Roses from Heaven

Many years ago, my late husband planted rose bushes in the yard of our home. 

Roses were his favorite flowers.  

When he died, almost six years ago, my daughter dug up the rose bushes before the house was sold. 

She planted them in her own garden.

For the last five years, the rose bushes grew and looked green but produced no flowers.

She called me recently to tell me some astounding news.  

The rose bushes all bloomed this spring and every one of the roses is pink, my very favorite color!

My late husband knew that.

My daughter is as thrilled as I am and gifted me with a bouquet of the pink beauties. 

She even added a couple of pink peonies that my late paternal grandmother loved so much.

I split the bouquet and put flowers into a tall green former olive oil bottle and some smaller ones in a tiny vase.

Of course, when I look at them, the roses make my eyes fill with tears, remembering my beloved husband, who, it seems, sent roses from heaven!

Mini-Miracles Every Day

For several weeks now, it has been a practice to write down any mini-miracles that happen during any given day.

Every day brings some and acknowledging them lifts the spirit and shifts negative thinking to thankful thinking.

Today's miracle is the arrival of two plastic bins from a rented (expensive) storage unit.

It has been being emptied little by little and there were five plastic bins left.

Today, my daughter and son-in-law surprised me with two of the bins.

The other three they placed in their cellar until I can retrieve them.

My expensive storage unit is now CLOSED forever.

Oh, what joy it gave me to go through some of the bags inside one bin that have been tucked away for at least three years.

My all time favorite doll has surfaced!

She was given to me by a very dear friend who died several years ago.

The dolly is sooooo pretty, with beautiful eyes, and a lavender dress and feathered hat.

The dress definitely needs a good washing.

Today's mini miracle is a real blessing and fills my heart with love and deep gratitude.

"Just in Case" Vase

One of the challenges of being older is saving the smallest things that might someday be "useful."

One such item is a tiny bottle, not more than an inch and a half tall. 

It has a glass handle and a top that screws on.

It is the absolute cutest thing. 

It's been up in a kitchen cabinet for ages.

Recently, it came down at last and got put to use.

Some pink petunia blossoms fell off the gigantic petunia plant recently purchased. 

Picking up the fallen blossoms, I brought them into the apartment, put some water into the tiny bottle, and added the blooms.

Voila!  It is a mini-bouquet!

DO YOU STILL SAVE THINGS "JUST IN CASE?"

Perfect Pink Petunias

 Petunias are one of the stars of the flower world.

They are beautiful, give off fabulous fragrance, and are easy to maintain.

There's a farm stand that sells drop dead GORGEOUS petunias in huge pots.  

For many weeks now, I have been eyeing those lovely flowers.

Yesterday, one big, billowing pot came home with me. 

She took up most of the back seat of my old car.

She's now standing, in all her glory, on a tiny grass strip in front of the apartment.

A solar light has been jutted into the ground in front of her so she is even lighted up at night.

There is also a hanging plant out there, plus the hummingbird feeder. 

God's blessings are abundant and perfect pink petunia plant and hummingbirds are blessings readily able to be seen and enjoyed for many weeks to come.

Beauty, Beauty Everywhere

 

It's true there is beauty everywhere.

The key is to recognize it.

This week, while stopped at a red light, I turned my head to the left and saw the gorgeous display of flowers shown at the top of this post.

They were planted in the center space between two streets.

Volunteers plant flowers throughout this Western Massachusetts city and they do a stellar job.

Seeing those simple, colorful flowers lifted my spirit immediately.

Flowers truly are food for the soul.

WHAT IS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL YOU HAVE SEEN LATELY IN YOUR OWN CORNER OF THE WORLD?