Category Archives: nature

Rainy May Day French Beading

06 Monday May 2013

Posted by in beading, crafts, flowers, nature, sparkling, sunlight

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It’s been mostly overcast and rainy for at least two weeks now.

A Rainy day in May.

A Rainy day in May.

I’m discovering that the weather greatly affects my pain level, ever since having my spine fused. Despite the pain, I shall redeem this time.

Rain in May, drip drip drip...

Rain in May, drip drip drip, fall the crystal drops …

Today when the sun peeked out briefly, I stood outside even while the rain was still falling, so desperate to feel sun on my face.

Even the trees are becoming mossy from all the dampness this spring.

Even the trees are becoming mossy from all the dampness this spring.

Then the clouds moved in again and I tucked back in the darkness of my work space. But places don’t have to stay colorless and uncheered. I got out the beads.

Seed beads, mostly size 11, including Aiko and Delicas, fill a bin with color.

Seed beads, mostly size 11, including Aiko and Delicas, fill a bin with color.

Pearl, crystal and glass beads.

Pearl, crystal and glass beads.

They glistened and captured every speck of light. I didn’t want any light to get away.

Beads in a small condiment dish.

Beads in a small condiment dish.

I made petals and leaves and flower centers.

Gold and bronze bead flower centers await petals and assembly.

Gold and bronze bead flower centers await petals and assembly.

I use children’s teacups and dishes to hold flower components while I work. Here a child’s teacup holds stamens.

A small child's teacup holds white stamens.

A small child’s teacup holds white stamens.

I made

I made a cardboard insert in a bin to hold my bead bottles upside down so I can see the color of the contents better.

These vintage flower centers belonged to my grandmother. I’m looking forward to using them. Thank you so much, dear sister Donna for sending them!

I will use these vintage flower beads in French Beaded flowers and jewelry.

I will use these vintage flower beads in French Beaded flowers and jewelry.

Even though it is dark and rainy outside and there are no flowers blooming in the window, I have flowers blossoming on the table.

French Beaded flowers.

French Beaded flowers

French Beaded flowers in a shoebox await stems and leaves.

French Beaded flowers

French Beaded flowers

Figs

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in gardening, Inspirational, nature, sunlight

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Sometimes there’s a really brutal winter. The rains are torrential, the winds searing, the snow deep. But then comes the spring.

This will be the biggest fig harvest yet.

This will be the biggest fig harvest yet.

The leaves are gorgeous when the sun streams through them.

The leaves are gorgeous when the sun streams through them.

After winter, always new growth.
Fig Tree 2013-1-2
And the harvest.
Fig Tree 2013-1-5

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. Psalm 27: 13-14

Always the harvest.

The old bouquet roses have donned their jewels

26 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in All Sparkled Up, flowers, Inspirational, nature, sparkling

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Their edges are a bit crispy and tattered and the Valentine Roses can no longer hold up their heads.
I’m not about to part with a bouquet if it has even a speck of life in it.
I placed the musty bouquet on the table outside thinking perhaps a little sunshine might brighten them for a last hurrah.
But there was no sun. Instead, the sky darkened and the rain came down in streaks.

Past their prime, the Valentine roses droop their velvety heads.

Past their prime, these Valentine roses droop their velvety heads.


But these roses weren’t about to waste a good opportunity to glam up.
Like a group of aging women, they donned their crystal and went out one last time.
And I cheered them on.
Once vibrant red and perky, the Valentine Roses age gracefully in their queenly red velvet capes and dripping with jewels.

Once vibrant red and perky, the Valentine Roses age gracefully in their queenly red velvet capes and dripping with jewels.


I’m approaching the age to join their ranks. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I plan on seeing it and, even more so, participating.
You’re never, ever too old to sparkle. Don’t forget that!

Waiting for the tide

21 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by in family, Little Plastic Bears, nature

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As the sun set, she carefully positioned the Little Plastic Bears on the ship’s deck. The HMS Endeavour, a British Royal Navy research vessel from the 1700′s was the perfect vessel for The Bear’s maiden voyage at sea.

The Little Plastic Bears get ready to go to sea.

The tide shifted as the sun slipped into the clouds. She quickly positioned a Bear at the helm, studying the surf.

She watched as wave after wave teased the tip of the boat with a frothy kiss.

As the tide receded, and the sun slipped below the horizon, we realized today was not going to be the day The Bears had their grand adventure at sea. Maybe next year.

Sunset Beach, North Carolina, September 2012.

Eventually, the Little Plastic Bears will have their own website, where you can follow all their grand adventures. In the meantime, you can enjoy their debut here.

Sunset Beach, North Carolina

25 Saturday Aug 2012

Posted by in nature, sunlight

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We stayed at Sunset Beach in North Carolina for a week last September. We’ve visited plenty of times over the years but for the first time ever, we saw the kind of sunset for which the island got its name.

There are no words to describe the glorious colors and beauty. It literally took my breath away. Please click each image to see it large. At the top left of the photo will be the original size. Click that number link to see the full size photo. And then imagine this scene filling all the space and sky in front of you, with the constant and rhythmic whoosh as each wave washes ashore, frothed in color.





These photos were all taken the same evening. The colors stretched across the sky, from shades of pink and blue in the east to vibrant oranges and yellows in the west and changed by the minute. I can not believe that the beauty displayed on this earth is by chance, but rather by the artistic hand of the Creator of the Universe.

Grow where you are planted.

22 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in gardening, Inspirational, nature

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Sometimes we are where nobody else has ever been.
Sometimes the view is unexpected and we don’t have anyone to tell us what to do or how to do it.
Sometimes we don’t know how to put down roots.
Sometimes we are making completely new paths that have never been trodden before.
Sometimes we make paths that no one will ever follow. And it’s just a path for us.
And sometimes we’re scared.
But growth doesn’t stop. For now, grow where you are planted.

Grow where you are planted.



 

Figs!

17 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in gardening, nature

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The first year there were no figs. Last year there was barely one spoonful of tiny figs. But this year, after a mild winter and plenty of cool, spring rain, there are figs!

We do not know what kind of fig tree this is. The figs are plump and healthy. And within the reach of any hungry deer… which I am praying does not happen!


We don’t know what species this fig tree is either but it’s much taller than the other one. We will need a ladder to pick the figs when they are ripe.



“A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’
“And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”
From Luke 13:6-9


The first year there were no figs. Last year one tree had no figs and the other had one taste. This year is promising.
We just had to wait.