Slowly but surely she made it known that her body fits the space way better than my plants.
I concede.
Pineapple claims the planter. For now, I concede.
Pineapple wins
15 Monday Apr 2013
Category Archives: nature
The old bouquet roses have donned their jewels
26 Tuesday Feb 2013
Posted in All Sparkled Up, flowers, Inspirational, nature, sparkling
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, 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.
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 in family, Little Plastic Bears, nature
Tags
bears, hms endeavour, Little Plastic Bears, ship, sunset, Sunset Beach, sunset beach north carolina, vacation
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
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.
Stormy Sunset
23 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in nature
Grow where you are planted.
22 Tuesday May 2012
Posted in gardening, Inspirational, nature
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
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.
Bird on a Branch
07 Wednesday Mar 2012
Posted in nature, Spoonflower
The bird was chirping so cheerily! I couldn’t get close enough for a good photo but did get a quick pic before it flew away. This photo will be the basis for a bird silhouette fabric to add to my collection on Spoonflower.
Bird on a Branch.
Early Morning Sun
05 Monday Mar 2012
Posted in nature, photography, sunlight
I don’t know why I got up so early. I didn’t have to drive anyone anywhere.
I don’t know why I looked out the window to the back corner where the tire swing hung instead of getting a cup of coffee and sitting at the table.
I don’t know why I picked up my camera and stumbled out into the cold fog and walked across all that wet dew, soaking my shoes.
But when I got there, I knew why I was there. Some places are like that. You have to get there first, and then you know.
The day is still damp with dew. I will not disturb this morning tire swing.
Please click the photo if you want to see a much larger version.
Beautiful Seashell
24 Friday Feb 2012
Posted in All Sparkled Up, Inspirational, nature
Tags
All Sparkled Up, beads, God, inspirational, seashell, walking
I keep this little seashell by my computer and use it to hold things temporarily. I’m usually weary by the end of the day so I drop my earrings here. If I find a bead that got away, it gets dropped in the shell too. Eventually I empty the shell and start over. I also empty the shell just when I want to see the words.
Seashell holding earrings and beads
Beach days only come once a year or less so I was very sad the day started out difficult. Beach days are supposed to be perfect. As I walked on the beach last summer, I glanced down and picked up a pretty shell. I turned it over and saw these words.
“I’m watching over you.”
I stopped walking instantly and looked around.
Who could have dropped the shell? None of the few groups on the beach seemed likely. And of all the people walking on the beach, why didn’t any of them pick it up before me? I stared at the shell. I had trouble believing the message was for me. Slowly, I let go of doubt and fear and accepted it.
God was watching over me.
He knew my difficult morning. He knew my struggles. He understood my fears and doubts. And he wanted me to know, when I least expected it, that he was watching over me. He was watching over me when I was far down the beach. He was watching over me as I reached down to pick up the shell. He was watching over me as I struggled to believe that He was there.
That day I picked up the shell on the beach, I accepted the words. But now, I am placing the shell back on the “beach”. Like a million grains of sand, a million blogs glisten on Internet Beach. And out of all the blogs on the internet, you ended up here at All Sparkled Up. This photo is for you. These words are for you. It is not by chance you are here. God wants you to know that he is watching over you. When you’re distracted and busy, when you’re exhausted and in pain, when you’re hurt and lonely, God is watching over you.
I'm watching over you.
All Sparkled Up 