Be a Lily in the Valley

 

We do the most for God's great big world,

when we do our best right

where we are.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment

before starting to improve the world."

 Anne Frank

Now is that moment 

♥

to be a lily in the valley.

We're leaf ' ing!

Happy May 1st everyone!

It's so nice to see the leaves again!

The green grass, green leaves, green canopies along the highways

all make me smile and so happy...

...that it's May!

Wishing you a May filled with sunshine

on the inside and on the outside!

Wishing you JOY

always,

Thank you Sky Watch Friday...for helping me always look UP!

A Focus on the Eternal

Nestle all of your tomorrows

in God's strong arms

help us to live free for today

~

As we focus on the Eternal,
may we grow to possess the holy habit of internal contentment

{Enjoying the sweet birdies in my back yard and the book Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow}

...and Sky Watch Friday...

helping me to always look UP!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

a smile and a wink

I stepped out last night to look at a couple

of

heavenly bodies...

...and they winked back at me!

It was Moon and Jupiter.

I said, "just a minute guys, I'll be right back with my camera!"

They waited ever so quietly as the winds kept the clouds away.

I snapped a half a dozen pictures and then thanked them for posing so sweetly.

If it's a clear night where you are, go outside and look UP!

It's a real WOW moment.

What a beautiful universe God made!

~

“The moon, like a flower

In heaven's high bower,

With silent delight

Sits and smiles on the night.”

 William Blake

Early Signs

The northeast has had AMAZING weather.

Today it was in the 60's!

Early signs of spring are everywhere these days.

Doesn't God know know how to decorate for spring!
It's beautiful!

Last year's lil' crabapples dangling like red earrings, new spring buds and aqua skies.

Aqua and Red

And now we know why we love these colors together!

Look at the red new buds on this tree!

The crocuses are opening up... 

After I cropped this photo, I noticed a bee doing some early spring work!

This was fun to see.

And, YES! I did hop on the squares :o) 

That's a must!

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:

when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.

-Charles Dickens

Spring has returned.

The Earth is like a child that knows poems.

-Rainer Maria Rilke

May we find the hope of spring blossoming in our hearts

like poetry!

Have a wonderful week, dear friends 

♥

Enjoy more sky views by visiting
Sky Watch Friday!

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Climb Every Mountain!

My sister and brother-in-law

LOVE

The Adirondack Mountains.

Hiking up Mt. Marcy was their first date ♥

Climbing Mt. Allen {above} is in their future.

 *

My brother-in-law climbs even when it's below zero.

* * * Brrrrrrrr  * * *

These are photos he took on two recent treks,

..Mt. Redfield and Mt. Cliff...

Their goal is to climb all 46 Adirondack Mts.

God bless them!

*

Barry's commentary on his recent climb...

"Revenge is mine, and then some! 

A few weeks ago ice on Cliff got the best of me, but yesterday was a new day.  The hike was 11 hours and 18 miles long.  We wore crampons the entire time. Snowshoes carried but not needed.

It was a zen hike for sure.

Redfield measures 4606 feet and is the 15th highest peak in NY.  Cliff measures 3960 feet and is 44th of the 46 highest peaks.  For me that was number 37 and 38.  Only 7 more to go to earn my 46er."
 

"...Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

 Isaiah 40:31

Thank you for sharing your amazing photographs, Barry!

It's great to enjoy your adventures from a warm and cozy location :o)

Happy weekend to all my friends and family who love nature ♥

love DOES exist

We love because God first loved us.

1 John 4:19

 

And think not you can Direct the course of love, 

For love, If it finds you worthy, Directs your course.
Kahlil Gibran

 

A thing of beauty is a joy forever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness.
John Keats

Wishing you

love and joy always,

     ~Maria

{Photos taken July, 2011 at the Lady Bird Gardens ~ Austin, Texas}

summer fruit, flowers and treats

f.r.u.i.t

f.l.o.w.e.r.s

t.r.e.a.t.s

My photos today are from the gardens around the home
of my father-in-law, Gerry and his sweet wife, Ann.
They helped organize a huge family picnic
celebrating all the July birthdays!

In summer, the song sings itself. 

~William Carlos Williams 

Wishing you a beautiful song
that lasts all summer long.

Green Is Back!

. . . and I'm lovin' it . . .

This weekend, I visited Amanda.

On Saturday, we took a 3 mile walk up and down 

"Walkway Over the Hudson." 

It's a wonderful repurposing of an old bridge.

 It was splendid to be in the sunshine again!

Happy Sunny Weekend Northeast!

. . . and we can all shout . . .

Praise the Lord!
♫

Rain, Rain Go Away!

The last few days were hot {85° F. in my classroom}

and very, very humid.

We've had lots of

rain!

I like waving good-bye to that kind of weather.

~ but ~

it's been nothing compared to what the south has endured.

  

 I pray for all of you who have been devastated by the severe weather

and tornadoes.

. . . Wishing all of you sunny weather . . .

. . . and most of all . . . 

wishing you love, comfort and joy,

Visit Sky Watch Friday for amazing skies the world over!

 

Thank you Sky Watch Team!

- Photos taken April 28, 2011 -

Happy Spring!

A little something warm

{hydrangea candles}

a little something sweet

{chocolate tulips, bunnies and M & M treats}

Photographed at Fresh Market on Sunday.

*

Warm weekend  breezes melted all that snowing.

Mountain streams are finally flowing,

and tiny buds are shyly showing.

Candles

Chocolate

Snow

. . . Slowly melting into joy . . . 

Have a wonderful first day of spring everyone!

~Maria

ps.  Did you see the heart in the stream?

Get Warm {Hug a Mug}

 This Friday,  it was blustery and cold,

so we warmed up at our local Coffee Café.

 *

. . . Today . . .

. . . as I drove home from work . . .
I could almost hear
the STOP sign howl at the 30 mph wintry winds.

...STOP...

{at Dunkin' Donuts!}

luckily

I had my steaming hot French Vanilla Latte to hold

{an even better treat for .99}
and my fleecy car blanket on my lap
*
It's amazing how a hot cuppa coffee can turn a blustery day around!
 * * *
* *
*