-
#AtoZChallenge: Bouquets or garden flowers?
One thing that I look forward to in the spring and summer is the variety of flowers and plants that spring up around our house. We have several rose bushes, iris, lilac, lillies – all make for a beautiful, fragrant bouquets inside. However, the dilemma is that once I cut the flowers and bring them inside, they don’t last very long. And, they aren’t visible and make for a barren landscape outside. I also struggle a tiny bit with the question, “Who am I to think that I should cut these blossoms and hurt the plant, just so I can have beautiful flowers in the house for a few days?”…
-
A to Z Challenge: “W”inter ornaments
We’re well into spring and it’s wonderful to open up my window while I’m getting ready for work in the morning. I feel the cool air, smell the budding plants and hear the beautiful songs and communication between the birds. It’s just about the best music around. I ran across these photos of how beautiful birds are, even in winter, when everything else is asleep and regenerating. Even though it must be freezing out and quality food and water are scarce, the birds still appear on the stark, bare branches of the trees and brighten my day. It makes me even more grateful for birds. No only are they beautiful…
-
“U”nsung heroes
Photo by Diane Weidenbenner. Why is it that all the carefully plotted, planted beauties get all the glory? Rose bushes and Geraniums are majestic! Zinnias and Hydrangea have character, color and class. However, it is sometimes the unsung heroes of the field that give us pleasure as we drive by on a Sunday jaunt, like the frothy blanket of yellow against a green, leafy background. Is it a wild mustard plant or rapeseed? I’m never quite sure. It’s more prevalent in some fields over others. And, it seems to grow, and multiply without a lot of human effort or forethought. In doing a bit of research on the Internet, it…
-
Newport Beach – a gift from a loving God
© 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner There is something magical about the beach. I never gave it much thought until two of my good college friends from California showed me pictures of the beach at sunset. What a spectacular site. Just as I cherished the beautiful, lush mountains from Colorado, they had the same fond memories of spending time at the beach. I have since been to several beaches: those in California, Florida and Mexico. One of my favorite places to visit is Newport Beach, near Los Angeles, California. © 2013 by Diane Weidenbenner The evening tide comes in to meet the sand as if on schedule and it leaves a…
-
“B”eaches are music to my ears
Seal Beach © 2014 by Diane Weidenbenner Beaches are an incredible gift of nature. There is nothing like them in the world. The sound of the waves, the horizon as backdrop to the ocean that spills onto the beach. The sound of the waves is so calming and centering. Each year I attend a trade show for work in Los Angeles. For the past two years, after the hustle and bustle of three long days greeting people at our booth, I’ve slipped down to the beach to unwind. I enjoy talking to hundreds of people (out of the 28,000 attendees) about the organization that I represent. While it’s high-energy work,…
-
Owly visitors help us celebrate our anniversary
Two barred owls around 8:15 p.m. in our back yard. Joe and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary July 1. We gave each other a card and promised to go to dinner soon to celebrate (Joe’s parents had sent us an anniversary check to sweeten the deal.) It was a busy time at work that included the weekend. I was glad and happy to celebrate 13 years of marriage (and 18 years of relationship) with my best friend and love, but it happened without fanfare or revelry. We actually received our “anniversary” gift two days earlier. On Saturday evening, I was working at the kitchen table and periodically took a…
-
Early morning magic …
To say that I’m not a morning person is an understatement. I work days (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) but many mornings it is all I can do to get up, move into the bathroom, wash my face and put mascara on (which requires that my eyes remain open). My preference would be to stay up late and then sleep until 9 or 10 the next morning. Early morning sun near Deming Park, Terre Haute, Ind. © Photo by Diane Weidenbenner On those rare occasions when I have woken up early, I have encountered the most amazing things. There is a special kind of magic afoot in the morning hours,…
-
“B”eauty of spring, where art thou?
Photo © Diane Weidenbenner To say that I’m anxious for spring is an understatement. The anticipation is enough to make me write Shakespearean blog titles. I’m an all-or-nothing kind of gal. If I can’t have two feet of snow, I’d really like to see flower buds and forsythia. Photo © Diane Weidenbenner In Indiana we have four seasons but they are not created equal. The two summer months when it is 90 degrees and 150 percent humidity seem to last a lifetime. Fall is beautiful and is a satisfying three months, if it hasn’t been too dry. And lest you think that humidity means rain, it does not. It’s perfectly…
