Oh What A Beautiful Morning...

Blue skies, gulls soaring on light breezes, birds whistling and busy with breakfast... although there are no corn stalks around here as high as an elephant's eye, the gorgeous day so far reminds me of that lovely old piece by Rogers and Hammerstein.

I always loved humming along with that song -- it was catchy and it gave me a sense of rightness and beauty in the world. If you need  a little something to hum, click below.

Enjoy your day!
Brenda

It's Summer!

After many days of much-needed rain,

the skies were bright with sunshine and blue skies this morning.

What a great way to begin summer!

No time to hang out here today...

So just popping by to say hi
and to leave you with summer ponderables
from other writers!

"What is one to say about June,

the time of perfect young summer,

the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months,

and with as yet no sign to remind one that

its fresh young beauty will ever fade.

~ Gertrude Jekyll

In June,

as many as a dozen species

may burst their buds on a single day.

No man can heed all of these anniversaries;

no man can ignore all of them.

~ Aldo Leopold

  

There shall be eternal summer

in the grateful heart.

~ Celia Thaxter

Enjoy your day!

Brenda 

(c) Photos: Brenda C Leyland

The Odd Couple

We were all dressed up to go out for the morning; I left the house with earrings bobbling from my earlobes as per usual, not realizing something was not as per usual.

During the morning, I met and talked to various people. I came home to meet with our garden designer (we're finally doing something to our benignly neglected front yard). We trotted together around the yard, chatted at the dining room table over plans and tea.....

All the while

Yours truly was wearing two different earrings!

The funny thing... NO ONE seemed to notice.  I talked to friends and strangers face to face -- and got no odd stares. And funnier yet, I glanced my own face in the powder room mirror a time or two over the day... and NOPE, I didn't notice either!

Mmm... what does that say about our observation skills? Do we just see what we think should be there? Perhaps people thought I was just being creative. Yes, that must be it.

Oh, for the beauty of laughter,

Brenda

xox

 

Simple Pleasures

"Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning

 can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day...

like writing a poem or saying a prayer."
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh


Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda

(c) Photos: Brenda C Leyland

Garden Glimpses

The thyme loves to spread out amongst the flagstones

Our Toba Hawthorne...

...coming into its pink glory!

 An unusual sighting for my backyard ~
this pretty butterfly one really loved the lilac bush!

Nothing like a day at the water park!

(Hard to zoom in quick enough to catch them in action - hence the blurr)

"Never lose an opportunity of seeing
anything that is beautiful; 

for beauty is God's handwriting ~
a wayside sacrament.

Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, 

and thank God for it as a cup of blessing."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Enjoy your day,

Brenda

(c) Photos: Brenda C Leyland

 

Simply Sunday: New Mercies

So many of us have sought comfort from these words written by Jeremiah, the lamenting prophet.

How often have they kept our hearts steady and anchored on the Rock when dark days threatened to overwhelm. Today, I pray they will be as fresh with hope as the day we first heard them.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends.

His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;

His mercies begin afresh each morning.
From Lamentations 3

With a gentle kiss atop thy head, 
 Brenda
xox

Simple Pleasures - Sky Artistry

Last night I enjoyed the simple pleasure of first looking out my window,

then racing out into the backyard to watch the Great Sky Artist

create yet another masterpiece for our pleasure.

I wonder how many people even noticed.
A few seconds later the scene  w-i-s-p-e-d  away.

* * * * *

Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda

Linking with Simple Pleasures

(c) Photos: Brenda C Leyland

Oatmeal Muffins on a Rainy Day

It may be gloomy on the outside, what with cloudy, wet skies and cool temperatures, but that makes it a perfect morning to whip up a batch of Hubby's favourite Oatmeal Muffins.

Crispy on the outside with a hint of chewy spiced oatmeal on the inside, these are MARVELOUS with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

Oatmeal Muffins

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Grease 12 medium muffin cups.

SIFT TOGETHER

1 cup flour

3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of cloves

Pinch of salt

STIR IN

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar

BEAT TOGETHER

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

or melted shortening

Add liquid to dry ingredients and stir only until combined.  (Batter will be lumpy).  Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for around 18 - 20 minutes.

* * * * *

Enjoy your day!
Brenda
xox

Summertime Pleasures: Two Favorites From My Library

 

 Illumination taken from An Island Garden

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that READING BOOKS is my all-time, all-year favorite pastime and pleasure.  No one ever has to 'force' me to pick up a book or go into a library or bookstore! As the seasons of the year unfold, I often find myself reaching for certain books, indulging the desire -- and simple pleasure -- to read old favorites which for me, seem to echo the season we're in.

Here are two of my summertime favorites:

One

A Gift From the Sea

by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Ever since I was a little girl, there was something about the ocean that called to me.  Living inland, it's always a real treat to visit the west coast. I love the sound of seagulls and the crash of waves against stone walls. I love the smell of sand baking in the sun and air fragrant with water and earthy seaweed.

When I read Ms. Lindbergh's descriptions I feel I am there at the seaside with her. A wonderful read if you're sitting on a windswept sandy beach or if you wish you were!
 

Two

 An Island Garden

by Celia Thaxter
Childe Hassam, Illustrator

I first 'met' this author and book years ago when it was highlighted in a summer issue of Victoria magazine.  The book, originally published in 1894 and re-issued almost a hundred years later in 1988, is beautifully illustrated by Childe Hassam, American Impressionist artist. What a joy,  delight, a simple pleasure to savor on a summer's day. Here's how Ms. Thaxter opens her lovely book:

"Of all the wonderful things in the wonderful universe of God, nothing seems to me more surprising than the planting of a seed in the blank earth and the result thereof.  Take a Poppy seed, for instance:  it lies in your palm, the merest atom of matter, hardly visible, a speck, a pin's point in bulk, but within it is imprisoned a spirit of beauty ineffable, which will break its bonds and emerge from the dark ground and blossom in a splendor so dazzling as to baffle all powers of description."

So I'm off to do a bit of reading amidst the burgeoning of garden blossoms and birdsong.  I'd love to hear about your own 'old favorites' for summertime reading!

Happy Day,

Brenda

xox