"Beach Morning Glorys"

Growing up in the country, we all knew about Morning Glory plants. We planted seed in the spring of the year and by mid summer they covered everything in their pathway. Here in Florida, the Beach Morning Glory, (so many similarities) is a tropical creeping vine that grows on upper parts of beaches, a widely distributed salt tolerant plant. Photo taken at Bungalow Beach Resort on Bradenton Beach, Florida. On early morning walks, these beautiful plants were always in full bloom.
One cannot fix one's eyes on the commonest natural production without finding food for a rambling fancy.~Jane Austen

Beauty Shop Chair

Painting by Vikki North

When a woman sets in a beauty shop chair, she expects a miracle and usually gets one. Generations of women have brought their daughters to this place to begin a ritual defining a coming of age, a passage or beginning into womanhood. From the young lady's first visit on, she will learn how to care for her hair, her skin and her nails (toe nails and finger nails). She will learn by listening and looking at magazines of hair styles, and fashion. She will learn beauty shop talk about girlie things. She will learn unnecessary things about movie actors and actresses. She will come into the shop with great expectations. Each visit she will receive a most glorious procedure of hair washing, done by expert hairdressers trained in this art. Magical hands will place her in an hypnotic state, lasting five minutes or more. Scissors, blow dryers, curling irons, hot rollers, perms, up-dos, hair spray, gels, frosting, highlighting, acrylic nails, and hair dye are all words she will hear. Most of these words will become familiar to her and be used by her at some point in her life...hair dye in the later years or her mature years. She may even hear words like Botox, see "big lipped women" and girls with purple hair. Yesterday, was my day for beauty shop glamour. I was not disappointed and came away feeling happy, feeling much prettier. I was pleased with the girlie talk, the hypnotic hair washing, the sounds of scissors and my my new hair style. I went there expecting a miracle and got one.

Words

A writer lives in awe of words for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator.~Anonymous

Abandoned Houses

Some years ago, I was a painter. Never an artist, just a painter. I was intrigued by old abandoned houses, and on road trips would stop to observe them and take photos. I think I was drawn to such places, not only by my curiosity of a forsaken place, but for the wonderment of how it all began and how it came to end. I wanted to paint on my canvas, the story, the whole story. I haven't thought on this for some time, but more recently, I've become curious once again about such places and my old desires to paint old shacks and houses has somehow been renewed. Once upon a time, these homes were new. They had smells of new wood, the windows had clarity that allowed the outdoors to come inside. The kitchen perhaps held a family that was happy, that sat at the breakfast table and planned the day. A mother hung out wash that may have included diapers, coveralls and linen. They may have had a girl child, that set under a tree in the yard, reading books allowing her to dream of one day becoming a wife, a mother, a writer or a school teacher. A boy child may have helped his father plow a field, hoping to one day have a field of his own to plow, a wife and a family to care for. What happened in their lives that allowed the house to become old, the wood to rot, the windows to break? I think life took directions they could never have expected.

Abandoned Houses

Abandoned houses are illusion reaching its end;

Wind and rain and time root for the ground.

They have the calmness brought by defeat,

the bearing of farmers who are whittled

and resist no more than enough.

See how easily the earth takes them back;

an eye here, a bone there, the same rite

as with the animate,

The open windows are in the flight path of

night tired and bound for home.~Zorika Petie

Little Mockingbird Family

Baby Mockingbird....Lolly-pop tree with Mockingbird nest....

This morning, I was determined to finish setting out new bedding plants in the area of our garden we call the courtyard. Even before breakfast, I gathered all my tools and began working. I began digging under the Tangerine tree easily recognized in the photo as being shaped like a lolly-pop. The fruit has never tasted good, and we've always thought it a Tangerine tree that thinks itself a Lemon tree. Under the tree we've set out large Philodendron plants and Snow bushes. Anxious to add color beneath the tree, I began digging holes and planting pink Periwinkles. In no time at all, the tree seemingly came to life with the sounds of birds....soft baby bird sounds and very loud mama bird and daddy bird sounds. The area above my head was filled with activity of birds swooping and flying back and forth. Let's just say the kind of activity that makes the hair stand up on your arms, was happening. Finishing in record time with my planting, I backed away from the area. Although they may not realize it, we are quite happy to have the little Mockingbird family make their home in our garden.

New Summer Designs

It's not unusual for me to make a few seasonal changes in the decor in my home. I've found that my love for white, the lightest possible color, allows me to play with my palette in so many beautiful ways. With selections of whites, my cottage being small, appears airier and seems to radiate the light. I'm really pleased and having fun with the introduction of black for the summer.

How Often Do You Pray?

Chinese Christian man praying....

How often do you Pray? The question was asked in April's issue of Reader's Digest, and it seems that most likely where you live, may have an influence on how much you pray. A global survey revealed folks in the East out prayed those in the West. At least 66 percent of people in Malaysia, the Philippines and India say they prayed each day. Sadly, in Europe....the opposite. In the United States, 55 percent of Americans pray daily. I may suggest that certain circumstances could change these statistics and even to the extreme. I've seen it happen before....September 11, 2001, a day we Americans all prayed together. In desparate times we were on our knees. Perhaps it's not quite so obvious as a plane hitting a building, but some of our citizens are going through tough times.....we need to get back in praying position....people need the Lord.

Periwinkles...A Remarkable Garden Presentation

Periwinkle in shades of Fuchsia.....

Sweet hanging basket of pink Periwinkle.....Very pale pink Periwinkle flats ready for planting....

I've been visiting the flower nurseries for weeks now, hoping to find flats of Periwinkles. Finally they have arrived and in some of my favorite pink colors. Early tomorrow morning I will bring out my gardening tools and proceed to line the walkway, in the courtyard, with lovely pink flowers. Each spring I go through the same routine, and am always pleased with my efforts. Periwinkles are drought resistant and require very little attention during the summer's heat. One little plant will produce an amazingly large display, so I will place them a foot apart. I also have placed hanging baskets in a few places, with Periwinkle of different colors. Each new flower in the garden, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem, always surprisingly makes a remarkable garden presentation eventually. click on photos....

Hill Of Crosses-Lithuania

Tens of thousands planted on a hillside in Lithuania. They began appearing in the 14th century and today pilgrims continue to bring crosses to this place.

Popovers

Odd that I should come across a recipe for "Popovers." I haven't thought of them for many years, and prior to now, all the way back to seventh grade Home Economics class. Not a difficult thing to make, a combination of flour, salt, milk and eggs, mixed together, they turn out quite a tasty bread. Hmmm..Home Economics...I wonder if they even teach this in public school now days. A study that deals with the management of the home, including such topics as cleaning, handicrafts, sewing, clothing and textiles, cooking, nutrition, food preservation, hygiene, child development and family relationships. The bottom line is, it prepares students for homemaking. What a brilliant concept is that? I for one think it a worthwhile thing for both boys and girls. Can you just imagine how much better equipped for marriage young couples just might be, should Home Economics be taught? Add to the curriculum "Budget Keeping and Banking 101" along with basic moral values of honesty and kindness. Do you think just maybe we might have a better world?