Showers & Sunflowers: June 2010

LOOKING OUT

Outside is a whole other world than inside's dinner to be made, TV watching, laundry and dishes to do. Sometimes when I'm running around inside getting "things" done, I may hear a bird singing or the rustle of wind in the trees, and will often stop to look out the window for awhile. A short break from the mundane life of indoor "things" getting done, a nature call or refreshing scene for the eyes and ears.

These moments are when I enjoy watching the antics of the bunnies who visit our yard daily, watch the birds a couple of feet away in the trees, or witness the sun hitting the leaves making them so bright against a dark sky as a storm is rolling in. And if nothing else, just taking a deep breath and smelling the fresh air and getting a whiff of the flowers or that delicious scent just when it starts to rain.

Think of what I'd have missed if I didn't take a break from scrubbing my bathroom out or doing battle with my indoor dustbunnies!

My love of nature is a bit of a conundrum for me. It's frustrating when you really enjoy the sound of the breeze and birdsong, but can't be out in the heat and sun and are terrified of wasps and other flying stingers. I often say that if I just had a big screened in porch with a good fan in it I'd probably never again do housework or laundry during the summer. :-)

At the end of the day the world outside is just as enticing to witness. Sitting and resting my aching feet in front of the TV I have a perfect view of our side door out back, which faces, of all things, the sunset.

I'm a sucker for sunsets and sunrises.

They're pretty enough on their own, but when the golden and pink hues are shining through a multi-coloured glass door it's impossible not to take a few minutes to watch it.

Sometimes I think Mother Nature watches over me, and puts sights and sounds in my way to remind me to slow down and enjoy that world outside of my humble little indoor domain.

Thank you, Mother Nature.

Have a great week everyone, and don't forget to smell the flowers while you are taking good care of each other!

PEACE!
Love Jude

LEARNING TO FLY

Across the street a Mommy and Daddy Magpie had babies, and they are now learning to fly. They keep bringing the babies over here to our huge old Blue Spruce tree outside my bedroom window. There is a lot of shelter and saftey there, and it's fun to watch them.

Magpies are, however, extremely noisy! Turn up your sound to listen to this short video:

Today the parents decided to move the babies to our backyard (and neighbours) for awhile, they have since moved on to somewhere down the street, I can still hear them calling but it's not so loud with them being further away.

Yesterday I saw a couple of crows out front and the parent Magpies were swooping them and screeching at them, while the babies were in my tree calling, most likely frightened. After a few minutes the crows finally flew off and peace was once again restored. I was terrified a crow was going to kill one of the babies. :-( Crows can be nasty, they've often dived at me repeatedly when I'm just walking to work. Obviously they had a nest nearby high up in a tree, but I just kept going, it wasn't like I stopped. And still, they pursued me for many blocks before they gave up.

I don't think it will be long now and the magpie babies will be booted from the nest and on their own. But for now at least, we hear their constant calling to their parents, and vice versa. Nature can be so cute!

I hope you're all having a good week!

PEACE!
Love Jude

"EARTH" CONTEST WINNERS

Congratulations to the winner and runners-up, a fabulous job! There was no way I could have chosen just one photo out of the entire bunch, the entrants all did a great job.

Thanks to our voters ~ and stay tuned for the end of June and the next contest, "Water".

Peace!
Love Jude

RAINY GARDENS

We've been getting a lot of rain/sun combination here of late, and it's actually a very good thing for lawns, gardens and trees. They love it!

After a full day of rain, yesterday morning when it was down to just a drizzle I went out with my camera, mainly to look for a good water-drop-shot for the next photo contest ("Water") but enjoyed shooting the rest of the gardens too.

Here, you can see my Dwarf Lilac has it's teeny tiny pink flowers blooming (left), the Asiatic Lily plant has buds that will soon bloom, and the Iris has it's purple flower buds already just about ready to open. Now we just need some weeding and more blooming.

These Iris' come up every year, just like our Lilies, without us ever really doing anything to them, they're quite hardy for this climate's winters.

Hubby got a really good start to weeding and getting the flower beds all pretty tidy before the rains set in, once he's got some time and everything dries up a little bit hopefully he'll weed again and then we can get some annuals in.

With my arthritis et al, I can't do the outdoor work as getting on my knees and bending so much won't allow it. But thankfully he loves the gardening work, he just needs the time for it. Normally he has his 3 weeks vacation right now, but this year he has to wait until some time in July, so it's all behind. Still, the perennials are looking great out there!

All of the "early" spring flowers have long faded away, but the late spring lilacs are still hanging in there! It's still a VERY young plant, but the flowers we do get on it smell sooooo deliciously good.

Of the 3 lilacs we bought a couple years ago (this one, and 2 Dwarfs, the little Pink flowered one out front, and another white flowered Dwarf out back that still hasn't flowered) this one is my favourite for it's scent and flowers.

Some flowers are beautiful for their looks, others for their scent, and some, like the lilac, is wonderful for both. When you bring some cuts into the house it's better than any air freshener.... even the ones I make! LOL

In other news, it's been confirmed that I do have Fibromyalgia, no surprise there as with the constant pain and other issues I've been suspecting it for years. I'm going herbal again, and hopefully in the coming months it will help. (Omega 3 Oil and oatmeal)

Also, I've gone off Lipitor a few months ago for cholesterol as it started to affect my muscles greatly (badly!) especially in my arms. My doc has me started on a weaker med for it, one that he assures me won't affect my muscles. Also I've gone with some herbal help there too.

Current Photo Contest:If you haven't already, head over to Stardom Awaits! and vote for your favourite "Earth" theme photo. The voting is open for a few more days!

Have a great weekend everyone, and take good care of each other!

PEACE!
Love Jude

"EARTH" PHOTO CONTEST

In upcoming contests there are 4 themes we will be having, 3 of which are "Water", "Fire", and "Air". This is the first of them which is "Earth". There are some beautiful shots here too!

We have a new entrant (we're back to 10 of us now) and I think you'll enjoy her perspective. So welcome, Elizabeth!

So if you'd like to participate in the voting process please go on over to Stardom Awaits! and cast your vote for your ONE favourite photo.

The voting process will be open for 2 weeks at which time the tallies will be done and the winner(s) posted. Thank you! And good luck to all the entrants!

As usual, here are a few of my shots that didn't make the cut:

Earth's Toys