Precious Days

May is filled with precious days.  Generally the weather at Harmony Hills is lovely...not too hot and not too cold.  

As you can see in the above photo the Baltimore Orioles have arrived.  They are here from May to the end of July.  I am kept busy with slicing oranges and filling up bowls of jelly.  They are gorgeous birds.  Naturally the male's coloring is more flamboyant than the female but both catch your eye when they visit.

Pink Bleeding Heart are in bloom.  Their heart shape forms make me want to pick up a paint brush.

This yellow daylily is the first to make a show.  Its petals last only a day.  Perhaps that is why it is so precious.

Woodland Hyacinths may be small but they do not go unnoticed.  They enjoy a patch in the shade which brightens the garden.

The wallflowers are adding color to the veggie patch.  Soon they will keep company with the beets and lettuce that were just planted. 

Last but not least  the blackberries are in blossom.  Hopefully they will bear lots of delicious fruit.

Yes, May is full of many precious moments.  Hope you are enjoying this special month.

Hugs

Debbie  

"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.  Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land."  Song of Songs 2:11-12 (NIV)

Mom's Day

Wishing all the mother's a very Happy Mom's Day.  May God bless you all.  Have a wonderful week.

Hugs!

Debbie

"When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."  John 19:26 & 27 (NIV) 

Grandma

 Every spring I plant pansies in memory of my grandma.  She loved all flowers but certain ones were more special than others.  Pansies being one of those.   My maternal grandmother was the perfect picture of what a grandma should be.

Her life's story and challenges keep me aware that "hard times" do not have to define us nor stand in the way of living each day well.

At the age of twelve she lost her mother to suicide (most likely post-partem depression).  This turn of events placed her in the role of raising an infant baby brother as well as caring for a widowed father.  School went by the way and therefore she only received an eighth grade education.

This did not keep her from enjoying a good book and being exceptional when it came to math. She was smart about the necessary things that it takes to survive.

I would like to say life got easier for her but it did not...the depression hit, grandpa was out of work, the war came, she lost a child and then the baby brother she had raised also died at his own hand.

During this time she walked a mile to work and stood eight hours on an assembly line at a local pottery to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.

She was thirty when she gave birth to my mom.  Because finances were tight; even though grandpa had found work, she remained employed for many more years.  

By the time I came along her health had started to decline.  This did not stand in her way though of growing beautiful flowers, sewing lovely clothes for me and my "Chatty Cathy" and cooking delicious dishes for whoever showed up to eat.

Grandma enjoyed life, she laughed a lot, and loved her family and friends.  She was a great woman of faith and always shared her love for the Lord with others.

She was the best babysitter to my brother and I. She had a way of making everything fun and would keep us entertained for hours.   As we grew up she was always a steady influence in our lives.

It has been 41 years since she went home to be with the Lord.  The passing of time has not dimmed the wonderful memories of this special lady.  I'm certain someday we will be enjoying a heavenly garden together.  In the meantime I will keep planting pansies for her.    

"She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness...Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."  Prov. 31:27 & 29 (NIV)

Simple Treasures

Thought I would share a few simple treasures as April says farewell.  

A clear blue sky...

small patch of violets...

apple blossoms...

tulips and Virginia Bluebells...

a couple of companions enjoying a sunny afternoon...

Kelsey

 

 another... 

Gunny (9 Mo)

and another.

Would love to know what simple treasures you are enjoying.

Have a blessed end of April...see you in May.

Hugs

Debbie

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

 

 

Blessings

 The blessings of spring abound... 

The flowers appear to dance and sing...

Everywhere beauty is around

Wishing everyone many blessings.  For those who are celebrating Easter - may it be lovely and full of great joy.

Hugs 

Debbie

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"  John 12:13b  (NIV)

Hope & Renewal

 For myself this week marks a season of hope and renewal.  It is Holy Week...a time for reflection and worship... a time of restoration... a time to celebrate the Resurrection.

  For some of you it may mean spring flowers...

the Easter bunny...

or the joy of warmer weather.

Whatever it is - may each of you be blessed this week with hope and renewal.

Hugs!

Debbie

"While we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."  Titus 2:13 &14 (NIV)

"April Showers ...

 

bring May flowers."   With the amount of rain we've received these past few days there certainly should be flowers in May :)!

We now are enjoying a lake front view.   Have not seen this much flooding for over a year.

 Outdoor gardening is on hold for the next few days until the earth dries out.  In the meantime have been doing a bit of reading...

painting (100 small painting challenge)...

and savoring how green the field has become.

May everyone have a blessed week.

Hugs

Debbie

"You care for the land and water it ; you enrich it abundantly.  The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it."  Psalm 65:9 (NIV)