We can start with pretty pictures, like the top photo of two pink rain lilies. These flowers pop up intermittently after a good shower. Zephyranthes grandiflora are small bulbs that are easy to forget about, but they’re a wonderful surprise when they show up. I’ve never planted cleome (cleome hassleriana) before, and at first, I … Continue reading SIX ON SATURDAY: Slugfest and More
For many years, I called myself a Reluctant Disciple. It’s not that I don’t love the Lord. It’s certainly not because I haven’t seen His faithfulness in my life. My walk with God has been characterized by a lot of foot-dragging. In some cases, I’ve been pulled, kicking and screaming, into His service. Just look … Continue reading The Reluctant Disciple and The Homeless Woman
How many of you remember these two characters from comic strips of the last century? One is Pigpen from Charles Shultz’s Peanuts strip, and the other is Joe Btfsplk from Al Capp’s Li’l Abner. Pigpen was the kid who was always filthy. A swirl of dirt surrounded him everywhere he went. In fact, he was … Continue reading Pardon My Dust
Each week it is getting harder to choose just six garden things to share on Saturday. I admit some weeks, I have cheated and shown more than six photos, but today I’m trying to stick with the rules. This may be a peak time for summer blooming plants on the Gulf coast since the hot, … Continue reading SIX ON SATURDAY: June 5th – Hard to Choose Six
I had planned to blog about something else today, but it can wait. When you read this, you may think it’s a small matter, and in fact, it is relatively insignificant. But through the eyes of faith, and as a metaphor for greater things, it’s a big deal. Last week I was kvetching about looking … Continue reading Praise Report: Lost, but Now Found
I’m so pleased with the way things are coming along in the garden. The combination of blooming shrubs, perennials, and annuals is keeping things interesting for now. The back center bed may be too full, but I had to get drastic after it was hit hard by one of our hurricanes last year. The tree … Continue reading SIX ON SATURDAY: An Abundance of Flowers
I've lost something – again. It doesn't matter what the item is. The problem has interchangeable missing objects. When I don't immediately put something in its designated place, it gets stuck in the Twilight Zone. My mantra is, "I'll get back to that later." For the moment, I think the temporary holding spot makes sense, … Continue reading Lost
Today’s blog is a quick one. I’ve grouped six photos of pinks and purples growing now in my garden beds and planters. When you look at the big picture of our yard, you see lots of green. To find the colorful bright spots, you have to walk around and search out the colors. You know … Continue reading SIX ON SATURDAY: In the Details
They say, “The only sure things in life are death and taxes.” I have to add one more: change. That’s so huge, and I don’t know how “they” missed it. It may be disconcerting sometimes, but nothing stays the same in this world. Get used to it. I’m sure you can quickly rattle off many … Continue reading Ch Ch Changes (apologies to David Bowie)
In the theater, when it’s time for a character to make their entrance to the stage, someone may push them out in front of the audience saying, “You’re on!” Someone said that to my lilies this week: “You’re on!” Two of my three varieties of daylilies are blooming now. You see one in the first … Continue reading Six on Saturday: Consider the Lilies
My daylilies are just beginning to bloom this season. This week I've seen two of my three varieties open up. The third may be a couple of weeks behind. Although daylilies are perennials, they don't seem to be permanent. I've had several other beautiful varieties over the years but they died out. The impermanence also … Continue reading One Single Day
After a stormy start to this week, the past few days have been spectacular. Mid 70s, very low humidity (rare!), sunny with a little breeze. This is as good as it gets here, so I’m taking advantage by staying outside as much as possible. I’ve worked a little, sat a lot, and thanked the Lord … Continue reading Six on Saturday: Almost Too Perfect
There are several sources of sweetness in the air right now. I love the scent of all of these, but their pollen can trigger allergies too. There's always a catch, isn't there? The top photo is honeysuckle, growing along the roadsides everywhere. The migrating hummingbirds have been enjoying its nectar for a couple of weeks. … Continue reading Six On Saturday: Sweet May
You’d think by now I would stop asking, “Why?” “Why did they do that? What were they thinking?” After living this much life, you’d think I might stop being surprised. As I sat in a large waiting room last week, my Judgment Meter was registering in the red zone. We were there for over an … Continue reading We’re Dang Near Royalty
I'm excited to share Six on Saturday with you this week because some of my favorite flowers are blooming now. They are spread out around the front and back gardens, so the total effect is not a big "wow," but you don't have to go far before you come across something pretty. Right in the … Continue reading Six On Saturday: Some of My Favorites
A recent newspaper article described a local high school celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. This year’s senior class dug up the time capsule left by the first graduating class in 1971. It contained various items those teens thought would be interesting or important for a future generation to know about their life and times. Fifty years … Continue reading Time Capsule
Today’s post is short and sweet. Between thunderstorms and well, life, I’ve been planting my recent purchases. I can catch you up on some of that next week. The garden is in transition between spring and summer flowering shrubs and perennials. Buds are everywhere. The promises of May look very good. This one collage will … Continue reading SIX ON SATURDAY: Just Buds
I thought it was what I wanted, and there it was under the Christmas tree in 1965. I opened the black cardboard-ish case and proudly took out that Silvertone flat-top acoustic. $19.95 from Sears. I was a twelve-year-old girl who loved listening to the radio, and I wanted to play all those songs on the … Continue reading Sears Silvertone Guitar
If you remember my post from last month on our Gulf Coast’s Six Seasons, it won’t surprise you that we are transitioning from spring into American Summer. I feel sorry for those of you who are still getting snow, but I’ll envy your wonderful summers when we’re sweltering in a four-month sauna that doesn’t let … Continue reading Six On Saturday April 10, 2021
What better way could I choose to spend some time than strolling around the pathways of a lovely garden? That is exactly what I did this week when I went down to Bellingrath Gardens in deepest Lower Alabama. Seeing the beauty of a place like this feeds my soul. I’ll stick with the required six … Continue reading SIX ON SATURDAY: Bellingrath Gardens
A teenager sat with me in a tiny room of the residential treatment center. She was admitted to the program a few days before, and like the other adolescents there, if her parents had good insurance, she might stay there for up to three years. She showed me the scars that ran up the length … Continue reading Squeamish About Blood?
This week ushered in heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms for part of at least three days. Thankfully, we didn't have tornados as they did in the other parts of the state. I got a little work done in the yard, but not nearly what it needs. A new yard guy was supposed to start Tuesday, … Continue reading SIX ON SATURDAY: End of March 2021
My garden is requiring a lot of my attention lately, and that’s fine with me. Spring clean-up can either be a chore or a joy, depending on my attitude. This year, I’m finding most of the tasks to be a joyful process. One task I’m enjoying is pruning the hydrangeas, roses, and a few other … Continue reading Joyful Pruning
I am so excited about some new plants I bought this week at the Botanical Gardens Plantasia sale. As I tidy up the flower beds and prepare them for more spring planting, I’m planning places for my new additions. Before you see those, I want to show you some of my azaleas blooming now. The … Continue reading SIX ON SATURDAY: Some New Additions
Early yesterday morning Shep and I stepped out into the backyard and were startled by sight and sounds of a large flock of small birds flying around the side of our house. As my Australian Shepherd ran toward the backdoor, I turned the corner to see what was causing the commotion. A single mockingbird was … Continue reading One Mockingbird Against the World
Walking around my garden on these early March mornings is an adventure in discovery. New growth is sprouting everywhere. Our ornamental crabapple is in full bloom and making a spectacular show in our front yard. It's the first thing anyone sees when they turn down our street. This year's blossoms seem to be lasting longer … Continue reading Six on Saturday: New Growth
As we see the possibility of this year-long pandemic coming to a close, or at least the possibility of life returning to some kind of new abnormal, I think I’m beginning to see some things differently. I have taken too much for granted. I have undervalued big things and little things. Toilet paper is one … Continue reading Body-life is Life Together
Today is Saturday, March 6. Quick! Tell me in what season we are now. Astute thinkers might ask first, “Are you speaking of the northern hemisphere or southern hemisphere?” Ok. That does make a difference, but I’m in the northern hemisphere. The discerning reader might note that although the vernal equinox won’t be here for … Continue reading Six on Saturday: The Gulf Coast’s Six Seasons
