fleeing from horrific fires, stricken by dreaded COVID, or all who are suffering in any way.  My heart hurts for everyone that finds themselves in such horrible situations.  I feel yours does too.

Therefore, until we meet again. . .

Know I appreciate your visit and I wish you and yours a lovely day.

And. . .

May peace and joy be yours. ~ Stay well!

 

“Where hope grows, miracles blossom.” ~ Elna Rae

 

Amour,

Sandra

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart.” ~ Robin Wall Kimmere

Good morning, sweet friends.  I do hope this finds you well and enjoying these fleeting days of summer.   And, just in case you have been busy attending to a multitude of things, I would like to share a bit of summer magic you may have missed.

“The keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Have you noticed many honey bees this summer?  We have seen very few.  There are many plants in our garden they have always visited and enjoyed in past summers, but not this year.  However, we have seen an abundance of bumblebees (large and small), but I do worry about the honey bees.  Where are they?  

“I’m ready to be inspired, she said & I said that’s not quite how it works, so instead we sat in the garden, breathing & watching the bees until she smiled quietly & said, I forget it’s that simple.” ~ unknown

“So many things become beautiful when you really look.” ~ Lauren Oliver

There really is beauty at every turn.  Huge spider webs are amazing.  Often, you will see them with their artist still at work in the center.  I am not a fan of spiders but I do admire their artistry.

“We have buried so much of the delicate magic of life.” ~ D. H. Lawrence

“When the spirit of nature touches us, our hearts turn into a butterfly!” ~ Mehmet Murat ildan

While, not intentionally, we may have “buried so much of the delicate magic of life.”  To me, I believe our hearts melt at the magnificence and beauty of nature.  Sometimes we (should) simply stand in awe at the sight of something we see unexpectedly.  Often, it is like it was just sent for us to see.  And, perhaps, it was.

“A red-winged blackbird quiescent as a flower until he’s riled up. . .”  ~ Kim Rodriques

“When nature made the bluebird she wished to propitiate both the sky and the earth, so she gave him the color of the one on his back and the hue of the other on his breast.” ~ John Burroughs

We had the wonderful privilege of enjoying these precious little birds at our home in Virginia.  It was a tremendous joy to see them bouncing through the sky, making their nests in the boxes Mike built and provided for them, and then feeding their young.  Anyone who has magic buried in their hearts will melt at the sight of a bluebird.

In closing, by ‘paying attention,’ have you recently noticed a beautiful and unexpected glimpse of beauty?

Dear friends, until we meet again.  I wish you and yours a beautiful day.

And. . .

May your week ahead be filled with kindness and unexpected glimpses of magic.

Stay Well and Thanks for Your visit!

 

“Each day provides its own gifts.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

Amour,

Sandra

 

 

 

Photos:  Tumblr, Pixabay

 

“In summer, the song sings itself.” ~ William Carlos Williams

 Good Sunday morning, sweet friends.  I do hope this finds you well and enjoying these summer days.  As always, they seem to pass all too quickly.  The ‘beauty of summer’ is something to treasure.  I always find that the lovely memories of its dazzling beauty helps to keep me warm on cold winter days.  

I am not one to wish these lovely days away.  Although many folks in parts of our country and around the world have and continue to endure many weather-related issues which they would be happy to wish away ~ and rightfully so.  However, I am still not ready to feel those chilly days or see upcoming holiday decorations in the stores. Therefore, I thought I might share a few reminders of this gorgeous season and perhaps give a gentle nudge toward enjoying these remaining days of summer.

 

“Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day ~ like writing a poem or saying a prayer.” ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh 

In the cool mist of a summer morning, it is an absolute delight to walk in the garden and collect a few flowers to enjoy inside. Flowers should always be gathered early in the morning or after the sun goes down in the evening.  This is because the stems are filled with water and the air is cooler.  Once in the house, they bring such joy and add so much to any room they are placed in. 

“I walk the world in wonder.” ~ Oscar Wilde

Ah diamonds, sparkling on the water.  One of my favorite sights and how special it is to enjoy such a wondrous vision early in the morning.  My mom always told me, “Such beauty is the work of the angels.”  I still believe her words. 

“There is a blessing in the air.” ~ William Wordsworth

“Stillness is the altar of the spirit.” ~ Paramahansa Yogananda

“New beauty meets us at every step in all our wanderings.” ~ John Muir

The words of John Muir are certainly true.  And, we must not miss all that summer has to offer.  The lovely season does move along.

Peaches and Cream Honeysuckle

“I sat me down to watch upon a bank With ivy canopied and interwove With flaunting honeysuckle.” ~ John Milto

“I would like to say to people, open your eyes and find beauty where you normally don’t expect it.” ~  Jean Paul Gaultier

Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed your visit and my gentle nudges to enjoy the remaining days of summer.  So, let’s take every moment possible and enjoy all the blooms, beauty, fragrance, and sweet times of summer.

Enjoy a picnic, complete with the sweetest fruit of summer ~ peaches.

Gather wildflowers.  Because as Roland R. Kemler tells us, After all,  “What a lonely place it would be to have a world without a wildflower!”

 Or, simply spend an evening gazing at the magnificent beauty of God’s brushstrokes.

 

Wishing you and yours a glorious day and week ahead.

And. . .

May joy and kind hearts be with you every step of your way.

 

 

“The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last forever. Even on the most beautiful days in the whole year ~ the days when summer is changing into autumn ~ the crickets spread the rumor of sadness and change.”
~ E.B. White

 

 

 

Amour,

Sandra

 

 

Images:  Michael S. Lambiotte, Tumblr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. ” ~ Eleonora Duse

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  I hope this finds you well and enjoying the beauty of these summer days.  

This post will be short and I will explain.  There was some confusion with my post last week, (Sunday, July 25) as it made its way into ‘blog land.’  Rather, I should say, “Not making its way.”  Most of my blogging friends did not receive the post until Monday mid-day.  Therefore, I decided to make today’s post short to see if all was well. Fingers crossed!

You may or may not enjoy the writings of Mary Oliver.  However, in my opinion, she often interjects her humor with sound advice.  Both of which I can often benefit from.  Therefore, I thought, perhaps, you may also.

“Upstream,” by Mary Oliver

“Come with me into the field of sunflowers is a better line than anything you will find here, and the sunflowers themselves far more wonderful than any words about them.” 

“I Worried,” by Mary Oliver

I worried a lot.  Will the garden grow, will the rivers flow in the right direction will the earth turn as it was taught, and if not how shall I correct it?

Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven, can I do better?

Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows can do it and I am, well, hopeless.

Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it, am I going to get rheumatism, lockjaw, dementia?

Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.  And gave it up.  And took my old body and went out into the morning, and sang.

“Evidence,” by Mary Oliver

“Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.”

 

 

Dear friends, I hope you found inspiration from the words of Mary Oliver.  Isn’t it true that words so often fail us when we try to describe something of beauty?  And haven’t we all worried unnecessarily?  Or, stood in a magical place and suddenly realized the amazing blessing to enjoy such a place.  Certainly, I have done all of these things.  

 

Please know, I wish you and yours a lovely and peaceful day.  

And. . .

In the week ahead, may you

“Pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it.” ~ Mary Oliver

Amour,

Sandra

 

 

Images:  via tumblr

“The sun will not rise or set without my notice, and thanks.” ~ Winslow Homer

Photo by, VonShawn

“Always take the time to be completely present, because it is perhaps the best and most joyous way to keep your mind sharp and your life bright.”  ~ Dr. Sanjay Gupta

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  I hope this finds you under blue skies and enjoying sweet moments with those you love. 

While I have been savoring my much-needed reprieve, I want you to know how much I have missed you.  Many of you I know personally and others are virtual.  But to me, I treasure you both.  Additionally, I want to thank those who have sent me personal messages expressing your sentiments and wishing me an enjoyable and peaceful time away from my blog.  Precious moments doing the things I enjoy. 

Rest and relaxation is a lovely gift, one should give themselves from time to time.  However, it inevitably seems to fall at the bottom of my list and it should not.   When we are rested and relaxed,  we notice and pay attention to the beauty that surrounds us.  Our garden, for example, has been especially lovely this year.  The sights, sounds, and scents are truly mesmerizing.  I might not have noticed the many small breathtaking details and intricacies if I were weary and not paying attention to my beautiful surroundings.  However, the garden has not been my only pleasure.  On the days when the weather was too warm to happily enjoy the garden, my stack of books, patiently waiting for me, provided marvelous enjoyment. 

Nonetheless, writing my blog is a spark of joy I have missed and I hope you have too.  My last post was May 22, 2021.  Goodness, time does move on. 

“Butterflies come to pretty flowers.” ~ Korean Proverb

Two of the sights I adore in our garden are the hydrangeas and the arbor.  Scampering up and over the arbor is ‘Peaches and Cream’ honeysuckle.  She is a charming and wonderfully fragrant addition to the garden and when she is in bloom (late June), she is exquisite.  Another sight I deem lovely is the hydrangeas.  I planted them about four or five years ago as an experiment to see how they would thrive in a pot.  As you can see, they have done well.  Their name is ‘Blue Danube.’ They are pink because I have not added soil acidifiers.  It is a risky endeavor to add soil acidifiers to potted hydrangeas.  From my reading, there is a fine line between adding too much or too little of this substance. Too much will kill them, too little does them no good.  Therefore, I chose to leave them alone and allow their color choice to be their own.  The important issue is, they are thriving with the help of their bi-annual feeding of fish emulsion and the great care Mike takes to pull them into the garage for the winter.  On warm days he will give them just a wee drink to prevent their roots from drying out.

Please step into the garden.  Rex would like to meet you.   Rex, our unique Cardinal who is named after one of Mike’s golfing buddies,  is a beautiful and always welcomed sight.  Hearing his call is music to our ears.  Every morning when Mike ventures out to feed him and his friends, he appears and begins his flying about routine.  Arriving close by the feeder then initiating his conversation with Mike.  Boldly, he flies closer and closer, waiting for Mike to stand back so he can land on the feeder.  And, of course, the feeder belongs solely to him.  Should you wonder what is hanging above Rex’s head, it is a sock feeder filled with thistle feed for the finches.  They find them an irresistible delicacy.

“Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you.” ~ Louis L’Amour

Reading is pure joy for me.  It is a marvelous thing to read a book that sends me off in other directions.  Pointing the way toward people, places, and things I want to know more about.   What I am really drawn to are books by authors I almost feel as though I know personally, and especially books that have a connection to places I love.  However, I imagine I am no different from anyone who enjoys reading ~ we all have preferences. 

I absolutely adore all things, French.  Therefore, I am drawn to learning about this country and its people, which seems to have captured my heart for as many years as I can remember.  While all of the following books have in some way a connection to France, to me, they are books that bring forth to the reader the great testament of the human spirit in many different ways.    Therefore, I am sharing a few with the thought perhaps, you may enjoy them too.

“Lisette’s List,” by Susan Vreeland was for me, not only a lovely read but an informative book as well.  It is a story of a young woman and her husband  (André) who move from Paris to a small village in Provence to care for her husband’s grandfather.  Upon their arrival, they discover that the grandfather (a frame maker) had befriended the great artists, Pissarro and Cézanne, and had traded his frames for their paintings.  As World War II broke out,  André works to hide these paintings to keep them out of Nazi hands.

This book also discusses the ochre mines (located in this region of France) which  I found so interesting.  These beautiful pigments were mined, sold, and used to color their homes, both inside and out, as well as a multitude of other uses.  

“Saving Mona Lisa” was an amazing story of how a handful of people labored day and night to empty the Louvre of its paintings and ship them off to secure locations, safe from Nazi hands.  And, from these locations, paintings were often moved several times before returning home to the Louvre at the end of the war.  It is a  story of love, intense courage, dedication, and suspense.

I was drawn to this book because I had never read much about either artist, with regard to them personally.  In reading, I learned that Van Gogh was a gentle soul and in today’s world his mental health issues could have been easily treated.  Thus, allowing him to continue his work as an artist and live a far better life. The book also revealed that Gauguin’s nature was extremely competitive and in a far different way than Van Gogh, he dealt with mental health issues himself.  I found the book to be well written and at least I now know a little of the lives and personalities of both men. 

Do you ever re-read books?  I do.  And,  I never fail to be surprised as to what I missed on the first reading.  For instance,  In “My Life In France,” Julia Child refers to the small village of Mougins.  Mougins was and continues to be a famous haven for artists.  Among many of those famous artists, it was home to Roger Mühl. We fell in love with Mühl’s work several years ago and feel so grateful to own a few of his pieces, which we enjoy daily.  Mühl was best known for his light-drenched landscape paintings of the South of France.  The remarkable light in his paintings is what drew me to his work.  Photos do not begin to capture the light.  

“Village,” by Roger Mühl.  Painted, 2002.

Also, in this book, Child refers to her favorite restaurant in all of France which happens to be in Mougins.  The restaurant is Le Moulin de Mougins.  This restaurant remains a lovely attraction today, known for its outstanding food, service, and charm. 

There were many other notable ‘takeaways’ from my second reading.  Without a doubt, the most is realizing I did not remember reading about Mougins during my first reading. How could that possibly be?   Perhaps, I should read it a third time.   

“In cooking, as in all the arts, simplicity is the sign of perfection.” ~ Curnonsky

Many of you who know me, know how much I enjoy cooking.  I am quite at home in the kitchen and can putter about all day.  Cookbooks are my delightful friends, ~ old and new.  When I retired and had a little extra time, my love became more of a passion. I wanted to improve my skills, cook new things, and so I did.  And, with my love of France, of course, I ventured into French cooking, with Julia as my guide and Mike as my ever-willing taste tester.   Julia is all about classic French cooking.  According to Julia, this means, “Not trendy, souped-up fantasies, just something very good to eat. . . where the ingredients have been carefully selected and beautifully and knowingly prepared.”  During the past few years, I have mastered many of her wonderful recipes.  Actually, most are not difficult ~ simply time-consuming.   Plus, winter days in West Virginia allow for the necessary time and a brief summer respite does also. 

With our garden about to burst, I can’t help bringing out the cookbooks and begin creating something delicious.  Especially, since we have just relished a beautiful season of lettuces, green onions, and such.  Now, swiss chard is in abundance, peppers of all varieties abound,  and the plump, juicy, tomatoes are about to explode.  Oh,  I must not forget the herbs. Stands of sweet and lemon basil, a full patch of thyme, oregano, parsley, and tarragon about to leap from the pot.  And, there are others.  Mike’s vegetable garden is an irresistible delight, just waiting to be prepared into a tantalizing culinary feast.

“Every dreamer knows that it is entirely possible to be homesick for a place you’ve never been to, perhaps more homesick than for familiar ground.” ~Judith Thurman

Grand Caymen Island, B.W.I. ~ 1999

In closing, I will tell you I have also been doing quite a bit of dreaming.  My garden bench is a perfect spot for such pursuits.  Dreaming of places we have been and places we hope to go.  Possibly, you have been doing the same.

 

So, dear friends,  as this day ends and we begin a new week, let us wake up in the morning and see the beauty in the world

and in each other,

encourage others along their path, and count our blessings ~ we have so many.

 

Wishing you peace, love, and joy. 

And. . .

‘A Pleasurable State of Mind.’

 

Amour,

Sandra

 

 

“I’m into all that sappy stuff ~ a surprise picnic, nice dinner, or traveling. I’m kind of an old romantic.” ~ Will Estes

 

 

 

 

 

Images:  Michael S. Lambiotte, Tumblr, and Pinterest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ~ John Lubbock

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  Perhaps, you may have wondered what happened to me last week.  Well, the week was quite a blur, filled with life happenings. Writing a post was not at the top of my list.  And, I certainly did not want to post something that was not from my heart and, therefore, might not touch yours.  That said, I have decided to take a wee break from blog land.  A little time to simply ‘be.’  To watch the flowers unfold, and enjoy the sweetness and beauty of nature.  Something I feel we all need from time to time.

Additionally, in my resting time, I need to give some thought to a few changes I would like to make to the blog and some things I might want to do differently.  Always with the goal of keeping the blog reader worthy.   

Know I will miss you and your lovely comments, and I hope you will miss me,  too.  I will continue to read your blogs, as I enjoy them so much and they are always a bright spot in my day.  Do enjoy these remaining lovely spring days, days we have long waited for and the summer ones which are ahead.  Always take a moment to notice the beauty that surrounds you and the moments  “. . .when you realize the simple things are wonderful enough.”  See you soon!

“How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward. ~ Spanish Proverb

Amour,

Sandra

 

Photos:  Via Tumblr, quote in the last paragraph, Jill Badonskyxs

 

 

 

 

“A mother’s love how sweet the name!  What is a mother’s love?  A noble, pure, and tender flame extended from above.” ~ James Montgomery 

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  I hope this finds everyone well and enjoying this wonderful time of year.  Today, a most special day, of honoring and showering our mothers with love and gratitude.  Letting them know how dear and special they are.  To stop for a moment and reflect on all they have given us, sacrificed for us,  and their monumental efforts to make our lives better and richer.  And most of all, to be grateful for their love and the path/paths they have helped us walk.

“A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” ~ Princess Diana

 

Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, Grafton, West Virginia.

This lovely church, built in 1873, was the location of the first mother’s day service held in 1908.   It was established as the International Mother’s Day Shrine in 1962 and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1992.

Carnations are the flower symbolizing mother’s day.  During the first mother’s day service, in 1908, Ms. Jarvis handed out hundreds of white carnations to those in attendance.  The carnation was her mother’s favorite flower.  White carnations are traditional flowers to give or wear in remembrance of a mother who is no longer living. With pink representing gratitude and love and red signifying admiration and adoration.  

Dear friends, know I wish all of you who are mothers, or those who have been or are currently mothering others, a happy and beautiful day.    

And . . .

May God bless you and guide you in all that you do.

 

 

“A mother’s love endures through all.” ~ Washington Irving

 

Amour,

Sandra

 

 

 

Images:  “Times West Virginian” and Pinterest

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Blossom by blossom spring begins.” ~ Algernon Charles Swinburne

Tree Peony, Hanakisoi 

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  As I write this post (Saturday, May 1), we are under cloudless blue skies and much is happening at ‘Maison de Jardin.’  Therefore, I thought you may enjoy seeing a few of our treasures as they unfold.  Treasures I consider to be beautiful and I hope you will too.  Spring does hold such exquisite beauty. 

Tree Peony, Hanakisoi in our garden about to unfold.

I would like you to meet our tree peony, Hanakisoi.  Her name means ~ Floral Rivalry.  Tree peonies, unlike herbaceous peonies, have woody stems.  They will lose their foliage in the fall, but their woody stems remain.  Blooms will form in the spring from these tree-like branches.   Tree peonies are native to China and are prized for their large and prolific blooms.  These beauties are excellent cut flowers, and many will have blooms up to ten inches in diameter.  It has been said that a tree peony is the most beautiful flower to bloom in a garden.  Their blooms are delicate and thin, resembling crepe paper.  Unfortunately, when fully opened, they only last a very short time. 

Pale blush pink Hanakisoi in the vase.

“Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity.” ~ John Ruskin

Tree Peony, Princess Cathy.

Hanakisoi is not to be confused with Princess Cathy.  Princess Cathy was given to me by my dear friend and neighbor who moved several years ago.  I named this beauty for Cathy, as Cathy received her at a plant swap and there was not a name attached.  I wanted you to see her enormous buds. Once fully opened, she is a deeper shade of pink than Hanakisoi.  She will be in my post ‘In Full Bloom.’

Soon, she will take center stage.

Tree peony ~ Shimadaijin.

And, the last of our tree peonies is this lovely deep violet ~ Shimadaijin.  I have always loved the color and she is exquisite in the vase.  You will also see her ‘In Full Bloom.’

Shimadaijin about to unfold.

“Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment.” ~  Ellis Peters

Next, unfolding is our Carolina Jessamine.  One reason I am so attached to her is, I grew her from two three-inch pots.  She is a burst of sunshine with an intoxicating fragrance.  Her perfume overwhelms the entire garden.  Miss Jessamine is the state flower of South Carolina.  Beloved by many and thought to be an invasive weed by others.  Nonetheless, she is truly lovely, in my opinion.

In this next photo, you can see where a freeze a few weeks ago bit her blooms.  She is too tall to cover, so Jack Frost had to show himself before he left town.

“Spring heralds the return of the sun’s warmth, the renewal of life, and the reappearance of green and color everywhere.” ~ Unknown

I had a lovely surprise the other morning.  This pretty girl had opened.  Her buds are a blush pink and they turn to this beautiful white.  We planted her about four years ago.  We have native rhododendrons on one side of the front of our home, which are a pretty lavender color.  On the other side, we have a lovely deep pink rhododendron and had a hot, hot pink azalea, with orange tones, beside it.  The two together were like nails on a chalkboard.  I do not like to remove mature plants, however, after three springs I decided I didn’t want to see the azalea again.  And, that is when ‘Bright Eyes’ arrived on the scene.  She looks like a movie star in between the two pink rhododendrons.  Her blotch is a rosy pink.  Just as a point of info, the rhododendron is the state flower of West Virginia.

“What a desolate place would be a world without a flower!  It would be a face without a smile, a feast without a welcome.  Are not flowers the stars of the earth, and are not our stars the flowers of the heaven?” ~ A. J. Balfour

This iris and peony are lovely friends.  The peony, Sunny Girl, is butter yellow.  The iris, Ruby Morning, is chocolate.  They are rather like two snooty girls, who think they look pretty together.  And they do, so I felt they would be happy living beside each other.  They will both be in the ‘Full Bloom’ post.

Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed your visit and seeing a bit of spring as she unfolds here in our beautiful “Mountain State.”  Know, I thank you for stopping by and I hope I haven’t kept you too long.  Spring is beautiful in every corner of our world.  What I love about her here is, she stays around for quite a while and gently unfolds.

Finally, I wish you and yours a magnificent day and week ahead.  And I am going to do my best to follow the words of Anne Lamott.    I hope you will too.

 

The lilacs continue to add their beautiful fragrance to our home.  We are blessed.

“I am going to try to pay attention to the spring.  I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees.  I am going to close my eyes and listen.” ~ Anne Lamott

 

Amour,

Sandra

 

Images:  Michael S. Lambiotte

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Sunday morning, dear friends.  I hope this finds you well and enjoying the beauty and fragrance of spring.  As for me, I am now enjoying the beauty and fragrance of lilacs,  and I am about to welcome the Carolina Jessamine. Does it get any better? I don’t think so.

Carolina Jessamine (about to open), white lilac, and Loving Cherubs  

I do love and enjoy lilacs and never take them for granted.  They are quite common here in North Central West Virginia and many may wonder why I am so captivated by them.  When we lived in the south, it was too hot for them and I missed them terribly ~ for thirty-two years.  There were a very few scattered about, that seemed to be in the exact right spot, with the exact right soil and light.  But they are not, in any way, hardy in the south.  Recently, a couple of varieties have been cultivated just for the southern states, although, I’ve been told they lack the intense fragrance.

“I opened the large central window of my office room to its full on the fine early May morning. Then I stood for a few moments, breathing in the soft, warm air that was charged with the scent of white lilacs below.” ~ Angus Wilson

Madame Lemoine, lilac

Our white lilac, Madame Lemoine, was the first to bloom this year.  Madame Lemoine was named in honor of the wife of  Victor Lemoine.  Who cultivated many French hybrids.  Usually, this lilac blooms in conjunction with our very dark wine-colored lilac, Ludwig Spaeth.  However, this year ‘Madame’ decided she would be first on the scene.

In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash’d palings, Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart~shaped leaves of rich green, with many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love, With every leaf a miracle ~ and from this bush in the dooryard, With delicate-color’d blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green, A sprig with its flower I break. ~ Walt Whitman

In the language of flowers, the colors of lilacs represent different meanings.

White ~ represents purity and innocence.

Violet ~ all shades represent spirituality, darker purple represents that the wearer is concerned or knows of spiritual mysteries.

Blue ~ represents happiness and tranquility.

Lilac ~ represents one’s first love or the first time one feels love for someone.

Pink ~ represents love and strong friendships.

Magenta~ represents passion, love and the thrill of being alive.

“The smell of lilacs crept poignantly into the room like a remembered spring.” ~ Margaret Millar

“A faint smell of lilac filled the air.  There was always lilac in this part of town.  Where there were grandmothers, there was always lilac.”  ~ Laura Miller

” Flowers have a way of creating strong and lasting memories. Flowers may fade, but the memories and the emotions felt never will.” ~ unknown

This lilac, just beginning to open, holds special meaning to Mike and me.  I do not begin to know its name, although it is similar to a variety named Blue Skies.  This lilac came from Mike’s family farm in Western Pennsylvania, a special place where we both spent many happy times with his family.  I raised it from a tiny sprig. The farm was sold many years ago.  Upon returning to the area some time ago, the lilac (once enormous) is now gone and there is no sign a human ever worked the land or lived on the farm. The lilac serves as a beautiful memory for both of us.  It is now about four feet tall and this is the first year it has shown her lovely blooms, we are so excited.  While there are not many blooms, we treasure each and every one.

“But remembering those moments, I stand still in ecstasy, inhaling through the noise of falling rain, the smell of invisible, enduring lilacs.” ~ Marcel Proust

Dear friends, I hope you have enjoyed smelling the lilacs.  When the lilacs are in bloom, Edith Wharton was certainly correct when she said, “Set wide the window.  Let me drink the day.”  When I was growing up and my mom had a vase  of something lovely and fragrant, she would hold it to my nose and say, “Take a drink.”  Wharton’s quote brought back a sweet memory.

Know, I thank you for your visit and wish you and yours a day of beauty,  filled with the marvelous fragrances of spring. 

Have a wonderful week ahead.

And. . .

Be well!

“Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of their character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning” ~Lydia M. Child

 

Amour,

Sandra

 

Note:  There are many lilac festivals held throughout our country each year.  However, I have been told two of the best are, The Rochester, New York Festival, May 21 through 23, 2021, and The Mackinac Island, Michigan Lilac Festival, June 4 through 13, 2021.  If your travels take you to either of these parts of the country, it would most likely be worth your time to stop and smell the lilacs.

Images:  Michael Lambiotte and Tumblr