Sunshine and Roses

Today I'm very grateful for the sunshine (after a few days of dreary, cold weather). My body doesn't deal well with the unsettled, cold, low atmospheric pressure days, so I plan to soak up as much sun as I can today.

A few years ago I struggled with growing roses. They were in my front flowerbed, on the south side of our house which is sunny when the sun cares to shine in our part of the world. I could not understand why they were doing so poorly. Eventually I realized that the two trees in my front yard were providing shade during the heat of the day, which was great for keeping my house cooler on hot days, but did nothing for my struggling roses. I moved them to a sunnier location and enjoyed their thriving beauty last summer.

Human roses, like me, and you (?) need lots of sunshine too so we can be at our best. Don't forget the sunscreen. I'm off to soak up some rays!

The Gratitude Garden

When toxic weeds threaten to choke out and destroy
all the goodness you've planted in the garden of your life;

Apply a simple, cost effective, home-made solution.
Choke out those destructive weeds with a thick layer of gratitude.

The weeds' poisons will turn to tonic.
Weed stock will become fertilizing compost.

Shower your life with prayers of blessing;
Fragrant flowers will blossom to heal the wounds of your soul.

Pouring Lemons?

Today it poured. Rain, snow, sleet, hail...all at once, leaving piles of white stuff on the lawn and wherever the wind blew it.

This is May, for goodness sakes...we are supposed to have sunshine and flowers, so I was taught as a child. But then, I grew up in SE Alberta in near desert conditions during the summer so it probably doesn't apply to Calgary.

I grew up with the phrase, April showers bring May flowers.

I suppose in Calgary it's May showers bring June/July flowers.

I'm so glad I was taught to make lemonade when life gives me lemons.

I am grateful for flowers whenever they arrive.

Thanks for Red Lights?

I never dreamed I'd be saying 'thanks' for red lights. Often I'm running late and red lights just add to my tardiness and frustration. Then I'm tempted to speed (but I don't) to make up lost time and hope to still arrive at my destination/appointment on time.

Recently I was once again just a tad later than I wished so decided to call my daughter to tell her I was running late to pick her up for a trip downtown. I grabbed my cell phone and began dialing her number, while I was driving...that's a no-no but I still do it on rare occasions. As I approached an intersection the light turned red and I breathed a sigh of relief, said 'Thank you!' and quickly passed along the information before the light turned green so I could put the phone down and drive with a clear conscience.