This crepe myrtle tree has been in my yard for many years. It is the first thing to bloom every summer.
It decided this year it was going to spread out and really put on a show. All that growth has brought a lot of beauty to the yard, but will need some serious attention come pruning time.
When I took the photo it was partly cloudy and made the flowers look different shades of pink. There are two other crepe myrtle trees that should bloom soon.
There were more flowers before we had rain and some wind. I wish I had taken a photo earlier.
One morning in February of 1991 the telephone rang. When I answered the call a lady on the other end of the line identified herself as a nurse from one of the local hospitals.
She told me that she had been given my number in hopes that I might be able to help with a situation at the hospital.
A baby girl had been born there five days earlier. She only weighed 1pound and 13 ounces. Her brain was very small and she had other issues.
They were not expecting her to live more than one or two weeks longer. The nurse asked if I would come get her and take care of her until she passed.
Without hesitation I told her that I would and asked when could I pick her up. I drove to the hospital the next morning and brought her home.
She could do nothing for herself. She was totally physically and mentally disabled and she had very little eyesight. But one thing she could do was smile and that she did. Everywhere we went people were in awe of her beautiful smile.
We adopted her and she was one of those little blessings that turned into a big blessing. We learned so much as we cared for her. One thing that we learned was…we never know where love and blessings might come from.
She lived for eight years and one month. She brought us joy every day of those eight years.
Retirement has been and still is enjoyable for me. I have more time to watch, listen and enjoy God’s beauty all around me. I am one that for the most part does not make plans. I might be in the middle of doing something and all of a sudden decide to go out and walk around the yard. Or just stand on the porch and talk to the critters I see or birds I hear.
Canna Lilies grow very well in my area. This photo was taken of this beauty in my yard. I never had seen one grow so tall as this one.
I happened to see this beauty on wild plants in my yard. I am always happy to see the pollinators at work. I love having anything that attracts butterflies, bees and birds.
Some people don’t like having snakes around. I don’t mind at all if they come to my yard. I know the ones that are harmful and I give them their space if I see them.
This beautiful king snake has lived at my place for quite awhile. He/she has a favorite place to sun every spring and that is usually where I first see it. Once in awhile I see more than one. I welcome them to my yard at any time. They eat and keep away those varmints that are destructive and not needed by me.
And then there are these little critters. I so enjoy watching them frocking around the yard and chasing each other up and down a tree.
There was one squirrel that sat on the step while I was on the porch. I named him Henry. The photo is not him. He was a chunky squirrel and loved eating peanuts that I gave him while I was on the porch. No matter where he was if I was on the porch he would come running for his peanuts. I haven’t seen him now for at least a couple of years.
I miss him we had many fun times on the porch and step together. I talked a lot, he just listened and ate those peanuts.
“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” ~George Bernard Shaw
