Happy New Year!
I am thankful for all the support and views and am sending floral greetings to all wishing you a year in which you bloom like never before!
“Some buds never flower, if we are fortunate enough to bloom, we should do so with all the enthusiasm and vigor we can muster.” Vanessa Lee Thomas
It’s the first day of winter and although we are not expecting snow here we have had some very welcome rain showers. Was a great opportunity to capture some raindrops on petals. They remind me of one of my favorite quotes.
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
Photo 1: Raindrops on Geraniums
Photo 2 Society Garlic in the rain
Photo 3: Rain kissed Geraniums
My thoughts on Christmas Eve – Family and friends are like threads woven together to create a tapestry of love, to comfort and support you, share your sorrows and joys and make life’s journey an incredible experience. To all those who are part of my journey, both near and far, I wish you blessings and peace over the festive season. (Oh and here is a hastily taken flower pic taken this morning in the rain, coz nothing says florally Christmas like a Pot of Poinsettias!)
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
There are few things that excite me as much as discovering a beautiful bloom. It has no expectations of the world but revels in the elements whether it be sunshine, wind or rain. When it is at its peak the glorious light of living shines forth spreading beauty where it finds itself.
Quote 1: You have to find what sparks a light in you so that your own way can illuminate the world – Oprah
Quote 2: Each new day is an opportunity to try again! Embrace it!
Quote 3: To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.
Quote 4: There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
Quote 5: Bloom- with all the enthusiasm you can muster!
It seems to be a philosophical and gratitude filled period for me so I’m sharing some pics and quotes. Enjoy!
Quote 1: Truly perfect is becoming friendly with your imperfections on the way to doing something remarkable ~ SethGodin
Quote 2: Notice life’s most precious moments as they happen
Quote 3: Praise is like sunlight to the human spirit. We cannot flower without it. -Jess Lair
Quote 4: Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. ~Melody Beattie
Quote 5: We are not affected by events but by the view we take of them. Event + Response = Outcome ~Jack Canfield
It’s a stunningly beautiful morning in Northern California today. As my children excitedly anticipate the start of the summer break the mood is jovial and we pay attention to little details on the school run. We spotted a swallowtail butterfly fluttering between the emerging white agapanthus and its wings were catching the morning sunlight. There is so much we can be thankful for and these small moments remind me about the joy to be found in living.
Photo 1: Be thoughtful. Be Kind. Be Considerate.
Photo 2: There are small moments of beauty in every day of you choose to find them.
Photo 3: Each new day is an opportunity to try again!
Photo 4: Surround yourself with positive people who nurture your dreams!
Reading my children’s yearbooks and seeing all the good wishes made me want to share them too – so HAGS to everyone in the Northern Hemisphere and HUGS to everyone in the South!
Ah February – the month to remember love! So whether it’s new love, old love, lost love or anticipated love – enjoy sharing the love – it is actually all around.
Photo 1: Love Actually Blooms
As Wet Wet Wet sang – you can feel it in your fingers and toes! I will leave you with this lovely quote from one of my all time favourite movies, Love Actually :
Prime Minister: Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.
Moments of beauty
Moments of love
Wishing you many beautiful moments in 2015!
Bloom:
Grow:
Be happy:
Blossom:
A Facebook friend, teaching in Afghanistan, invited me to participate in the gratitude challenge. I thought it was a lovely idea and so I added some text to my pics to go with the theme.
Photo 1: Grateful People
Photo 2: Charming Gardeners