“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.” ~
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
Good morning! Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures and lovely quotes. I have been spending quite a bit of time enjoying nature.
Thank you, Penny. I know nature is full of beauty in your area. Enjoy and thanks for your visit.
Good morning, Sandra. It only takes paying attention to see the magic. We have observed lots of honey bees on our crape myrtles this year. Bumble bees have been all over the zinnias and sunflowers. Butterflies have been more scarce and I don’t know why. Thank you for the lovely images and quotes. Wishing you and Michael a delightful day!
Good morning, Pam. So good to know you have seen the honey bees. It is so strange they have not been here this year. We saw a very few in the early spring – and then gone. Wishing you and your lovely family a beautiful day and week ahead.
I have never seen a bluebird and have always wanted to. I love the butterflies but like you, seeing fewer bees (and buterflies this year. I wonder if it’s the climate or if I’m just not around as much. Happy week to you, my friend.
Oh, Jeanie, how I would love for you to see a bluebird. You would never forget it. They enjoy the countryside and open spaces and I think they would be in such an area in your part of the world. I’m thinking like you the climate may have plenty to do with our lack of seeing the bees and butterflies.
Wishing you a lovely week, stay well!
Sandra, thank you for your beautiful posts each Sunday. I so look forward to them. That photo of the spider web is stunning. Just yesterday, my 86 year old mother pointed one out to me. So delicate and yet so strong. Life is full of beauty it you take the time to notice. Great post!
Hello, Ellen. Thank you so much for your kind words and I am so happy you enjoy the blog. I do enjoy seeing a pretty spider web (without the spider). They really are a work of art. As is so much of the beauty in our world. Wishing you a lovely week, friend!
A really nice reminder of all the detail that’s out there if one just pays attention. I pay very careful attention, more now than ever, since we don’t have our own landscape to care for. I’m sorry you don’t have bluebirds in Clarksburg. My sister leases to bluebird families consistently every year here, just outside of city limits. Have a wonderful week.
Rita, I am jealous of your sister’s bluebirds. I have seen them here in the countryside – however, they do not enjoy city living and we are in the middle of town. But I am grateful to have enjoyed them for 30 plus years in VA.
Enjoy a lovely week, Rita.
Good morning, sweet Sandra! I definitely needed this post and to “pay attention” this morning. My heart is heavy as we left our precious Caroline at college this weekend. I miss her something terrible. I’m also a bundle of nerves with Covid going around. I have several loved ones who are sick, and keep hearing of others who aren’t doing too well. It seems all I can do is leave pots of soup on porches and say prayers. Thanks so much for your beautiful post, it offered me a moments peace on this Monday morning. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead, dear friend.
Hello, sweet friend. I thought about you leaving your precious baby girl this weekend. I know your heart hurts. I’m sure she misses you as much as you miss her. I know COVID has you really worried and I do hope your loved ones will come through. I do believe we will have this ugly monster with us for quite a while yet. All we can do is say prayers and wear our masks.
Know I wish you a beautiful day and week ahead. Make sweet Caroline a batch of cookies and you both will feel better. Big Hugs, dear one!
I adore bluebirds and they thrill me each time I see them. Red-winged blackbirds are all around our golf course ponds nearby where we live but they don’t stay still for iPhone pics.
I’ve seen two very large moths this week that were dying. I observed one in the road on my walk and heard the other flapping around in my yard before I saw it. They were very unusual. God’s creation is awesome and constantly amazing!
That is the sweetest pic of the fawn drinking out of the birdbath.
Your posts are always a blessing.
Good morning, Bonnie. Thanks so much for your visit and kind words. Bluebirds truly are special and such a gift to see and enjoy. So sad about the moths. I don’t know much about them and what their life span is. It seems that actually seeing one is unusual. May you enjoy lovely days in these days which are so disturbing.
Hello Sandra! These are beautiful photos and quotes to accompany them. Nature is very soothing and restorative, especially during times when the world’s brokenness seems to press upon me.
Good morning, Lorrie. I agree with you about the sadness in our world. I feel helpless. That is why I began my blog a few years ago, as a way to scatter a bit of joy and beauty. I wish I could send it to the people who really need a lovely image to tuck away in their hearts. Enjoy your day, Lorrie.