Wednesday's Word

Sunday's Psalm

Have a beautiful Sunday!

If you're happy and you know it

If you're Happy and you know it, Then your face will surely show it.....

I love to see people smile. I love expressions of Joy, I love to hear laughter . It is all the sounds and sights of love and I'd love to share these with you.

Smiles are contagious, Go and contaminate as many people as you can.

Negative Nancy and the Thief of Enthusiasm

Do you have a Negative Nancy in your life? ( Sorry to some of the very positive Nancy's out there).
At some point I believe everyone does. There always seems to be that 1 person who thrives on squelching someone's joy.
I am dealing with a Negative Nan now as is my favorite artist Campbell Jane. This Nancy is consistently dropping hints that my ideas aren't good enough, or my work isn't good enough, or I shouldn't even bother with my plan, because nobody is going to be interested anyway or it's just going to be too hard. It gets frustrating and disheartening to say the least, but the discouragement is hardest to take.
Maybe Nancy is jealous, maybe she is afraid that I will steal the spotlight from her for a little while, or maybe is just that she is determined not to wish success for anyone but herself. Maybe she doesn't even realize she is doing this.
 Either way I have decided that it must stop. I will not let her negativity hold me back for another minute.
This first and most important step I can take to stop it is to realize that I don't need to tell her all of my ideas, ( hairbrained or otherwise) I am in control of what she knows.

Thank goodness I am old enough that I don't need anyone's approval or permission, hers included.

Second step is to view her negativity as a challenge. ( Oh Yeah, watch me!). I do love a good challenge.

The third step is to realize that I can't change her attitude and I still love her. She is a very special friend.I will just have to pray that she sees things in a more positive light.

I will admit that not all of my ideas are Genius, but how will I ever know if they aren't given a chance because I let someone else shoot them down before they are ever tried.

Now at the risk of talking to much and driving you away, I will simply say, "nuff said".

Wednesday's Word

Why I do this..........

If the plants bloom or make fruit, then it is all the better: 

Here are a few flowers  blooming their hearts out today.

This gorgeous brugmansia suavoleans blooms in the fall. It is normally still blooming when we get our first frost.

This gorgeous beauty is Confederate rose hibiscus. Aka Hibiscus Mutabilis.

It normally begins blooming in October and will continue until the first killing frost which here is sometimes not until January.

Meet Charles Grimaldi, another gorgeous brugmansia. It too likes to bloom in the fall after a long hot summer these breathtakingly beautiful flowers are not only pretty but smell fabulous.

Hope your fall is beautiful!

A little Bouquet Experiment

Last week I was blessed to receive some flowers from a florist delivered to my door. You can imagine my surprise, because I work as a florist and I am not really on the receiving end of floral arrangements very often. This was a beautiful little arrangement made up of Peruvian Lily, Purple Statice, and Butterscotch daisy mums . It was collared with variegated pittosporum and variegated leatherleaf fern. It was just such a treat to receive such a gift.

During the week, I changed the water about every other day and today, when I went to change the water, I noticed something in the little bouquet was putting out little water roots. Oh yeah, I started doing the happy dance. I don't know why I get so happy when something roots, but you know me, I was overjoyed. 

I decided to experiment. I know that since some things had begun rooting, the others, if they will root at all will not be far behind. I couldn't help myself. I planted my bouquet in a pot. Yes, you heard right. I have never done anything like this before, but  held the bouquet together and just planted the whole thing. Then I inverted a bottle of water to keep the soil evenly moist and put the whole thing on a shady table. I cannot wait to see what happens. This is what it looks like today

 

It makes a pretty little pot full of flowers too. I will keep updating this post as things root. I know the pittosporum will probably root, but I am not sure about anything else. Wish me luck.

Sunday's Psalm

Coastal Homestead and Low Country Healthy Living Delivery Service: A truly Awesome Service

Today, I cannot wait to tell you of my new interest. Amber at Coastal Homestead has been running a non profit business collecting fresh, organically grown, healthy produce direct from the local farmers and delivers it to her customersLow Country Healthy Living. I recently received a box that I was delivering for her ( okay to my Mom) and was blown away not only by the amount, but mostly by the quality of the produce. I am here to tell you, the quality was much better than any offered in our grocery stores here.

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I checked out her website, ordered my own produce for next week, and proceeded to read a series of articles on her website page.
Amber covers frugality ( another subject I enjoy ) DIY and so many other things as well. If you get a chance check out her website, just don't hate me for the time you will lose to evaporation. I could spend hours on her site.Amber's online farmers market.
Okay, now that I have helped make your day evaporate, I will wish you a Fantastic Friday!

Amber @ coastal homestead I am your fan!

My Heroes Aka Thank you Veterans

Thank you to all who have served in our Military. You have traveled far and wide to keep us safe and protect those and that , that I hold most dear. Most often at the expense of your own comfort, life events and even family time. You have missed birthdays, Christmas's, Anniversaries,  the birth of your children and the funerals of your loved ones. You have missed father daughter dances, and father son fishing tournaments, debutante balls and proms, In some cases you have even missed the weddings of your loved ones  and there are countless other events that were incredibly important to you, yet your duty to God and country came first.. The words Thank You just don't seem adequate but it is the best I can do.
                                                   You are truly my hero!

Some of my favorite heroes:

US Coast Guard
Better Half

US Air Force
DAD

US Navy
Father

US Navy
Brother

US Air Force
Brother

US Air Force
Brother


There are so many others that also have served and are still serving. Relatives and Friends who have answered the call to put others ahead of themselves to make sure that we are safe at home and abroad.
Thank you Veterans for your service and Sacrifice!
You truly are my heroes!

Thursday's Thoughts: I will Survive Said the little Succulent

I love Succulent plants. Maybe it is the fact that they don't seem to want or need to be pampered, or maybe it is the vast array of shapes and colors of foliage, but there is something about these plants that keeps me mesmerized. I will confess to having trouble keeping them alive over the winter, but perhaps I lose them because I expect them to be more independent than they are ready for during the cooler months. I have managed to keep them alive for a little while, but somehow they always succumb. That being said, hardy succulents are a lazy gardeners best friend.
They lend themselves to almost any kind of container

 you can find and the best part is, if they are hardy and planted outside, then all you have to do is look at them when they bloom and enjoy the brightly colored foliage when they are resting. What could possibly be better.... Okay, maybe a new one.

 I cannot wait to try some new designs in my garden this year.

They are even beautiful when you are propagating them, which as you know is 1 of my favorite things to do. If you are pushed for time this spring, or just want to garden the easy way, or just hate being outdoors in the mosquitos territory , try some succulents. You will really be amazed at the vast array of different colors and textures you will find.

Have a great day!

Wednesday's Word : I have a mustard seed and I am not afraid to use it.

Have you ever wondered about the scripture that promises us that we can move mountains? It is Matthew 17:20.  I did wonder, I defined mountains in many different ways in the past.
The events of October, AKA , Hurricane Matthew, Medical issues  and a series of unfortunate events has recently redefined " Mountain" in my world. I am happy to say, that little by little, through lots of prayer and petition, I have been blessed to watch the Lord make my mountain crumble into the sea. All I had to do was pray and then get out of God's way. Then I watched an awesome God make things right again and there is no doubt in my mind that God chipped away at my mountain so that I would see how interconnected everything is and how the fingerprints of God are sometimes very visible.

Now, there will never be a time that I don't say:

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Election Day in America

I normally do not express political opinions here, but I read this the other day and felt the need to share it. This has been a long and brutal election season . I am happy to see it coming to an end and at the same time, I am wondering what  the "Breaking News"  will be when  all is said and done.
that being said, I am simply asking that whomever you vote for, Just please make sure to vote. This election is much too important to sit this one out.

God Bless You!

Summer's Over: Here is a present.

I absolutely adore Fall. I love the cooler temperatures, the disappearance of all humidity, and best of all the crisp clear mornings and the sunrises! October at the beach is the absolute best month ever!

One of my favorite parts of fall though is when the Camellia Sasanqua begin to bloom. Most Sasanqua are fall blooming shrubs. After a long hot humid and often stormy summer at the beach, the show put on by Sasanquas are almost like Mother Nature saying, " it was a hot summer, here is a gift for you to make up for it. There is nothing like it. I love the variety and the foliage, everything about them, but then again, I have never met a plant I didn't like. I have met a few that don't like me, but never 1 that I didn't like. hahaha.

I recently read a great article that talks about camellia sasanqua. You can find it here : Camellia Sasanqua : Cleopatra's Sister. I hope that you will take the time to check it out. In the mean time, My show of fall flowers begins with
Sparkling Burgundy

Sparkling Burgundy is usually the first to begin blooming. I can always count on this one to put on a show in late September/ Early October.

This one is Taylor's Pink Perfection. It is a lighter color than Sparkling Burgundy, but just as gorgeous. It doesn't grow as tall as Sparkling Burgundy either.

This gorgeous White Sasanqua is called Mine No Yuki which means white doves. It too begins the blooming season with a mass of white flowers that are so pretty, it can sometimes hurt your eyes to look at it.  The tips of the edges of these blossoms are sometimes tinged with pink, but it doesn't hold the pink color, it fades almost immediately to a beautiful clear white.

This gorgeous Red Sasanqua is Yuletide. Normally it blooms later in the season, closer to December, but this year it is blooming earlier. We have just been through Hurricane Matthew and I have learned over the years, that after a storm there are a lot of plants that are confused and bloom either earlier or later than usual.

If you are interested in adding these beautiful plants to your garden, check your local garden centers. Most are hardy to zone 7 but not much colder than that.

Alot of these varieties have been cultivated for hundreds of years in Japan and other countries. They came to America along with the immigrants from these countries.

If you are interested in propagating these, here is a link to a post I did a while back, I hope you find it useful :Rooting Sasanquas

Hope you enjoy your fall as much as I am enjoying mine.

If you decide to root these, or just add some to your landscape, leave me a comment and let's compare notes.

Sunday's Psalm

This beautiful Psalm was drawn for me by my favorite artist of all time Campbell Jane. I was going through some tough times and this was a gift for me. I hope it blesses you just as much as it blessed me.

God Bless You.

Saturday's Song

Whenever I find myself in times of trouble, or just needing to be calm and relaxed, I always turn to Christian Music. During the past month, this particular song has been a very reassuring sound in my home. I hope it touches you as well as it did me.

Friday's Funnybone

Thursday's Thoughts: AKA Near and Dear to my Heart

This is something that is truly very near and dear to my heart. Please indulge me as I share these thoughts on Thursday Morning.

In 2001 My brother took his own life. We as the family left behind were devastated. How could this happen we asked? Didn't he know how much he was loved? As a child I called him Daddy, when he informed me at 3 years old that he was not my Daddy, I simply replied," Who are you then, Roy Rogers."?
 He was and is and always will be my hero/big brother/ ok not quite daddy.
Eddie, The hole you left in my heart will never heal or be filled in any way. I am forever changed.
I miss your beautiful smile, and your laugh and the way it felt when you hugged me. I miss knowing, you always had my back. I miss you.

Edwin Eugene Grice 1959- 2001

I was next touched by suicide when my dear sweet cousin Brad also took his own life.

Brad was a child I considered half mine. I had baby sat for him from the time he was two and until he graduated from high school, was always able to talk his parents into letting me "borrow " him to go to the big events, like the state fair, or festivals, or spring break at the Arnot Inn. 

Brad was given the gifts of humor and music. He had a voice like and angel and loved to make you laugh more than just about anything. I can remember staying up all night with him telling jokes and laughing until my belly ached and my cheeks were cramped with "permagrin" .

Brad told me once that whenever he felt sad, he just tried to think of something funny until he felt better.

J. Bradley Brunson 1977-2010

My third devastating brush with suicide came in 2011, with the very unexpected suicide of my nephew Michael.
Michael came into my life as an infant and enriched it in ways I am not sure he ever knew.
Like Brad, my husband and I " borrowed' Michael and his brother as often as humanly possible and it wasn't uncommon for his parents to have to come and take him back. Michael and his younger brother would often call and ask to come and live with us and in their dreams always said " when I get 18, I am coming to live with you." I never told him that by the time he was 18, he wouldn't want to but I always made sure he knew he had a place in my home.
Michael, I miss your smile, your hugs, your love and your laughter. Nobody else will ever sound like you. I miss you.

Michael A. Caldwell 1981-2011

My last and most recent blow from suicide came with the news of a dear friend. 

Eric D Duvall took his own life shortly after hurricane Matthew devastated the coast of South Carolina. Eric was actually a friend of my son

, who also became a dear friend of mine.

Eric's smile was contagious, his laughter mesmerizing and his quiet soft spirit, loving.

Eric loved helping people and he really loved animals. I remember watching him laugh until tears streamed down his face listening to stories of how my quaker parrot Houdini would escape from his cage, into the other bird cages and ask the other birds " what doin?" while stealing the treats from the other birds cages. Eric thought that was hysterical. I loved watching Eric laugh.

Eric, I will miss your laughter and your sweet loving spirit. I will miss you when the other friends are here and you are not. You will always be missed.

Eric D. Duvall 

1992-2016

I believe that there are times that we all struggle with depression . There are times we all need a friend, even if we do not quite know how to reach out and ask for the help we need.

If you ever feel the need of a friend, help is always available.

There are hotlines you can reach 24 hours a day

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-8255

Available 24 hours everyday

 if you feel more comfortable texting 

there is a hotline for text as well.:

TEXT “GO” TO 741741 suicide prevention text line 24/7

If you happen to be a veteran like my brother there is a veterans crisis line

Veterans Crisis Line

Connects Veterans in crisis and their 

families and friends with qualified, 

caring VA responders through a 24/7 

confidential toll-free hotline: 1-800-273-8255, and Press 1.

These are all a very present help in times of trouble.

Please reach out , lean on friends because there are times that we all need someone to lean on.

thank you for listening.

The Good, the Bad and The Grace of God

I haven't posted in Two years. That in itself, took me by surprise. It has been a most difficult 2 years.
We have been through quite a lot with medical issues, I began an new job and well, life has a way of changing your priorities at times.

During the recent Hurricane Matthew, I have been both blessed and at times felt cursed with the chain of events.
We sustained a lot of damage due to the storm and both my husband and I have both been in the hospital during the weeks after the storm.
All of a sudden, I could really relate to Job of Biblical fame. It was a series of events like no other.
The best part though is that through the Grace of God, all of the destruction has been restored, Prayers have been answered and God's fingerprints are all over everything that has happened. The fact is  that Without God, we would Not have survived this storm.
                                                  God is Great Always!
 I am happy to be back and posting again. I hope you will follow me as I try to rebuild this blog and get it back to the fun spot it used to be. If you are still here after all this time, Thank you.

This is a pink brugmansia, I think it is Equador pink and it was blooming during the eye of the storm. I couldn't resist sharing it.
I hope your day is wonderful. I look forward to seeing you here again. Leave me a comment and let me know you were here. I have missed you.