Guest Blogging Elsewhere: One Late Bloomer Finds Her Season

I was away on holiday when my latest Guest Post over at InScribe Writers Online was published. Now that I'm back and online again, I wanted to make the post available to you. Our writing prompt was to describe the season in which we find ourselves, both in life and our writing. I've had fun exploring the topic because I've considered myself a late bloomer on several fronts.

I used to think being a late bloomer was a negative thing, but I've come to see it in a different light. Often, we think of being 'late' as doing something after the expected, proper, or usual time. 'You're late, behind schedule, you missed it'. That's true, of course. But, think of flowers in a garden, those plants that blossom later in the season, we don't think of them as 'late', do we? We like early bloomers, mid-summer bloomers, and we're always glad for flowers that carry the season into autumn. Certainly they are late blooming, but they are not late, as in being behind schedule. In the plant scheme of things, they are right on time. They've just taken their own time to come into bloom. 

That idea changes everything, wouldn't you say? And it's most encouraging for those of us who have come into certain aspects of life later on, not in the usual time frame. Thank goodness for late bloomers in the beautiful garden of life. I think Susan Branch would see herself as a later in life bloomer. She mentions somewhere in her Isle of Dreams book that she used to encourage herself, as she edged towards turning forty and wondered what to do with her life, that Julia Child's first book came out when she was 51; Beatrix Potter married for the first time at age 49; and Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her first Little House book at age 65. Susan says, "Everyone had to grow into themselves before they could offer anything. ... And they all left behind the gifts they'd made of their lives."

That's how I feel. I find her comment so, so encouraging. Now, I do hope you'll come and say hello on my guest post One Late Bloomer Finds Her Season. If you're blooming later than usual, maybe you'll find it a joy to discover you're not alone. There's many more of us on this fine journey than first suspected.

* * *

PS. I'll be back here on Friday to share some photos and stories of our recent visit to Oahu, Hawaii.

Wishing you a beautiful day.

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Five On Friday, Maybe Six

"Flowers seem intended

for the solace of ordinary humanity."

JOHN RUSKIN

The last couple of days have been very summery. We feel the balmy air and warm sunshine as we sit on the front patio eating fresh peaches and sipping our Monk's Blend tea. It hardly seems like September when we see how the garden just keeps blooming. We think it's all that rain and cool weather we've had. Plants relaxed, having neither to fight for water nor shrivel because it's too hot. Plus, it made our world green, green, green. Trees that have struggled for lack of moisture over several years this year seemed sated and happy once again. Makes me happy.

Today's post is short and sweet, but we hope our little offerings will be worth your visit. Our thoughts are still with those dealing with Dorian. And any thought of my grumbling about any little discomfort or inconvenient thing these days dies on my lips as I remember these dear folks who are experiencing such trauma, devastation, and loss.

~ ONE ~

The last roses of summer

Yesterday we plucked the last sprig of roses in bloom from the Peace Rose. These four beauties were all on one stem. A perfect offering for our neighbour two doors down -- a token of celebration upon hearing his very good news after a cancer scare earlier in spring.

~ TWO ~

Gazanias on the deck

These have been fun to watch all summer. On the many cool and wet days, these sun loving flowers closed up and remained in tight wads. But as soon as the temperature warmed and the sun touched their petals, the daisy-like flowers opened. Gazanias need the rays from the sun in order to survive and add new growth. They've been a joy to host on our back deck. 

~ THREE ~

A glimpse of the front yard

In spring I dared to plant shade-loving begonias in our southerly facing front yard. Mostly because by the time I went to the greenhouse -- I don't plant annuals too early for risk of frost and, alas, snow -- the heat- and drought-hardy sweet alyssums which I usually get were sold out. If we would have had the usual warm summer days, the begonias would not have thrived, but as you can see in the left photo, they flourished and grew lush in our cool and rainy summer. Blessings in every port... 

~ FOUR ~

Reading Louise Penny's latest

Louise Penny fans were chomping at the bit this summer, waiting for the August release of her latest Inspector Gamache detective mystery, set in the pretty village of Three Pines. I ordered my copy from Amazon back in May, joined the 'Three Pines Friendly' Facebook page, and kept company with other fans as we waited for our copies of A Better Man to arrive.

I read it in two days and then sat there for the next two rereading the last chapter trying to prolong the ending. It's a page turner. It's in Louise's beautiful style. This story does not disappoint. Loved it. Loved how it ended. Yes, I did. Already looking forward to her next one. Thank you, Louise.

By the way, she's going to be in Edmonton, Alberta in a couple of weeks. I've got tickets! I can't wait to see her in person. I'll be standing in her autograph line for sure.   

~ FIVE ~

Taking a selfie

"Less perfection, more authenticity." Snapped this photo to show my sister my new hair cut. I was worried it was too short. But it grew on me (haha). After editing out the wrinkles, I'm posting it here for you to see too. If I'd known I was going to post it for the world to see, I'da fixed my lipstick before taking the pic. C'est la vie!

~ SIX ~

Saying goodbye

Sage

Beautiful

Sweet, sweet girl

Fun, Funny, Friendly

Happy

You were our joy

Loved by those who knew her

Will be terribly missed

Your Aunty Brenda

♥ ♥ ♥

* * *

Wishing you a beautiful weekend.

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

A Visit To A Bit of Paradise

 

“Summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”

SONNET 18, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

My goodness, I know the calendar says that we're nearly at the end of August, but surely it's too soon to be moving from summer to autumn already! As these last few days unfold, try as I might in my own mind, I can no longer hold onto the feeling that we are still in deep summer. There IS a definite shift in the air and in the lighting. And when it's not raining -- we've had a great deal over the summer -- the sun comes up of a morning casting its seasonal fiery orange across tree tops and roof ridges, hinting at the deep oranges, russets and golden leaves soon to follow suit.

Give me a few days and I won't mind at all that we're edging towards Autumn Equinox here in the northern hemisphere. After all, Autumn is my favourite time of year, as is Winter, Spring and Summer. 😊 I used to be able to say unequivocally that Autumn was my absolute favourite, but as I get older, I've come to truly love and appreciate each season in its turn, always sorry to see one season go even though I know I'll love the next one. So while we still have a few more days of summer, it makes me take out my gratitude 'butterfly net' to gather moments that still give me more time to sit on the deck, go for walks in the sunshine, listen to the kids still playing and hollering at the water park down the street. 

Yesterday was a proper sunny summer afternoon. Rick and I went to the greenhouse to look for fall bulbs -- he's been chomping at the bit the last week or so. It was a tad early as they were just getting in their shipments of bulbs. Our trip was not a waste as we took a stroll through their small but lovely botanic garden. So peaceful and soul-refreshing. We were the only ones there, except for the gardener who, though busy pruning junipers, stopped to chat awhile. The hydrangeas were especially lovely. And what a sweet pleasure to see the tiny apple orchard, several varieties laden with globes of red and golden fruit. Allowed to sample, I picked a Norland and enjoyed its sweet, juicy flesh.

Took some pictures as we walked -- with you in mind, of course. Isn't that why many of us take photos nowadays, to share them online? I wouldn't doubt if ninety percent of my photo-taking is with the idea of planning future blog and social media posts. And so, on this nearly last day of August, here are a few, just for you.......

"We might think we are nurturing our garden,
but of course it's our garden that is really nurturing us."
JENNY UGLOW

"Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;

they are sunshine, food and medicine to the mind."

LUTHER BURBANK

And so our little meander winds around and comes to the end.

Much like the meandering of this post and it's done too.

"...beauty is the homeland of the heart.

When it can dwell in beauty

the heart is home."

JOHN O'DONOHUE

Wishing you a pleasant weekend and a spot o' loveliness
where your heart feels 'at home'.

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Peace Rose: A Notecard Set

Some years ago now, a lovely blogging friend Vee hosted a Notecard Party. It was held once a month, and the rule, as I recall, was that participants were to create a blog post featuring a collection of four photos they'd published in past blog posts. It was such fun to search for photos that would make a compatible foursome. I always loved seeing the creativity of other bloggers. As things go, the Notecard Party was eventually disbanded. I was sorry to see it go.

For today, I'm resurrecting the Notecard idea. My mom's Peace Rose, which currently lives in our garden and is overwintered in our garage, has been in its glory this past week. Having bloomed in early June, Peace Rose took several weeks to regroup, and despite all the rain we've had this summer, she has given us another sublime showing over the last few days. Perfectly-formed buds opening into blossoms surrounded by glossy, bug-free leaves. 

Here in Alberta, we never take for granted any roses that make it through winter and start growing in people's gardens come spring. I never tire of watching roses in bloom, and I never tire of taking yet another photo, just in case I didn't get every angle.

The Peace rose, formally Rosa 'Madame A. Meilland', has large flowers of a light yellow to cream colour and are slightly flushed with crimson-pink at the petal edges. The rose over the decades has become a symbol of hope around the world. I think we all could use some hopeful thoughts for better days, in light of this past weekend's terrible events. If you haven't heard of Peace Rose's famous history, you are welcome to read about her HERE.

I dedicate this post to my mom, since it is her rose (we're happily the caretakers) and since Mom is a 'beautiful rose' in her own right. And now, in four delightful stages, I give you... 

Peace Rose: A Quartet

Where you tend a rose, my lad,

a thistle cannot grow.”

FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT

God gave us memories that we

might have roses in December.

J. M. BARRIE

The Rose is without an explanation;

She blooms, because She blooms.

ANGELUS SILESIUS

The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies.

Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential.

It seems to be constantly in the process of change:

Yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly all right as it is.

PAULO COELHO

A rose must remain with the sun and the rain

or its lovely promise won’t come true.

RAY EVANS

* * *

Aren't you glad for eyes to see such exquisiteness? And what about noses to smell? Her fragrance is like a whisper -- one must lean in close to catch the scent -- the way a woman's perfume ought to be, not overwhelming, just a hint on the breeze . . . soft and sweet and intimate.

 

On that note, dear friends, I'm wishing you a beautiful day.

Hugs,

Brenda

xox

Guest Blogging Elsewhere: Beautiful Words in Troubled Times

Photo: Blake Letchford on pixabay.com

Today I am guest blogging over at InScribe Writers Online. Our assignment, which I had great joy in undertaking, was to write about creating beauty with words. Right up my alley, don't you think? I thought it would be an easy assignment, since, as you know, I'm usually interested in sharing about beauty and living a beautiful life here.

As it turns out, writing the post was harder than I anticipated. C.S. Lewis captured it for me when he said, "I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand."

He was so right. Draft after draft after draft, I found myself not only searching for the right words but I kept digging into the sentences and phrases I'd typed out, trying to find the essence -- the nub -- of what my heart truly wanted to say.

Thankfully all the pieces began to fall into place. I'm so grateful for the insights and wisdom from my editorially minded sister, and also for my lovely Facebook friend, Sandra, for words she'd shared in a Facebook comment that made a light bulb go off and helped steer my post in the right direction.

I offer you The Gift of Beautiful Words in Troubled Times. I hope you'll stop by. For the link, click HERE. 

Wishing you a beautiful day.

Hugs,

Brenda

xox