Sometimes it’s nice to just take a breath and relax

When the world gets crazy, and it does, and you have done what you could, or, perhaps there is nothing you can do but pray, a few minutes of rest helps a wee bit.

Now if you are British, which many of my friends are, they swear a cuppa eases the pains of life somewhat.

But if you are more visual, then you can’t beat photos of nice scenery. And whilst JB New Zealand way is wondering if indeed spring has come for her part of the world, we in the northern hemisphere celebrate colour.

So here are a few soothing pics:

Tripsavvy.com

Our beautiful east coast recently savaged by Hurricane Ian, but that won’t stop nature’s art work.

Tripsavvy.com

Our French province Of Quebec. I think the accents of fall are known worldwide and need no interpretation.

National Geographic

Maine is beautiful any time of year but….

National Geographic

National Geographic

Tripsavvy.com

And lastly from Spring Bank Park in London, a city about an hour away

FIVE WORD FRIDAY

Anticipating a lovely autumn it does seem strange that JB et al in the Southern Hemisphere look forward to Spring then summer!

It’s Friday here in New Zealand and the first Friday of the month. So please join me for a little lightheartedness. My five words? SPRING IS HERE AT …

FIVE WORD FRIDAY

Spummer

Hey It’s Spri..uh no ..it’s Summ..Nope since it is May it must be Sprummer!

We seem to have bypassed actual spring, which is much better than last year when we had a false early spring, and the buds all responded to warm temperatures just to be hit with more winter that killed off a huge percentage of our crops and flowers. I sadly mourned (I know how can one mourn unsadly?) the particular loss of our magnolias. So close to bloom then frozen and dead, never to recover, at least in that year.
So today I am happy to change that wintery header of mine to our beautiful magnolias – alive and just shouting life and color. It seemed to be a long long winter although it was not harsh. Perhaps due to the false spring. We felt cheated somehow.

It was fun to get the patio ready first with the power wash that cleansed the soul of grit and dirt as well as fences and patios.

Daddy teaching our future patio cleaner

He who took great pleasure in water, force and strength.  Made him feel like the Hulk!

Now that’s the way to start the season!

Related articles

• Magnolia Rose (bethwalshphotography.wordpress.com)
• The Magic of Spring (afternoonstorm.wordpress.com)
• Magnolia Tree: A Poem (bethala.wordpress.com)

Hurray! It’s Monday

Hip Hip Hurray (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And a fine crisp morning with a scattering of snow on the ground but the winds have abated and even in the stillness it is -7C (19.4F).  Meteorology predicts that even with less harsh gusts the real temp is -13C.  Still it is a fine morning.

Mondays, as I have said before, My Favorite Day.  This day is filled with enthusiasm for all I shall accomplish this week.  Goals are set, engine is running, and we are off!

I hope your day goes well and for those who are less enthusiastic about the beginning of the week – hang in there for another weekend looms around the corner.

My son just emailed me this photo, taken not so long ago at a local park and I just had to share it with you.

What a Difference a Day Makes

Mother Nature you trickster

Honest…48 hours ago

It may be 48 hours rather than a day but…..and here

and today same time of day…

Today Feb 1 2012

Fall Feelings of Futility

Fall Feelings of Futility

I had a thought today on the cozy heart warming pleasure there is in taking a fall walk through rustling leaves.

I find the sound of shuffling my feet and kicking up the russet carpet to be a very satisfying one as listening somehow takes me back to childhood. Not to any one particular event mind you, just a feeling of youth.

That gentle comforting thought lasted through the first step into the yard as G2 and I headed out for a little fun bagging leaves. As I gathered piles to scoop up he did just the opposite. I tell you that child got lots of exercise and fresh air and I got a healthy dose of frustration until finally I got into the fun of it by developing a sense of humor and so in our own way we worked away and I found I just needed to work faster than he to make headway.

But there is a question that crosses my mind now and then, generally at this time of year. Why do we even have to pick up leaves? It seems to me that leaves provide a warm blanket, a sort of protective layer between the lawn and snow.  Is that not one of natures natural fertilizer?  That the leaves will rot and provide nutrition to the lawn?

It will be obvious to all of you by now that I am not a gardener of any sort, and I hope my question doesn’t sound too silly, but really doesn’t it make sense?