Blessings...

I was the very lucky winner of Carolyn's ( http://draffinbears.blogspot.com ) recent giveaway:)

The package arrived tied in a lovely ribbon with a card.

It was almost too pretty to open! Carolyn wrote a sweet note and wrapped the gift in the most beautiful paper covered in teacups and roses (my favorites)!

Inside was the most beautiful wallhanging-a small cottage with roses and a black and white cat (looks a lot like Kramer:). Amazingly Carolyn made this from dough! This treasure is precious and will look wonderful gracing the wall in our cottage! Thanks Carolyn! You are a talented, fabulous friend!

My husband planted these bud filled plants several days ago.

A few days later petals began to appear with the promise of blooms to follow.

This morning the flowers had bloomed forth in a burst of orange and white.

Some of our daylillies have also started to make an appearence:)

What a day filled with blessings from friends far away to beautiful flowers in the early morning sunshine.

God is good!

Sunday Wisdom

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense."

Proverbs 19:11, NIV

Garden Stroll

A beautiful, sunny, and very warm (ok, really hot) day led us on a stroll to enjoy the colorful blooms bursting forth from the many gardens that embellish the historic homes.

The water sparkles just beyond this flower garden.
Peeking through an old brick wall revealed the splendor of red and yellow blooms.

This garden just calls you to wander through it.

Blue skies provide a glorious backdrop to this flowering bush.

Pink flowers,

red flowers,

white and red flowers all abound.

What's this I see, a face in the tree?

A swing beckons from the limb of this tree.

Flowers reach forth past the confines of this white picket fence.

Who's this crazy flower? That's my niece who was strolling with me:)

Flowers in boxes and flowers by the porch add splashes of color to the landscape.

Flowers cascade gracefully from this flower box.

Soft yellow flowers.

Of course, after all that walking we needed ice cream to cool us off:)

Once we arrived home our garden called to us in a chorus of blooms.

Thanks for strolling with us on this beautiful spring day:)

"Why I Love Blogging" Party

Joy at http://cupidscharm.blogspot.com is hosting this wonderful blogging party! The participating bloggers are to share what it is they love about blogging:) I love blogging for a multitude of reasons!

I love blogging because I have met so many wonderful friends around the world with such beautiful individuality just like the different types of goodies found in a box of chocolates:)
I love blogging because I am able to reach out and share my life and the lives of others.

I love blogging because it takes me on paths to places worldwide, places I would not normally get to see.

I love blogging because it shines light into my life and provides an opportunity to share that light with others.

I love blogging because it gives me a chance to relax and contemplate.

I love blogging because the friends I have made add beauty and grace to my life.

I love blogging because it wraps me in the artistry, inspiration, and creativity of amazing people.

I love blogging because it is like the rays of the sun warming my soul with the kindness and faith of others.

I love blogging because it leads me to the lives of wonderful, treasured, talented, and creative, individuals that I am blessed to call friends:)

Grins and Giggles

Remember the 80's band 'Guns and Roses'?

This is our version-'Flying Pigs and Roses':)

This is a Jack Russell anxiously awaiting her mom to stop blogging and play with her.

This is a 'chill pill'.

This is Jack Russell retrieving chill pill after mom threw it (while she is still blogging-ah yes, multi-tasking, it's a gift:).

Jack Russell wanting mom's attention again but not getting it because mom is still blogging.

Jack Russell tired of waiting for mom to stop blogging and begins to de-stuff chill pill toy.

Jack Russell successfully de-stuffing chill pill toy.

Jack Russell pouting after mom takes away de-stuffed chill pill toy.

Yeah right, a 'chill pill' for a Jack Russell! It doesn't work unless you take it away!

(don't worry, I gave it back but then she de-stuffed it again so I took it away again. She has to play with another toy since she was not playing nicely with the chill pill toy:)