This book is a wonderful inspiration.
Please share a copy with any young woman who feels limited by her circumstances.
What a brave and talented woman Maria Merian was.
Hooray for Maria. Another hero for all.
FLOW
Another Favorite Book
Uncategorized
A Realist and an Idealist Clash
Nobody welcomes a reality check, no matter how much one is needed.
It is easier to see things the way you want to see them.
It is nice to ignore the ugly parts and focus on what is pretty.
My mind will not let me ignore things that need fixing.
My brain also knows when all the effort I can muster will not fix what is broken.
That is where I am today. I am accepting the fact that some things are broken.
This is my reality check. I am home letting it sink in. I guess we will be coasting from here.
Mama is 91. She refuses to stand and walk. She does not want to. She has that right.
My sitting by her bed and watching her not do physical therapy will not change things.
While Daddy was dying he kept telling me, “Take care of your family.”
I have spent weeks with Mama hoping she will improve. She is better mentally, but her fear prevents PT progress.
Rose needs me home. Mr. Flower needs me handling things here. I make a difference here.
I will be accepting the things that I cannot change. This is not the ideal, it is just what is real.
FLOW
An Anole at Rehab
There is a lovely courtyard at the rehab facility where my mama is getting physical therapy after breaking her hip.
My favorite resident in the garden is an anole. He enjoys sunning on the warm head of a statue there.
Nature saves my sanity.
FLOW
Erasing a Problem
I am at my mama’s house. I do not have all the proper supplies, so I must improvise.
FLOW doing improv.
Daddy’s Last Iris
Reading While Not Gardening
Mama broke her hip.
I am staying at her house.
My garden is growing weeds while I am away.
I am doing some reading while mama does some healing.
Hi Ho! That’s how it goes.
FLOW
From My Silly Past: I Miss That
Happy Easter from FLOWER
My Heart is Still in Winter
My heart is still in winter, tho my flowers say it’s spring.
I am surrounded by cold realities that I cannot change.
I do not have the power to thaw my frozen, fearful heart.
Life is precious. The fragile need protection.
I am hunkered down for a bit.
Holding my budded heart closely.
Waiting for a safe time to open.
I have faith in spring, even now.
We will endure. We will bloom again. We will grow.
This I know.
FLOW
The Koi at the Castle
We never make a trip to Biltmore Estate without visiting the Koi ponds. Lately we have only visited the gardens, not the castle, so we start at the Conservatory. The koi ponds are up a hill near the house. Seeing the Koi is worth the climb.
There are fish of all sizes and colors. Some are habituated to being hand-fed and come to the edge if one stands still. I love this because it gives an opportunity to see them close up.
The biggest fish are over a foot long. There are many smaller members of the schools.
My favorite Koi are golden yellow. I was thrilled to spot one.
My family has koi in much smaller ponds, so we spend time here visiting these fish each visit.
FLOW and fish
floweralley 