Fourth of July

Today is the Fourth of July in the United States.

It's Independence Day and a federal holiday so no banking, library visits, and many other businesses not operating as usual.

July Fourth focuses on celebrating the Declaration of Independence on this date in 1776.  

A total of 13 American colonies, at that time, cut their ties with Great Britain, thereby creating the beginning of the United States of America.

There will be parades across the country.

People will be celebrating.

There will be flag waving, barbecues, and picnics.

It is a day to remember, for sure, and also to celebrate, and to be thankful for.

The Blessing of Flowers

One of the best parts about going to a Trader Joe's specialty food store is looking at the gorgeous flowers they always have.

The prices are not bad, either.

The sign at the top of this post hangs on a wall above a vast array of blooms in every color, shape, and fragrance.

This takes place in a  Trader Joe's in Albany, New York.

Ohhhh, the roses are supburb, as are the pink peonies, and all the rest of the exquisite flowers, as well. 

Thanks, Trader Joe's!   

Being constantly curious, the thought of who Luther  Burbank, a name at the bottom of the sign, happened to be. 

According to Wikipedia, Burbank worked as a botanist, horticulturiswt, and pioneer in agricultural science for 55 years. 

Born in 1849, in Lancaster, Massachusetts, he grew up on a farm and was the 13th of 15 children.

He moved to California where he spent his entire career.  He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants, working primarily with fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables.

He died in April of 1926 in Santa Rosa.  

Now, one of his quotes hangs on a plaque, hung on the wall, above beloved flowers, in a Trader Joe's in Albany, New York.

Signs with a Message for Life

Seeing signs that carry messages for one's life is fun.

When first reading the above sign, which hangs in my daughter's sunroom, the message resonated.

Just recently, an article noted that people who go outside, even for five minutes, upon waking up, have a better day.

Mother Nature brings us all kinds of gifts----fresh air,  blue skies, trees, flowers, shrubs, birds, small animals like chipmunks and baby bunnies, and on and on.

It makes sense to go outside for even a short time, particularly in good weather.

It's there, while listening to the twittering of birds, that we "lose our minds and find our souls."

P.S.  According to Wikipedia, John Muir, born in Scotland in 1838, was an American author, botanist, environmental philosopher, and zoologist, among other titles.

He strongly advocated that wilderness be preserved in the United States.

He died in Los Angeles in 1914 but his legacy lives on.

DO YOU REGULARLY GO OUT AND ENJOY THE GIFTS OF MOTHER NATURE?

Sunday Blessings

Each day of life is a gift.

So many people went to bed last night and some never woke up.

That's how fast we can be whisked out of this earthly life.

One of the best ways to start the day is to thank God for the new day of life before even getting out of bed. 

We can make the most out of our Sunday.

In addition to keeping holy the Lord's day, we can help honor Him by thinking of others;  helping someone in need; being cheerful; offering a helping hand to a person who lives alone; easing the difficulty of being a single mother by offering to take her kids to your house for an hour and that is just the very tip of the iceburg.

May your own Sunday be filled with blessings and may you experience His presence in your life.

Let the miracles begin!  

 

Fresh Air and Sunshine

One of the first enjoyable moments each morning is opening the screened front door.

It's refreshing to let in air and in the morning it's never too hot.

As the day goes on, the door shuts and the split unit on the wall gets turned on to cool the place down.

Looking out on the tiny strip of grass in front of the apartment, the first thing seen is the huge pink petunia plant purchased from a garden center a couple of weeks ago.

Oh, she's a beauty and so huge!

She filled the entire back seat of the car.

A nearby hummingbird feeder gets plenty of customers throughout the morning. 

What a joy it is to see those tiny creatures with what looks like vibrating wings!

They stick their long beaks into the metal flowers on the feeder and drink away.

Ahhhhh.  Early summer is a lovely gift.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR?