Forgotten

"When life takes the wind out of your sails, it is to test you at the oars."  ~Robert Brault

The quote has nothing to do with the photo.  I just liked it and thought I'd share it with you.  Happy Wednesday.

Sunshine and Shadows

"Keep your face always towards the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you."
~Walt Whitman

Added a texture to this photo.  It helped bring out the barn a little.   

A new day

"It's wonderful to climb the liquid mountains of the sky.  Behind me and before me is God and I have no fears."  ~Helen Keller

Sparkling

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us."  ~Helen Keller

Some berries on the tree in the side front yard of the new house.   

Bougainvillea

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 The Bougainvillea bush in the backyard at the old house.

Falling

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me,

Fluttering from the autumn tree."

~Emily Bronte

Another photo of the Chinese Tallow tree and the big red barn in the background.  I took this photo a couple of days ago before most of the leaves fell.  You can see them on the ground beneath the tree.

The Tree

Happy Thanksgiving!

"There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it." ~Minnie Aumonier

Home Sweet Home

"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~Henry Van Dyke

This is our home.  That is until December 3rd, when we will move about 65-70 miles north of Wimauma to Spring Hill.  The first photo is looking out over the back of the property and the second photo is the front of our home.  When you step out onto the back porch you see the big red barn in the distance.  The early mornings here can be magical.  The sun comes up over the trees casting shadows and light and a lot of mornings there is a mist that adds to the beauty.  I will surely miss this piece of land and the little home that sits on it.  It will be hard to leave but I've made a promise to someone that I will try and be happy about the move.  I'll try and accept it and do my best to be happy at the other house.  As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches I'm trying to remember the things I have to be thankful for like my family and all my friends near and far and for finding a house that will accept Charlie and Annie.  Wishing everyone a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving and may all of you be spending it with the ones you love and where your heart is.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Love,

Sweet Rose

"The perfume of roses are like exquisite chords of music composed of many odor notes harmoniously blended."
~N. F. Miller

Autumn Flowers

"And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

~Anais Nin

Autumn Beauty

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile."
~William Cullen Bryant

The Bougainvillea bush is still blooming.  I thought this was lovely and wanted to share it with all of you.  Happy Tuesday. 

Autumn Grace

"No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace
As I have seen in one Autumnal face."
~John Donne

As far as I know this is a Chinese Tallow Tree.  It's my favorite tree in our yard.  I love it in the Spring when the leaves are green but as the temps here in Florida start to fall some and November approaches the leaves start to turn beautiful shades of yellow, red, orange and gold.  As you can see it's quite beautiful.  I spent a good part of the day outside standing around and under it snapping away.  By December 3rd we will no longer live at this address and my Tallow tree will remain behind for the next owners.  If only I could take it with me.   

A little bit of Autumn

"Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
fluttering from the autumn tree."
~Emily Bronte

The leaves are from a tree in my backyard. 

Morning

"The sun is but a morning star." ~Henry David Thoreau

Keeping Watch

"There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before."  ~Robert Lynd, The Blue Lion and Other Essays

Cosmos

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

~Robert Brault

This little Cosmos grew from some seeds that my Dad threw out in the front flowerbed.  At first we thought nothing was going to grow but then a tiny sprout appeared and then another and another.  I created the b&w for a blog I contribute to called "The World in Black and White".  Wishing all a very happy and wonderful week.

Light

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

~Henry David Thoreau

This is a Plumbago flower.  The original was pretty but I'm so obsessed with the glamour effect that I had to use it.  It gives the blooms a dream like appearance and I like that. I hope it isn't too bright.  Happy Wednesday!

Sea Oats

This past Sunday I journeyed to Emerson Point Preserve.  It's a nature preserve where you can hike, bike, picnic and swim.  There were mounds of sea oats growing along the beach.  I thought they were pretty blowing in the breeze. 

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined." ~Henry David Thoreau

Fungi

This little mushroom sprouted up in the front of the house.  We've had a lot of them lately. Must be due to all the rain we've gotten. The quote has nothing to do with the photo.  I just like it.

"If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever."

~Winnie the Pooh

A little sunshine

As planned I went to Emerson Point Preserve today.  The only flowers blooming were the Beach Sunflowers. 

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched -- they must be felt with the heart."  ~Helen Keller

 

Saturday

Today was a nice hot muggy summer day. It did rain a little but late in the afternoon. Earlier in the day I was able to get out around the property but no where else. Nothing really new caught my eye except for some Ibis birds sitting atop a tree. I've not decided if I"m going to post the photos of the Ibis birds. I don't really like them that much, the birds that is. I also took some more photos of the Bougainvillea. It still has only one cluster of blooms on it. This is the same cluster I took photos of last week. I can see that they're beginning to wilt but they still look pretty. I can't believe Saturday is almost over. Sunday will be here and then the week will start. I'm not ready to go back to school or work. I'd love to say what's going on there but due to the possibility of leakage I'd better not.

Charlie and Annie were as adorable as ever today. Charlie didn't want me to get to far from him while we were out walking the property. He's such a Mama's boy and Annie is a Mama's girl. They are so sweet and lovable. I sure do love them. I think I'll try and take a little trip tomorrow. Maybe I'll go to the preserve in Manatee county that I like to visit. It's called Emerson Point. It's actually a very nice place to spend time nature watching and walking. I'm definitely not going into the deep part of the trail. There are way too many spiders for my liking and we all know how I feel about spiders. If one got on me I'd kill myself trying to get out of there. I think that's the plan if it doesn't rain.

Well I think I'll end on that note and get ready to turn in. I've got a little homework to do and I do my best work at night. I'm sure I'll fall asleep while trying to get it done. I always do. Have a great night and a wonderful Sunday everyone. Take care.


EDIT:  As I sit here finishing up my post the thunder has started and its pretty loud.  I guess there is a storm in store for us tonight.  Hopefully its a fast moving one and will be out of here shortly.  

"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you." ~Maori Proverb

It's a great day

I think today is going to be a great day.  The rain looks like its stopped for now and things look to be drying up.  The sun is actually shining right now and I can see blue sky from my bedroom window.  Besides watering the grass, flowers and trees the rain has brought the tropical birds out.  The pond across the road has been filled with Herons, Egrets, Ibis and ducks for the past few days.  I look forward to getting out a little later today and seeing what I can snap a photo of.  Took the pups out for a walk around the property this morning and snapped a couple of photos of a butterfly and a vine growing on our fence near the back of the property.  Dad was out mowing the back and Charlie and Annie who hate the lawn mower with a passion (and I don't know a dog that doesn't) stuck to me like glue.  Annie is the most afraid and would come hide in front of me as I looked over the fence into the ditch that runs side the property.  She was sure to keep me in between her and the mower and didn't take her eyes off of it.  Nothing too great to see.  I was a little disappointed but it's a ditch what was I expecting.  I will say that the dragonflies are back in force and I did see a couple of spider webs with a very menacing spider in each.  I took a couple of photos but I'm not a fan so I won't post them.  I'm terrified of those things and taking photos and looking at them later might help me with my fear.  In my dreams.  Those creepy crawly things are hideous.  Apologies to all the spider lovers but I firmly believe that the only good spider is a dead spider. 

This is the butterfly I found this morning.  I don't remember the name of it but isn't it beautiful?  This one was flying just above the ground on the little plants growing along the side of the front ditch across the road.

I really like this photo or the subject in it.  I thought these leaves looked like hearts and I love how they get larger in size as they go down the vine.  There are a lot of these vines growing along side the ditch.  And this particular type of vine has overtaken my post in the back.  They'll die back soon and I'll be able to see the post again.  I have no idea why I'm so infatuated with that post but I am. 

Charlie and Annie are asleep.  Charlie is under the desk at my feet.  Every once in a while I'll rub his tummy with my foot and his leg will start shaking.  I know he wishes I wouldn't do that but he has such a cute tummy and it's so soft that I can't help it.  Annie is lying on her blanket next to me and is also asleep.  As I sit here and write this post clouds have blocked the sun and now I fear the clouds are coming back to release more rain upon us.  The property is already saturated that half of the lawn near the house cannot be mowed.  Hopefully it's just some stray clouds that won't amount to much and the sun will be back out soon.  

Charlie has stirred and moved from under the desk to my bed (maybe I should say his bed).  He is such a bed hogger.  Annie has also moved to the hallway. I think she's guarding the door.  Errand time.  I've got to go to the bank and deposit my paycheck.  So until next time have a fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by.

"A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken."  

~James Dent

Possibilities

I have no idea if this is a weed or wildflower but I like it.

"Our aspirations are our possibilities."
~Samuel Johnson

Annie

This is Annie. She is such a sweet girl but boy is she stubborn.

"All God's angels come to us disguised."

~James Russell Lowell

Butterfly Moments

"The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough."

~Rabindranath Tagore

I'm not sure what kind of butterfly this is.  I took the photo a few days ago out walking in the backyard. 

Charlie

I believe there are more than angels watching over me.

Chrysanthemum

I will be the gladdest thing

Under the sun!

I will touch a hundred flowers

And not pick one.

~Edna St. Vincent Millay, "Afternoon on a Hill"

I took this photo a while back and thought I posted it on my other blog but I can't find it there.  So I decided to post it here.

The Wagon

I tried to find a fitting quote for this photo but nothing seemed to work.  So I chose one that I liked.

When the world says, "Give up,"

Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."

~Author Unknown

Sunrise

I'll tell you how the sun rose a ribbon at a time.  ~Emily Dickinson

This sunrise was taken from my back porch.  I remember standing out there watching as the colors changed and the clouds slowly drifting in and then out. 

Everything has beauty!

I'm not sure what kind of plant this is but I like it.  It grows in a field near a pond across the road from my home.  I've taken many photos of it and even as it nears its end it is still quite beautiful. 

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. ~Confucius

Horse

My horse's feet are as swift as rolling thunder

He carries me away from all my fears

And when the world threatens to fall asunder

His mane is there to wipe away my tears.

~Bonnie Lewis

Begin at the Beginning

"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop." ~Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland

I am not an Alice in Wonderland fan.  I really don't like the story at all but I do like this quote.

The Sweetest Things

"Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into." ~Henry Ward Beecher

The Moon

"The moon is at her full, and riding high, floods the calm fields with light. The airs that hover in the summer sky are all asleep tonight."
~William Cullen Bryant

Loveliest of Lovely Things

"Loveliest of lovely things are they On earth that soonest pass away. The rose that lives its little hour Is prized beyond the sculptured flower."  ~William Cullen Bryant

Horses

"Somewhere in time's own space
There must be some sweet pastured place
Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow
Some paradise where horses go,
For by the love that guides my pen
I know great horses live again."
~Stanley Harrison

Shadows and Light

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." ~Ansel Adams

Textures courtesy of Shadowhouse Creations .  This is another photo looking back of our property.  The land was covered in frost this morning and the sunrise created interesting shadows and light on the ground.  I also added a glamour effect to the photo.

The Butterfly

"May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness and riches

Today, tomorrow and beyond."

~Irish Blessing

Cobblestone Bird II

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~E.E. Cummings


I went out exploring in the backyard today. This mockingbird flew into an Oak tree and I circled the tree numerous times trying to get a good shot. I was finally obliged.  Texture courstey of Shadowhouse Creations.  I also added a cobblestone texture as in the previous bird photo.

Rose

How cunningly nature hides every wrinkle of her inconceivable antiquity under roses and violets and morning dew!  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Texture courtesy of Shadowhouse Creations.  In addition to the texture from SC I added a canvas texture.  

Cobblestone Bird

Be like the bird that, passing on her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing that she hath wings. ~Victor Hugo

Texture courtesy of Shadowhouse Creations.  In addition to the SC texture I added a cobblestone texture to the photo.  Hence the title. 

Light

There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.  ~Edith Wharton

Texture courtsey of Shadowhouse Creations.

What's in a name?

What's in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.  ~William Shakespeare


Texture courtsey of Shadowhouse Creations.

Under the Stars

I often lay on that bench looking up into the tree, past the trunk and up into the branches.  It was particularly fine at night with the stars above the tree.  ~Georgia O'Keeffe


This photo has a snow texture applied to it but to me it looks like millions of tiny stars shining down.

I Am Only One

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.  And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can.
~Helen Keller

Misty Morning

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.  When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.  ~Ansel Adams


Texture courtsey of Shadowhouse Creations.