Gathered

Wordless Wednesday :: Sweet Almond Verbena :: Bring It In

or not.

Seasonal Shift

S U M M E R

F A L L

Daisy Love

The last daisy of the season might imply summer but there is no mistaking autumn's enchanting light.

October, Already? Happy Fall ♥

The day I glanced into a seldom used room and noticed that beautiful autumn light...sigh. 

Winter :: Rescued Roses :: Blessings

While spring teased only a day ago, today is bitterly cold and a thunderstorm brews to the west, marching steadily this way.  Ice threatens and there is a day more to ponder the beauty that is winter.   Soup simmers on the stove and an early, bashful rose, rescued from the cold, absorbs warm sunlight on the kitchen counter.  Life is beautiful...winter is beautiful.
 

We give thanks for the blessing of winter:

Season to cherish the heart.

To make warmth and quiet for the heart.

To make soups and broths for the heart.

To cook for the heart and read for the
heart.

To curl up softly and nestle with the heart.

To sleep deeply and gently at one with
   the heart.

To dream with the heart.

To spend time with the heart.

A long, long time of peace with the heart.

We give thanks for the blessing of winter:

Season to cherish the heart.

Amen

The Prayer Tree - Leunig

Wordless Wednesday :: Gardenia :: Bring Them In!

To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat.  

                                                                                                                                       Beverly Nichols

Wordless Wednesday :: For the Love of Birds

Wordless Wednesday :: iphoneography :: petite pears

Saved From Frost and Livin' Easy

The Livin' Easy is just that ... livin' easy.  A bud rescued from frost to quietly grace the window ledge  has opened up into full blossom.   Amazing how a single rose can light up the whole room ... just like a smile.

It's Friday! What Are Your Weekend Gardening Plans? Inspire Me!

I want to hear what you're doing this weekend in the garden!  Inspire me, friends.  

What a Trip to the Nursery Can Do...

A beautiful, ordinary day + a trip to the nursery =

a JOYful, beautiful, ordinary day!

Great Writing: A Few Blogs For You to Check Out

 

 {afternoon reflection of a single zinnia bloom in the kitchen window}

Lee of A Guide To Northeastern Gardening has graciously awarded me the One Lovely Blog award.  Thank you, Lee for the honor of such sweet recognition.  Gardening in Long Island, New York, Lee shares her knowledge and love of design and horticulture with her readers.

The rules for the One Lovely Blog Award are:

Thank the person who nominated you for the award and link back to their blog.
List seven things about yourself.
Nominate up to ten blogs for the award.

• fritos and bean dip are not safe in my presence
• i can type nearly 100 words per minute
• reading the dictionary fascinates me
• it's all about the hunt:  flea markets, estate sales, and consignment shops rock 
• i marvel daily at God's unwavering grace
• my best friend tells me my nose crinkles when I laugh
• there can never be too much football...high school, college, pro - it's all good

Honestly, all who take the time and make the effort to create quality posts are worthy of recognition for this award.  I'm constantly in awe of the quality information and images I find in the blogosphere.

Lately I've been really inspired by a few bloggers whose writing has captured my imagination and I'd like to nominate them for this award.  I hope you'll visit their blogs.

Austin Agrodolce
Deb is a fellow Austinite whose writing is quirky, authentic and intelligent.  She weaves stories that transport and entertain.

Foxglove Lane
Catherine writes from Ireland and has a keen sense of observation.  She captures life's moments both with her eloquent words and her beautiful photography.

Mulish & Co.
Roberta also hails from right here in Central Texas.  She says "This blog is not my first rodeo, as they are wont to say in Texas. It may be, however, my first true blog, the first blog I've kept that resonates with me. I keep it to track my path to a writing life. A life in which, creativity, and writing in particular, come first."

Two Sharp Pencils and a Broken Crayon
My friend Julie writes on creativity with razor sharp wit and deep insight.  She will have you thinking about creativity in a whole new way and will inspire you to pursue your creative dreams.

Happy reading,
Cat

A Bit of Fragrance

A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you flowers...

A small gesture presented in the tiniest of packages.   A cherished bouquet gifted to me by my girl.  Whether two or twenty years old, it doesn't matter.  What mother can resist the delight of a child as she proudly surrenders her carefully selected posies chosen just for you?   Sweet moments. Simple joys.

Begonia Blossoms and Why I Blog

Why I Blog? 

You might not think this such a difficult question to answer.  I didn't.  But given that I've been thinking on it for a week now and have tossed away more ideas to answer the question than not, my opinion of the question has wavered. 

In an effort to not bore you, it seems the answer should be brief and to the point.  But considering that we are emotional beings, nothing is ever simple is it?

This stem of angel wing begonia blossoms was found on the ground this morning.  It seemed a shame to toss it.  It's delicate, feminine countenance called to be photographed. 

I suppose that is one of the most significant reasons I blog.  To share with you small moments of wonder that draw me in, moving me to the point of expression through words and photographs.

There are countless photographs of this angel wing begonia in bloom on my hard drive.  It's planted in a colorful ceramic pot with complementary plantings but none of those pictures has ever moved me to post about it.  It's the small, beautiful and simplest of moments that I find myself wanting to tell you about. 

Maybe it has something to do with gardening in such a pernicious climate...where what might appear to be a simple happening is really a triumph in survival.  The mercury was climbing toward 90 degrees when I came across this bloom still looking as fresh as those thriving on the plant.

What is it about a stem of two blossoms in a vintage Listerine bottle that inspires someone to write about why they blog?  Who knows!  We humans are complicated.  All I know is I followed my heart's desire.

It's my hope that this blog will inspire you to create and grow a garden, literally or as a metaphor for life, that is a reflection of your heart's desire.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Happy Independence Day

Happy 4th of July to those of you celebrating 

our country's independence!