Gratitude Monday -- Winding Down

Summer is winding down. Yesterday morning the air had a bite to it and the grass beneath my feet was crisp.
I am grateful for the change of seasons for a variety of reasons, but the main reason is it helps me to appreciate the season as we have it.
Each season has its beauty.
Summer, for instance, had this:

A Colourful Start

The recent warm weather has worked it's magic.
The flowers my husband planted along the south side of the house are up and smiling in the sunshine.
It's a colourful start to the growing season.

If Today Were A Flower…

If today were a flower would it bloom or wither?

Would you care for it and love or would you callously step it as you go about your day, never giving it another thought?
Would you look at it and bend down to inhale its sweet, subtle fragrance?
Would you look at it deeply? Or would you reach down and snap it off at the base because it was in your way?
If you carelessly trod on it would you stop and apologize and gently right it? Or would you keep going to do your important business?

If today were a flower in your path would you appreciate it for what it is or would you demand to know why it hasn’t produced any seed for you yet?
Would it be pretty enough for you? Would it measure up to your idea of what a flower is?
Or would you pick it and take it inside and put it in a vase for your own personal enjoyment until it died?
If today were a flower would you be satisfied with it? Or would you long for it to be a different flower?
If today were a flower, what would you do?

Tamed Beauty

My husband loves plants and they love him. He speaks to them and they smile and grow.
He took this photo of a mariposa lily in his garden at his mother's house outside of town.

This is a lupin with columbine behind it. It's growing in the flowerbed on the east side of our house. This photo and the other two were taken by me.

The peony at the bottom of our front steps. Yes, it's a repeat photo, but I like it and the flower is very pretty.


Old berries set against new leaves on the hawthorn tree in the back yard. Beauty is where we find it.


Summer is in full bloom. It lasts only a short moment and must be enjoyed.

Roses and Carnations

I've never thought of myself in terms of flowers so these results were a surprise.

You Are a Light Pink Rose

You represent sweetness and grace. Your vibe: Kind and gentle Falling in love with you: is like falling in love with a best friend

What Color Rose Are You?

You Are a Carnation

You are down to earth and grounded. You tend to be more traditional than trendy. Your confidence gets you through anything. People trust you and are very loyal to you.

What Flower Are You?

Reb at Sibu Pegasus Power had this on her blog today so I stole it for my own.
It was fun.
What are you?

Pretty Slippers

A slipper orchid at the recent orchid show.

The weather is supposed to change in the next little while. It'll be cold and snowy and the promise of spring will be hidden again.

This lovely flower is a reminder of the new life readying to appear.

Brightening The Day

I hope this pretty orchid adds some colour to your day and makes you smile, if even for a moment.

Pussy-toes and Prickly Rose

The flowers were in full bloom on the weekend for our mountain hike.

These are pussy-toes (Antennaria parvifolia) we found growing along the mountain path.





The prickly rose (Rosa acicularis) and western wood lily (Lilium phildelphicum) were found growing near the trail head. They seemed happy together.

I call them tiger lilies because that’s how they’re commonly known, but Mr. Goat’s Lunch Pail has degrees in forestry and botany and I promised him I’d make things right with the flowers.