Lady Peony

The beauty of Spring continues with the arrival of Lady Peony.

One of my fondest memories growing up in Colorado was the arrival of the peonies my mother nurtured every Spring.  She had the most beautiful range of colors in white, pink and a gorgeous burgundy.  Well, I can say I have not the variety of my childhood, but just having them bloom in my garden each Spring is just invigorating.  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Please join me for image-in-ing  and Mosaic Monday  It's great fun!

 

Spring With the Dogwood

A dogwood's blossom

Wonderful and beautiful

She announces Spring

~~~~~~

Having been raised in Colorado, the dogwood was a rare sight.  I'd really not experienced her beauty until we moved to Indiana.  And here, when spring arrives, the whole of the state blossoms.  She is in my neighbor's yard, along the highway, and on every hillside.  Spring becomes a joyful season for me when I see her blossoms!  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!!

Roses Are Red

Just after the rain

She cradles water with care

Tender are her ways

~~~~~

I have been enamored  of roses since I was a child.  They always look dainty and elegant. What they don't want to let you know is how how strong they really are.  My dad nursed his roses with tender loving care (along with his begonias).  When it came time to work in the garden in the spring I had my own garden plot in which I was allowed to plant zinnias.  When I was old enough Dad taught me how to prune the roses and then was able to help him. . .I still had the zinnias.  And so my love of roses!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

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A Visit to Baton Rouge Louisiana

Visiting family is so grand!!  And so, before the weather got too hot  and we had the time my brother, Phil, and sister-in-law met us in Baton Rough, Louisiana to visit our brother, Tom, and his family.  It's a lovely city on the banks of the Mississippi not far from New Orleans.  So as always happens, we were given a tour of some of the  beautiful places in and near Baton Rouge.

 Old State Capitol Building

Baton Rouge Louisiana

The Old Louisiana State Capitol is an historic building, and now a museum in Baton Rough, Louisiana.  It housed the Louisiana state legislature from the mid-19 century until 1929-1932.  The building was added to the National Registry of Historic places in 1973.  It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

Interior of The Old State Capitol

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Rosedown Plantation was built in 1835 by Daniel and Martha Turnbull, over the span of six months at a cost of $13,109.20.  This was a cotton plantation and consisted of 3,500 acres and 215 slaves.

They raised three children on the plantation, two sons and a daughter.  Their youngest son died of yellow fever at the age of 7 and their oldest son drowned in a boating accident at age 27, leaving their daughter Sarah as their only remaining heir.

Sarah married James Bowman from the neighboring Oakley Plantation, and together they raised 10 children, 8 girls and 2 boys.  Their 4 unmarried daughters inherited the property, living at Rosedown until the last  Nina Bowman died in 1955.  After the Civil War, former slaves became sharecroppers at Rosedown.  Sharecropping continued into the 1950's.

in 1956, Rosedown was purchased by Catherine Underwood of Houston, Texas.  Ove the next 8 years, Catherine had the plantation restored, opening Rosedown to the public in 1964.  The Underwood family maintained Rosedown as a tourist destination until 1994 when it was sold to a Georgia business man.  The state of Louisiana purchased Rosedown in 2000.

Statues are reproductions of original Italian statues.  

Purchased in the 1850's.

Fountains near the summer houses.

Azaleas and camellias in bloom

It was a beautiful place to visit and a grand way to spend time with family!  I'm sure everything is just exquisite later in the Spring, but I was happy to be there when we were.  It wasn't to hot or humid!  

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Catthy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.

Pink Flowers

With Petals of Pink

Blossoms bursting with beauty

Glory be to God!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

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May Flowers

Aw Spring!!

The maple tree in our back yard is so very lovely in the Spring.  It's color is not nearly as beautiful in the Autumn.  There is glorious color today and I will cherish it.

Roses and Gerber daisies are my favorite at this time of year.  I just add to that list as the seasons merge and share their own colors.  I'm looking with anticipation for the blossoms on my daisies.

Azaleas - whitest of white!

White as the drifted snow

Fresh-fallen out of the night,

Before the coming glow.

Tinges the morning light;

When the light is like the snow,

White,

And the silence is like the light:

Light, and silence, and snow, -

All - white!

by Harriett McEwen Kimball 

And I cannot tell you how I treasure the azaleas and their blossoms!  They are so very exquisite in their shape and color.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please join me for Mosaic Monday, Through My Lens, Travel Tuesday, and Our World Tuesday.

Springtime on the Ohio

It's been a wonderful weekend and as I was sitting at the computer I thought I'd just take some time to play with some photos!  Yesterday we took a walk to the river.  It was about 3:00 in the afternoon and the weather was incredible.  I got this photo as we were walking back home.   I'm not sure why, but there is a beautiful orb in the lower left.  Thought it was a problem with my camera or lens, but none of m other photos taken at that time have the same artifact.  At any rate, it was just the most wonderful day to walk!

So I took the above photo and thought I'd play with PicMonkey to see what I'd get.  Well, there is a new effect called Edge Sketch and the result is below.  That is the closest I will every get to "painting" an abstract picture.  And, it was fun!!

Along the way, I took some other photos of the Spring that has finally arrived here.  All of nature's most beautiful colors were on display!  Indeed, it was grand!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Today, I have a frivolous post to share with Mersad.  I invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  There are wonderful posts there.  

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

I think you should take some time to visit Imagin-in-ing.  You're sure to enjoy it!

Spring, Glorious Spring

It Must be Spring

by May Fenn

Hush, can you hear  it?

The rustling in the grass,

Bringing you the welcome news

Soft, can you feel it?

The warm caressing breeze,

Telling you the sticky buds

Are bursting on the trees.

Look, can you see them?

The primrose in the lane, 

Now you must believe it-

Spring is here again.

The Bee

by Emily Dickinson

Like trains of cars on tracks of plush

I hear the level bee:

A jar across the flowers goes,

Their velvet masonry

Withstands until the sweet assault

Their chivalry consumes, 

While he, victorious, tilts away

To vanquish other blooms.

His feet are shod with gauze,

His helmet is of gold;

His breast, a single onyx

With chrysoprase, inlaid.

His labor is a chant,

His idleness a tune;

Oh, for a bee's experience

of clovers and of noon!

Wishing all a glorious week filled with blossoms and bees, and the aromatic fragrances only Spring can supply!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God

Cathy

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

I will also be joining Laura at I Heart Macro to day too.  Why not stop by and enjoy!

Floral Haiku

Lavender and pink
Air is filled with fragrances
Sweetest Aromas

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

I'm joining for the first time Little Things Thursday.  Drop by by and visit!

A Daffodil Day

The bee's are buzzing

Daffodils are blooming

Spring is all the rage!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Butterflies and Flowers

Awoke this morning to 7 inches of snow in Indianapolis.  We drove 3 hours south and west, home to Newburgh to still frigid temperatures...I do wish it were spring!

So while waiting I'll just dream of those gorgeous blooms just waiting to "spring" forth!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.

Mosaic Monday...Hoping for Spring

Enough Said!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Cathy

Please visit Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.

Anticipation Sunlit Sunday

Look forward to sunlit days where flowers abound!

 Wishing all a beautiful Sunlit Sunday!!!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Cathy

Pleases stop by and visit Karen at Sunlit Sunday.  Stop by and offer your bit of sunshine today.

Enjoy another puzzle.  This one from a photo of a great restaurant

in Rapid City, South Dakota 

Still Spring

It's still Spring. . .

Spring

Spring is life
Spring is hope
So is love and
happiness.
Spring renews.
Without spring,
life is forlorn.
Spring is nostalgia
after bitter storm.
Put spring in your heart 

Archie Greenidge

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy
Visit Macro Monday,  too.  Lisa has a wonderful time planned for you.  The pictures all are an inspiration!

Bird Nest Anthology, 2013

This was a journey. I discovered this bird nest last Fall. It was in a tree outside one of the windows where I work.  I so enjoyed watching the changes as they took place.  I could hardly wait until Spring when I just knew Mama would arrive to set up housekeeping.  Much to my chagrin Mother Nature takes care of her own and so I discovered that She decorated and camouflaged the wee nest so that I could not photograph Mama and her brood.  I've seen her nesting, but only in the shadows.  It's been quite an adventure!

It's true Spring is for the Birds!!!!

~~~~~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Visit  Macro Monday  Lisa has a wonderful time planned for you.  The pictures all are an inspiration!

The JOY in HAIKU

Today I join Meri for Share the Joy Thursday.   For I believe we need to find it in my life every day no matter the realities in which we live.  God is Good in so many ways even in times of trial.

Joy comes in many forms.

And this day has the potential of
being just as grand as
celebrating the beauty in
the gifts of the garden.

I must be open to it!

~~~~~~~~~~

                                   

Wondering if Spring would ever come.  But sure as the sun rises in the East so will the blossoms of Spring burst into being!  

Garden of the Soul
Roses ever bloom
Even with the weeds.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

I'm also joining Lou Ceel at Haiku Friday.  Come play with words.  It's such a joy!!!

Haiku My Heart

Spring blossoms unlocked

Sweet aromas everywhere

Rest in the beauty

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!!

Cathy

Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 

Mosaic Monday/Macro Monday

I thank you God for this most amazing day,
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, 
and for the blue dream of sky and for everything
which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. 
~e.e. cummings~~

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Must add Happy Birthday to Laura, my oldest! Thanks be to God in all is glory for she is a treasure!

Now please visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.

~~Haiku My Heart~~

The fragrance so sweet

Wonderful honeysuckle

Aroma from Heav'n

The air is washed in the sweet smell of the Honeysuckle.  If only this fragrance could linger through the summer.  It smells so very fresh and clean!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Visit also Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart.

Mosaic Monday

The year's at the spring

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in His heaven -

All's right with the world!

~Robert Browning~

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!!

Now please visit Mary at The Little Red House and share in the beauty offered there.   Lisa at  Macro Monday  also has much to offer.  The pictures are grand.