Every once in a while I receive some unexpectedly good news – today was one of those days!
Something else wonderful was opening my front door and finding a delivery that included a beautiful bunch of pink roses from a dear friend!
Nothing like flowers to make a good day great!
Dahlias are remarkably beautiful. They used to grow prolifically in my Grandfather’s garden and the ease of growing such large and striking blooms almost made me take them for granted. After not seeing them in such abundance for several years and then coming across the patch near the San Francisco Conservatory of flowers they were a true joy to behold so I got up nice and close.
Photo 1: Pom Pom Dahlia
Photo 2:Â Higgledy Piggledy Dahlia
Photo 3: Pink Pom Pom
Photo 4: Dashing Dahlia
Photo 5: Starburst
Photo 6: Red Pom Pom
Photo 7: Red Dahlias in the garden
We’ve had some very welcome rain in California this week! Thrilled for my garden and especially the roses that have bloomed beautifully and bravely through the drought.
Photo 1: Morning Rose
Photo 2: Pink Rose
Photo 3: Just pretty
Photo 4: Rosey
Something old, something new, nothing borrowed, nothing blue! Some vintage rose photos just for you!
Photo 1: Vintage yellow roses
Photo 2: Single red vintage rose
Photo 3: Vintage roses on a bed of petals
Photo 4: Vintage rose pair
Photo 5: Vintage rose bouquet
The first Friday in October is  World Smile Day! Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts created the smiley face in 1963 and thanks to him we now have more opportunities to share a smile and an act of kindness!
Here a few photos that I hope will keep you smiling!
Photo 1: Darling Dahlia
Photo 2: Spray of Pink Orchids
Photo 3: Flowers and Swords make me smile (this was at a photo shoot with my Kuk Sool Won Master)
Photo courtesy of Portrait Photographer, Sharon Cohen (@TheVanityFlare)
Photo 4: Bounty of Black-eyed Susans
The walk home after the bustling activity of the school run is my time for some quiet reflection and focusing my mind for the day. What’s great when I get home is that the wonders in the garden greet me and there is always something to see and make me grateful for being here.
Photo 1: Rose blooming
Photo 2: Memorable rosey moment
Photo 3: Glowing rose
Photo 4: Opening rose
Photo 5: Musing Society Garlic
As is customary when I have a striking bunch of gladioli, I was out in the back yard with my camera trying to capture their beauty. Being so focused on the task at hand I was rather surprised when a cobweb strand appeared in my view and then I noticed the little golden visitor too!
Photo 1: Golden visitor on Red Gladiolus
Photo 2: Â Hiding
Photo 3: Reappearing
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Â William Shakespeare
Despite the persistent drought and the subsequent water restrictions the rose bushes continue to produce some lovely specimens. After trimming the pink one I was really happy to see the blooms appear.
Photo 1: Pink rose
Photo 2: Pretty in pink
Photo 3: Blooming pink roses
Photo 4: Pink rose bud
Making art is an expression of who I am.
The wonders I see and experience are a catalyst for creating and sharing.
I make art because the alternative is not an option.
Quote 1: “When passion fuels your destiny, joy will appear!” ~Vanessa Lee Thomas
My morning ritual usually includes reading the latest blog post by Seth Godin. It’s a way to kick my brain into gear and give me food for thought.
His recent post, What is your art? really resonated with me. I produce my art because I want to share something beautiful with the world and because I love it!
I am so grateful to all those who tell me that my art makes them smile and brightens their day. That they think of me when they see flowers. It warms my soul.
Quote 2: “Little deeds are like little seeds, they can grow to flowers or to weeds” ~Daniel D Palmer
Quote 3: “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our lives would change” ~ Buddha
Quote 4: ” Your soul can see the beauty that surrounds you, embrace it!” ~Vanessa Lee Thomas
The long elegant stems of these pink Gladioli were irresistible to me when I was out on a recent shopping trip.
To me they are the one flower that can instantly glam up an ordinary  corner in the house. Even as they bend the arching is so graceful it’s like watching a ballerina stretch.
Here are some pics of them.
Photo 1: Graceful
Photo 2: Glamorous
Photo 3:Â Gorgeous
Photo 4: Eye catching
Photo 5: Elegant