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)

Encouragement

 I was thinking about the word encouragement today.  It is the opposite of discouragement.  It is easy to become discouraged from time to time.

  Many things can be the cause...health, finances, family situations, relationships, etc.

Whatever the reason; we can be given a new perspective by a spoken word of encouragement.

In fact when I speak something encouraging to someone else it works as a cure for my own discouraging moments.

It changes the thought process of thinking only about myself and makes me look for the good in another's life.

I start to see the positive and not the negative, the good not the bad, the light and not the dark side.

So if anyone is feeling discouraged today perhaps you can find someone around you who could use an encouraging word.  I can guarantee that you will feel encouraged as well.

God Bless!

Debbie

"Therefore encourage each other with these words." 1 Thess:4:18 (NIV)

Do You ever wonder...

why the sky is blue...

certain flowers flourish in the heat...

others not so much.

Why a butterfly selects the common clover for its nectar...

or one type of tree bears apples...

and another peaches.

Finally what makes this a cat

and this a dog?

Silly questions for sure.  Yet if we had the answers to these - then perhaps we just might have wisdom to solve the bigger concerns that this life holds.

Thank you for letting me share my wondering with you.

Have a blessed week.



Hugs
Debbie

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9

July's Colors

Here at Harmony Hills the colors of July are making their debut.

Brilliant burgundies and peachy hues harmonize with subtle blue greens.

Buttercup yellows...

Soft pinks...

as well as brilliant oranges make this month's color wheel vibrate.

Oh and lets not forget lavender.  It is needed to complete the show.


Hope you enjoyed seeing July's palette of colors.  

"The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now...Your life will always be filled with challenges. "   Richard Carlson


Hugs Debbie

Hello!

 

August hello! 

 July... You left in such a hurry I didn't even say goodbye.   Where does the time go?
It is good the garden makes note of  these fleeting days.   The Rose of Sharon above has started to bloom.   The hummers love this shrub.   So do I.

 

Sweet smelling garden phlox provides nectar for the butterflies and bees.

 

  

Sunflowers grow strong and give seed for the birds that stop to visit.

 

 

 

Daylilies continue to show off  their bright colors.

 

I am thankful that the garden keeps track of the time. 

 

Hope you are enjoying these summer days.

God Bless ! 

Unexpected Visitor

While I was on vacation an unexpected visitor stopped by.  I had been painting outdoors.  It was one of those days out of time.  A perfect afternoon to do something one loves.  




  

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Larkspur and pansies were blooming in the garden.  They begged to be painted.  

How could I resist?













Taking a brief moment to step back I caught sight of my winged friend.   He had lit on my practice page.   He seemed intent on checking out the colors .   Wonder if he approved?  

Normally I have to sneak up slowly to catch these flying flowers on film.   Not this one.   He was quite happy to pose.   So glad to have my camera close at hand.

Maybe he will be my next subject to paint.


Hope you are enjoying these visitors too.  Have a great day.

                 God Bless!