… it is probably best to do some good weeding before hitting multiple nurseries in one day. Didn’t pick up much but what I did I love. Let’s see if I can keep the strawflowers alive.
Posts Tagged ‘beauty’
note to self …
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, gardening, Inspiration, nature, Photography on July 26, 2026| 3 Comments »
self care is …
Posted in Inspiration, Music, tagged beauty, blue heron, flowers, healing, Inspiration, music, Photography, self care, storytelling on July 5, 2026| 2 Comments »
… even as you’re leaving work and making your way back to the hospital to visit your spouse, you take a moment to pop into Trader Joe’s for some wonderfully inexpensive flowers. Not for him. For me! The potted organic basil that was for him. His neighbor this time around in a shared room was a very sweet Greek man who thought I was too skinny and so as I left Steve one day he made me take a piece of his wife’s cheesy cornbread. It was darn tasty as I stood there in the hallway waiting for the elevator to the main lobby.
He is home again, by the way. We have been too often to the hospital this year and we seem to be, ahem, a recognizable pair. Staff at different levels who’ve interacted with us over time, and so they know his journey, say that I am taking good care of him. I don’t know what they’re seeing but I’m happy they see whatever they are seeing. He now rests at home laying in bed listening, as I type, to compositions by Johannes Ockeghem as sung by the group Blue Heron. We used to attend the group’s concerts and we may do so again. I just asked if he might like to attend again one day and he said yes. We’ll see what the future holds. 🙂
You can learn more about Blue Heron here: https://www.blueheron.org/
this summer …
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, Uncategorized, tagged beauty, colors, container gardening, flowers, gardening, Inspiration, musings, nature, Photography on July 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »
… there is no rhyme or reason to the gardening on the porch/patio. It is a riot of colors and styles.
Each morning I rise to peek out and see scattered dirt as the squirrels rise earlier then I do and begin their daily quest for food.
I’ve let the backyard go. The only that will be harvested from down on the ground will be garlic planted last fall. When I look down there is the afternoon light I can see many happy baby bunnies nibbling at all the weeds and things that are overgrown. I do appreciate the perennials that have come back and have no bunny-appeal.
While I do feel bad about the yard, I am glad about the porch. There’s an increasing number of patio-specific fruits and vegetables and its been fun learning about those. And, of course, of course, there is still room for plenty of basil for future pesto making.
sunlight on greens
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, indoor gardening, Inspiration, microgreens, nature, Photography, simple appetizer on April 29, 2026| 3 Comments »
not snow …
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, Inspiration, nature, Photography, urban landscape on April 16, 2026| 2 Comments »
… but emerging white blossoms on the tree across the street. In the fall, this tree’s leaves turns bright red.
morning snow fall
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, Inspiration, nature, Photography, snow, spring blooming, urban landscape on April 7, 2026| 5 Comments »
It was quite lovely when it first fell and then the big flakes turned to sleet and then rain and then the sun burst forth. All the seasons in one day.
winter light
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, flowers, Inspiration, nature, Photography, tulips, winter on March 2, 2026| 3 Comments »
I think I paid more for this bouquet of tulips than I meant to but when the afternoon winter light illuminates them I don’t really mind.
twelve years ago, really? goodness gracious.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, Contributing Writer, Inspiration, life, musings, nature, Photography, storytelling on February 16, 2026| 2 Comments »
Steve has been through another health event and as we sat at the table at home tonight awaiting a friend to provide an assist to go to bed I remarked, “Oh my goodness gracious, next week I have to talk to students about art in religion with a focus on stained glass. What the Hades am I going to talk about?” He said nothing. Then I had a genuine revelation and I said, “Gosh darnit. I’m going to do what you do.” Then his eyebrows perked up as in, “What the Hades are you talking about?” And I said, “Remember years ago when I was fascinated with what happens when light shines through water and creates patterns and you taught me what was happening, caustics, and then there was a photo exhibit in a youth community center and I made you participate with one of your such photos and these two young children walked by and instead of you telling them what they were seeing you let them look and then asked them, What do you see?, and one boy said, I see the back of an alligator! And you said, Well, that’s very astute of you. And the boy said, What does astute mean? And the two of you wandered off to the cheese tray table as you explained how observant he was.” Steve smiled and said, “Yes.” And I said, “My dear, I believe it is in your spirit to be mentor. Do you agree?” He did agree. And as we sat there he helped me pull together my oh, so brief presentation. I read it back to him. Genuinely, I said, “Okay, this feels good. That’s not bad, is it?” And he said, “No, dear one. You’re good.” And please believe me if I was off track that person would tell me so. 🙂 Time does fly.
a bit of blue and green
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, Inspiration, nature, Photography, urban landscape on January 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »
It was so warm today as I walked about it almost felt like autumn. But I know there’s plenty of winter remaining!
small things
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged beauty, colors, cyclamen, flowers, Inspiration, nature, Photography on December 24, 2025| 1 Comment »
I love when the sunlight falls upon the leaves of this cyclamen. It makes me pause in my day and it is important sometimes to simply pause.












