Bites of Life from Marylou Hershberger
At least a little visual of it, anyway. This only scratches the surface of the surface of all that happened last year. I enjoy seeing photographer’s “best of *insert previous year*” photos. I decided to include some of my best and favorite shots of the year, as well as a few other random shots of life.
January
This month began on the beach and ended Continue reading “2016 Year in Review Part 1”
If you are one of those blessed enough to have excess peonies blooming in your back yard right now, be thankful. 🙂 Let me share this little tip with you for when you have a chance to bless others with them.
I have a peony plant, well actually 2 of them now. The success of the first one to bloom has been nearly zero. I did get this beautiful solitary bloom last spring about half way through my chemo treatments. I counted it a gift!
This year the plant, once more, produced buds but they didn’t bloom. I had even transplanted it to different spot. I had treated it with a fungicide that was supposed to help the problem. Still no blooms. Even the 2nd plant purchased that was supposed to be specifically for zone 9 didn’t do anything. I’ll give that one a few years to get established before I give up on that one.
I was in Utah recently visiting family. At my uncle and aunt’s house, a beautiful bouquet of pale pink peonies greeted us from their spot on the dining room table when we first arrived.
She made the “mistake” of saying they had so many they didn’t hardly no what to do with them, or something similar and I offered to take a few of her hands. 🙂 Last year I had ordered some blooms online for my mom. They had come nearly disappointingly (at first) as closed buds, no moisture, stems sealed with wax, in a box. After I clipped the waxed ends of and put them in water, they did quite well!
So when I offered to take some off of my aunt’s hands, I decided to try the same thing. I forgot to take pictures of the process, partly because it was late-thirty til we clipped the buds just before going to bed, and we had to leave at 3:45 the next morning for the airport. I chose mostly closed buds but some were partially opened. I clipped them as along stemmed as possible, dipped the stems in wax from candles that had been burning. I put them into a rubbermaid-type container, similar to a cupcake pan. I laid them in there and put a few clothes inside to protect it in case it got banged around (checked luggage). When I got home the next evening, they had fared the trip home pretty well. I wonder what TSA thought when they opened my suitcase. I know they did because the card they put inside checked luggage was there.
I had some fun with them when they were all opened up, a few days after getting home.
The only downside that I can think of is that they don’t stay good long enough. Sigh. The are like a lot of other flowers in that regard.
I am so grateful for those who share their beautiful blooms with me! 🙂
The beauty that does exist in spite of it being a fallen world boggles my mind as to what a perfect world would look like. One of the things I loved about the Sight and Sound’s In the Beginning show (I didn’t see this live, only saw the dvd version) was the idea that in the beautiful, perfect, sinless world were very large flowers. I never considered flowers that were 10 times larger than we have now. Imagine being able to use a gardenia for a pillow! That may or may not be how it actually was but it is fun to imagine!
Savannah has old beauty in its architecture and history. Springtime lights it up with flowers and brilliant new greens. There is really no off season for Savannah, but spring it is at its peak, in my opinion. I was there over Easter weekend with my sister and niece. It was fun to enjoy it with them!
Prepare for a photo overload!!
This first grouping is all taken around Forsyth Park.
I could just stare at this place all day!
This next set is from W Jones Street. It is a quiet residential street and has some of the most beautiful places.
Savannah has lots of humidity, and with lots of trees shading the area, viney things grow like mad.
Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room is located at 107 W Jones Street. If you want delicious, southern cuisine in an interesting and laid-back setting, this is the place to go. Be prepared to either arrive early and wait until opening time, or waiting in line to get a seat once they’ve emptied a table. They’re only open M-F for lunch, hence the high demand.
You’re welcome! 🙂
SPRINGTIME IN GLORY
There is a happy land of sunshine I know,
Free from all sorrow, pain and care, (From pain and care,)
The blessed land where the chilly winds of death never blow
It is Spring time forever there.
Chorus:
Springtime in Glory
Always Springtime in Glory
Where the flowers are blooming rich and rare (so rich and rare)
Where the happy angels are singing,
Bells of Glory are ringing,
It is Springtime forever there.
Youthful and happy, none will ever grow old
Out in that lovely land so fair.
So bright and fair.
The land where there is no suffering from hunger or cold.
It is Springtime forever there.
Chorus:
Springtime in Glory
Always Springtime in Glory
Where the flowers are blooming rich and rare (so rich and rare)
Where the happy angels are singing,
Bells of Glory are ringing,
It is Springtime forever there.
There is no weeping in that home of the soul
No death to bring us to despair (to bring despair)
The land where all will be glory while the ages shall roll.
It is Springtime forever there.
Chorus:
Springtime in Glory
Always Springtime in Glory
Where the flowers are blooming rich and rare (so rich and rare)
Where the happy angels are singing,
Bells of Glory are ringing,
It is Springtime forever there.
Copyright Presley/Stamps Baxter, SESAC
I believe Georgia is prettiest in the spring. I love the beautiful flowers, the sunny days that are void of humidity. It’s the kind of weather that I hope Heaven will have.
This is the 4th or 5th spring in a row that we as a church family have said good-bye to a loved one (2 years ago it was my dad). Nearly 2 weeks ago our former pastor’s wife slipped away after 4+ years of battling an untreatable illness. The last number of months the pain had been between intense and unbearable. Through her suffering her focus was fixed on Jesus and the glory waiting. I was so challenged by her focus. She told her pastor-son, “Now don’t you pray for healing for me! I’m ready to go Home!”
It was definitely a challenge to me. Is it possible the more we (Christians) suffer, the less attached we are to a fallen world? Suffering comes in many sizes and shapes. We live in a fallen world. There is a better one coming for the believer. Christ suffered in unspeakable agony to give us Eternal Life. Can we bear suffering with longing for Home?