Nature...

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Day 30

Nature

The backyard at my brother's cabin.

Amazing, isn't it?

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Beauty by the sea...

Happy Saturday, dear friends!   Do you have any plans for this weekend?  The sun is shining and there's a gentle breeze here.  In other words, a perfectly perfect morning.  This is the first morning I went with iced coffee when I woke up.  That's my way of knowing summer is truly here, when hot coffee is not as appealing as iced coffee first thing in the morning.

R took this photo with his phone on one of our recent beach walks.  I think this raspberry shade of hydrangea is my favorite.  This was a huge gathering of hydrangea bushes just steps away from the sand.  A bounty by the sea.  Completely gorgeous.

I hope you have a beautiful day...Don't forget to take the time to stop and enjoy nature, dear ones.

Thank you for taking time to stop by...xo
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Here's to Happy...

Squirrel Portrait Photo courtesy of National Geographic

Happy Friday to you all, lovely friends! If this photo doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will. It’s such a fun and happy picture, isn’t it?

I’d like to share a little advice with you today. I know, there’s nothing worse than unsolicited advice…but just in case you’re feeling blue, blah, in a rut…anything that you sense is keeping you from being all you can be, I would like to offer a possible solution. It’s simple and it’s free (unlike Miss Lucy, I won't charge you a nickel) and it can only improve things.

Take a portion of your day and give it to yourself. Go outside and take a walk. If you can find even 20 minutes a day to go outside and walk, you will immediately feel a lifting of your spirit, and the evaporation of a dark mood or sadness.

Honestly, I can speak from experience. A while back, I was feeling sort of blue. There was no particular reason for it. I thought perhaps it was related to my physical female goings-on, if you know what I mean, ladies. When I talked to my gynocologist about it, she did what doctors should do; she asked me some questions and offered some suggestions. We came up with a plan that worked best for me personally, but I’m convinced it would work for anyone who has the physical ability to put one foot in front of the other. She suggested I get out and walk instead of getting my exercise solely from the indoors elliptical. It wasn’t a matter of not being fit physically. It was a matter of being out in this beautiful world more, taking in nature, putting all the work/stress related to-do list stuff on hold for a short time, and just…being. It had an amazing affect on me. This was 8 years ago, and I still follow her advice. I realize this can’t be the answer to everyone’s problems, but it just may be your answer….

I hope you will give it a try…you’ll find that your walks will become a wonderful addiction. They will get your creative juices flowing, feed your soul and certainly help you sort your thoughts for the day. Perhaps these walks will become opportunities to treasure hunt along your path for marvelous little bits of nature’s treasures or excellent photo opportunities, as well as a healthy part of your life.

So there you have it, dear friends, a little true blue advice from Mama D. Because I love you…xo

My Daily Visitor...

My second video. This little hummingbird comes by every day. It's not the best example of her in action, the lighting's off, she's half hidden, but I was happy to get it.

Most early mornings and late evenings you will find me sitting on my back patio. It's a peaceful, lovely way to begin and end a day. I'm familiar with many of the creatures out there. They are creatures of habit and I can pretty much rely on them showing up on schedule.

There are two little hummingbirds that frolic and feed and zip around my backyard. I think they are young siblings, but I can't be sure. A male and a female. The female will come very close to me and feed at the feeder while the male comes close to her to chatter what I think is a warning that she shouldn't be so close to me. He scolds her and then flies to a branch at a safe distance to watch her. They chase and play and chatter right in front of my eyes. Sometimes they give me a Top Gun fly-by that sounds like two mini jets buzzing past my head. It's really magical.

One day my son was standing out back talking to my husband. My son's legs were wet as he had just been swimming. That little female hummingbird came right up to his leg and drank a drop of water off it! We couldn't believe our eyes. And of course, I was kicking myself for not having my camera at the ready. He later said something tickled, he looked down to see the hummingbird and was in a state of disbelief.

If you have the time, and the space, I sincerely suggest you spend a few minutes (or as much time as you can spare) each morning and evening outside, quietly observing nature, reflecting, and relaxing. It's the best medicine. Happy Monday, sunshines!

Yesterday....

I Held a Jewel by Emily Dickinson

I held a jewel in my fingers
And went to sleep
The day was warm, and winds were prosy
I said, "Twill keep"

I woke - and chide my honest fingers,
The Gem was gone
And now, an Amethyst remembrance
Is all I own

Ode to Spring...

I Meant To Do My Work Today
by Richard Le Gallienne

I meant to do my work today,
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.

And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand--
So what could I do but laugh and go?

~These are some photos I took this week...

Nature ~ Through the eyes of my 11-year-old son...

This summer, my husband and young son went fishing at a local state park which has a beautiful lake. While there, my son took some nature pictures which I think are completely beautiful. Okay, I may be a wee bit biased, but truly, they are inspiring to me. I thought I'd share them with you and hopefully, you will feel inspired too.

See if you can find the bumblebee in the second photo...